For the ultralight backpacker, everything comes down to weight. If a piece of gear is going to earn a place in your pack it has to be light, functional and useful. That goes for knives as much as for cookware, headlamps, and the backpack in which you carry it all. But how light you go can determine how much utility and longevity you get out of this essential piece of kit, so going lighter isn’t always better depending on how you regularly use your cutting implements.
Fortunately, we rounded up 10 ultralight knives (each under 2 oz) that run the gamut in terms of price, usefulness and overall design. Some will be made with the finest materials and include stellar warranties and others are basically (or literally in one case) disposable. Some are surprisingly sturdy for their size while others are glorified letter openers. Some are a simple cutting edge while others will whittle kindling faster than you can say, “I forgot my spoon, I guess these hand-carved chopsticks will have to do.” So here are 10 knives, complete with deets about which ones are our favorites after testing, what each is best for, and how much they weigh.
Gerber LST Mini: Best Overall for Size, Weight and Functionality
Weight: 0.5 oz (14g) Price: $15.99
What knife offers the best balance of price, versatility, size and weight (in our humble opinion)? That would be the Gerber LST Mini. Weighing a measly 0.5 oz (14g) and featuring a 1.9″ (48mm) blade, this locking folding knife is perfect for cutting paracord, whittling tinder and opening stubborn meal packaging and stows literally anywhere. The glass-filled nylon handle is lightly textured for a bit of grip and the whole assembly with the blade extended is surprisingly rock solid. The 440A steel blade isn’t going to hold up as well as more expensive knives, but I don’t feel too bad about that for $15.99. Plus, we can’t get over how cute it is: it looks like somebody took a full-size folding knife, shot it with a shrink ray, and made this baby.
Pepperwool Merino MM: Premium and Compact
Weight: 1.6 oz (46g) Price: $129.99
Despite the name, no, this knife isn’t made out of wool. What it is made out of is Cryo S35VN stainless steel which means, among other things, it holds an edge extremely well. It’s a locking, one-handed open folding knife with an ambidextrous design: the spring lock goes through both sides of the handle and the pocket clip can be flipped by loosening a bolt on top. Overall, this one just feels right in the hand and features a 2.125 in (54mm) blade. It’s the perfect size for most trail-related tasks, opens smoothly and easily, and looks great doing it. The powder coating on the blade does pick up finger oils easily but that’s purely aesthetic and doesn’t impact performance. It comes in at $129.99, so not a budget option, but if you’re looking for a truly capable knife that’s the perfect combo of durability, performance and weight, this is one of our faves.
Derma-Safe Folding Utility Razor: For Ultralight Diehards
Weight: 0.27 oz (8g) Price: $2.25
Want a sharp edge for those “just in case” scenarios but find you don’t actually use a cutting edge that often in the backcountry for anything serious? The Derma-Safe Folding Utility Razor is the answer. At only 0.27 oz (8g) this thing can go anywhere (pocket, first aid kit, bottom of your meal bag…) and you won’t even notice it’s there. It’s a shaving-quality blade (though I wouldn’t recommend actually having with it) that folds up into its own plastic handle. Simple but effective. It’s going to be best for opening freeze-dried meals and cutting small bits of cord, but not more hard-wearing tasks like using with a striker stick to start your fire. The downsides: because of how small it is and the lack of blade lock, you can’t use much force with it. It’s also highly disposable since you can technically sharpen it once it’s lost its edge and there’s no easy way to recycle it. On the upside: it’s only $2.25 a knife.
Benchmade Mini Bugout: The Premium One
Weight: 2 oz (56.7g) Price: $310
If you were to ask me which one of these knives would last the longest, be the hardest wearing, tackle every knife task you call upon it to complete AND be the most impressive piece of kit you pass down to your kids, it would be the Mini Bugout. We’ve trusted Benchmade knives for years and this knife lives up to the brand’s shining reputation. It’s built in their Oregon factory and comes with a limited lifetime warranty against manufacturer deffects and LifeSharp services (mail your knife in and they’ll sharpen it for free). The Mini Bugout is a locking, one-handed folder with an ambidextrous design and features premium materials, all weighing in at 2 oz (56.7g). All those warranties and features do come with a price, though: $310. It should be noted there are other versions of this knife at a significantly lower price. It should last a lifetime, if that makes you feel any better.
Vargo KaTi TC-2: A Solid Ultralight Contender
Weight: 1.5 oz (44g) Price: $125
Carbon fiber and titanium: What’s not to love? It’s an ultralight backpacker’s dream combo. And Vargo really went the extra mile cutting the weight to only 1.5 oz (44g) with this knife. And with a 2.55 in (6.5 cm) blade no less! It features a one-handed open locking blade with cutouts in the handle to reduce weight (and make it look cool). The downsides: titanium doesn’t hold an edge as well as the steel blades on our list and you could potentially get dirt (and other junk) lodged in the knife handle, especially if you regularly stash it in your pocket or bottom of your pack. But if you want a lightweight, sturdy knife that has a great blade-to-weight ratio, this might be the right one for you at $125.
