Knife Sharpener Apr 2020 Test: Which Brand Wins?
In our Apr 2020 test we compared 8 knife sharpener options head to head. Wicked Edge Gen 3 Pro came out on top. See the measured results, the runner-up, the budget pick, and a link to the full test video.
Wicked Edge Gen 3 Pro
Price shown in test: $900
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Lansky
Price shown in test: $67.44
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Rada
Price shown in test: $8.65, the least expensive sharpener tested
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The quick take
The short version of why each pick lands where it does, built straight from the measured results.
“the $900 wicked edge came out on top, but not by much as a very affordable $67 lansky came in second and the wet stone third”
Placed top three in 2 of 2 measurements.
The measured results
Every number below is read straight from the test. Products are listed in the order they finished.
Sharpness after sharpening (grams of force, lower is sharper)
- 1Wicked Edge Gen 3 Pro100
the sharpest of all eight sharpeners tested
- 2Lansky Deluxe Diamond controlled angle sharpening system1102nd
very close behind the Wicked Edge
- 3Whetstone 400/1,000 grit combination stone1203rd
third sharpest despite the host describing himself as inexperienced with whetstone sharpening
- 4Edge Pro Apex 4170
tied with the Spyderco
- 5Chef's Choice Trizor Edge Model 15190
good but not the best
- 6Fiskars Essential Roll-Sharp230
tied with the Rada
- 7Rada230
tied with the Fiskars
- 8Spyderco Tri-Angle Sharpmaker170
tied with the Edge Pro Apex 4
Edge retention after 30 passes on an ironwood cutting board
- 1Wicked Edge Gen 3 Pro140
remained the sharpest of all eight after the durability test
- 2Lansky Deluxe Diamond controlled angle sharpening system1853rd
third best in this test, behind the Wicked Edge and the whetstone
- 3Whetstone 400/1,000 grit combination stone1502nd
second best of all eight, just behind the Wicked Edge
- 4Edge Pro Apex 4220
did very well
- 5Chef's Choice Trizor Edge Model 15225
did a great job
- 6Fiskars Essential Roll-Sharp280
slightly better than the Rada at retaining its edge
- 7Rada290
- 8Spyderco Tri-Angle Sharpmakerover500
by far the worst edge retention of all eight sharpeners tested
All measurements (2 more)+
Bonus test on a cheap steak knife
- 1Wicked Edge Gen 3 Pro
brought a knife that measured 1,390 (very dull) down to 85, described as extremely sharp
- 2Lansky Deluxe Diamond controlled angle sharpening systemnot tested
- 3Whetstone 400/1,000 grit combination stonenot tested
- 4Edge Pro Apex 4not tested
- 5Chef's Choice Trizor Edge Model 15not tested
- 6Fiskars Essential Roll-Sharpnot tested
- 7Radanot tested
- 8Spyderco Tri-Angle Sharpmakernot tested
Bonus test on a butter knife
- 5Chef's Choice Trizor Edge Model 15
took about 30 minutes to put an edge on a butter knife, resulting in a sharpness reading of 160, described as incredibly sharp for a butter knife
- 1Wicked Edge Gen 3 Pronot tested
- 2Lansky Deluxe Diamond controlled angle sharpening systemnot tested
- 3Whetstone 400/1,000 grit combination stonenot tested
- 4Edge Pro Apex 4not tested
- 6Fiskars Essential Roll-Sharpnot tested
- 7Radanot tested
- 8Spyderco Tri-Angle Sharpmakernot tested
How it was tested
- baseline and post sharpening sharpness measured in grams of force with a certified sharpness tester
- standardized dulling of each knife by sliding it across an aluminum pipe five times under 2.5 lb of pressure
- edge retention test making 30 back and forth passes across an ironwood cutting board after sharpening
- bonus test sharpening a cheap steak knife with the Wicked Edge
- bonus test sharpening a butter knife with the Chef's Choice
“the $900 wicked edge came out on top, but not by much as a very affordable $67 lansky came in second and the wet stone third”
