View Full Version : Ultralight (.23 oz.) knife
pafarmboy1
11-27-2017, 10:55
http://www.backnife.com
pafarmboy1
11-27-2017, 10:56
Review: https://backpackinglight.com/backnife-review-micro-utility-knife/
While this seems to be a bright idea per se, I can't see much use for such a knife when hiking.
It would fail miserabely in such simple tasks like cutting an apple or smear some butter on the bread.
While this seems to be a bright idea per se, I can't see much use for such a knife when hiking.
It would fail miserabely in such simple tasks like cutting an apple or smear some butter on the bread.
2x as above
thom
DownEaster
11-27-2017, 14:04
Some hikers carry a single-edged razor blade with a bit of tape to keep it "safe" when not in use; this gizmo seems like a slight improvement. I figure if a knife is worth carrying, you might as well accept the extra ounce and get something that can whittle a replacement tent stake or two in case of high winds.
Here's my AT knife, weighing 1.3 ounces after removing the pocket clip (visible through the skeletonized handle in this "before" picture):
41064
nsherry61
11-27-2017, 14:28
Awesome idea. Thanks for the heads up.
Might be OK for opening boxes
I have an older version in my first aid kit. Otherwise I use a small Opinel...
Odd Man Out
11-27-2017, 21:27
I have a SAK Ambassador for the scissors. It also has a sharp knife in case I get an irresistible urge to whittle. I have a generic fast-food plastic knife in the food bag for spreading PB.
StubbleJumper
11-27-2017, 23:01
I have the SAK Classic, which only weighs about 0.8 oz, but offers more flexibility. For the past 5 years, I've mostly carried one of my Opinel knives, which are also pretty light, but have only a single blade. In the end, the decision for me is whether I expect to need to cut a block of cheese or a salami. The SAK's blade is a bit too short for that, but the Opinel is well suited. If I don't plan to cut food, I like the SAK's versatility.
Odd Man Out
11-28-2017, 00:56
The SAK Ambassador is identical to the Classic but just slightly larger, so the blade and scissors are a bit more useful. The scissors on the Classic are too small for my fat fingers.
I've been using the Dermasafe knives for the last 3-4 years. Surprisingly strong and sturdy. I haven't broken one yet (with reasonably cautious use). $15 for a 10 pack.
https://www.amazon.com/Derma-Safe-Folding-Utility-10-pack-Survival/dp/B00YAORKSM
Or $8 for a 5 pack:
https://www.amazon.com/First-Folding-Utility-Survival-5-Pack/dp/B005EADU8K
colorado_rob
11-28-2017, 12:38
Just my own experience with about 50 years of backpacking... I just hardly ever need a knife for anything, every once in a while I'll cut a cord or something (but a lighter would have worked too to burn through the nylon cord).
That being said, I carry a 0.7 ounce swiss army knife thing for the other devices, the tooth pick, tweezers and scissors, and again, every once in a while the little knife blade.
So basically I'm saying for 0.5 ounces more, get the swiss army knife rather than a relatively useless razor blade and you'll have those other much-more-useful tools.
poolskaterx
11-28-2017, 13:33
Just my own experience with about 50 years of backpacking... I just hardly ever need a knife for anything, every once in a while I'll cut a cord or something (but a lighter would have worked too to burn through the nylon cord).
That being said, I carry a 0.7 ounce swiss army knife thing for the other devices, the tooth pick, tweezers and scissors, and again, every once in a while the little knife blade.
So basically I'm saying for 0.5 ounces more, get the swiss army knife rather than a relatively useless razor blade and you'll have those other much-more-useful tools.
X2 on this, i use the small swiss army knife too; I find the scissors quite handy for cutting mole skin, tweezers are pretty nice to have when ya need em, blade works for intended purposes, nail file is very useful too.
Feral Bill
11-28-2017, 14:11
Just my own experience with about 50 years of backpacking... I just hardly ever need a knife for anything, every once in a while I'll cut a cord or something (but a lighter would have worked too to burn through the nylon cord).
That being said, I carry a 0.7 ounce swiss army knife thing for the other devices, the tooth pick, tweezers and scissors, and again, every once in a while the little knife blade.
So basically I'm saying for 0.5 ounces more, get the swiss army knife rather than a relatively useless razor blade and you'll have those other much-more-useful tools. The SAK Classic is one of the most perfect pieces of gear in existence. Usefulness/weight can't be beat.
garlic08
11-28-2017, 15:57
This (https://www.grainger.com/product/3Q094?cm_mmc=PPC:+Google+PLA&s_kwcid=AL!2966!3!166589272273!!!g!137379704002!&ef_id=WgWsawAAALG9X2mW:20171128195612:s&kwid=productads-adid^166589272273-device^c-plaid^137379704002-sku^3Q094-adType^PLA)is kind of similar and can be found at many stores.
One nice thing about disposable blades is the ease of carrying a smaller pack on an airplane.
I've actually had the dermasafe knife in my first aid kit in my carry on bag and had no trouble going through airport security.
poolskaterx
11-28-2017, 17:30
X2 on this, i use the small swiss army knife too; I find the scissors quite handy for cutting mole skin, tweezers are pretty nice to have when ya need em, blade works for intended purposes, nail file is very useful too.
