We liked ones that offered a variety of carrying methods. The Havalon Evolve is a little bigger than the Skeletool or Crucial. Furthermore, the interchangeable blades and blade changing tool take up space. Havalon ships the Evolve with a zip-closed carry case that holds the tool, extra blades, and blade-changing tool. The whole package is bulkier than most, while the pocket-clipped Evolve alone is sized somewhere between the Skeletool and Charge. Having a diminutive-yet-tough design, the Gerber Dime virtually disappears on a keychain.
Out of the tools that include full-size features, the Leatherman Skeletool CX is the most portable. It accomplishes this by adding fewer features and offering virtually all of the most common carry options. The Skeletool has just a few features, but each is nearly full size. The external profile of the closed Skeletool is smooth; there is an integrated carabiner-style clip and a smart pocket clip.
Similar portability is available with the Gerber Crucial. The Skeletool and Irwin 5WR can be purchased with or without a sheath. The Leatherman Crunch is best carried in the included sheath or loose in your pocket.
Models like the SOG PowerAssist and the Surge are large and are therefore only really feasible to carry them on-person in their sheaths.
GearLab is founded on the principle of honest, objective, reviews. Our experts test thousands of products each year using thoughtful test plans that bring out key performance differences between competing products. And, to assure complete independence, we buy all the products we test ourselves. No cherry-picked units sent by manufacturers.
No sponsored content. No ads. Just real, honest, side-by-side testing and comparison. Best Multi-tool of We put the best multi-tools from brands like Leatherman, Gerber, Victorinox and more through a gauntlet of real-world tests. Photo: Jenna Ammerman. Share this article:. Our Editors independently research, test, and rate the best products.
We only make money if you purchase a product through our links, and we never accept free products from manufacturers. Learn more. Related: Best Pocket Knife of Top 21 Product Ratings. Displaying 1 - 5 of Leatherman Skeletool CX. Leatherman Signal. Leatherman Free P4. Show full specification details Hide full specification details. Functions 9. Sophisticated materials and construction. See all prices 2 found. Functions 5.
See all prices 3 found. Functions 8. Functions 4. Functions 7. Extended, centered bit driver. Functions 3. Score Product Price Our Take Leatherman Surge. SOG PowerAssist. Victorinox SwissTool Spirit X. Havalon Evolve. Gerber Center-Drive Plus. Leatherman Crunch. Leatherman Wingman. SOG Baton Q4.
Gerber Dime. Gerber Crucial. Leatherman Squirt PS4. Gerber Vise. Gerber Suspension Multi-Plier. Irwin 5WR Vise-Grip. Vehicle issues are stressful enough, especially in remote areas. Stack the odds in your favor when any sort of mechanical breakdown is likely and consequential by carrying a multi-tool and just the most rudimentary mechanical knowledge. One-handed, externally accessed blades are the only way to go on a high-end multi-tool now. The SOG Baton flips the script on typical multi-tool format.
The Havalon tool is pretty simple but requires some accessories. Notably, the readily changed blade configuration requires carrying extra blades, a tool to make the change, and cases for all the parts. Yes, this is the very start of a campfire. All that was required was dry grass and the parts of the Leatherman Signal. It didn't even require any special skill or patience.
We shouldn't be surprised when a multi-tool includes a multi-surface blade serrated and straight. We wish these blades were all straight, but we must be in the minority in this desire. Leatherman brand tools, especially their higher-end versions, are works of art in many ways. The construction quality of this Free P4 is near immaculate, making it a joy to use. We recommend you don't work on the regulator of your backyard propane tank.
But if you must, do so with a handy and effective multi-tool, chosen with our advice. Budget choice Leatherman Wingman. One of the corners-cutting measures they take is to equip it with a blade smaller than would fit. Here you can see the end of the blade and the extra room they leave "on the table".
The Gerber Center Drive is innovative but a little rough. The machine-finished edge had a visible line of burrs at initial purchase. This is easily remedied with home sharpening, but shouldn't be necessary.
This image shows the proprietary Leatherman bit driver. As new, the blade faced the wrong way. We took some time and initiative to modify this product and have come up with a much better, more usable, configuration with no conceivable drawbacks. This photo shows the geometry of the Gerber Center Drive bit driver.
It is a subtle thing, but that it aligns with the center of the handle really makes it easier to use. For real handiwork, there is nothing like locking pliers. The Irwin Vise Grip is locking pliers with a knife blade and bit driver integrated. The Leatherman Surge is heavy duty and user-serviceable for extended electrical work. One of the saws of the Leatherman Surge, in action on a plumbing project. We love pocket clipped multi tools.
Havalon came screaming out of the gates with their first product, nailing many of the performance and usability attributes we like best. Some of the "keychain" sized multi-tools we tested. On the left, Leatherman Squirt PS4. On the right, the Gerber Dime. Learn More. Titanium handle, S30V steel blade, modular portability, full functions. Compact, light, with multiple carry options, smart, effective tools.
Comprehensive, well-made, aftermarket accessories and carry options. Versatile and comprehensive outdoor tool kit. Easy tool and plier deployment, Leatherman pedigree. Proprietary bit driver, no pocket clip included. Specialized components, independent parts can get lost. This exceptional product is equipped with almost every imaginable tool, organized and optimized for compact function.
A multi-tool that optimizes ergonomics and portability by reducing the tool set to the most important ones for daily use and carry. A full-function tool from a great manufacturer at a reasonable price. A purpose-built, specialized tool for outdoor adventure and wilderness survival, while also serving purpose around the house.
A classic multi-tool with a major usability twist. Leatherman Skeletoo Needlenose, regular, wire cutters, hard-wire cutters, crimper. Many bits included, with more available aftermarket for proprietary driver. More available aftermarket for proprietary driver. Pocket, Pocket clip, carabiner clip. Clever and clean, with only a few tools, all of which are executed well for everyday carry. For outdoor adventures and wilderness survival considerations, we don't know of a better tool than the Leatherman Signal.
