Gerber Ultralight LST Review

Cons: Flexible construction, tiny
Manufacturer: Gerber
Our Verdict
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Gerber Ultralight LST | |||||
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Awards | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | |
Price | $16 List | $160.00 at REI | $130.00 at REI Compare at 2 sellers | $68.14 at Amazon | $84.00 at Amazon |
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Star Rating | |||||
Pros | Tiny, lightweight, good sturdy blade | Great blade, classy wooden handle | Incredible blade quality, assisted open, perfect combination of compactness/functionality | Beautifully constructed, assisted open, good value | Big blade, excellent steel, four pocket clip positions |
Cons | Flexible construction, tiny | Expensive, no assisted opening function | Pricey, blade lock mechanism not intuitive | Slender handle makes it hard to apply even pressure, thin blade is fragile | Bulky pocket carry, slim handle in use |
Bottom Line | Our Top Pick for occasional use on any outing where weight and space are at a premium | A compact yet "full size” pocket knife for day to day use and all but the heaviest of tasks | A high end construction of a knife carefully tuned to optimize portability and function | This thin knife disappears in your pocket, tackles most tasks, and is easy on your wallet | A long-time classic, enduring for its solid design, significant customization options, and continuous improvements |
Rating Categories | Gerber Ultralight LST | Benchmade 15031-2 North Fork | Benchmade Mini-Barrage 585 | Kershaw Leek | Spyderco Delica 4 |
Blade And Edge Integrity (30%) | |||||
Ergonomics (20%) | |||||
Portability (20%) | |||||
Construction Quality (20%) | |||||
Other Features (10%) | |||||
Specs | Gerber Ultralight... | Benchmade 15031-2... | Benchmade... | Kershaw Leek | Spyderco Delica 4 |
Weight (ounces) | 0.5 oz | 3.2 oz | 3.4 oz | 3.1 oz | 2.3 oz |
Blade Style | Drop point, straight | Drop point, straight | Drop point, straight | Drop point, straight | Clip point, straight |
Blade locks closed? | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
Opening Style | Finger pinch | Ambidextrous thumb-stud | Assisted, ambidextrous thumb stud | Assisted, ambidextrous thumb stud. And back-of-knife finger tab. | Ambidextrous Thumb hole |
Lock Mechanism | Lock back | Proprietary (Axis) | Proprietary (Axis) | Frame lock | Lock back |
Carry Style, in addition to loose in pocket | Lanyard hole | Pocket Clip | Pocket Clip and lanyard hole | Pocket Clip | Pocket Clip and lanyard hole |
Blade Material | 420HC steel | CPM-S30V stainless steel | 154CM Steel | Sandvik 14C28N | VG-10 Stainless Steel |
Handle Material | Plastic | Stabilized wood | Plastic | 410 stainless steel | Plastic |
Blade Length (inches) | 1.6 in | 2.9 in | 2.9 in | 2.9 in | 2.5 in |
Closed Length (inches) | 2.6 in | 3.9 in | 4.0 in | 4.0 in | 4.1 in |
Overall Length | 4.5in | 6.9 in | 6.9 in | 7.0 in | 7.0 in |
Thickness (w/o pocket clip) (inches) | .3 in | .5 in | .6 in | .3 in | .4 in |
Other Features or Functions | None | None | None | None | None |
Our Analysis and Test Results
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Conclusion
The Gerber Ultralight LST is the knife you need for backpacking or other human-powered outings. If you need a blade on non-consumptive endeavors in the wild, this will do what you need to do. Look elsewhere for everyday use, for hunting and fishing, and for any tasks that involve extensive prying or heavy cutting.
— Jediah Porter