I think you’ll agree with me when i say….
Having a durable multi-tool around you while going for an outdoor adventure or doing some home work ….comes pretty handy.
But nowadays buying a multi-tool is pretty hard. Because there are too many options available in the market it’s just seems overwhelming.
So In this post I’ll review some of the best survival multi-tool of 2020. And i’ll cover all the good and bad aspects in detail. So that you can finally decide which one to buy.
Best Survival Multi-tool
In this article...
1. Gerber Bear Grylls Ultimate Multi-Tool
The Gerber Bear Grylls ultimate mate is a special edition survival multi-tool. This multi-tool is made up of a stainless steel frame that is very durable. The construction of the tool is solid and made up of affordable as well as practical materials.
The tools do not show any damage even after hours of rough use for a variety of tasks. The locks are also easy to use and we did not have any actual problem with it. However, there are few unpolished stuff that sometimes bothers us. It is mostly related to the central pivot/hinge that is much looser to our liking.
Moreover, the multi-tool has a weight of about 9.5 oz. Considering the set of features it has, it is a bit heavy. The product also has a bulky design which needs more than a pocket full space.
Unlike any other smaller options available in the market, it is not suitable to be an EDC choice for most people. But thankfully, it comes with an included sheath and consists of a lanyard hole to easy carry. This makes it suitable for the outdoor expedition or camping trips.
Furthermore the multi-tool consists of a pliers, two blades (one serrated and one plain), one saw, two screw drive heads, two openers, and one scissors. Out of all these the scissors are most sought after. It is tight and usable for cutting fingernails as well as paper.
The blades are disappointingly small for proper use but they hold their edges well. And the screwdrivers are just fine and perform normally.
2. Victorinox Swiss Army Multi-Tool, SwissChamp Pocket Knife
Victorinox swiss camp is a compact survival multi-tool that has three times as many functions as any other multi-tool knife. The multi-tool is made up of stainless stain and encased inside polished red ABS scales.
All the materials are of high quality that provides sleek durability to the tool. It is manufactured precisely with all the hinges remaining tight and smooth even after heavy rough use for a variety of tasks.
However, occasional cleaning is needed to keep the pocket grime from binding it all up. Moreover, the multi-tool has a weight of about 6.5 oz. It is fairly heavy for a multi-tool but considering the amount of features it has, the weight is no issue.
The design of the tool is compact and sleek but it is far from an EDC tool for most people. It is a kind of tool that you will leave in your car, kitchen or take with you on outdoor trips. However, it does not come with any sheath or carry pouch to store and carry it around. This is something that is not a huge deal but it is something that we like to have.
Furthermore the tool consists of 33 different functions including blades, screwdrivers, bottle openers, pliers, scissors and corkscrew for a variety of tasks. All the features are miniaturized effectively. And work similar to its full-sized counterpart, especially the blades.
The blades come with razor-sharp grind and the edge was durable yet precise. It is also very easy to sharpen even with the most primitive sharpening skills. Everything including the large blade is thin and low profile.
Talking about the ergonomics, it does a pretty good job for a feature-packed tool. Everything was easy to use without too much strain on the hands. However compared to proper cutters the SwissChamp still feels bulky and uncomfortable. Especially after extended heavy usage.
3. SOG Multitool Pliers – PowerAssist Multi-Tool
SOG PowerAssist is a well-made survival multi-tool that is perfect for the people who frequently need tools for repair tasks. The multi-tool is made up of stainless steel with a black oxide coating all over it. The construction of the tool is solid with composite spacers in one arm of the plier handles.
The rivets and hinges just the right amount of tension to be deployed with a flick of the wrist. But hold it where you want them to stay. Apart from this, all the tools are very easy to open and lock securely in place most of the time.
Moreover, the multi-tool has a weight of about 14 oz. It is decently heavy for a multi-tool according to its features. It also has a beefy and bulky that makes it not a good choice for EDC for most people. However, it is a good choice for people who need a multi-tool for regular home-improvement and car-repairs.
