What are honing rods, and are they any good?

At many of my knife sharpening events, I often get asked if honing rods are actually worth using. They're a common inclusion in most knife block sets, so many people believe they're an essential part of maintaining a good knife collection. But are they really that effective?

A sharp knife is defined by its ultra-fine cutting edge—a thin, clean apex that creates minimal resistance as it slices through food. However, as you use a knife, that delicate edge can start to bend or chip. This isn’t a sign of poor-quality steel; it's simply the nature of thin metal. While different steel alloys can help improve edge retention, all knives will eventually dull.

The role of a honing rod is to realign that bent edge, not to remove material. By straightening the cutting edge, it can restore some of the knife’s sharpness—at least temporarily. However, if a knife is already very dull, there may be no real edge left to realign. In that case, the honing rod won't be much help.

When you use a whetstone to sharpen a knife, you're removing a small amount of metal near the cutting edge to recreate that fine apex. Generally, the finer and more polished that apex, the sharper the knife.

So, are honing rods worth using? It depends on your perspective. Personally, I prefer to hone my knives on a whetstone when they start to feel dull. I find that whetstones give me more control and consistency in maintaining the edge geometry compared to using a honing rod, which requires balancing the blade in the air. When sharpening, the less “play” in your technique (i.e., unwanted movement that doesn’t align with the edge’s geometry), the better. Holding a honing rod up in the air introduces more variables—especially since people's wrists tend to move unpredictably without support. I like to minimize variables when sharpening, especially since I’m working in such fine increments, often down to microns rather than millimeters.

That said, if honing rods work well for you and you prefer using them, then by all means, keep doing what you're doing! Knife maintenance is ultimately a personal preference, and aside from a few fundamental principles, there's rarely a “wrong” approach. Find what works best for you and your knives.