Whether you’re out fishing, working on the boat, camping or tackling chores at home or on the jobsite, it’s hard to beat a good multi-tool. These dynamos do their best to pack a wide variety of tools in your pocket, so you can tackle anything that pops up. Fixing an engine, cutting rope, unhooking fish; they can do it all. Today we’ll review the best multi-tools out there.
Choosing a multi-tool can seem daunting, with the market flooded with all manner of tools displaying a wide range of quality. Though I don’t think it would be fair to call this a head-to-head comparison, I have been using most of the following models for years if not decades — think of it more as a long-term torture test. The only new-to-me model in the lot is the SOG, but I have been using their knives and tools for years and they have always performed well for me.
OUR TOP PICKS
- BEST OVERALL: Leatherman Charge + TTI [Buy from Bass Pro]
- BEST FOR FISHING: Gerber Multi-Plier 600 Basic [Buy from Bass Pro]
- BEST FOR REPAIRS: SOG x Tackle Warehouse Power Access Assist Multi-Tool [Buy from Tackle Warehouse]
- BEST BARGAIN: Leatherman Wave + [Buy from Bass Pro]
- BEST FOR FLY FISHING: Gerber Vise [Buy from Amazon]
BEST OVERALL: Leatherman Charge + TTI
I was given the Charge TTI by a Leatherman rep when I was working at a sporting goods store over 20 years ago, and it has been my almost-constant companion since then. The only time it hasn’t been by my side was a brief disappearance into a tent stake bag. We were camping near a trout stream in New York’s Delaware county , and I had a difficult time getting the tent stakes in so I used the side of the Charge TTI as a hammer (a book about the history of the area is titled Two Stones for Every Dirt. It emerged when I pitched the tent again months later, no worse for the wear.
The Charge TTI has helped me out on offshore fishing trips, floats down local rivers, camping, doing chores — if I was there, chances are it was with me. It even accompanied me into the Alaskan bush for a field season, where it served dutifully rebuilding way too many recoil starter assemblies on the 25 horse outboards that ferried us around. I really like the ability to access the knife blades without opening the tool, and the serrated one makes quick work of even heavy lines. The saw is another unexpected high point; I’ve used it to clear plenty of shooting lanes over the years. Well-built pliers and an innovative bit driver round out this impressive tool.
The downside here is the price, as titanium doesn’t come cheap. It hasn’t rusted despite spending a couple decades working in and around a highly corrosive saltwater environment, so I believe the cost is justified. That said, if you didn’t need such high levels of corrosion resistance, then the stainless steel version might be a better value for you. Whichever you choose, it’s covered by Leatherman’s 25 year warranty.
- Tools: 19
- Implements Include: pliers; replaceable wire cutters; electrical crimper; wire stripper; straight edge S30V steel knife; serrated 420HC steel knife; saw; spring-action scissors; cutting hook; ruler; can opener; bottle opener; wood/metal file; diamond-coated file; large Philips/flathead driver; small Phillips/flathead driver; medium flathead screwdriver
- Closed Length: 4 inches
- Open Length: 6.25 inches
- Primary Blade Length: 2.9 inches
- Materials of Construction: Titanium, stainless steel
- Weight: 8.89 ounces
BEST FOR FISHING: Gerber Multi-Plier 600 Basic
The guy that taught me how to trap, vaccinate, and release raccoons suggested I pick up a Gerber 600. The pliers on the 600 can be opened one-handed with just a flick of the wrist, giving you easy access when your other hand is otherwise occupied. Over time, I found this made them excellent not only for applying ear tags to freshly vaccinated raccoons but ideal for releasing fish. These days, they can be found stashed in a tackle bag whenever I’m on the river to unhook smallies, fix the canoe, and cut stubborn braided fishing line.
The tool has to be opened to get to the implements, but that’s the tradeoff that allows the plier head to slide out freely. Inside you’ll find a handful of oft-used tools including plain and serrated knives and a surprisingly useful file. This also features a Phillips head screwdriver with a square shank. When combined with Gerber’s optional bit kit, it can be used to turn a wide variety of fasteners including Philips, flathead, and hex varieties. You can also place a standard ¼-inch socket on the square-shank driver and use that. The lock is solid and secure, but releases easily when pulled back.
