SectionHiker.com Backpacking Gear Reviews and FAQs 
You don’t need a big knife for hiking and backpacking when an ultralight folding pocket knife or multi-tool is just as good for opening freeze-dried food packages, slicing cheese and salmi, adjusting sunglasses frames, cutting guylines and cord, shaping moleskin, cutting strips of leukotape, pulling splinters out of your hands, trimming your toenails, and a million other uses.
While there are a lot of choices available, we recommend choosing EDC (every-day carry) class multi-tools and folding knives that can fit in your pocket or attach to your pack for easy access. All of these knives and multi-tools weigh 2 oz or less and are well under the 3″ blade length limit for states in the USA that care about such things. Can’t decide which you like best? Check out our Backpacking Knife and Multi-tool Guide below for more information and advice.
| Make / Model | Type | Blade Length | Weight |
| Leatherman Squirt PS4 | Multi-tool | 1.6" | 2 oz |
| Swiss Army Classic | Multi-tool | 1.5" | 0.7 oz |
| Spyderco Ladybug 3 | Folding Knife | 1.94" | 0.6 oz |
| SOG Keytron | Folding Knife | 1.8" | 1.3 oz |
| Leatherman Micra | Multi-tool | 1.6" | 1.8 oz |
| Benchmade 533 Mini Bugout | Folding Knife | 2.8" | 1.5 oz |
| Nite Ize DoohicKey | Folding Knife | 2" | 0.67 oz |
| Kershaw Chive | Folding Knife | 1.9" | 1.7 oz |
| Opinel Number 6 | Folding Knife | 2.87" | 1.2 oz |
| Zero Tolerance 0022 | Folding Knife | 1.8" | 1.7 oz |
1. Leatherman Squirt PS4
Available from:
Leatherman | Amazon
2. Swiss Army Classic
3. Spyderco Ladybug
4. SOG Keytron
5. Leatherman Micra Multi-Tool
Available from:
Leatherman | Amazon
6. Benchmade 533 Mini Bugout Folding Knife
7. Nite Ize DoohicKey Key Chain Knife
8. Kershaw Chive
9. Opinel No.06 Pocket Knife
10. Zero Tolerance 0022
Backpacking Knife and Multi-Tool Guide
What do need it for?
Before you buy an ultralight folding knife or multitool for backpacking or outdoor use, think about what you will be using it for and what capabilities it should have. Do you want a knife to open freeze-dried food packages and resupply boxes, or a pair of scissors, which is better for shaping moleskin, cutting bandages, and blister protection tape? A multi-tool can also be very useful for other types of outdoor recreation and work, from working with small motors to adjusting ski and snowboard bindings. If you want a knife to practice bushcraft skills or skin game, we’d recommend choosing a larger, sturdier knife designed for those uses.
Legal blade length
The nice thing about folding pocket and EDC-sized knives and multitools is that they’re usually legal when you cross from one state (USA) to another. Be sure to check the blade length limits and knife concealment laws in your state or city, if any. A 2″ blade (or less) will be legal in most states. Note, it’s still illegal to carry a knife in most federal, state, and local government buildings, schools, and of course airplanes.
Loss prevention
Most small knives and multitools have a clip, lanyard hole, or ring that lets you attach them to your keys, clothes, or backpack. If you’re backpacking, you’re going to want to keep close track of your knife/tool, because they’re very easy to lose. We also suggest you get a knife with a brightly colored handle, so it stands out if you drop it on the ground.
Edge types
Many EDC knives are available with straight edges or serrated edges. For simple tasks like opening packages, cutting tape, or slicing cheese, a straight edge is preferable. Serrated blades are much more appropriate for heavy-duty tasks like skinning games or processing wood, although you’re unlikely to do much of that with these short blades. Straight edges knives are also much easier to sharpen.
Blade shape
Most of the knives listed here have what are called drop points, clip points, and spear points which are all excellent for EDC-style knives where a pulling action is used for cutting or slicing. On a drop point blade, the blade point drops down below the blade’s spine creating a curved cutty edge called a belly. It is one of today’s most widespread blade shapes because it’s a great all-purpose blade. On a clip point, the blade has the appearance of having the forward third of the blade “clipped” off. The clip itself can be straight or concave. This shape is also good for pull cuts but improves the knife’s ability to stab into objects like fruit or large vegetables. On a spear point, the spine and edge meet symmetrically in the middle of the knife. This shape is great for pushing/thrusting and gives the blade an extremely strong tip. The Swiss Army Knife Classic is a perfect example.