$10-12 bucks, This is the one I like:
41066
Apparently I was the only one to be amused by the way the heading on the BPL review was written :
"Micro-utility knife "
Tundracamper
11-28-2017, 22:40
It says buy one now! I can give them my money now and MAYBE get one in February. No thanks. I'll just wait till it's in stock. That way I don't lose my money if they don't deliver on a product:)
I've been using the Dermasafe knives for the last 3-4 years. Surprisingly strong and sturdy. I haven't broken one yet (with reasonably cautious use). $15 for a 10 pack.
https://www.amazon.com/Derma-Safe-Folding-Utility-10-pack-Survival/dp/B00YAORKSM
Or $8 for a 5 pack:
https://www.amazon.com/First-Folding-Utility-Survival-5-Pack/dp/B005EADU8K
+1 These are light, orange, and stay sharp for quite a while. If misplaced or dull, replacements are CHEAP.
earlyriser26
11-29-2017, 15:07
I started hiking the AT in August of 1969 during Woodstock. The knife I carried was a large K-Bar style knife that weighed about a pound. In the late 70"s I became aware that I probably could not win a fight with a bear with this knife, so I switched to a swiss army knife. Around the year 2000 I became aware that I seldom had to open bottles of wine on the trail, so I really didn't need a corkscrew. I switched to the smallest single blade knife that Buck makes (about 1 oz.). Sorry folks, but that is the end of my evolution. I will skip the razor blade phase and the ultimate phase, you don't need a knife.
orthofingers
11-29-2017, 16:53
The Victorinox small paring knife is very light but has a useful blade. One disadvantage is that it is not a folder so you need some kind of light sheath/blade protector. I use a folded piece of cardboard wrapped with an elastic band for that.
https://www.katom.com/037-40603.html?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIkZbDxtPk1wIVi0sNCh1Ss gygEAQYAiABEgK-X_D_BwE
The website states, it comes with a "...peggable full service sheath...".
Whatever this means.
Anyway, it has a wavy edge, something I find not very practical for simple everyday use.
DownEaster
12-01-2017, 12:04
The website states, it comes with a "...peggable full service sheath...".
Whatever this means.
"Peggable" means it has a hole to fit over a peg on a pegboard for storage/display.
saltysack
12-01-2017, 15:52
I use the 2oz leatherman PS4, scissors and pliers get used almost every trip.....
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
CoolBobby
12-01-2017, 16:04
Spend the money on a Kestrel...
https://www.kestrelknives.com/
Spend the money on a Kestrel...
https://www.kestrelknives.com/
i don’t need a $150. Knife to cut sausage and cheese but hyoh
cmoulder
12-01-2017, 21:07
i don’t need a $150. Knife to cut sausage and cheese but hyoh
lol
Wow, those are spendy. I guess somebody must be a knife person to appreciate stuff like this.
Around $25 for a Mora is about the most I'm willing to cough up. But most often I'm using the tiny 21g SAK.
Do I need a knife? :-? Nope, I can use lighter to melt thru cord, I can bite or break most things I eat (I like my cheese especially), just seems a little barbaric/medieval :rolleyes: ; of course, no whittling on rainy days. So I like to have one with me, probably goes back to my hunting / fishing days as a kid. So I'll always have a knife of sorts with me (not that big, heavy bone handled fixed blade knife form those earlier days), sometimes a Leatherman CS (~1.4oz, I like the scissors), sometimes a little Gerber US1 (~1oz and much nicer/larger blade than Leatherman) in combo with scissors, nail file and tweezers hijacked from a Victornix Swiss Card for total weight of 1.2oz - the later is my go to at the moment. As for toothpicks, if I have a knife I can make as many as I want :)
mister krabs
12-19-2017, 20:16
Shout out to good old Sgt. Rock, who introduced us all to my handy little knife (https://www.amazon.com/Joyce-Chen-50-0045-Little-4-inch/dp/B0001UZMOI) several years ago. 1oz, and a real 4 inch blade that stays sharp.
mister krabs
12-19-2017, 20:20
Whoops, skidsteer, not Sgt. Rock.
Violent Green
12-26-2017, 23:33
i don’t need a $150. Knife to cut sausage and cheese but hyoh
I have a Ti knife from Flyweight designs which is much more reasonably priced. As in like $20.
https://www.etsy.com/shop/FlyweightKnives
I have a Ti knife from Flyweight designs which is much more reasonably priced. As in like $20.
https://www.etsy.com/shop/FlyweightKnives
I'll second the Flyweight knives. I have the 7 3/4 inch one. He's gone up on the price some since I purchased mine however.
I’ll stick w steel Opinel
perdidochas
12-27-2017, 14:47
This isn't a bad choice. Only 0.6 oz, and would work for more things than the utility blade.
https://www.amazon.com/Gerber-Ultralight-Knife-Fine-06050/dp/B00004WA4R
https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/41opyBuwgYL.jpg
41316
pafarmboy1
12-27-2017, 21:25
For you gram weenies like me.....I ended up tearing apart a Leatherman Style (https://www.leatherman.com/style-23.html) and just using the scissors. The Style weighed .8 ounces, the scissors and functioning tension bar together weigh 3 grams.
Slo-go'en
12-27-2017, 22:44
This isn't a bad choice. Only 0.6 oz, and would work for more things than the utility blade.
https://www.amazon.com/Gerber-Ultralight-Knife-Fine-06050/dp/B00004WA4R
https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/41opyBuwgYL.jpg
41316
I have one of those and it's big brother which has a 3" blade and weighs in at 2.3 oz. I typically carry the big one as it's sturdy enough to do light trail brushing when I get annoyed with branches trying to poke me in the eye.