Most remarkable was the sheer cutting power: the Spatha sliced through most varieties of webbing in just one or two strokes. Please note that inflatables such as sleeping mats are not considered as faulty if they become punctured during use and are not covered by the manufacturer's warranty in this event.

By nature of its size, the NIAD isn’t nearly as effective for all-around use, but it can manage in a pinch.

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While it’s heavier than the CRKT NIAD by 26 grams (less than the weight of a typical wiregate carabiner), having a true handle means that the Spatha is much more usable for everyday and camp tasks. And although the Rope Tooth’s blade is a hair longer, the Spatha has a slightly longer handle, which helps it sit securely in larger hands. We will not be held liable for any consequential loss caused by late or failed deliveries. Timed deliveries / Saturday & Sunday deliveries Both styles have their place, but all climbing knives earn their salt in self-rescue scenarios. To make sure each could serve to clear away tat or cut loose an injured climber, we used all four to chop up a variety of connectors from webbing to dyneema to cord. It didn’t perform quite as well in our testing, but it still got the job done on every type of fabric we could throw at it. Long, heavy-duty blade with fiberglass, nylon, and rubber handle makes for a great long-lasting knife for multiple uses.

It’s combination straight and serrated long 2.75 inch blade makes it useful for any scenario you might encounter. White Glove Delivery is available on many lawnmowers & other highlighted products and is offered free to customers within a 30-mile radius of our showroom. Learn more. 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. 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.

How to Choose the Best Climbing Knife for Your Needs

We destroyed a heap of webbing and cord to find out which climbing knife will cut when you need it most. The results were clear: The Petzl Spatha outclassed the competition in almost every way.

If you want an emergency knife but balk at the price of the NIAD, the Piranha is a worthy replacement.Smaller blades (Piranha and NIAD) are less friendly for general use. While the full-length blades have both serrated and un-serrated sections, the shorter blades are almost entirely serrated. That’s great for cutting cord but less adaptable to other tasks.