Apart from this, it comes with a pretty durable belt sheath to easily carry it around. The belt clip is also easy to clip and unclip without having to take the belt off. Furthermore, the tool consists of 16 different load-outs including pliers, blades, screwdrivers, bottle and can openers and blasting cap crimper.
Out of all these, the pliers stand out the most because of the incorporation of gears between the plier handles. The gears help to increase the amount of force which your hands can apply. And tackle the occasional heavy tasks without too much straining the hand.
The blades can be accessed without opening the pliers and lock securely open and closed. The edge comes sharp and works like a usual blade. Other than this every tool works fine but a bit time consuming to access.
4. Gerber 30-000469 Dime Mini Multi-Tool, Black
Gerber Dime is a tiny and inexpensive survival multi-tool that beats the close competition in most of the ways. The multi-tool is made of durable stainless steel and has a black coating on top. The construction of the tool is sturdy but uses thin metal in some crucial places.
Due to this it is a bit flimsy and prone to breaking or bending with average strength. But this does not mean the dime is useless, it has its own class. In fact, it is considerably strong for minor to moderate household and mechanical use.
Moreover, the weight of the dime is about 2.2 oz. This combined with its tiny size, it can virtually disappear in the most crowded pockets. It is the smallest and the most portable product in our list. The tool also comes ready with a little split ring to be used as a keychain. And the external contours are also smooth to cause no damage to the fabric.
All these features combined make it an extremely suitable EDC choice for almost all the people. Furthermore, the tool consists of 10 different tools including pliers, blades, scissors, screwdrivers, bottle opener, tweezers and file.
All the tools are far from ideal even for multi-tool standards. But all will find at least one occasional use in a couple of days. It will depend on how you want to use them.
All the tools are adequate for light to medium basic tasks which are more than enough for everyday use. And again it is made for maximum portability and not for maximum versatility.
5. LEATHERMAN – Wave Multitool, Stainless Steel with Leather Sheath
Leatherman Wave is a fun-functional survival multi-tool that comes with a ton of features at a reasonable price. The multi-tool is made up of stainless steel that is very tough and durable. The construction quality is very top-notch and everything feels solidly built.
All the components are assembled via a threaded fastener with just the right amount of friction. All the pivots are tight and lock work reliably to hold the tool in its place. The tools also do not sustain any damage even after hours of rough usage for a variety of tasks.
Moreover, the weight of the wave is 8.5 oz which is very typical for a fully functional multi-tool. It is a bit heavy for the EDC kind but it is very portable for the most part. The design of the tool is clean with smooth exteriors that do not catch on your pocket contents.
It also comes with a nylon or leather sheath that makes it easy to carry around. Furthermore, the tool consists of 17 different tools including knives, pliers, screwdrivers, scissors, bottle opener, wire cutter, file, saw and ruler. Everything works effectively, similar to its full-sized counterpart.
The blades were sharp and had a nice grind on them. It was fairly easy to sharpen and keep its edge for a good amount of time. The drivers work really well and the bottle openers were the nice addition to the package.
6. LEATHERMAN – Skeletool Lightweight Multitool
Leatherman skeletool is a high ergonomics and portability survival multi-tool. But at the expense of the feature count. The multi-tool is made up of a stainless steel body that is very tough and durable. The construction of the tool is very solid and the materials are of high quality.
The rivets and hinges just the right amount of tension to be deployed with a flick of the wrist. The locks are easy to use and secure everything tightly for safe usage. In addition to that, Leatherman is the most established multi-tool company that delivers excellent quality over any other brand.
Moreover, the weight of the skeletool is 5 oz which is very less for a full-size multi-tool. It is among the lightest tools and almost comparable to keychain tools. This makes it very portable and pretty much suitable for EDC. it does not consist of a sheath but it has an excellent pocket clip to make it easy to carry around.
