Gerber Ultralight LST Review

The Ultralight LST is truly tiny and light. The ultra-simple construction keeps things feathery, compact, affordable, and functional. There isn't even a fingernail slot in the blade. You open the LST by pinching the blade between your fingers. This works just fine, but we mention it to note just how streamlined the design of this knife is. For any human-powered adventure where a blade is seldom used or only employed for light-duty tasks (backpacking, rock climbing, bike packing, etc.), this Gerber is the best we know of. Where ounces count, choose a knife that weighs less than one. Our scale clocks it at just over half an ounce. That's well below the weight of one carabiner or a few cashews. You won't dig this knife for elaborate car camping food preparation, but for the occasional application like cutting tent cords or whittling an improvised fork (our lead test editor probably forgets his backcountry eating utensils more times than he remembers them) the Ultralight LST is our Top Pick.

Performance Comparison

Every ounce counts while backpacking. The Ultralight LST virtually disappears in even the lightest pack.

Photo: Jediah Porter

Blade and Edge Integrity

Gerber makes about a zillion knives and tools with blades. They do so all through the lower range of consumer budgets. All their blades are more than serviceable, but none are sophisticated. The Ultralight LST blade fits this very description. Gerber shapes it from a budget level, proper knife steel called "420HC". It adds mere pennies to manufacturing costs, as compared to the generic material you would find in a "flea market" knife, but adds significant performance. It'll hold an edge through an extended backpacking trip, but take a new edge with commonly available sharpening implements.

The Ultralight LST blade is a little thicker, with a steeper edge angle, than we would expect in such a tiny knife. As compared to other tested minuscule knives, this Gerber has a more robust blade. We like this. Only fractions of a gram of steel are required to beef up the blade the Gerber has, but you get noticeably greater edge integrity and blade confidence. For light prying and other "off label" uses of the LST's blade, you will further appreciate the sturdiness.

The tiny handle of this Gerber isn't particularly suited to whittling. Nonetheless, it can be pressed to do the job.

Photo: Jediah Porter

Ergonomics

A tiny knife is harder to use. In your balled-up fist, the Gerber LST almost disappears. For most cutting tasks you will be manipulating this Top Pick with your fingers. You can't expect a half-ounce knife to handle extended or heavy-duty applications. You carry this knife for its minimal functionality and minimalist form and mass.

Even though it is tiny, the handle of the Ultralight LST is textured and contoured to optimize grip and control. Get right into it with some precious fresh backcountry tomatoes for your luxurious improvised pico de gallo and the texture near the knife pivot will lend traction and control. The butt of the handle is contoured to give your meaty fist a little more purchase in stouter tasks. As mentioned way above, the blade opens by pinching it between your fingers. This works fine, unless something in the equation is slippery. You might struggle to grab that blade with oily or sunscreen-covered fingers.

Some texture and contouring lends a little stability to holding the Gerber, but it will never work like a much bigger knife.

Photo: Jediah Porter

Portability

The numbers tell the story. Half an ounce and just over 2.5 inches long is tiny. This thing will disappear into even the most crowded backpack or pocket. If anything, the knife is so tiny that it is easy to lose. A colorful bit of string as a lanyard makes it easier to see.

It is for ultimate portability that you choose this Gerber. It is also for ultimate portability that we grant it our Top Pick Award. Vociferous members of our test team have long sought a truly functional, but tiny knife for human-powered adventures. The Ultralight LST is exactly that.

This thing is truly tiny. It is as small as we'd recommend for adult hands to manipulate.

Photo: Jediah Porter

Construction Quality

Gerber isn't known for making super tight gear. None of what we've tested from them tops the heap in terms of construction quality. They hit a price point, and make fully serviceable gear, but it's a little sloppy. The Ultralight LST is in that category. We are going to allow some construction compromises for something so light and small. You don't need something this small to be strong enough to pry open a can of paint. You don't need something this small to be strong enough to chop through a piece of oak flooring.

Nonetheless, it seems that Gerber could have made this knife the same weight, size, and cost but still made it a little more robust. In use, we can feel the plastic handle flexing. It flexes torsionally and the two sides of the hollowed-out handle bend toward one another as you squeeze the handle to hold on. The main pivot, right from the beginning, has a little wiggle in it. Again, it all totally works. But it wouldn't hurt to be a little tighter, across the board.

The only way to open the Gerber is to pinch the spine of the blade. There is no fingernail slot for slipperier times.

Photo: Jediah Porter

Other Features

There are no other features on the Ultralight LST.

You pick this knife for its compact stature and lightweight. When you pare it down this far, getting other features in there has significant costs.

Value

The Ultralight LST is a great bargain. Sure, you could spend a few dollars less and grab a similar-sized knife from a plastic bin at the hardware store cashier counter. With that unbranded knife, you will get what you pay for, plus maybe a little beaded key chain. With the Gerber, you get more than you pay for in terms of portability and blade integrity. It'll hold up to normal and light use, but you might suffer a bit for trying to force it into a more robust application.

For exploratory rock climbing, a knife on the back of your harness has some major advantages. The Gerber LST is just the ticket for this. All it needs is a piece of string through its lanyard hole.

Photo: Jediah Porter

Conclusion