Best Honing Steal Of 2023 (+ Material, Length, & Type Guide)
The deeper that you fall into a pastime or hobby, the more tools and equipment you’ll accumulate over time.
If you like spending a lot of time in the kitchen cooking up a storm, then chances are you’ve got some specialized knife collections to tackle various jobs.
It’s incredibly surprising how many different knives there are on the market, and each is designed for a specific purpose. For example, there’s a knife that’s used exclusively for brisket.
Building up a collection of knives, especially if they’re high quality, can get very expensive, so it’s important to take good care of them to ensure their longevity.
This brings us to the topic of our article today, which takes a look at some of the very best honing steels out there. If you’re not sure what honing steels are, they’re essentially tools that you can utilize to keep your blades sharp, and also keep them as smooth as possible.
The only thing is that there are so many different kinds of materials out there, that it can be difficult to choose the best honing blade. But don’t worry, this is where we come in.
Below, we take a closer look at some of the very best honing steels on the market to help you make an informed decision.
To find out more, simply keep reading, as we take a closer look.
Product Reviews
So let’s just jump right in, and take a look at some of the very best honing steels that you can buy today. We look at the pros and cons of each product, as well as some of their most important features to help you assess which might be the best for you.
OUR TOP PICK
Chances are that if you’ve already been checking out some different honing steels before you found this article, that you came across this one whilst browsing. It’s one of the most popular honing steels on the market currently, and it’s not hard to see why.
Now, honing is of course, different to sharpening, as it simply makes the edges of your blade more precise. If you want to save on time however, and want a honing steel that also sharpens during the process, then we’d recommend that you check this one out.
It will help to save you both time and money, as you won’t have to purchase an additional tool for the job.
Wusthof is also an easily recognizable brand, and you might already own some of their products. So, you know that it’s a tool that you can trust to be of a good quality.
Pros
- Trustworthy - The brand itself is reputable, and as a result, you know that you’re receiving a high quality product.
- Two In One - This both sharpens and hones your blades, so if you want to save time and money, this is a great product.
- Slip Resistant - The handle itself is made from slip resistant material, so that you can ensure you have a good grip over the tool.
Cons
- Diamond Surface - This isn’t necessarily a disadvantage, but the surface of the honing tool is diamond, and therefore takes a little bit more care.
- Price - Some people might feel that this is a bit too much money to invest in a honing tool.
EDITORS CHOICE
The next product that we’re going to be taking a look at is made from ceramic, so it’s sure to give your knives that perfect finish. It has 1500 grit, which means that your tools will be looking incredibly sleek after use.
Because of this finish, it also provides a touch of sharpening to your blades too. This one is good for those who are looking for a great sharpening tool, but don’t want to spend a fortune in the process.
It has a shock absorbent technology, which ensures that it won’t snap off easily, as some ceramic based products tend to do.
Pros
- Budget Friendly - This is a great product for those who are looking for a honing tool that’s efficient and affordable.
- Shock Absorption Technology - As ceramic tends to be more breakable than other materials, this one has shock absorbing technology that makes sure it can withstand the test of time.
- 11 Inches - The length of this product means that it’s great for sharpening all manner of different knives, even your longest ones that you can’t hone with other tools.
Cons
- Longevity - Despite having shock absorbent technology, ceramic is more prone to breakage than other items such as steel, so it could wear out over time.
- Needs More Care - As a result of the material, this product will need more care and maintenance than steel based products.
BEST VALUE
We can honestly say that this is one of the most visually appealing honing steels that we’ve seen on the market. Made from high quality, cylindrical steel, this honing steel is an absolute dream come true.
Unlike the others on our list, it has what seems to be a completely smooth appearance. This means that it helps to ensure the longevity of your blade.
Let us explain. Each time you use a honing or sharpening tool with an abrasive surface, you’re wearing away the edge of the blade, which can affect its lifespan.
So, what’s the solution? A gentle honing steel such as this one, that’s more gentle in its approach and can help to refine your blade without wearing it down, or making it bend.
This way, you’re not actually taking too much material off the surface of the blade with each use.
Pros
- Smooth Cylindrical Surface - This tool boasts a smooth cylindrical surface, that’s gentle on your blades and can help to ensure their longevity.
- Hanging Ring - This one comes with a handy hanging ring, so that you can simply place it on the surface of your kitchen wall, ready to use whenever you need it.
- German Manufacturer - So that you know the tool is going to be of a good quality.
Cons
- Handle - The handle itself doesn’t have any kind of grip technology like some of the others on our list.
- Gentle - This tool is designed to be gentle and simply hone and refine your blades, so if you’re looking for a tool that also sharpens, this isn’t the one for you.
RUNNER UP
We’d definitely recommend that you pick up this honing steel if you have Japanese blades in your kitchen. This one is for the real knife enthusiasts, and if you want to buy a honing steel that’s specifically tailored for a particular kind of knife.
This honing steel is incredibly diverse, and provides you with a tailored experience each time you use it depending on which side you use.
On one side of this blade, you’ll find a micro-ribbed surface which allows you to sharpen your blade more abrasively, and on the other side, there’s a smooth surface that simply allows you to refine it gently.
The handle is also designed to be held at the perfect angle of 16 degrees, so that you can sharpen your blades as comfortably as possible. The grip itself also feels good, and gives you a good level of control over the process.
