The Marmoset is the smallest knife Vosteed sells that still counts as a knife rather than a keychain ornament, and the new AEB-L run makes it more interesting than it was. It is a 2.20-inch cleaver in a full-tang build, priced at $49.95 in G10 and $51.95 in the Dark Aurora resin, with a revised sheath clip.
Everything about the geometry is scaled for the fifth pocket. The cleaver shape puts the edge almost parallel to the handle, so the knife draws through material instead of slicing across it, which is why it works so well on tape, clamshell packaging and paracord. Chamfered scales soften the edges of the G10 so the handle does not fight your palm on a choked-up grip, and the dual-tone option gives the little knife a color break that reads bigger than it is.
AEB-L is the upgrade that matters here. It is a fine-grained Swedish stainless that takes a very keen edge and holds a working one through a day of box recycling, with enough corrosion resistance to live in a pocket or a damp sheath without spotting. It is also one of the easiest steels to touch up on a pocket stone, which is a real consideration for a knife this small, because a short edge dulls faster in absolute terms than a long one.
Against the $69 ESEE Izula or a Candiru the Marmoset is cheaper and shorter, with less grip for a full hand. Against a Victorinox or a small Opinel it is a fixed blade, which means it does not fold on you and it does not need a lock. The one honest comparison in Vosteed's own lineup is the Raccoon 2.0 at $69.99: the folder gives you a 3.17-inch blade and a lock for twenty dollars more, while the Marmoset gives you a lighter, simpler tool that lives on a belt or in a pouch.
Verdict: buy it as a second knife, a neck knife for a hiker, or the fixed blade you hand someone who is scared of folders. Skip it if you need a four-finger grip or if you only carry one knife, because 2.2 inches is a task tool and not a general one.
We earn a commission if you make a purchase through these links, at no extra cost to you.