XS Scuba FogCutter X Dive Knife Review

By
Andrew Goad
Staff writer at DIVEIN.com
Andy has been an avid diver for many years, honing his skills and passion for the underwater world. As an instructor, scientific diver, and technical diver,...
Rebecca Strauss
Editor at DIVEIN.com
Rebecca has been an avid traveler and scuba diver for many years. She began her editorial career by updating travel guides, which took her all over...

Do you ever go out on a dive and need a knife, scissors, and a line cutter? We can think of a few dives where having each of those tools would have come in handy. Now, with the XS Scuba FogCutter X you can have all those tools in one piece of equipment.

This tool features two cutting edges, a straight edge, and a serrated edge, not to mention a line cutter, medical grade shears, and a pipe grip all built into a multi-tool dive knife. With either a blunt tip that doubles as a screwdriver in a pinch or a pointed tip, the FogCutter X is like having a Leatherman for diving.

Let’s dive in and take a look at the XS Scuba FogCutter X dive knife.

About this review

To help you find a Dive Knife that will fit your needs, we’ve tested, researched, and reviewed the best ones available today.
We test both in the water, diving in various conditions - and in our lab - so we can give you accurate answers on quality, performance, and the overall value.

Read about our test of Dive Knifes

Recommended in: Dive Knife

Things we like:

  • Multiple cutting instruments
  • All edges are sharp
  • Easy to get in and out of the sheath
  • Can get pointed or blunt tip
  • Good price point

Things we don't like:

  • A little large
  • A little heavy

XS Scuba FogCutter X Spec Breakdown & Features

Measuring right at 9 inches—4.75 inches (12.1 cm) on the blade and 4.75 inches (12.1 cm) on the handle—the XS Scuba Fogcutter X is a relatively large knife. While weight is not specified by the manufacturer, it is on the heavier side.

But, it has to be a little heavy to fit everything in one knife. The Fogcutter X has a straight blade, a serrated blade, a line cutter, shears, and a pipe grip. The Fogcutter X comes with either a blunt tip or a pointed tip. The blade is made from 420 stainless steel, meaning it holds off corrosion and rust.

If you like a bigger knife, another one of our favorites is the Promate Sharp Tip Titanium dive knife, with a fixed blade and a comfortable grip.

XS Scuba FogCutter X Impressions

I do a lot of outdoor activities, and one tool I love to have with me is my trusty Leatherman multi-tool. It doesn’t take up much space, and it has a ton of uses. That’s why I really like the FogCutter X. It’s like having multiple tools in one, the same as my Leatherman, but built for the dive industry.

During our testing phase, the FogCutter X was easy to get in and out of the sheath, even while wearing thick gloves. The lock mechanism is easy to use with a simple squeeze. It is an ambidextrous design, but it definitely feels more comfortable inserting the knife the same way every time.

It’s not the best cutting knife on the market. The straight edge struggled with both the 550 paracord as well as the dock rope. The serrated edge handled the 550 paracord, but wasn’t able to cut the dock rope. The shears/scissors portion cut through both very well.

The FogCutter X is a little large for my taste, especially in a multi-tool design. I’d rather it be more of a back-up type knife, but to each their own. If you are like me and want something smaller, check out our review of the Mini FogCutter.

My personal recommendation is this: At this price, the shears are worth it, but spend a little extra to either have the straight edge professionally sharpened or do it yourself (if you know how).


Do we recommend the XS Scuba FogCutter X dive knife?

We do recommend the XS Scuba FogCutter, but with a few caveats. At the price, it’s a good knife to have around. The straight edge is pretty dull, so if you’re willing to spend a few bucks to get it sharpened it would be worth it.

The scissors/shear is great. We’d actually probably recommend that the FogCutter X be a boat deck tool for this alone. It would be beneficial in an emergency to cut off gear and even wetsuits.

It’s a little big and heavy, but if you’re used to a bigger knife then you won’t have any problems. We tested the drop-point version, but after testing, we suggest going with the blunt tip. That’s just one more piece of a tool you could utilize.

To see how the XS Scuba FogCutter X stacks up against the rest of the knives we tested, check out reviews of all the knives we tested.


Specs & Features

Fixed or foldable fixed
Blade length 4.75 in. (12.1 cm)
Handle length 4.75 in. (12.1 cm)
Weight not specified by manufacturer
Blade type straight, serrated, scissors, pipe grip
Blade material 420 stainless steel
Handle material plastic
Blade tip drop-point or blunt
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