In the quest for the lightest pack, many adventurers are stumbling across Baladeo’s 22G knife. As itsname suggests, it weighs only 22 grams. Can a backpacking knife this “ultra light” actually get the job done?

A knife of this caliber certainly isn’t going to chop down a tree, and cannot substitute for a survival knife.What it’s great for are things like food preparation, cutting rope, and smaller tasks more suited to apocket knife. With few moving parts, and great accessibility, the knife is extremely easy to clean.

Granted, the 420 stainless steel is not known for being the most durable on the market. Yet we found the knife to perform effectively under all normal circumstances. Shaving the tip of a stick forthe fire, slicing up some rope and twigs, cutting through fresh fruits and veggies, the 22G proved very serviceable.

Unlike many knives, the 22G is nothing more than a handle and blade. With no sheath, the blade pivots into place on a single bevel, and rests flush against the handle. With such an ever-exposed blade, wewere concerned that the knife would be prone to accidental disengagement. However we experienced no faults with the locking mechanism and the knife consistently worked as intended.

Almost anybody that uses this knife will find some difficulty in opening the knife one-handed. It is really not designed to be opened with one hand, although I didn’t find this to be a huge negative. The lightweight and convenience of the knife far outweigh this detraction. The blade on the Baladeo 22G isabout three inches long, and when folded the entire knife measures about the same.

Bottom line, we tested the knife over a couple months and found it to be durable, resilient and effective.With its handy belt clip, it’s a very versatile knife that you’ll barely know is with you. Bears will fear you, and at $25, how can you go wrong?

–Josh Turner produces and hosts the web show CampingGearTV.com, featuring camping andbackpacking gear reviews, interviews with outdoor industry leaders, and special series.