The 9 Best Multitools for Fixing Things in a Pinch

Fresh out of the box, the Swiss Tool Spirit X impressed us with its design and finish. The tools are packed into the frame very closely, like scientific instrumentation. All the tools—save one—deploy from the outside of the frame, so you can access them without much hassle. The company claims 24 tools in this multitool, but we counted 23, including one that’s simply a hook for a lanyard.

While the needle-nose pliers, wire cutters, scissors, three standard screwdrivers, and can opener work well, it was the less common tools that really impressed us. This is the first multi we’ve seen with a metal saw, which is on the edge of the file. It cut through mild steel hardware surprisingly well, and the file did a nice job cleaning up the edges when we were done.

The Phillips screwdriver shank flares out at the end so that all four points on the head are the same size, making for very solid engagement. The Spirit X’s bottle opener is made from wide stainless steel stock, which keeps it flat on the bottle cap so it doesn’t slip or cut into the cap. The combination reamer-punch efficiently opens up holes in wood, leather, and soft metals, and it can drill holes through 3⁄4-inch pine board.

An all-around great pick, this multitool will get the job done, no matter what that job happens to be.

Full Victorinox Swiss Tool Spirit X Multitool Review

The next iteration in one of Leatherman’s most popular lines comes with a weighty price tag. But it’s justified, since we had a hard time finding fault with the Wave Alpha.

The multitool comes with a standard knife blade, a saw, a file, and a pair of scissors. The file worked well smoothing out nails, and the saw comfortably powered through small branches.

However, we were most pleasantly impressed with the scissors. They’re much larger than any other pair of scissors we've seen on a multitool (“the largest cutting surface ever on a pliers-based Leatherman,” according to the brand). Because of their size and the spring that pushes the handle back up after every snip, we were able to hold the bottom still in hand and easily use our thumb to press down on the blade to cut. This simplified cutting through large pieces of paper, even for those of us who are lefties (since nearly no scissors are designed for cutting with our dominant hand).

The classic pocket knife is made of MagnaCut steel, which is corrosion-resistant and has great edge retention. During testing, we focused on everyday items like twine, paper, cardboard, and zip ties and opening sealed packages. We never needed more than one stern pull of the blade to get through any of them.

The central tool of the Wave Alpha is the plier-wire cutter, which we found easy to use thanks to the biting grip of the ridges and the ergonomic handle.

Though Leatherman lists 16 tools, we counted closer to 12. For instance, the file is designated as two separate tools, with the traditional flat side counting as one and the diamond-coated edge counting as another. That’s a fairly common embellishment with multitool descriptions.

Full Leatherman Wave Alpha Multitool Review

While no multitool can replace a set of full-size hand tools, the Gerber Gear Center-Drive multitool is by far the closest that we’ve tested. The foldable center-axis provides a lot more length in comparison to the average multitool screwdriver, which gives you extra reach for tight spaces.

The blade on the Center-Drive is also the longest of any that we’ve tested. It feels large enough to take on real cutting responsibility like thick rope or small branches. The high-carbon steel also ensures long-term durability so you don’t have to worry about constantly sharpening the blade between uses.

The Center-Drive is bulkier than other options on this list, but the included nylon sheath is designed to slip onto your belt. Another plus is that there’s a full bit set included.

Full Gerber Gear Center-Drive Review

With its svelte, minimalist frame featuring three main tools, this Gerber cuts down on the unnecessary junk and keeps its tools simple and effective.

As a pocket knife–based multitool, it features a full 3-inch, locking plain blade. Although it isn’t the sharpest right out of the box, it cut cleanly through paper, plastic, rope, twine, and steak, and was adequate for some light whittling.

The side opposite the blade features a hex bit driver and scissors. The driver has a reversible bit in a magnetic holder—we love this because you get legit flat and Phillips screwdrivers that just plain work.

The scissors are a bit larger than those found on other models and were easy to control when cutting out intricate shapes from paper to medium cardboard. Between the scissors and the driver is a sharp, narrow awl. We weren't able to use this to drill holes in wood and plastic, but it works well, as intended, to poke holes through leather and canvas.

Rounding out the eight functions is a nice bottle opener that pivots off the end of the tool frame. It doubles as a pry bar (the bottle opener flipped over) and a “hammer” (the wide base of the bottle opener). Is it less a hammer and more just a flat surface for hitting things? Sure. But when you need to finish tapping in a tent stake or small nail, it’ll do.

The plier-based Leatherman Signal comes with several standard items, including a stainless steel blade and a serrated saw. However, it impressed us most with its several outdoor-specific functions.

These include a detachable ferro rod that, in combination with the serrated saw, creates sparks for your campfire. The ferro rod also doubles as an emergency whistle. During testing, I was particularly pleased with the carabiner on the bottom of the multitool. While not a major feature, being able to clip it onto my hiking backpack and forget about it made it so much easier to carry with me than other options.

Perhaps the only major downside is the hammer tool. It functions more like a blunt, flat end you can use in a pinch.

Full Leatherman Signal Review

Everyday life doesn’t always require a saw, hammer, or bulky pliers. The Leatherman Micra is a keychain tool, and it doesn’t pretend to be anything else. The Micra hosts a number of items that are still quite handy when small and, importantly, are often the most useful in day-to-day life.

The multitool is built around a pair of scissors, which are the perfect size for cutting tags and snipping loose threads. Tools on the body include tweezers, a nail file and cleaner, a small screwdriver, and a bottle opener, among others.

While carrying the Leatherman Micra around, I was genuinely astonished at how often I used it. I frequently pulled it out for small tasks like picking something out from under my nails, plucking a small hair out of place, or tightening the screws on my sunglasses’ hinges.

The Micra works so well because it knows what it is. The convenience and portability make it hard to go anywhere without it.

Full Leatherman Micra Review

With its wide frame and large plier jaws, the Dual-Force is a beast of a multitool. You can open the pliers and slip the pivot to spread the dual-position jaws extra wide to grab large fasteners or objects. The jaws feature three separate gripping areas: two for large or small round objects and one for gripping flat things. We appreciated their versatility for holding well in a variety of situations.

One of our favorite things about the Dual-Force is that all the other tools are accessible when the pliers are closed. This multitool also features a bit holder with two Phillips and one plain screwdriver bit. We regard these among the most useful multitool screwdrivers available, although they are sometimes difficult to use in tight spaces.

The Dual-Force is rounded out with a large knife, a saw blade, and a three-sided file. The knife blade is reasonably sharp out of the box, and we easily cut through thick rope with it. We used the saw blade to cut both green and dried-out sticks and branches with relative ease. We were able to use the file on both wood and metal, although it was better suited for the metal.