Welcome to Pocket Multi Tool where you can find reviews of the latest tools on offer.
My love of multi tools started back in 2000 when my brother bought me Leatherman’s Wave. I instantly fell in love and consigned my 15 year old swiss army knife to the cupboard! My fascination with these essential tools has been growing ever since.
Multi tools have beeen around in one form or another for decades but the story of the modern multi tool based on the fold out plier starts with the genius of Tim Leatherman back in 1983. Other major players soon jumped on the bandwagon and now we have a dozen or more companies producing a phenomenal range of tools.
Today designs have been refined and honed to a level of perfection that is quite astounding.
What I offer you here is my review of the latest releases and my personal favorites.
Leatherman Freestyle
This is a super covenient and quite minimal tool and reflects a trend towards tools with less features. It is light weight but robust. The brushed stainless handles are complex but really comfortable in the hand. Pliers are light to medium build, fine serations at the nose, grips behind this and wire cutters at the pivot. The tool has a partially serrated locking knife featuring the standard liner lock. The blade is 420HC stainless and 2 1/2inch long. Standard 25 year warranty.
Buck X-Tract Essential
All of the tools on the Buck X-Tract can be accessed with one hand and lock open for safety. The handles feature a rubber like surface that stops the tool from getting slippy when wet. The tool comes with a full size partially serrated knife blade, needle nose pliers sliding forward from the slot, and the largest scissors I’ve yet seen on any tool. Unfortunately they lack leverage. Also features a double ended screw driver and lanyard loop.
Gerber Crucial
This is a light tool perfect for every day use. With it’s ergonomic handles it has to be one of the most stylish multi tools available. All tools are accesible from the outside leaving only the pliers that require you to open the tool out. Features a 440A Steel blade that is partiallly serrated. The under side of the tool houses the carrabiner/bottle opener. Also features locking Phillips and Falthead drivers located at the ends can be combined with a seperate bit kit. Light to medium weight Pliers with excellent wire cutters.
Wenger Swiss Grip
This is truly a massive tool. Although the blunt nose pliers don’t fold away making it a bit bulky, they are by far the heaviest duty ones I’ve used. The blade is also very large as is the wood saw. Also includes a metal saw and file combo. The flat and phillips drivers lock in when pressure is applied which i think is quite unique. The adaptor head takes any hex shanked screw driver. Also comes with a lifetime guarantee