I must admit, I think the idea of trying a knife out first is overrated for a first knife. If you have large hands, you might prefer a larger, heavier knife. If you have smaller hands, then a smaller lighter knife might be better. Buy a knife and use it, and in a year or two, you can get a different one if you find you don't like it.

More importantly, what are you used to? Did you grow up using a chef's knife, a utility knife, any random steak or paring knife? Who did you learn from, what will you use the knife for, and do you have ambitions for the future?

BTW I was really glad for that Williams Sonoma test-drive. I was going to buy a Santoku knife, and I found out by chopping the test vegetables that it was really too small and light--I have big hands and am much more used to the heavier classic knife that I posted.
I did buy a nice carving knife from them, though. (It was the holiday season and it was on sale. I'd never had a nice carving knife.)

Well, that's the trick. There are some stores, like Williams Sonoma and I think maybe Sur La Table, that will take them out and let you test-drive them. At Williams Sonoma one time they even had a chopping board and some test vegetables.

But after they've gone to that trouble and taken that time, you'd better buy from them. It's pretty low to use their sales resources and then buy online. So you're committing to paying retail (or sale retail) prices.
For the investment in something you're going to use daily for years, I'd still take that route.

Otherwise, try them at friend's houses when you see something you like? Ask around? See if a salesperson will at least take one out of the package and let you hold it? They did this for me at BB&B when we were registering for our wedding.

If this is your first chef knife, I wouldn't recommend buying sight unseen online. You may be fine, but you may get one that's not ideal for you, and have a mismatched knife for years.

Anonymous wrote:"Best" is so subjective. Depends what you want -- heavy, light, steel, ceramic, classic, santoku, how the balance feels in your hands, ....

That said, this is the one I use; I've had it 14 years and am very happy with it:
http://www.amazon.com/HENCKELS-INTERNATIONAL-Classic-8-inch-Chefs/dp/B00004RFMT/ref=sr_1_2?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1408854298&sr=1-2&keywords=8+chef+knife

Not OP. How do you decide which knifes will suit you? All the knives in the store come wrapped.

"Best" is so subjective. Depends what you want -- heavy, light, steel, ceramic, classic, santoku, how the balance feels in your hands, ....

That said, this is the one I use; I've had it 14 years and am very happy with it:
http://www.amazon.com/HENCKELS-INTERNATIONAL-Classic-8-inch-Chefs/dp/B00004RFMT/ref=sr_1_2?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1408854298&sr=1-2&keywords=8+chef+knife

Wusthof 6" gourmet knife, made in Germany, stamped not forged

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0000DJYUJ?cache=19c759bab8abf3ab45c85a1f650c1484&pi=SY200_QL40&qid=1408834170&sr=8-3#ref=mp_s_a_1_3

Tojiro gyoto knife

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000UAPQGS?cache=19c759bab8abf3ab45c85a1f650c1484&pi=AC_SX110_SY165_QL70&qid=1408834549&sr=8-5#ref=mp_s_a_1_5

Yoshihiro petty knife, gorgeous and at $80, a bit above your price range

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00D6DVU5C?cache=19c759bab8abf3ab45c85a1f650c1484&pi=SX200_QL40&qid=1408834298&sr=8-1#ref=mp_s_a_1_1

Please tell me what is the best knife I can get for less than $60 - and please provide a link, preferably an Amazon link!

Thanks!!!!