10 Best Sharpening Steels 2026 in the United States

The Cutluxe Honing Rod from the Artisan Series is designed to keep your kitchen knives sharp by honing and realigning the blade edges. Crafted from German high carbon stainless steel, it promises durability and resistance to rust and corrosion. With a length of 10 inches, it can handle a variety of knife sizes effortlessly.

The ergonomic PakkaWood handle is non-slip and suitable for both right-handed and left-handed users, which adds to the convenience and comfort during use. The honing rod is extra fine in grit, making it suitable for maintaining the sharpness of your knives rather than sharpening dull blades from scratch. It is light, weighing only 1 pound, making it easy to handle without causing fatigue.

The design is visually appealing and would make a handsome addition to any kitchen or a thoughtful gift for cooking enthusiasts. However, it’s worth noting that while honing rods help maintain knife sharpness, they do not replace the need for a good sharpener to restore dull blades. The lifetime warranty against material or workmanship defects provides peace of mind for users. The Cutluxe Honing Rod is ideal for those looking to maintain their knife collection in excellent condition with minimal effort.

The HexClad Honing Rod is a 9-inch sharpening steel made from Japanese Damascus stainless steel, known for its durability and fine honing surface. It’s designed to keep your knife edges straight and sharp by realigning the tiny teeth on the blade rather than grinding them down. The rod’s length is suitable for most kitchen knives, offering enough surface to comfortably sharpen blades from handle to tip. Its Pakkawood handle is around 5 inches long, providing a sturdy and comfortable grip during use, which is important for safety and control.

The honing surface is fine, which means it’s ideal for regular maintenance to keep blades sharp without removing too much metal. One unique feature is that the rod is magnetic, helping to trap metal dust and keep your kitchen cleaner. However, this honing rod is not dishwasher safe, so you'll need to hand wash and dry it to maintain its quality. It’s also important to note that improper care or use outside typical kitchen tasks can void the lifetime warranty HexClad offers.

This honing rod fits well for home cooks who want a quality tool to maintain their knives between sharpenings. If you’re looking for a heavy-duty sharpener to restore very dull or damaged blades, you might need a different product. For regular upkeep, this rod strikes a good balance of quality materials, comfortable handling, and effective sharpening.

The Global G-45-9 1/2" Ceramic Sharpening Steel is designed to both sharpen and hone your knives, making it a versatile tool for kitchen maintenance. The ceramic material is quite hard, which means it can effectively sharpen knives by removing small amounts of material to create a sharp edge. Additionally, its fine grit is suitable for honing, which helps maintain the knife's edge between sharpenings.

The rod’s length of 9 1/2 inches provides adequate surface area for working with various knife sizes, and its stainless steel handle offers a sturdy grip. The weight of 8.6 ounces makes it easy to maneuver without causing fatigue during use. However, one potential drawback is that ceramic rods, while effective, can be more brittle than other materials like steel. This means you need to handle it with care to avoid chipping or breaking.

Another point to consider is the product's shape, which is a traditional rod. This shape works well for most people, but those used to other sharpening tools may need some time to adjust. Despite these minor issues, the Global G-45-9 1/2" Ceramic Sharpening Steel is a solid choice for anyone looking to maintain their kitchen knives' sharpness with minimal effort.