Usually, I don’t carry a knife. Sometimes I carry a Derma-safe which is little more than a razor blade in a folding case. Good for cutting lines and maybe cheese or sausage. $2.25 and .27 ounces. Mine was a gift from my wife.
From the boy scouts on I’ve had Swiss army type knives. Spoon, fork and everything else. I’ve also owned pocket knives until 9-11 made them extinct and had a backpacking folder that was too heavy. I and knives have a long history going back to the 1960s.
For long trails I’ve since gone to no knife on the thesis that I can put “no knife” in carry on luggage and I really don’t use a knife for anything on the trail.
The alternative to no knife or a minimalist knife is the Petzl backpacking/climbing knife at 1.5 ounces for a full sized functional knife. Look at the Spatha at the official Petzl website.
It comes I n multiple colors—not just blue. It is also well known as a climber’s knife.
I’m still ambivalent about carrying a knife. On the one hand it is part of the essential list for wilderness hiking. On the other hand it is something that I always plan around not having/needing/using and you can’t carry them on an airplane.
If you want alternatives you can find lots of lists of “best backpacking knives” on line. Usually they recommend knives that weigh more than these two and/or cost much, much more.
Of course, you guessed it, most of those lists are designed to talk you into buying something so the “reviewer” gets a kickback from affiliate marketing.
They never recommend the smallest knife I discussed. $2.25 really isn’t enough for those guys.
Now they will send you to the same thing that costs more. $25 for the same sort of knife you can buy for less than a tenth of the price? No surprise, the expensive and heavy version gets recommended.
As an alternative there are Swiss Army knives. An excellent one includes scissors and a tooth pick. Many people swear by them. I’m not going to disparage them if they are your jam. I’m just not a fan, but many people are.
There are some honest people. At this link there is someone talking reason on knives
Bottom line, if you want full function the Petzl is a great deal. People will try to sell you on knives that cost twice as much. Or $153 for a knife that isn’t any better than the $29 Petzl. Or $159 and heavier with a shorter blade —so more expensive and not as good.
I don’t see the purpose in paying more to get less?
Yes. I was given a Petzl in a color different from my wife’s. So, maybe I need something to cut cheese with while backpacking.
Time will tell.
Again, for honest comments and thoughts about knives read https://pieonthetrail.com/ultralight-backpacking-knife/.