Those who read my reviews know I’m not loyal to just one style of knife. I appreciate everything from thin, lightweight slicers to thick, heavy-duty workhorses. One knife that’s been on my radar for a while is the Benchmade Freek—or as it’s affectionately known in the community, the “Super Freek.” Yes, I know. That song is stuck in your head now. Mine too. You’re not alone.

I’d been wanting to check it out for a while, mostly because of the glowing reviews and surprise praise it’s received. It’s become the go-to for folks looking for a tough, capable EDC knife. In fact, I think the Freek is a better version of the famous Griptilian. Let’s get down to brass tacks and talk about what makes this one super.

Here in the South, folks say they can smell rain coming. That earthy, charged scent is called petrichor—caused by ozone, plant oils, and soil bacteria getting kicked up just before the skies open. I’ve lived here long enough that you’d think I’d have picked up that trick, but maybe being only half Southern is to blame. I didn’t catch the storm building on the horizon this time either—Kansept’s Thunderhead blew in fast, and it hit hard.

I usually gravitate toward slimmer, more slicey knives—something that feels light in the pocket and glides through material with ease. Big, overbuilt folders typically aren’t my thing. But something about the Caveman caught my eye. Maybe it was the Fat Carbon scales. Maybe it was the unapologetically bold design. Either way, I knew I had to give it a shot. Designed by Jesse Pauley in his first venture into production knives, the Caveman strikes a surprising balance between brute strength and thoughtful design and I’m glad I gave it a chance.

When you’re looking for a quality utility blade—something for work, or just those moments when you don’t want to gunk up your favorite EDC knife—there’s a lot out there. You’ve got everything from budget bin beaters to high-end options like the Hawk Shortcut. I usually recommend starting somewhere in the middle. Something built well, compact enough to disappear in the pocket, and tough enough to handle daily demands. That’s exactly where the OKnife U1 Ultra lands. It checks all the boxes, and after spending time with it, I can confidently say it’s a contender.