PETZL Spatha, Yellow, UNI

Product Information

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.

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. For emergency use, the small blade was effective if not exceptional in all our tests. The stainless steel handle makes the Piranha a couple grams heavier than the NIAD, but it’s barely noticeable, and the Piranha is just as comfortable on a keychain. 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.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 two (the CRKT NIAD and Trango Piranha) are small, ultralight emergency knives with metal handles and no sheath. The greatest asset of the Piranha is its price. As of this writing it ties the Edelrid for the cheapest in the test and is less than half the price of the NIAD. For comparable emergency performance, that’s a good value. If you want an emergency knife but balk at the price of the NIAD, the Piranha is a worthy replacement.

All four knives have clip-in points and/or lanyard attachment points. The Spatha and Rope Tooth can be opened while clipped to a carabiner, but the Piranha and NIAD cannot. Size, Weight, & Intended Use placed after 3pm on a Friday or at a weekend or on a Bank Holiday will be processed on the next working day Two ways to open the blade: with the notch in the blade if bare handed, or with the textured wheel when wearing gloves. Like the NIAD, it has a small divot at the base of the blade to allow you to pinch the knife as you cut. The handle is even shorter than that of the NIAD, which means that for those of us with large hands, only the first two fingers can grip the handle. For emergency knives, the choice comes down to price. The NIAD is significantly more expensive, but offers slightly better performance in a more usable design. The Piranha isn’t quite as user-friendly, but it’s a decent performer at a wallet-friendly price. How We Tested The Rope Tooth’s unpredictable ways made for a slightly dangerous test.Two of the knives (the Petzl Spatha and Edelrid Rope Tooth) are larger and more usable, with handles that function as sheaths.

A good balance of weight and blade length with a reasonable price makes this our all-around best climbing knife. Most survival references consider a knife the most important piece of equipment you have. There are a lot of deaths that could have been avoided if a blade was handy. But anyway... We will not be held liable for any consequential loss caused by late or failed deliveries. Timed deliveries / Saturday & Sunday deliveries

By nature of its size, the NIAD isn’t nearly as effective for all-around use, but it can manage in a pinch. Plus, the Piranha has one feature that no other knife could match — a bottle opener for popping open a summit beer. Any customer information held on our computers complies with the rules and laws contained within the Data Protection Act 2018. Choosing a climbing knife comes down to a few basic considerations. Main Features: Handle Material & Blade Length

Full-length knives (Spatha and Rope Tooth) use plastic handles that also function as a sheath when the knife is closed. The handles are still compact, but they allow for an easier and more familiar grip. Lighter than many of the knife options on this list, yet comes with nine different tools–including screwdrivers, scissors, knife blade, and pliers. Long, heavy-duty blade with fiberglass, nylon, and rubber handle makes for a great long-lasting knife for multiple uses. 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

Royal Mail will ask to see a valid photo identification if the recipient appears to be under 25, in line with the 'UK Challenge 25' policy, and a signature will be required upon delivery. Notch in the blade helps you open it with bare hands while the textured wheel allows you to open it with gloves on.