This Canary Field Cutter Is the Finest $8 I’ve Ever Spent

Prime Day 2025 is right here from Tuesday, July 8 to Friday, July 11, and Lifehacker is sharing the perfect gross sales primarily based on product evaluations, comparisons, and price-tracking instruments. 

Like many Individuals, I bemoan the truth that on-line buying hurts native companies, which might’t compete with the comfort of unsustainable perks like “free” two-day Prime delivery. Like many Individuals, I nonetheless purchase a ton of stuff on-line anyway, as a result of it is certain simpler to not have to hold an enormous pack of bathroom paper dwelling from Aldi (not less than, as a New Yorker, I can nonetheless be a snob about the truth that I stroll to purchase groceries). However this additionally signifies that, come Prime Day or through the vacation season, I’ve to take care of an entire lot of cardboard bins.

Some 35 million tons of “containerboard,” or cardboard used to make delivery containers like Amazon bins, is produced within the U.S. every year. By my estimate, not less than 10 p.c of that arrives on my doorstep. And whereas I am tremendous diligent about recycling all of it (the American Forest & Paper Affiliation estimates that the “efficient recycling fee” for cardboard is as excessive as 85%—yay!), breaking these bins all the way down to get them prepared to position curbside is a problem.

Or it was, till I realized concerning the Canary field cutter, a slim little knife with a non-stick serrated blade and a cheery yellow deal with.

A field cutter produced by a former Japanese sword firm

This $8 knife—sure, it’s bought on Amazon, although mine was shipped to me in a padded envelope slightly than a field—is made in Japan by an organization referred to as Hasegawa Cutlery, which acquired its begin almost 100 years in the past sharpening and grinding swords (the “Cutlery” half was added to the title after World Warfare II, when the enterprise first started producing scissors). Hasegawa’s advertising language suggests the corporate has introduced all of its Japanese sword-making experience to bear on creating shopper items, and whereas I’ve by no means tried to interrupt down a stack of delivery bins with a sword, I can not think about it would be a lot simpler than utilizing my Canary.

My earlier strategies for chopping via cardboard—kitchen scissors or a steak knife (do not be like me, youngsters!)—have been lower than efficient, and utility knives, although actually an enchancment, aren’t nice on the activity both. Cardboard is stiff and fibrous, so whereas a razor blade can slice via it fairly simply, it is laborious to make use of one to make a managed minimize, because the blade will careen off-course if you happen to attempt to go towards the “grain,” so to talk; utility blades additionally boring shortly however will nonetheless stay sharp sufficient to simply minimize you if you happen to deal with them incorrectly.

The all-around serrated edges of the Canary, however, appear to chop via cardboard like butter, whether or not you are going with or towards the grain, pushing the blade or pulling it, or making a sawing movement; its blade stays sharp for much longer, and will not minimize you almost as simply. (These qualities have made the Canary a favourite of crafters who work with cardboard.)

I am not the crafting sort, however I’ve used my Canary on bins each small and enormous. In a few minute, I minimize down the massive field my dehumidifier shipped in, leaving a neat stack of small items of cardboard which might be simple to tie up for recycling. The knife works equally nicely on the lighter cardboard bins like these Amazon makes use of, and thicker ones, just like the beefy boys that held my Goal flatpack furnishings.

It appears a stretch to name this little blade life-changing, nevertheless it has undoubtedly saved me a variety of time—way more than $8 value.

On the lookout for one thing else? Retailers like Walmart, Finest Purchase, and Residence Depot have Prime Day competitors gross sales which might be particularly helpful if you happen to don’t have Amazon Prime.

• Walmart’s Prime Day competitors sale begins at midnight on July 8 and can embrace offers as much as 50% off. It’s an particularly good choice if in case you have Walmart+. 

• Finest Purchase’s Prime Day competitors sale, “Black Friday in July,” runs via Sunday, July 13 and has among the greatest tech gross sales on-line. It’s an particularly good choice if you happen to’re a My Finest Purchase “Plus” or “Complete” member.

• Residence Depot prolonged their 4th of July sale via not less than July 9, competing with some wonderful offers of their very own. It’s an particularly good choice if you happen to’re searching for energy instruments, home equipment, or out of doors gear.