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Last Updated: August 3, 2019
It has been a long time since I have examined a DPx Gear product. You may recall a review done on the HEST back in 2012. This was DPx’s first effort, and is the knife that put them on the map. The HEST is a solid tool and is well made, but there was a lot going on in terms of integrating various multi-tool features. There is nothing wrong with attempting to push the envelope and bring something new to the table, but the HEST was a DPx’s first crack at bringing a production knife to market.
Buy the DPx Gear HEAT/F at BladeHQ
The HEAT is a more recent offering. First of all, this is a knife, not a multi-tool. I happen to like that. The idea was to shrink down the HEST to something a little more gentrified and pocketable, yet retain the distinctive styling of the HEST. I have long had an affinity for “little big knives”, and I still enjoy pocket knives that are small but stout. Sadly I have little use for a knife like the HEST in my day to day dealings, but the HEAT is something I could get away with carrying. I suspect I am not alone with that dilemma, which is why I was curious to get my hands on a HEAT.
General Dimensions and Blade Details
The HEAT has an overall length of 6.25″, a 2.375″ blade, weighs 4.15 ounces (4.35 for the full titanium version shown here), and is made in Maniago, Italy. The knife was made for DPx Gear by LionSteel. Clearly the HEAT was designed to fit into the role of an every day carry (EDC) piece, although it is very stout, and is not just built for opening up letters or slicing fruit. I have been carrying and using mind in as an EDC knife.
My particular knife is the full titanium 3-D machined version. The 3-D machined handles are stunning. DPx also offers the knife in a less expensive titanium/G10 combo and a titanium/carbon fiber version as well.
The blade is a simple drop point with a high flat grind and your choice of stonewashed or phosphate coated blade. Blade thickness is just shy of 4.6mm – very thick, especially for a sub 2.5″ blade. While the HEAT does not slice like an Alox Cadet, I found it plenty adequate to cut up apples, break down boxes, and even open the odd letter or two. Still, those expecting their pocket knife to produce translucent slices of tomato will have to look elsewhere – the HEAT is simply not that kind of knife. I’d say it slices better than a Strider SnG, but still remains below average in slicing ability. That said, the blade is above average in toughness and the integrated cap lifter / wave feature is a testament to that.
DPx went with Niolox steel, a steel I checked out in reviewing the Blackwater knives a few years ago (since discontinued under the Blackwater brand, but apparently rolled into DPx Gear’s regular lineup). When I tested those knives I found that Niolox held a good edge that was tough yet easy to maintain – an ideal balance for a largish fixed blade.
This is my first experience using Niolox on a folder. This is a servicable steel. It takes a very fine edge, holds it respectably, and is not difficult to sharpen. I might describe it as a tougher 154CM or CTS-XHP, which puts the steel in excellent company. A good choice for a tough little knife that doubles as a bottle opener. I had no issues with corrosion. Like all of my EDC knives, I find it is best to maintain the edge regularly rather than wait for the knife to dull completely. Between my strops and fine Sharpmaker stones, I have had no trouble maintaining a hair shaving edge on my HEAT/F.
I know the knife is also offered in Sleipner steel and D2. I have heard good things about Sleipner but confess that I do not have much hands on experience with it. D2 is perhaps a more well known US tool steel. It’s a hearty “semi stainless” steel that has high toughness but can be difficult to sharpen. I’d go for Niolox or Sliepner if I had the option.
Handle, Ergonomics, and Pocket Clip
The standard HEAT arrives with G10 and titanium handles. The lock side is full titanium, while the show side is your choice of green or black G10. My version features full 3-D machined titanium handles, featuring a beautiful diamond pattern. LionSteel is known for their ridiculous machining capabilities, and this all Ti version of the HEAT/F takes full advantage of that. The handles are curved, contoured, and wonderfully finished. Rounding things off are 3 standoffs (one for the pocket clip), an oversized pivot, and a removable carbide glassbreaker.
The HEAT is a comfortable knife. The handle is a good deal larger than the blade, which is a very practical way to design a smaller knife. I’d rather there be plenty of handle and a smaller blade than vice versa. The blade features an extended ricasso that helps form an integral guard, and the fingers rest naturally in the deep swooping finger choil. There is jimping on both the spine of the blade (very mild) and back of the handle (more aggressive, but still comfortable), and there is additional jimping towards the pommel for your ring and pinky finger. I used my HEAT for some fire prep. Now that things are starting to cool off a little in Florida, I tend to gravitate towards the back yard for fires and cigars. This knife is comfortable and you can get real work done with it.
DPx went with a deep carry pocket clip. Like the original HEST and many LionSteel folders, the clip is mounted on the absolute butt of the handle, and is configured for right side tip up carry only. I wish they would have allowed for ambidextrous carry. Being a lefty I always like to see ambidextrous clips, and think it could have been done without too much trouble with this style of clip. That said, the clip is precision machined into the handle, and the end result is seamless.