The only downside I’ve found with these is that some implements have gotten some surface rust. But I suppose that’s to be expected as they have been used hard and put away wet since 2009 or so. And they got sprayed down with Nolvasan anti-bacterial regularly, which probably didn’t help. They have Gerber’s lifetime warranty, so I suppose I could exchange them if something goes catastrophically wrong. But as the unofficial multi-tool of the U.S. military I think they will continue to hold up.
- Tools: 14
- Implements Include: needle nose pliers; pinch-cut wire cutters; wire crimper; plain edge knife; serrated knife; Philips head screwdriver; small, medium, and large flat blade screwdriver; lanyard ring; can opener; bottle opener; file; ruler
- Closed Length: 5.1 inches
- Open Length: 6.61 inches
- Primary Blade Length: 2.75 inches
- Materials of Construction: stainless steel
- Weight: 9 ounces
BEST FOR REPAIRS: SOG x Tackle Warehouse Power Access Assist Multi-Tool
Though I’ve only been using SOG x Tackle Warehouse Power Access Assist Multi-Tool for a few months, it has proven itself as a capable heavy-duty tool that excels in mechanical settings. The unique compound leverage hinges on it create incredible gripping force, so you don’t have to worry about it slipping. I’ve used this in situations where I should have grabbed a socket or open-ended wrench and managed to not round over the bolt head. One-handed opening makes it a good choice to release fish if needed,
The bit driver is one of the best designs I’ve seen, with a short nub that engages with a holder that will work with any standard ¼-inch bits.Included with the tool are 12 Philips, flathead, Torx, and Allen head drivers, which should handle most situations you’ll encounter. It also locks at 90 degrees, so you can really yard on something to make it move or not move as the case may be. There’s also a notch that will hold bits opposite the plier’s jaws, so you can use the closed tool to turn screws along its center axis. All of the implements can be reached without opening the tool, another huge plus. A spring assist system helps blades open quickly.
You have to be careful when opening this, though. Despite its considerable heft, the pliers swing open with great ease and if you’re not careful you’ll bust your knuckles. The locking mechanism is still a little stiff, but that will probably loosen up over time — I’ve barely worn the cosmoline off it. Everything stores in sheath with a separate elastic band to hold the bits in their included hard plastic case.
- Tools: 21, plus additional bits
- Implements Include: needle-nose pliers; assisted-opening serrated blade; assisted-opening plain edge blade; assisted-opening saw; assisted-opening hook cutter; ¼-inch driver; chisel; awl; gripper; soft wire cutter; can opener/small flathead screwdriver, Phillips #2 screwdriver; bottle opener/large flathead screwdriver; jewelry driver; wire crimper; bevel gauge; magnetic bit holder; inch and millimeter ruler
- Also includes a 12-Piece Hex Bit Kit: Phillips #1, #2, #3; flathead #3, #5, #7; Torx T6, T8, T10, T20
- Closed Length: 4.54 inches
- Open Length: 6.82 inches
- Primary Blade Length: 2.74 inches
- Materials of Construction: stainless steel
- Weight: 10.7 ounces
BEST BARGAIN: Leatherman Wave +
Remember earlier when I mentioned I lost my Charge + TTI for several months? I couldn’t live without a quality multi-tool in my pocket, so I picked up a Wave +. Though it is more inexpensive than the Charge + TTI, it offers a lot of the same features. It has the same outside access to implements like the plain and serrated edge blades, saw, and file.
The Wave + now lives in the center console of my truck, ready to tackle tasks on the road, while camping, or the water. Though I much prefer a purpose-built pair of wire strippers, the ones on this tool have helped me deal with some electrical gremlins on the road, peeling back the sheath of 12-gauge wire without damaging the core. It handled all manner of tasks around the campsite, including pulling pots out of the fire without burning my hands. Overall, this is a solid choice for general outdoor work.