However, it does not have smooth edges that might be concerning for some people. Apart from this, it also has a carabiner-style clip to carry it like a key chain. Furthermore, the tool consists of 7 different tools that include a knife, pliers, bit drivers, bottle openers and wire cutters. It has very few functions, basically pilers with a blade and bit driver.
Out of these few features, the pliers stand out the most because of the effective wire cutters. The bottle opener is integrated into the lanyard hole which is a bonus add on.
The bit driver comes with two double-ended bits that account for a total of four functions. It also allows for a large number of accessorization. And you can upgrade it for more comprehensive works.
7. Gerber Suspension Multi-Plier [22-01471]
The Gerber suspension is a versatile and feature-loaded survival multi-tool. The multi-tool is made up of a stainless steel frame that is very durable. The construction of the tool is solid and made up of affordable as well as practical materials.
The tools do not show any damage even after hours of rough use for a variety of tasks. The locks are also easy to use and we did not have any actual problem with it. g. Moreover, the multi-tool has a weight of about 9.5 oz.
Considering the set of features it has, it is a bit heavy. The product also has a bulky design which needs more than a pocket full space. Unlike any other smaller options available in the market, it is not suitable to be an EDC choice for most people. But thankfully, it comes with an included sheath and consists of a lanyard hole to easy carry.
This makes it suitable for the outdoor expedition or camping trips. Furthermore, the multi-tool consists of a pliers, two blades, one saw, two screw drive heads, two openers, and one scissors. Out of all these the scissors are most sought after. It is tight and usable for cutting fingernails as well as paper.
The blades are very small for proper use but they hold their edges well. The screwdrivers are just fine and perform normally. The bottle openers were a nice addition to the overall package.
8. LEATHERMAN – Super Tool 300
The Leatherman super tool 300 tough and fairly large survival multi-tool that is perfect for heavy use. The multi-tool is made of stainless steel that is both tough and durable. The construction of the tool is rock solid and everything is well with quality materials.
The tool does not show any damage even after extended heavy usage. The loads stay in place and locks perfectly while usage to provide secure use. The rivets and hinges have a good amount of friction which makes everything easy to use.
Moreover, the weight of the multi-tool is 12.8 oz which is fairly heavy for a multi-tool. Its design is somewhat beefy geared towards heavy use. Combination of both of these factors makes it very unsuitable for EDC use.
However, due its built it is perfect for regular home use or outdoor use. It also comes with a sheath and you have the option to choose between a leather or a nylon sheath. Both work fine and make it easy to carry it around.
Furthermore, the tool consists of 19 loadouts including knives, pliers, screwdrivers, bottle openers, file, saw, awl and ruler. All the features are miniaturized effectively and work similar to its full-sized counterpart. The blades were sharp and had a nice grind on them.
It was fairly easy to sharpen and keep its edge for a good amount of time. The drivers work really well and the bottle openers were the nice addition to the package.
Things to Consider Before buying a Survival Multi-tool
Purpose
The first thing to consider while choosing a survival multi-tool is its purpose. You should know where you will be using it the most. Do you need a tool for Camping, cooking, or hunting? Choose a tool that provides you with a suitable functionality for the task you want to do.
Functionality
The big factor while choosing a multi-tool is the functionality. A multi-tool should come with a wide variety of features from knives to screwdrivers. Take time to think about what tools you will need the most on your outdoor trips.
Practicality
Another big factor when choosing the right tool is practicality or ease of use. It is highly important to choose a multi-tool that is easy to use over the functionality. The tool should have comfortable grips and easy access to different load-outs.
Sturdy construction
The multi-tool that you pick should be sturdy and reliable. It should be made of high-quality materials that can withstand any heavy use in the wild. The construction of the tool should be durable and strong to provide you with the best experience. Do not hesitate to put some extra money for quality.
Size and weight
You will be carrying your multi-tool for most of the time when you are in the wilderness. Therefore, it should be lightweight, compact and easy to carry as much as possible. You can also choose something that comes with a carry case or sheath.