Opening system
Small knives and multi-tools are available with different opening mechanisms. The most basic is a nail nick where you lever the blade open with a fingernail. There are also assisted opening systems with thumb studs or a flipper, which is a metal extension found at the back of the blade near the pivot.
Lock types
Locks keep folding knives blades in the ‘open’ position so they don’t fold back and cut you. The most common locks are a frame lock and a liner lock. A frame lock is very strong and built into the handle of a knife, snapping into place behind the blade so it can’t pivot back. Another common lock is the liner lock which is a spring-like lock inside the handle. As the knife is opened the liner springs into place under the blade forcing it to lock into position. The liner has to be depressed to close the knife.
Weight
When it comes to small multi-tools and fold pocket knives, anything that weighs less than 2 oz is going to disappear into your pocket or be a cinch to attach to your backpack. As we said earlier, you don’t need a big knife for backpacking when a small knife or multi-tool is more than sufficient.
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For a low cost option and a knife that I have used for years, both hiking and on the farm check out a knife in the camping dept. at WalMart. It’s a folding knife with a black nylon handle, a 2.25″ serrated, locking blade and weighs a mere 2oz.. The handle had a hole for attaching a lanyard, a belt clip and a button on the blade for easy one-handed opening. And cost only $1.97.
I know some people have a negative option of products from WalMart, but I’ve used these knives for years. I have probably a dozen of these knives, in my car, my EDC bag, backpacks, jacket/pant pockets, tool box…..
At $1.97, you don’t need to go looking for a knife, you can one in every place you may ever need one.
I think you mean this one.
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Ozark-Trail-Stainless-Steel-Navaja-Pocket-Knife/19801134
It’s serrated, so it’s wouldn’t be my first choice. It’s also 3.1″ long, according to Walmart, so you start backing up against what’s legal in certain states. It’s an Ozark Mountain product, which I’ve always found to be pretty “eh”, but as you said, you can buy a dozen and leave them all over the place.
That’s the one.
Size would be a problem in some states, depends on how much traveling you do.
As far as performance, I’ve never had one break and I use them everyday, cutting bales of hay open, all types of task and at $1.97 I’m not worried about breaking it, so I’m hard on them.
Love my Opinel, especially after I learned how to open it by rapping it against my knuckle instead of using my thumbnail.
My go to is the Style CS by Leatherman. The main thing that sets it apart for me is the bottle opener carabineer that makes it incredibly convenient and easy to clip to my pack strap or belt loop quickly without having to fumble around for it. Plus it’s nice to be able to pop a top if necessary. Only two downsides for me are that it isn’t a locking blade and I do wish that it had pliers. The Style PS would be my ideal backpacking multi tool if it had a blade in there somewhere since it has the pliers, but they made it bladeless so it is TSA friendly.
Love the SOG key ring is very handy to have and is probably my most used sharp edge when not in the back country since it is always right there attached to my keys. Also have probably a half dozen of those Gerber paraframes in random drawers from random purchases over the past 15 years. Great little knives.
I try to ultralight backpack. Age and back problems have shaped me thus but now I get a kick out of the idea of being without something and that makes for an adventure. I carry the Buck Ultralite 444U (yeah it’s from the ‘90s). The knife and sheath are 2.8 oz and then I have the Swiss Army mini classic in my first aid kit – mostly for the scissors and tweezers. That Buck has held a great edge and is easy to clean but is a two hand open. Anyway great article and discussion – thanks!
One note on the Opinel. It’s not the most appropriate knife for wet conditions, because of the wooden handle. When it gets wet, the wood tends to swell, tightening around the blade and making it difficult to open and close safely
Have you considered oiling the wood?
