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Should you carry a knife when you climb?

Cliffhanger · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jan 2015 · Points: 5

A knife is absolutely necessary to at least have with you. It should be on you when doing multi pitch. I once had one open in my pocket after taking a hard bouldering fall. So orientate the clip for "tip up" so the edge of your pocket keeps it closed. Also, preferably use a knife with a strong detent.

beensandbagged · · smallest state · Joined Oct 2013 · Points: 0

Doesn't take PHD to see where a knife might be handy, probably be smart to carry one, if for nothing else the right knife will open up beer bottles easier (granted not much) than a carabiner, on an average day I do not think you will die without one.

crom · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Mar 2015 · Points: 25

Without a knife, how is one going to fend off the dreaded Kodiak Marmoset?

Ray Pinpillage · · West Egg · Joined Jul 2010 · Points: 180

Take your Arcteryx shoe money and buy a Benchmade 940-1. Titanium, carbon fiber, S90V, 3.0 ounces total weight.

Aleks Zebastian · · Boulder, CO · Joined Jul 2014 · Points: 175

Climbing friend,

Yes, you must be carrying a knife for definite. You must be defending against the ledge-bears that may drop from above on climbs of multiple pitch.

Billcoe · · Pacific Northwet · Joined Mar 2006 · Points: 930

"Tape a razor blade inside your helmet"

This is great advice. The other alternative is tape the blade and put it in your zippered pocket on your chalkbag along with your mini-lighter, headlamp and piece of papertowel (ie, either toilet paper or firestarter)

Alternatively, cheaper and lighter than a Benchmade 940 but more than a razor blade, the Piranha Knife comes in at 20 grammes and $20. Less than an ounce. Has a detent to stay closed, and will fit on a biner if so desired.

mattm · · TX · Joined Jun 2006 · Points: 1,885
Ray Pinpillage wrote:Take your Arcteryx shoe money and buy a Benchmade 940-1. Titanium, carbon fiber, S90V, 3.0 ounces total weight.
+1 - Best folding EDC knife out there. Period.

I don't climb with mine mind you. For that I use a razor blade wrapped in some plastic and taped. Costs nothing, weighs nothing.
Austin S · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Feb 2012 · Points: 0

I Use the Trango knife and just leave it on the biner I use to attach my chalk bag to my harness. It's always there when I need it but doesn't get in the way or require a separate dedicated carabiner on my rack. I also find that it is better than a razor blade because it has some serrations, which can be helpful when cutting cord for a rap anchor or something like that.

Austin Eddy · · Chattanooga, TN · Joined Apr 2013 · Points: 11

On the route? No.

Ray Pinpillage · · West Egg · Joined Jul 2010 · Points: 180
mattm wrote: +1 - Best folding EDC knife out there. Period. I don't climb with mine mind you. For that I use a razor blade wrapped in some plastic and taped. Costs nothing, weighs nothing.
Goes great with a suit too.
Ray Pinpillage · · West Egg · Joined Jul 2010 · Points: 180
Aleks Zebastian wrote:Climbing friend, Yes, you must be carrying a knife for definite. You must be defending against the ledge-bears that may drop from above on climbs of multiple pitch.
Defend your most enjoyable flash!
ChrisV · · Denver · Joined Dec 2007 · Points: 0

If the first scenes of Vertical Limit aren't enough to show how necessary it is to carry a knife, I don't know what is.

Patrick Shyvers · · Fort Collins, CO · Joined Jul 2013 · Points: 10


Benchmade 5 hook. Goes through nylon like butter, will never stab you.
flynn · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Feb 2002 · Points: 25

I always have a tiny Swiss Army Knife in a pocket or pack pocket. It has scissors and a 2" blade, both super-sharp; goes through old tat like it's hot butter. The blade is a little short for cutting thru a stick of salami, but since we usually carry jerky, it's not an issue.

Jared Scheid · · Boulder, CO · Joined Jun 2013 · Points: 65

I usually have my gerber multi-tool in my pocket. I've used it on sport climbs to tighten down loose hangers on at least 2 occasions.

Creed Archibald · · Salt Lake City, UT · Joined Apr 2012 · Points: 1,016
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My gf got me the trango shark nut tool. So far I've only used the nut tool for cleaning nuts and and the knife for cutting cheese and sausage. Not exactly life threatening, but I still like the piece. It's heavier than my old nut tool, but I'm okay with it.
Bill Kirby · · Keene New York · Joined Jul 2012 · Points: 480

I carry a knife attached to a bail Biner on the routes I think might bail from or if I know the rap station needs replacing. I do the chalk bag with cord instead of a biner or belt on those routes also.

A knife might be good for those fist fights everyone's been getting into lately.

LindsayH · · Kingston, NY · Joined Jun 2014 · Points: 55

Yes. Last weekend I was rapping off of a climb. My long hair was tucked into the back of my shirt, but a chunk of it came loose and got tangled in the atc. Fortunately, I was right at the ledge of the next rap station, so I was able to stand up, get a little slack in the rope and untangle my hair. If it had happened higher up, though, I would've been screwed. I know, total rookie mistake. And one I'll probably never make again, but I'll also always have a knife with me just in case.

en.r · · Ojai, Ca · Joined Dec 2012 · Points: 55

I was once at the base of a multi, when someone yeld rock. After finishing the route and walking off back to the base , we found out it was a folding knife. The 3 inch blade was found open, almost ten feet from where we were racking up.

Callum Douglass · · Boulder, CO · Joined May 2013 · Points: 233
beensandbagged wrote:Doesn't take PHD to see where a knife might be handy, probably be smart to carry one, if for nothing else the right knife will open up beer bottles easier (granted not much) than a carabiner, on an average day I do not think you will die without one.
I have found that a Petzl Ange S works beautifully at opening beers! The nose hooks on one of the edges of the cap, and the back of the gate rests on the other side. Easy!
Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

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