This tool pulls no punches: it optimizes for function at the cost of portability. Lots of features; some of them are truly innovative while others are curiously redundant drivers and others are curiously small blade.
While credit card-sized multi-tools certainly have limitations over traditional multi-tools, many users claim they offer all of the functions they need — in a pinch. Across the board, the best multi-tool company is almost certainly Leatherman. The peace of mind Leatherman owners get from a year limited warranty is also something that no other manufacturer has yet managed to compete.
Thanks to its incredibly high construction standards, 18 multi-function tool selection, and competitive pricing, the SOG multi-tool stands up well to extreme conditions and extended use. Of course, if you have a higher budget and need more tools, certainly look at the line-up for Leatherman Multi-tools It includes the 12 functions I use most and generally only need in an everyday carry EDC tool.
Weight — At only 9. Leatherman tools are generally considered the best quality, with SOG held in the highest regard as the best Tactical Knife Multi-tool, but Gerber tends to win out in terms of the best value multi-tool. As with many purchasing decisions, the real question is what you personally want and need in a multi-tool.
Overall, we recommend the Leatherman Surge as the best all-around multi-tool. With the Surge multi-tool, you get 21 functions , to handle anything that comes your way.
In our Best Value category, we recommend the Gerber Suspension multi-tool , a fantastic lightweight 12 function multi-tool that will offer you great features at a price practically anyone can afford.
You can even choose from 7 different colors! While the best multi-tool for you may be one of the other items on our list, the four mentioned above stand out as our overall favorites.
This is the ideal blog for information when looking for tools — in and around the home and yard. Thanks, Danny. Danny — Glad you like the site and hope you found exactly what you needed! Thanks, Kevin. Thanks for an awesome post. Thanks again James. Table of Contents Show Contents. Runner Up: Leatherman Wingman. Best Multi-Tool for Cyclists: Crankbrothers. What Is a Multi-Tool? Who Invented the Multi-Tool? Who Makes the Best Multi-Tool? Conclusion 3. Kevin Send an email Last Updated: January 3, 3 1, 11 minutes read.
It easily cut through any rope we set it to, in one motion—even old-school heavy sisal rope. For smaller, precise cuts, we were able to press the sharp, flat tip of the blade, straight through rope without sawing at it.
A bottle opener that functioned as expected in testing sits below the flat screwdriver blade. The last tool is a marlin spike, normally used to facilitate loosening tight knots, which it actually does quite well.
However, we also found it quite useful for poking holes in materials like canvas or soft wood, widening holes, and aligning holes when assembling things.
Score: 4. The other unusual feature is the slide-out pliers, with replaceable three-sided blades for the wire cutter. We did notice a little play in the pliers and sliding mechanism—we had to knock it a little for that—but the pliers, cutters, and wire stripper did work well enough.
Both plain and serrated knife blades were quite sharp and capable of carving and cutting into wood and branches. The bottle opener was effective, although it did cut into the cap a little due to its slim width. Other than the plain knife and driver, the other tools require sliding open the pliers and pulling them out from between the handles, which is awkward at times.
The included sheath facilitates slipping the Center-Drive over a belt or through a backpack strap. One of the best is the needle-nose pliers, which tapers to a fairly fine point to get a grip in tight spaces.
It also features replaceable edges on the wire cutters and has smooth, rounded edges on the handles. The cutters are effective on fine telephone wire or gauge copper wire, as well as harder steel bailing wire. If cutting through wood is important to you, the saw blade is up to the task. As for maple branches and scrap 2 x 3-inch lumber, it hewed cleanly through both.
While the standard file was adequate, we found the diamond-coated one specifically worked very well for fine jobs, like smoothing burrs on metal edges. The bits on both are reversible, with standard and Phillips tips on opposite ends. The smaller bits are perfect for emergency eyeglass repair; the larger will work for many average screws. We found the scissors worked well, although they were a little finicky when opening or putting them away—they need to be opened completely to store, rather than closed.
This is the case with Gerber's Armbar Drive. We have to admit to becoming quite fond of it, with its svelte minimalist frame featuring three main tools. As a pocket knife-based multitool, it features a full 3-inch, locking plain blade.
The side opposite the blade features a hex bit driver and scissors. The driver features a reversible bit in a magnetic holder—we love this because you get legit flat and Phillips screwdrivers that just plain work, no compromises. The scissors are a bit larger than those found on other models, and were easy to control cutting out intricate shapes from paper to medium cardboard.
Between the scissors and the driver is a sharp, narrow awl. We were able to use this to drill holes in wood and plastic, but it works well, as intended, to poke holes through leather and canvas. The long-nosed pliers worked reasonably well, as did the wire stripper, and we rated the wire cutter four out of five. The can and bottle openers worked OK, as did the various screwdrivers. The plain knife blade was sharper than it looked and easily cut through rope and twine. The RoverTac multi-tool comes with a sewn nylon sheath to attach to your belt.
The SOG Powerlock features a clean, smooth design with rounded edges and tool frame covers. We were able to open it with one hand and found it very comfortable to hold. The Powerlock has true needle-nose pliers machined down to a nice point, the jaws of which meet very tightly and accurately, making it easy to grip small things. The wire cutter and stripper also work very well, earning a 4. Most of the other tools performed up to snuff, with the bottle opener, can opener, awl, scissors, and ruler all scoring four.
The partially serrated knife was very sharp and cut through several materials easily. The saw blade was a surprise—its aggressive teeth made quick work of maple tree branches. We liked the simple-to-operate locking system, although fishing the tools out from under the frame cover was occasionally awkward.
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