My kids gave me an Opinel a few years ago and man can it slice! Great for cheese and hard salami because it’s so sharp and the blade is nice and thin. But as you say, it takes two hands to operate., and it’s a somewhat more complicated process than with a lockback like the light and compact Spyderco Dragonfly 2, which I also have. My favorite for backpacking, though, is the Benchmade Mini Bugout with aftermarket orange scales. I bought it before you could get one that way from Benchmade. Why is it my favorite? Most importantly because it can be operated with one hand both opening and closing. It seems much safer that way, particularly for closing.
It really is a very well made knife. But that’s true of most of their knives!
The Gerber LST (2 sizes) is another nice option
The Gerber LST is a longtime favorite of mine. Strong and light with a hole for a lanyard. Slim and fits in the pocket very easily.
https://www.gerbergear.com/en-us/shop/knives/all-knives/lst-22-06009
In every day use and while backpacking, I use the pliers as much as I use the knife blade. The pliers are great for untying knots, picking up hot items, threading straps through buckles, etc. I wrote Leatherman and told them if they added the carabiner end and tweezers that’s on the Style CS to the Squirt PS4, they’d have the perfect backpacker’s multitool.
I have a Style PS that’s really nice for backpacking, however it doesn’t have a knife blade. I may supplement it with something from this list.
When small multitools intersect with personal disorganization, the multitools seem to run off and hide. Now, if I could just find my Squirt PS4, all I’d need to do is use the tweezers from my medical kit!
Spyderco Ladybug price seems off..more like $40+?
Smart shopper trick – try it in all colors. Some colors are very inexpensive, like $14.
Spyderco also has a line of knifes that are less expensive than their top line. Know as Byrd, an alternative for those on a budget.
I carry the Byrd Finch as a neck knife, which is similar to the Spyderco Ladybug but for less money.
I like the Baladeo 27g knife for hiking. The blade is actually long enough to cut fruit, cheese, salami. The blade is even longer than the Opinel, the largest in this list. It’s also very easy to clean. I also carry a Swiss Army Classic for the scissors and tweezers, but it stays in my first aid kit.
https://amzn.to/3zhdcoT
3″ knife – same legal issues as mentioned previously.
I actually prefer a more substantial knife.
I use the same thing, though sold under the name Deejo colour 27g here. Its minimalistic but well built, handles great and has a clever design with a locking blade. Substantial enough for opening meals, cutting tinder for a fire or sharpening sticks (in case one have lost a tent peg…) among others.
However, for long trips an oldfashioned opinel is unbeatable because the soft metal it is so easy to sharpen, even on a flat piece of rock.
The trick to opening the Opinel one-handed is to tap the bottom corner facing down on a surface and the blade pops out enough to open with one hand. It’s not as easy to do as some of the more modern knives, but I remember buying my first Opinel as a kid and the knife dealer showed the trick to me – he explained it was designed that way so it could be opened one-handed (compared to the other folding knives like Buck and Swiss Army which required two hands).
Consider the Derma-safe Folding Utility Survival Knife- extremely sharp, less than $2, 8 gm.
https://amzn.to/3lyLAqz
That thing looks like an ER visit waiting to happen. Non-locking blade and without a real handle. No, I don’t consider that piece of plastic something I’d want to grip while cutting into something with any amount of force.
I’m not a UL person trying get every last gram out of my weight and for that reason I go the 2 knife route. A Spyderco Centofante (2.5 oz, full size blade) and the Swiss Army Classic for it’s multi-function. My pocket knife I want single handed open/close ability on a locking blade and something that can be sharpened (no serrated blades).
Can’t imagine reaching into my pocket for one of those either. I like my fingers where they are.
Generous to call that a knife.
Derma-Unsafe?
I carry the Swiss Army Classic for normal camp chores and the utility knife goes in the repair/first aid kit for things like field appendectomies. What cutting tasks do you perform that require one handed operation and a locking blade?
Field appendectomy? Now I have to know what an appendix looks like before I go hiking?
One handed operation – recent example – I pulled back a zipper and a bunch of threads came lose from the stitching that needed to be cut. Could I have let go of the threads with the hand that hand them, take off my pack, dig for knife, use both hands to open it, go searching for the threads again and cut them? Yes – easier to keep hold of the threads, grab the knife from my pocket, flick it open and cut.
Blade lock? I just personally think it’s a requirement as a safety feature. YMMV.