Rainy Day Forge ULK: The Pretty One
Weight: 1.1 oz (31g) Price: $74.99
The ULK (Literally: Ultra Light Knife) was designed by Justin Lamoureux and ATL thru hiker Amar Nagbue (AKA Bolt) and has reportedly quickly become a favorite among hikers, including outdoor YouTube celebrity Dan Becker. And we can see why: it’s unique, functional, and downright artistic. The knife is crafted to be pinch-gripped and held through the hole in the heel of the knife, providing you with a secure and comfortable grip. It’s a solid knife (it’s literally one piece of metal so there are no folding mechanisms to break or wear out) that you’ll never get tired of looking at. The downsides: the short handle makes this a bit unweildy when performing some tasks, but because it’s so sturdy we’ll never worry about parts and pieces breaking. It’s a functional blade that has its place in any ultralight kit and costs a reasonable (for a good knife) $74.99.
Opinel No.08 Stainless Steel Folding Knife: Best Weight to Blade to Price Ratio
Weight: 1.6 oz (45g) Price: $19
You’ve probably seen these at every outdoor store in existence: the classic Opinel No.08. It dates all the way back to an 1890 design by Joseph Opinel and it’s stood the test of time with countless variations and sizes (including smaller versions if you want to trim a few more grams). It’s a two-handed open design with a rotating collar that locks the blade in place. It might be a simple design, but it’s hard to complain when it provides the best weight (1.6oz/45g) to blade (3.28in/8.3cm) to price ($19) ratio on our list. Opinel even sells a care kit with a sharpening stone, oil for the wood handle, and a microfiber cloth to shine it all up. If you prioritize blade size over everything else and are on a budget, this one’s for you.
Victorinox Mini Champ: Most Versatile Classic
Weight: 1.6 oz (45g) Price: $60
If you’re the type who prefers a classic multi-tool to a standard knife, check out the Mini Champ: one of countless variations of Victorinox Swiss Army knives. It packs 18 functions into a 2.3 in (58mm) body and weighs in at 1.6 oz (45g). Need tweezers to pull out that splinter? Check. Need a screwdriver to tighten up those trekking poles? Check. Ballpoint pen? Wire strippers? Bottle opener? Nail File? You get the point. The downside? The knife blades themselves are small and don’t lock, so don’t try any heavy work with this or you might close the blade on your finger by accident. That said, this is about as good as it gets for versatility in a knife this size and comes in at $60 with a lifetime warranty.
Petzl Spatha: Best for Climbers
Weight: 1.5 oz (44g) Price: $39.95
With a 4 in (10 cm), partially serrated blade, textured handle and big ol’ hinge hole so you can clip it anywhere via a carabiner, there’s not a lot to hate about the Spatha. The serrations make cutting cord and rope a cinch and the smooth upper portion of the blade is great for everything else. It’s simple, sure, and while made of durable materials isn’t the most ultralight or heirloom quality of all the knives on this list. But when clipped to a pack or climbing harness we think it’s going to be pretty dang hard-wearing. The downsides: while it appears to be designed for a one-handed open, the hinge is pretty stiff and while I could open it with one hand, the blade lock release is too far down the handle to make closing it with one hand possible. Regardless, the Spatha still proves to be a versatile and affordable piece of kit at $39.95.
Fällkniven U2 Elmax: The Swedish One
Weight: 1.5 oz (43g) Price: $150
Looking for something a little more Spartan (or in this case Swedish) and don’t want to skimp on materials? Then the Fällkniven U2 Elmax might just be for you. The latter part of the name refers to Swedish Elmax powder steel which is notoriously difficult to work with but the finished product is a blade of outstanding strength and edge retention. The U2 is a two-handed open with a locking blade (2.5in or 64mm) and has a composite, lightly textured handle that we weren’t terribly impressed with (especially at this price), but it’s simple, made of hearty steel, and does the job. It’s a no-nonsense, premium knife weighing in at 1.5 oz (45g) that’ll put you back $150. Plus, it comes with a 10-year warranty.
Bottom Line
So whether you’re looking for a premium blade that’ll last a lifetime or just a simple cutting edge that’ll basically fit in your wallet, there are options for everybody. If I had to pick my three favorites they would be the Gerber LST Mini (tiny but still maintains it’s usefulness), the Pepperwool Merino MM (feels and looks great), and the Benchmade Mini Bugout (great looking knife that’ll last a lifetime). No matter which knife you choose, keep those edges sharp and wander on!
