PETZL Spatha, Yellow, UNI

Product Information

Surrounding the clip-in point is a textured plastic wheel that allows for easy manipulation with climbing gloves, removing the worry of slicing open a mitt. Choosing a climbing knife comes down to a few basic considerations. Main Features: Handle Material & Blade Length If you don’t need to trim every gram, consider the Petzl Spatha. The penalties are slim, adding less than an ounce of weight and a couple inches of size. In exchange, you get the very best performance in a design that works just as well as a camp knife. The NIAD and Piranha are probably smaller than your car key. Budget Long, heavy-duty blade with fiberglass, nylon, and rubber handle makes for a great long-lasting knife for multiple uses.

Lighter than many of the knife options on this list, yet comes with nine different tools–including screwdrivers, scissors, knife blade, and pliers. All in all, the Spatha wowed testers. It’s not the cheapest in the test, but we still consider it a bargain. Best Ultralight Emergency Knife: CRKT NIAD When unfolded, the NIAD was an excellent performer in the cutting tests, bested only by the Petzl. A small divot at the base of the blade provides a place for the index finger to nest, which allows a surprisingly secure grip for such a small blade. The ultralight NIAD and Piranha exist for a reason: many climbers only need to carry a knife to trim old webbing or in case of self-rescue. Especially for alpinists, it’s prudent to have a simple knife that takes up as little space and weight as possible. If your needs are similar, look to the NIAD or the Piranha. This bladed product is not for sale to people under the age of 18. You may be required to provide proof of your age before we can send you this product. See details.Two of the knives (the Petzl Spatha and Edelrid Rope Tooth) are larger and more usable, with handles that function as sheaths. Although designed mainly for slicing through ropes, tat and cordage, the Petzl Spatha will make light work of salami and those hard alpine cheeses!

Half straight/half serrated blade is nearly 3 inches long, making it useful for more scenarios than many of the shorter knives on this list. The other three knives all cut through a standard 18mm sling in under ten seconds. The Rope Tooth took more than a minute and a half. The serrated blade seemed both dull and prone to snags, and it required far more energy to cut through even thin material.

A little industrial research reveals that the Spatha uses the highest-quality steel of the bunch. It’s sharp and versatile, but should hold up well to long-term use and resharpening.