If I was to recommend a 58 mm or 65 mm Victorinox multi-tool, I would support the Rambler over the Classic SD. It has the same 2-layer width with the same 3 implements but adds the combination bottle opener/small 3-D Phillips tool. There is a 0.4 oz weight penalty, which is minimal, but you get a useful extra tool that doesn’t add volume.
But personally, I would rather carry medium 85 mm or 91 mm multi-tools. There are too many options, but I like the Evolution Grip series like the EvoGrip 14 because they’re one of the few medium-width and length tools that includes a nail file. If you want the normal scales option, the Mountaineer is similar. I think having a larger knife and scissors for less than 3-4 oz is more handy than the small size Victorinox tools, especially if you carry the knife in a pack pocket instead of pants pocket. I’ve rotated through the Climber, Hunstman, and EvoGrip 14, and am carrying my new Outrider on most hikes to test out how I like the larger locking knife and saw. On my camping vacation in Idaho in July I loved having the large locking blade and scissors in camp for meal prep and eating, but the saw didn’t get much use since my friend’s relatives brought chainsaws and axes.
Who needs a puny Swiss army knife when you have a chainsaw!
Yup, the people in Idaho camp a little different.
A multitool is worth the extra ounces.
Pliers, scissors, two blades, multiple screwdrivers, wire cutters, file, saw.
If you can do without pliers, the Gerber Curve is another useful very small keychain knife. Best part is it’s got a bottle opener on it for us aspiring craft beer snobs. LOL
For #2, I suggest the SAK Ambassador instead of the Classic. The knives are identical (same blade/tools), except the Ambassador is slightly larger. I find the few extra grams worth it to get tools that are a little more functional, especially for fat-fingered hikers like me, especially the scissors. The ones on the Classic are soooo small for me. The ones on the Ambassador are much more functional.
I carry the Gerber Dime micro multitool. It weights in at 2.2 oz and also had a scissors. About half the price of the squirt but .2 oz heavier.
Recently picked up one of these – though I’ve yet to field test it, I’m pretty impressed with the fit and finish of it for a whopping $18.
The Gerber Paraframe Mini is dangerous because of its flawed design. The holes in the handle look great and certaibnly make the knife lighter but they are too large. When the blade is closed you can even touch the blade’s cutting edge with your fingers. This means when you have it in your pocket it can inadvertently cut through it if fabric gets caught in it and you can cut yourself when pulling it out. Watch out!
I have a Gerber Paraframe and it’s too heavy. Now I use a tiny Gerber lockblade that looks like the Nite-Ie Doohickey keychain knife.
The Victorinox is great, because it also has a pair of scissors, which are really great despite their small size. I also bring a Deejo from Deejo.com. This is a very light but great knife for when I want to cut vegetables or sausages when cooking. The naked small version is just 27 g/ one ounce, has a clip to attach it to your shirt or pocket and there is a lock to prevent it from closing unintentionally. It has a longer blade then most of the small knives in this list and it is razor sharp and cuts really well, which, in the end, is the most important thing.
A couple suggestions that I hope will not offend:
Next time, please get a knife person to vet the article — there are a number of points that would need to be addressed.
The best solution for states with rules like nothing over 3″ is simply never to go there. If you have to, get some of these cheap knives for use when there. Then you can return to real kit once having cleared the borders of the slave state.
Backpacking sometimes involves using wood for various tasks including for warmth, enjoyment, expanding available technology beyond what can be reasonably carried, and cooking. Folding knives should not normally be considered acceptable for most such usage. Saws and small hatchets/axes come into play as well.
A lot of bushcraft “practice” is in the medical sense rather than the piano sense.
This gear has been refined such that some of what is available is quite lightweight, especially given the vast expansion of backcountry capabilities.
I’m sorry but an AXE or a Hatchet falls outside the ULTRALIGHT category.
Thanks to this article for leading me to Opinel. However, there is a more functional option than the No.6. The Opinel No.8 Outdoor. Weighing in at 1.5oz it is only 0.3oz more than the No.6 from this article. For such a small increase in weight it has many more features including a longer blade, serrated edge, whistle and non-slip handle. An ultralight approach is not exclusively about the lightest option but selecting the most functional per ounce. The No.8 Outdoor compared to the No.6 is a superior ultralight knife.