Multi-tool V2
Glendora Starr
If you are seeking a larger multi-tool, yet one that is extremely easy to use, we recommend the Leatherman Free P2. The Free P2, released in 2019, is an entirely new design for Leatherman. With its handles closed, all of the tools can be accessed with a single hand, a unique feature in the world of multi-tools. You can even deploy the pliers one-handed, with just a flip of the wrist. After we tested the Free P2 for several weeks, other full-size multi-tools, such as the classic Leatherman Wave+, started to feel clunky and laborious to open. The Free P2 is over 2 ounces heavier than the Skeletool CX, but it has a slender, streamlined design and comes with a pocket clip. Although it has more weight to it, we never found it unwieldy or awkward to carry.
This guide also benefits from the input of Harry Sawyers, Wirecutter senior editor and the author of our previous guide to multi-tools. Sawyers is a long-time multi-tool user who got acquainted with these products as a backpacker and an Eagle Scout. And he has maintained his expertise as a journalist with more than a decade of experience covering tools.
We researched close to 120 multi-tools, and we chose over 25 to test. We chose a variety of models from the three major manufacturers of pliers and knife-based multi-tools; Leatherman, SOG, and Gerber Gear. In addition, we looked at other well-reviewed models from Victorinox, DeWalt, and Ganzo. We also tested a fairly generic multi-tool in the under-$20 range to see what it offered (spoiler alert: not much). Two of the models we looked at are smaller, keychain-sized multi-tools.
We focused on the nuances of quality. Out of the box, we gave each multi-tool a thorough once over. How easy is the tool to fold and unfold? Are the various tools accessible and how fiddly is it to deploy them? Are the plier handles comfortable? In most cases, the blades and accessories lock in the open position, so we investigated the convenience and strength of the locks. One of the most important tells was the evenness of the resistance when unfolding the pliers. Our experience is that a sloppy, loose hinge out of the box is only going to get worse over time.
A carabiner and a pocket clip provide multiple options for carrying the Skeletool CX. The carabiner can be clipped to a belt loop or attached to a backpack (or hung from a nail in your workshop). The pocket clip has a nice spring to it and always worked as expected. We were satisfied with the pocket clip for daily carry. But during projects, especially those on ladders, it was convenient to clip the carabiner to a belt loop instead of putting the CX back in a pocket or setting it down.
The Free P2 has a very nice tool selection. Although we prefer the stripped-down nature of the Skeletool, the Free P2 does add scissors and a package opener, which we found routinely useful day to day. It also includes a can opener, an awl, a file, a little scraper, and a couple of smaller flathead screwdrivers (we needed these much less often, but from time to time, like on a camping trip, some of them did come in handy).
Those extra tools add weight, but during our testing, the Free P2 never felt unwieldy or overly bulky. It weighs 7.6 ounces, over 2 ounces more than the Skeletool (but still less than many other full-size multi-tools). It has a nice balance, and the slightly beveled handles add to the overall sleek feel.
The Free T4 has a nice, solid feel to it, and the tools open and close easily. We like the one-handed access a lot, and, as with the Free P2, once we got used to it, the process was automatic. This alone sets it above the competition. The Free T4 is a little thicker than we were expecting (about inch without the pocket clip and close to an inch with it).
The Leatherman Bond is a fairly minimalist multi-tool that is typically sold for around $50, making it an entry-level Leatherman tool. It looks nice, if a bit generic, and it is also covered by the 25-year warranty.
The Victorinox SwissTool Spirit X has a sleek aesthetic and a nice tool selection. But the tools deploy with small fingernail notches, which can be tricky to maneuver. Overall, this is an excellent tool, but the blade cannot be deployed with one hand, a feature of both the Skeletool and the Free P2 that we found essential.
The Gerber Gear Suspension NXT has a nice collection of tools, but it feels bulky in the hand. The same can be said about the Gerber Gear Truss. Both are sold for roughly half the price of the Skeletool CX. Since this is such a long-term purchase, our preference is with those models with more-refined tools.
The Leatherman Squirt PS4 is a popular keychain model and competitor to the Gerber Dime. The Squirt has really nice scissors but no clamshell opener, which we thought was a useful addition to the Dime. Oddly, the keychain ring is right where the knife folds into the body, and we often closed the knife onto the ring. It usually costs about twice as much as the Dime, which was just as functional.
We dismissed a large number of tools prior to testing. Many of them had blades on the inside of the pliers. These models included the Leatherman Rebar, Leatherman Supertool, Gerber Gear MP600, Gerber Gear Diesel, and SOG PowerLock.
Doug Mahoney is a senior staff writer at Wirecutter covering home improvement. He spent 10 years in high-end construction as a carpenter, foreman, and supervisor. He lives in a very demanding 250-year-old farmhouse and spent four years gutting and rebuilding his previous home. He also raises sheep and has a dairy cow that he milks every morning.
A: Yes! Geekey is 100% TSA compliant even with the serrated edge. Since the serrated edge is in an enclosed area of the multi-tool it is not an external blade and is less than 1 inch. We have yet to hear of a single problem or Geekey being confiscated for any reason.
A: Geekey is slightly larger and thicker than your typical house key - for good reason. The thickness was engineered to prevent it from bending, cracking, or breaking when tightening and loosening even the most stubborn screws, bolts, or nuts. Its size was designed and tested to be just large enough to give you adequate torque to properly tighten or loosen those screws, bolts, or nuts, yet small enough to easily fit on your keychain and put in your pocket.
Please note that all international orders are charged in US dollars. International charges are based on the standard exchange rates between your currency and the US dollar at the time of purchase or refund.
A true craftsman in the kitchen, our multi-tool ultimate blend is your back pocket all purpose seasoning when you need to get the job done right. There's no meal too big or dish too small for this do-all seasoning blend. That's why PS Seasoning crafted this salt, garlic, pepper, and onion seasoning blend.
Shindaiwa's Multi-Tool System is built for the commercial user looking for maximum versatility from a single tool. Its simple interlocking connection allows a single power source to be used with up to nine different attachments, ensuring you have the right tool to accomplish the task at hand. The multi-tool system is a great alternative to dedicated units, reducing maintenance and space.
A multi-tool (or multitool) is a hand tool that combines several individual functions in a single unit. The smallest are credit-card or key sized units designed for carrying in a wallet or on a keyring, but others are designed to be carried in a trouser pocket or belt-mounted pouch.[1]
Other versions may include items like a nail file, tweezers, folding scissors, a tooth pick, a magnifying glass, screwdriver bits and others. There are also versions that have special tools for specific sports or outdoor activities like golf, horseback riding, shooting, hunting or fishing. Versions intended for cyclists may have a selection of allen (hex) keys, a selection of wrenches, screwdrivers, a spoke wrench, and a chain tool.
Multifunction tools may be specialized for use in certain activities. Cyclists may carry a folding tool with screwdriver bits or wrenches to allow adjustment of bicycle fasteners during a ride, or for repairing a broken chain. For sport fishermen, a specialized multitool may combine common functions such as cutting fishing line, crimping weights, removing hooks or opening split rings. A specialized multitool may be used for adjustment, cleaning or minor repair of a firearm in field use. Since 2007, smartphones have emerged as a popular multi-tool category.
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