The lower cost of the Wave + can mostly be attributed to being made of stainless steel and not titanium like the Charge + TTI. This means you’ll have to be more careful around saltwater or other corrosive agents, but as long as you wipe it dry it should be fine. This one is also backed by Leatherman’s 25 year warranty, so you can be confident it will hold up.
- Tools: 18
- Implements Include: pliers; replaceable wire cutters; electrical crimper; wire stripper; straight edge 420HC steel knife; serrated 420HC steel knife; saw; spring-action scissors; ruler; can opener; bottle opener; wood/metal file; diamond-coated file; large Philips/flathead driver; small Phillips/flathead driver; medium screwdriver
- Closed Length: 4 inches
- Open Length: 6.25 inches
- Primary Blade Length: 2.9 inches
- Materials of Construction: stainless steel
- Weight: 8.5 ounces
BEST FOR FLY FISHING: Gerber Vise
Full-size multi-tools are great, but sometimes you don’t need something quite that large. I like to travel light when I’m fly fishing, taking only a few fly boxes and some tippet with me. Having a small multi-tool is invaluable, letting me pinch barbs, attach split shot and tinker with reels as needed. After trying out a few different ones over the years, I settled on the Gerber Vise. Despite packing a number of useful tools, it easily fits in a chest pack or wader pocket.
The pliers are more than sufficient for pinching down barbs on hooks up to 2/0; they may work with bigger but I never had the occasion to try. You can even take that bump down a bit with the aid of the file, making releases even easier. Speaking of releases, I’ve used the pliers to pull the hook out of a pickeral’s mouth with no detriment to my fingers. Unlike many muti-tools of this size, the Vise includes a serrated blade, which lets it cut rope with ease. The Phillips head screwdriver leaves a little to be desired, but it will work in a pinch.
The small size does cost the Vise some functionality — this isn’t the tool you want if you have to repair any machinery or build an impromptu shelter with. I also think the lack of scissors is a bit of a miss, but overall these have proved themselves to be a worthwhile investment. Despite the pint-sized nature of these, Gerber still backs them with a limited lifetime warranty. Add a lanyard to the loop so it doesn’t fall in the drink and you have all your bases covered.
- Tools: 11
- Implements Include: spring-loaded needle-nose pliers; plain edge knife blade; serrated edge knife blade; wire cutter; bottle opener; medium flat driver; small flat driver; Phillips head driver; file; lanyard ring
- Closed Length: 2.4 inches
- Open Length: 4.2 inches
- Primary Blade Length: 1.38 inches
- Materials of Construction: stainless steel
- Weight: 2.2 ounces
HOW TO PICK A MULTITOOL
Ever hear the saying, “a jack of all trades is a master of none, but still is better than a master of one?” That certainly applies to multi-tools; they won’t perform as well as a dedicated tool. But you aren’t going to lug your entire toolbox onto the water or into the woods, so the compromise allows you to be prepared for a variety of situations without weighing you down. Plus, the compact form factor gives you little excuse to leave it at home.
Though multi-tools are designed to tackle a wide variety of chores, different models are better suited for different tasks. There are more generalist makes, such as the Leatherman mentioned above, and those that have narrower focus, like the SOG that is better suited for mechanical tasks. You have to think about what types of tasks you’re most likely to encounter, and select a tool with the implements that will help you get those done.
The materials used, as well as the construction methods employed, are another point to ponder. You want a tool built out of corrosion-resistant metals, put together in a manner that will survive the sometimes serious forces it will be subjected to. All of the tools mentioned above have stood the test of time for me. But if you don’t pick one of these look for models built out of stainless steel or titanium for rust resistance, and put together using burly pins and bolsters.
Price is always a concern. Generally, you get what you pay for with multitools. Quality steels or high-end materials like titanium come at a cost. But if you take care of your multi-tool it will last years if not decades. On the other hand, if you’re prone to losing things, you might want to choose a more affordable option so it will hurt less if you end up leaving it somewhere or dropping it in the water.
Any of the choices above will serve you well for as long as you own them. So grab one, and make sure you don’t leave for your next adventure, or errand, without it.