The clip has good retention and the knife buries deeply in the pocket. The HEAT carries well for a smaller, heavish knife. I quickly forget it is in my pocket until the time comes to use it. There is a small DPx skull logo on the clip, which won’t be to everyone’s taste, but is no different from virtually every other clip in my collection (they almost all have logos). I don’t mind it. All things considered the clip and knife is discrete; just the way I like things.
Deployment and Lockup
The HEAT gives you the option of ambidextrous thumb studs or bottle opener / wave feature to get the blade open. The thumb studs are simple and situated so that it is easy to get the blade open, and the blade rides on teflon washers. The action is smooth and the blade snaps open with a crisp and satisfying feeling. The wave works well if you want it to and carry the knife in your right pocket. I carry the knife in my left pocket, so I generally do not make use of the wave. That said, as part of the review process I waved the knife open dozens of times. It works as you would expect it to, with no ill effects on the lock (more below).
The blade of the HEAT is secured by a titanium frame lock. My lock engages early (around 40%). There is a slight amount of stick – not enough to make disengaging the lock obnoxious, but enough to make for a snug and secure lockup. I detected zero blade play in any direction after weeks of carry and use. Although I am generally not a big fan of wave openers, I made a point to wave this knife open regularly and the lock shows no ill effects. Blade centering on my knife is close to perfect.
DPx HEAT Review – Final Thoughts
The HEAT is probably my favorite knife in DPx’s catalog. I am a sucker for small high quality knives. The HEAT strikes a good balance between being a carryable cutting tool, and being overbuilt and aggressively styled. Although Robert Young Pelton and DPx Gear are a relative newcomers to the cutlery industry, his eye for design is undeniable, and the lines of the HEAT flow pleasantly whether the blade is open or closed. This is an interesting riff on the original HEST/F design, and is a step forward if you ask me. The bells and whistles of the original HEST/F have been stripped away to showcase a well designed knife that retains both personality and performance.
That said, the HEAT will not appeal to everyone. The overbuilt blade and full titanium handles come at a cost – the knife has some heft to it, and it will not slice like a slip joint. This is for someone that enjoys overbuilt folders, but doesn’t want to be bogged down with a 3″+ blade and 5 ounce+ footprint. I enjoy the HEAT/F for what it is. It has been well considered, and beautifully executed. The fit and finish is excellent and the materials are top notch.
If you like small overbuilt knives, the HEAT is well worth considering. I am curious to see how DPx Gear will continue to evolve their line of folding knives.
- Folding Knives, Knives & Tools
If you want to buy a DPx Gear HEAT, I recommend purchasing it at Amazon or BladeHQ. Thanks for checking out the review.
Good read. I’ve been very interested in this knife. What are your thoughts, visually, on the Blackwashed/shredded carbon fiber version?
Thanks, Daniel. I think it’s the most attractive offering they have. That’s my favorite version.
Dan
Another nice review.
DPx HEAT/F definitely has a niche. I have three of them. My First Run is with Sleipner. My smoothest one is the one you have with the diamond pattern all titanium with Niolox steel. My latest one is the Shred CF also with Sleipner. I use the all titanium one for best looks and easier extraction from the watch pocket. It’s a handy little beast but you need to carry a slicer as well. The closest competition to it would be Spyderco Techno. If you went slightly larger I’d say Zero Tolerance 0900.
LionSteel uses Bohler K110 for their D2. It uses Bohler’s cross-rolling technology that produces a fine, uniform grained steel. One of the best D2 steels for knife blades. Easier to sharpen.
Thanks, Ramin. That is interesting to hear about their D2. I will need to experience that first hand to get a better feel for it. I always thought that D2 had the potential to be a great steel, but has fallen short for me; most notably with the Benchmade 710.
Dan
Great review, as always.
I have to say, after your teaser about the Boker Urban Trapper on the last GGL, I was eagerly awaiting that review and was a little disappointed when I saw a new review up and it was a DPX instead.
But after reading this, I am more interested in the Heat than I realized. I like the size and looks more than anything else in the DPX catalog, and the blade shape is reminiscent of the spyderco leaf-shaped blades (excluding the heat’s thick stock). I really need to get a lionsteel knife or one of the lionsteel-produced dpx knives one of these days – they all look amazing.
Thank you, Ameer. The Boker Urban Trapper is up next. It’s excellent, but I’m taking my time with the review.
LionSteel makes great stuff and they have done a beautiful job with DPx’s pieces. I think they have come a long way since the original HEST folder, and their SOLID knives are just insane. Well worth examining, and you can find great deals on the secondary markets for them.
Dan
Dan,
Thanks for another fine review.
I have mixed feelings about the HEAT and my other Lionsteel- DPX folders. You correctly point out that the HEAT opens easily.
The same is not true of disengagement. Yes, I can close it one-handed. But my HEAT is so stiff I often find myself gritting my teeth. It is not a folder I’d care to fidget with for long. Repeatedly closing it gives me a sore thumb.
Yes, it opens with a nice solid thwack. And it is small enough to EDC although it’s not light weight. It’s rock-solid sturdy, but the blade wouldn’t be my first choice to slice an apple.