Pros
- 16 Degree Angle Handle - Allows you to grip the tool in an accurate manner.
- Double Edged - It has a micro-ribbed surface on one side, and a gentler, smooth surface on the other, making it a dual purpose tool.
- Lifetime Warranty - So that if anything goes wrong, you know that you’re covered.
Cons
- Knife Specific - This one is designed specifically with Japanese knives in mind, so if you’re shopping for a different blade variety, you might want to look elsewhere.
- Short - This blade is only 9 inches long, so you might struggle to sharpen shorter tools
RUNNER UP
If you’re just getting started out with knife sharpening, then we’d recommend that you take a look at this rod. It’s great for beginners, as it’s super easy to use, and stands at 12 inches long.
One of the longest honing steels on our list, this one is perfect for sharpening a whole host of different knives.
It has a super narrow handle, which makes it easy to hone knives that are serrated. As well as this, the surface of the tool is perfect for honing, and won’t wear out your blades. It’s the perfect combination of tough and forgiving.
Another great thing about this particular honing tool is that it is incredibly lightweight. So if you don't want to tire your wrists, honing a whole host of different blades, then this one is great for the job.
Pros
- Lightweight - Makes it easier for you to sharpen your blades without wearing out your wrists.
- Narrow Design - Makes it great for sharpening those trickier, serrated knives.
- Optimum Grit - So that it can hone your blades well, without taking off any of the knife edges.
Cons
- Pricey - This is another honing steel on our list that’s a little on the pricier side.
- Designed For Beginners - If you’re looking for a more specific honing steel for your knives, then this might not be for you, as it’s more of a general purpose honing steel.
Buyers Guide
Now that we’ve taken a closer look at some of the very best honing tools on the market, we can move on to discuss our buyers guide.
Here, we’ll be looking at some of the most important things you should take into consideration before purchasing your honing tool.
We talk about items such as material, price, and function. So, if you want more help and information in choosing the perfect honing steel, then you’ve come to the right place. To find out more, simply keep reading below.
Material
The first, and perhaps most important thing that we’re going to be talking about, is the material of your honing tool. When you research the different honing tool materials on the market, you’ll find three distinctive categories. These consist of diamond based honing tools, stainless steel honing tools, and ceramic honing tools.
Each of these different materials are featured on our list above, and we’ve chosen some of the very best within each of these respective categories. Each of these also have their own merits and drawbacks.
For example, ceramic tools are great because they tend to be a little bit cheaper than stainless steel or diamond. They’re also able to hone your blade without taking too much off of the surface.
On the other hand, however, they are prone to breakage, unlike the other two in our category. Ceramic can prove to be brittle, and you may be forced to purchase another honing steel further down the line.
Diamond steel is also another good option, and can be great if you're looking to sharpen your blade as well as honing it. However, sometimes the surface can prove to be a bit too abrasive, and you might end up taking off more of your blade than you’d like to. In addition, unlike stainless steel, they wear down over time as the coating is worn through.
Stainless steel is by far the most popular honing tool, and is super durable, as well as being incredibly affordable.
Price
The next thing that we’re going to be discussing is price. The price ranges of honing tools vary greatly, and you can buy one for as little as 7 dollars, or as much as 60 dollars, depending on the brand.
You’ll notice that on our list above, we’ve offered honing steels with a range of different price options. If you don’t think that you’ll be using the tool too often, then you might want to choose a less pricier option.
If, however, you’re an avid knife enthusiast, and they go through a lot of wear and tear every single day, then you might want to consider making a bigger investment.
Also, if you’re choosing a specialized honing knife that’s designed for a particular brand or knife variety, these can also be more expensive. It all depends on what you’re willing to spend to keep your knives in good condition.
Function
The next thing that we’re going to talk about is function. This refers to the function of the honing tool, and what you’re trying to achieve. For example, some of you might be looking for a gentle honing tool that will merely refine your blades.
Other people will be looking for a far grittier tool with a rough surface, that will be able to provide a sharpening effect. Bear in mind that these are two very different things, and honing and sharpening are two different functions with opposite results.
Honing tools are meant to smooth and straighten out the surface of your blade, whereas sharpening tools are designed to just that, sharpen them. So make sure that you’re purposeful about your purchase, and choose one that does what you want it to.
Some of the honing steels on our list are dual function, and provide both sharpening and honing properties. So, if you want both, these might prove to be a good option.
The Handle
Another thing that you should consider when purchasing a honing steel is the handle. Does the handle have a good grip to lock your hand on when you use it? The last thing you want is for it to slip out of your hand, and cause a potentially dangerous situation.
You also want to make sure that the grip is comfortable in your palm, as if you’re sharpening multiple knives, this will be a big factor when it comes to choosing your tool.
Length
Depending on the type of knives that you’re planning to hone with your steel, you’ll want to consider the length. If you’re only sharpening small knives, then a 10 inch tool will do the job nicely.
If you have a variety of knives however, in all different sizes, then you’re going to want to choose a longer blade. Some of these run up to 14 inches.
Final Thoughts
To sum up, honing steels are great for keeping your blades in tip top shape. There are lots on the market, so when choosing, it’s important to keep items such as length, handle, function, price, and material in mind. Simply read our list above to find your perfect honing tool.
