Multitools

A multitool is the one piece of gear that closes the gap between what you packed and what the situation demands. The wire that needs stripping, the screw that's backing out of the generator mount, the zip tie that needs cutting — none of these tasks justify carrying a dedicated tool, but all of them stop work when you don't have one. A quality multitool handles these moments without requiring you to predict them.

Plier-based versus knife-based designs

Two fundamentally different architectures dominate the multitool market, and choosing between them determines what the tool is actually good at.

Plier-based multitools — Leatherman, Gerber, SOG — fold a pair of needle-nose pliers into the handle body, flanked by tools that deploy from the handles. The pliers are the primary tool; everything else is secondary. This makes plier-based multitools excellent for mechanical work: crimping wires, bending metal, gripping hot objects, and holding hardware in tight spaces. The Leatherman Wave Plus weighs 8.5 oz (241 g), closes to 4 inches (10 cm), and contains 18 tools including needlenose and regular pliers, wire cutters, two knife blades (straight and serrated), a saw, scissors, a file, a ruler, can and bottle openers, and bit drivers. The 25-year warranty is not marketing — it's leverage with real repair scenarios.

Knife-based multitools — traditional Swiss Army knives from Victorinox and Wenger — organize blades and implements around a slimmer, lighter body without integral pliers. A mid-size Swiss Army knife (the Victorinox Camper, at 2.8 oz / 80 g) carries a large blade, small blade, can opener, bottle opener, screwdrivers, scissors, saw, and reamer in a 3.6-inch (92 mm) body. No pliers, but the scissors on Victorinox models are genuinely sharp and precisely made — better than the scissors on most plier-based multitools. The knife-based design excels for food prep, first aid, and light cutting tasks where pliers aren't needed.

Field note

If you carry only one multitool, the plier-based design serves emergencies better because crimping, gripping, and wire work appear far more often in real mechanical failures than in daily carry. Keep the Swiss Army knife for a bag or kit where weight matters and the tasks are lighter.

Steel quality matters more than tool count

A multitool with 21 tools in mediocre steel is less useful than one with 14 tools in quality steel. The knife blades and plier jaws are the two components most likely to be pushed hard under stress.

420HC stainless steel (used by Leatherman) holds an edge adequately under field conditions and resists rust well. It's not a premium blade steel, but it's serviceable and can be sharpened with a basic ceramic rod or folding sharpener.

S30V and D2 steels (found on some premium models) hold edges significantly longer but require more skill to sharpen and cost more upfront.

Wire cutters: The hardened replaceable wire cutters on models like the Leatherman Surge and Wave Plus are one of the most failure-prone components on cheaper multitools. Hardened wire (fencing, metal conduit, coiled spring) will chip or roll the edge of unhardened cutters. Replaceable hardened cutters mean you can restore the tool rather than replace it.

The tools you'll actually use

Research and field experience consistently point to the same short list of tools that see real use in emergencies and daily carry:

  1. Pliers — the most-used tool on any plier-based multitool. Wire work, hardware, mechanical repairs.
  2. Wire cutters — electrical emergencies, fencing repair, zip ties.
  3. Flat-head screwdriver — mechanical adjustment, prying, cleaning fouled parts.
  4. Phillips screwdriver or bit driver — the majority of household hardware is Phillips or #2 square drive.
  5. Knife blade (at least one) — cutting, scoring, food prep, first aid.
  6. Can opener — a tool many people assume they have covered until they don't.
  7. File or saw — notching wood, deburring metal edges, light wood cutting.

If a tool on the list is missing from a model you're considering, that matters. If a tool not on the list is missing, it probably doesn't.

Size and carry position

Multitools range from keychain-sized (under 2 oz / 57 g, like the Leatherman Style PS) to full-size work tools (9+ oz / 255+ g, like the Leatherman Surge at 12.5 oz / 354 g). The right size is the largest tool you will reliably carry.

Belt holster: A sheath-carried multitool on your belt is always with you and immediately accessible. For field work, property maintenance, and bug-out scenarios, belt carry keeps the tool in reach. Most full-size multitools ship with nylon sheaths; leather and Kydex aftermarket options exist for better retention.

Pocket carry: A mid-size tool (6–8 oz / 170–227 g) rides in a cargo pocket without pulling pants down but adds noticeable weight in dress pants or light shorts. Clip-equipped models (Leatherman Skeletool, Gerber Dime) clip to a pocket edge or bag strap.

Pack station: A full-size multitool lives in the top pocket of a bug-out bag, a get-home bag, or a vehicle kit. It doesn't need to be on your person if it's accessible within seconds.

Maintenance

A multitool used in the field will accumulate wood shavings, dust, oil, and food residue in the hinge pivots and tool bodies. Neglected, this grit becomes abrasive and causes tools to open and close stiffly, which defeats the one-handed operation that makes multitools useful under stress.

Cleaning: Open all tools. Rinse under warm water or brush with a stiff-bristle toothbrush. Dry thoroughly — compressed air helps clear pivots. Never put a multitool away wet.

Lubrication: Apply one drop of light machine oil (gun oil, 3-in-One, or equivalent) to each pivot after drying. Work tools open and closed to distribute oil, then wipe excess. Over-oiling attracts dirt faster than under-oiling.

Blade sharpening: A ceramic pocket sharpener handles the 420HC blades on most multitools. Folding diamond sharpeners (available for an affordable price) reach blades that won't open fully from the multitool body. See sharpening tools and technique for a full method.

Hinge tightening: Loose pivot screws cause tools to flop open rather than snapping into position. Most multitools use Torx T6 or T8 screws. A precision driver set or the bit driver on the multitool itself can tighten loose pivots. Snug — not overtightened, which will make tools hard to open.

Multitool and EDC integration

A multitool is one component of an everyday carry system, not the whole system. It handles tasks that a knife cannot (pliers, screwdrivers) and tasks that a flashlight cannot (cutting). The complete EDC for preparedness is typically:

  • Folding knife or fixed blade (primary cutting tool)
  • Multitool (mechanical problem-solver)
  • Compact flashlight (lighting and signaling)
  • Lighter or fire starter (heat and fire)
  • Compact first aid items (tourniquet, bandage)

The multitool lives where neither the knife nor the flashlight can reach. Sizing your multitool to your daily carry system — rather than buying the largest model available — determines whether it actually goes with you every day.

Checklist

  • Choose a plier-based multitool if mechanical work, electrical repair, or field use is likely
  • Verify the model includes wire cutters, pliers, knife blade, can opener, and flat-head screwdriver
  • Confirm tool steel: 420HC minimum for field use; replaceable wire cutters preferred
  • Assign a carry position (belt, pocket, or pack) and stick to it so the tool is always in the same location
  • Clean and oil all pivots every 3 months or after any wet or dirty field use
  • Sharpen knife blades with a ceramic or diamond sharpener; maintain an edge you can test on paper
  • Keep a Torx T6 or T8 driver available to tighten pivot screws annually

A well-maintained multitool handles dozens of field problems that dedicated tools would have solved equally well — but that you didn't pack because you couldn't anticipate them. Pair it with a quality fixed-blade knife for the heavy cutting work the multitool's blade isn't designed for.