Lionsteel knows how to make beautiful products. It also knows how to make a folder that closes easily.
I know because I ordered a Lionsteel SR2 Ti directly from Gianni and requested that he pick one that disengages easily.
He did, and I was and still am delighted. He should do that more often. Or regularly for that matter.
Thanks again for another enjoyable read and useful review.
Michael,
First of all, my pleasure. Thank you for the kind comment.
I did notice significant lock stick in my original DPx HEST 2.0 (and if I recall correctly I pointed it out). On the HEAT, there is a slight amount of stick, but nothing like on the HEST (and not to the point where it hurts my thumb to disengage the lock). And thankfully they left out the roto-lock on this one, which only seemed to get in the way and interfere with disengagement of the lock further on the HEST.
That said, I would not be surprised if there were some HEATs out there with locks stickier than mine, and some less sticky – given production variances and all of that stuff, there are bound to be slight differences. A steel insert would likely fix this or perhaps carbidization of the lock face (I won’t pretend to know much about the practicality of that, or what the net result would really be), and I think it’s a valid piece of constructive criticism and your comment adds value to the review. Finally, sorry to hear your lock is on the sticky side – I assume you have tried applying graphite, sharpie, etc to the lock face? My stick is so slight I haven’t bothered with it (and actually prefer the little extra friction).
Best Regards,
Dan
Dan,
My HEAT isn’t “sticky” in the sense that most people think of the term — like Ernie Emerson’s knives that routinely seem sticky out of the box.
Mine opens smoothly but is really stiff when disengaging. It was that way out of the box and remains so months later.
Most of my Lionsteel and DPX folders are that way. The exceptions are my LS SR2, the one I ordered directly from Gianni and asked him to pick out one that closes smoothly. The other exception is my new LS TRE that I had to return to Gianni because it flipped so poorly.
LS makes really beautiful stuff, and I’m sure that the folks there have the ability to fix this issue if they want.
Michael,
That is very strange. I assume you have tried adjusting the pivot and/or disassembling and cleaning the knife? I have never heard of a folder being smooth when opening, but stiff closing. I might suggest sending that in to DPx for some warranty work.
Best,
Dan
I have the above knife with a G10 scale and love it as it fills the little-big-knife niche I need in certain instances. The one thing this knife offers that I could do without–actually, whose removal I think would significantly improve this knife–is the bottle opener. I suppose because I’m not a drinker I haven’t even come across a bottle needing one in a long time I don’t see the importance of having a bottle opener handy–especially not in a survival situation. I carry an SAK for the random conveniences and single-purpose folder or fixed blade to serve that single purpose. As a wave it only sporadically works for me depending on which pants I am wearing. As I’ve had it for several months and any stickiness I may have noticed is gone I unless I use it unusually hard in which case it will be quite difficult to disengage.
Chris,
Thanks for stopping by. I would be curious to hear how you think removing the bottle opener would significantly improve the knife. I ask because they just removed excess material, so it’s not like it adds weight or something to the knife. I will say that I have used the bottle opener a few times and when I did I found it wasn’t the best bottle opener.
Dan
I think it would improve the knife allow my thumb to slide down the spine for the sake of precision without worrying about the sharp tab of the opener gouging my thumb. Also, aesthetically, I think it would be a huge improvement as I am a (somewhat grumpy) minimalist who doesn’t like unnecessary flourishes. I still do think it’s a great knife in spite of the opener.
Chris,
Both strike me as very valid points. Thanks for sharing.
Dan
I just received my Heat 3-D in the mail today and I like the knife but have some issues with it. Comparing it with my Techno, the action is not as smooth and the lock stick is more than I would like at this price. I’m hoping the lock stick issue will loosen on breakin and although I haven’t taken it apart I don’t believe my knife has bronze washers. Are you sure they are not Teflon or nylon? I will be taking it apart soon, maybe a good cleaning and lube will smooth out the action. The knife appears to be well made and visually it looks great. I just wish it was as smooth as my Techno out of the box.
Peter,
You are absolutely right on the teflon washer comment. I am not sure why I stated phosphor bronze in the review. At any rate, my knife is very smooth. Maybe a cleaning and fresh application of lubricant will help. Mine was very nice right from the factory.
As for the lock stick – sorry to hear that. Mine still sticks a little, but nothing like my original HEST 2.0. That one was very sticky. Anyhow, thanks for stopping by and enjoy your HEAT/F.
Dan
The bottle opener is secondary to what the cutout is used for. If you pull the knife toward the rear of your pocket (right pants pocket), it will open the blade consistently with a little practice every time.
It also allows you to lift a pot with wire bail if camping etc.
I bought one of these beautiful knives (HEST/F) secondhand. Super sticky lock. The sticking was happening because the blade/lock interface had a sharp edge and corner of hard steel jamming against a much softer piece of titanium. Filing the steel so that there’s no sharp edge at the contact point fixes the issue. It took some time–that’s a heck of a hard piece of D2.