Carrying a knife while climbing might seem strange, even unsafe. But there are many reasons for having a knife, especially on multi-pitch or alpine routes. Some common uses include cutting old webbing from existing rappel stations, cutting new webbing for rappel stations, first aid, cutting a stuck or damaged section of rope, or even just for cutting meat and cheese for lunch. While many of these scenarios might not happen very often, when you need it, it’s critically important. For this reason, pretty much every professional climbing guide considers a knife an indispensable part of their climbing kit. There are lots of options out there for climbing knives. Here’s our list of the top climbing knife options on the market, sorted by category, to help you find the very best climbing knife for you.
| Knife | Price | Weight (grams) | Buy Now |
|---|---|---|---|
| Petzl Spatha | $30 | 43 | Amazon Backcountry |
| Trango Piranha | $20 | 20 | Trango |
| Edelrid Rope Tooth | $20 | 48 | Backcountry Amazon |
| CRKT Jettison Climbing Knife | $40 | 17 | Amazon |
| Trango Barracuda | $25 | 82 | Amazon |
| Spyderco Snap-It Salt | $92 | 68 | Amazon |
| Gerber Remix | $34 | 62 | Amazon |
| Leatherman Squirt PS4 | $39 | 57 | REI Amazon |
| Razor Blade | $1 | 5 | Amazon |
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Best All-Around Climbing Knife
Petzl Spatha
Price: $30
Weight: 43 grams
Blade length: 2.75 inches
What we like:
- It’s combination straight and serrated long 2.75 inch blade makes it useful for any scenario you might encounter.
- Notch in the blade helps you open it with bare hands while the textured wheel allows you to open it with gloves on.
- A good balance of weight and blade length with a reasonable price makes this our all-around best climbing knife.
Buy Now: Backcountry Ι Amazon
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Best Lightweight Budget Option
Trango Piranha
Price: $20
Weight: 20 grams
Blade Length: 1 inch
What we like:
- 440c Stainless steel serrated blade is incredibly strong.
- At 20 grams, you’ll barely noticed the Piranha is there, until you need it.
- At $20, it’s an obvious choice for our best climbing knife for those on a budget.
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Best Budget Option with a Longer Blade
Edelrid Rope Tooth Knife
Price: $20
Weight: 48 grams
Blade Length: ~3 inches
What we like:
- 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.
- Blade locks into place when opened, but can be closed one-handed.
- Large attachment hole allows for easy attachment with a carabiner to a harness or backpack.
Buy Now: Amazon Ι Backcountry
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More Long Blade Climbing Knife Options
Spyderco Snap-It Salt
Price: $92
Weight: 68 grams
Blade Length: 2.96
What we like:
- Built in carabiner clip allows for easy attachment to your backpack, harness, or belt loop.
- Great choice for climbers looking for an everyday knife they can also take climbing.
- Long, heavy-duty blade with fiberglass, nylon, and rubber handle makes for a great long-lasting knife for multiple uses.
Buy Now:Â Amazon
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CRKT Jettison
Price: $40
Weight: 127 grams
Blade Length: 3.26
What we like:
- Titanium handle means it is extremely strong but still lightweight.
- Loop can fit small cord to keep it attached to your harness.
- Frame Lock keeps the knife secure when folded.
Buy Now:Â Amazon
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Gerber Remix
Price: $34
Weight: 119 grams
Blade Length: 2.9
What we like:
- Large circular ring for easy handling and clipping into a carabiner.
- Aluminum handle for strength and corrosion resistance.
- Half serrated blade for versatility.
Buy Now:Â Amazon
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Best Multitool for Climbing
Leatherman Squirt PS4
Price: $39
Weight: 57 grams
Blade Length: 1.6 inches
What we like:
- Lighter than many of the knife options on this list, yet comes with nine different tools–including screwdrivers, scissors, knife blade, and pliers.
- Key ring attachment makes it easy to carry on a harness, in a pack, or on your belt.
- Great for use during longer alpine climbing trips where you might need multiple tools.
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Bargain Hunter’s Favorite
Razorblade
Price: ~$1
Weight: ~5 grams
Blade Length: 1.5 inches
What we like:
- Maybe the best climbing knife isn’t a knife at all, but a razorblade. Create your own climbing tape pouch (make sure its thick and holds the razorblade snugly) and store it in your chalk bag, climbing pack, or even in your helmet.
- Super cheap and lightweight it’s a no brainer for those on the fence about even carrying a knife.
- Easy to set up and forget about until you really need something that can cut.
Buy razor blades on Amazon Ι Buy climbing tape at REI
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