CRKT Mount Shasta Review

Name: CRKT Mount Shasta
Brand: CRKT

CRKT Mount Shasta Review (CRKT Mount Shasta) — CRKT Mount Shasta
Credit: CRKT

View at CRKT

Price: $47 List

Manufacturer: CRKT

By Jediah Porter ⋅ Review Editor ⋅ Sep 29, 2013

Our Verdict

From their “summit” series, the CRKT Mt Shasta knife is purpose-built for backcountry carriage. While the other knives in our test are manufactured for “everyday carry” in civilization or wherever your day takes you, the Mt. Shasta knife attempts to appeal to the back-country traveler. As a result it is compact, lightweight and very durable. Our tested model plunged many hundreds of feet from a wilderness rock climb and continues to work smoothly. However, the small form-factor is more difficult to grip during heavy usage. The ergonomics of usage, especially as compared to Editors' Choice award winner Benchmade Mini-Barrage 585 are far inferior. If you are looking for a compact, lightweight knife with excellent durability, consider the offering from CRKT (Pronounced “cricket;” this acronym stands for Columbia River Knife and Tool).

REASONS TO BUY

Light

Compact and durable

REASONS TO AVOID

Fiddly in hand and hybrid blade

Our Analysis and Test Results

The CRKT Mt. Shasta is a well-built, small, and useful pocket knife. The hybrid blade will appeal to many users and the blade locking mechanism, while unnecessarily complicated for most, will be perfect for some users.

Performance Comparison

crkt mount shasta - backcountry steak knife duty for the crkt mt. shasta. life testing... — Backcountry steak knife duty for the CRKT Mt. Shasta. Life testing for OutdoorGearLab is rough. The blade is excellent for cutting steak, and the fully open frame cleans out easily.
Credit: Art Flynn

Blade and Edge Integrity

crkt mount shasta - close-up of the hybrid/straight blade of the mt. shasta. the bulk of... — Close-up of the hybrid/Straight blade of the Mt. Shasta. The bulk of our testers prefer fully straight blades (which CRKT makes too), but many will appreciate the hybrid design in some settings.
Credit: Jediah Porter

As noted in our pocket knife buying advice, the hybrid straight/serrated blade of the Mt. Shasta brings inherent compromises. Like any tool attempting to serve a variety of purposes, hybrid design will cut some corners in the interest of versatility. However, for the user looking to regularly cut rope or webbing while using the same tool the rest of the time for routine tasks, this hybrid design could be just the ticket. Rock climbers take note. Other than the two different edge types on the blade, our testers found little notable about the CRKT's blade. And that is a good thing. The edge consistently did its job.

Ergonomics

The CRKT Mt. Shasta is small. And feels small in usage. Like all the knives in our test, portability and ergonomics scores are direct competitors. If your needs emphasize portability, consider the CRKT Mt. Shasta. The one-hand opening design of the Mt. Shasta works reliably from either hand. The location of the pocket clip requires that the user pulls it from her pocket and then reorients the entire knife before deploying the blade. Only the Benchmade knives worked smoother in this regard. The blade of the Mt. Shasta locks open and then the lock locks open. In other words, fully unhinging the blade allows a standard “liner lock” to snap into place, holding the blade open. And then, a sliding finger stud can be deployed to add an additional locking mechanism. This seemed unnecessary to our testers. And in application, the secondary locking mechanism regularly slid inadvertently into place. Closing the knife from “double locked” status requires two hands and a few steps.

Construction Quality

As indicated above, the CRKT received perhaps the most vigorous durability assessment in our entire test. The knife was dropped hundreds of feet from a back-country rock climb in Kings Canyon National Park. Not only did we recover it from the base, it remains fully functional after the mega plunge. Hinges, locking mechanisms,- and knife handle pieces all remain intact and operating smoothly.

Portability

Only the Victorinox Classic SD Swiss Army Knife and Gerber STL 2.0 Fine Edge weigh less than the Mt Shasta. Both of these smaller knives are far less useful for heavy cutting tasks. Of the knives we tested, the Mt. Shasta is the most compact knife equipped with a pocket clip. If this is your preferred method of carry, yet you use a knife very seldom, the CRKT is a top contender.

Best Application

Select the CRKT Mt. Shasta for back-country trips and rock climbing, especially if you may also carry it for every day usage in a pocket.

Value

Given the reasonable price and remarkable tested durability, the Mt. Shasta is an incredible value. The hybrid blade design makes it more difficult to sharpen, which may compromise long term function. However, if you employ a professional sharpening service, or put in the time to learn to sharpen the serrated portion, this can be a moot point.

Conclusion

The CRKT Mt. Shasta pocket knife is a well-made, compact piece of equipment. All aspects of its construction hold up to rigorous usage. The small size and overly complicated locking mechanism make it a little more difficult to use, especially for quick tasks.

Other Versions and Accessories

CRKT 14K summit series

Similar version with a longer blade length

Weight - 4.2 ounces (a little heavier than the Shasta)

Blade length - 2.875 inches

— Jediah Porter