Ultralight
“It’s just the bones of a knife,” says our tester, “but that’s all I needed. The Baladeo 22G cut like a hot blade through butter when I sliced yards of cord while rigging five tents in Utah. It’s not as stable as a heavier knife, of course, and it’s possible to accidentally release the locking mechanism when tightly gripping the handle. But I never cut myself, and those are small tradeoffs for a full-size, three-inch blade this sharp and light.” $30; .8 oz.; baladeousa.com
See all “essential” reviews from the 2011 Gear
Guide