MultitoolsLife in today’s jungle always involves machines. A simple pocket knife is a big help in ordinary situations, but as life becomes more and more technical the little emergencies of day to day existence call for ever better tools. A few decades ago the Swiss Army knife was something people stared at a lot but were somewhat embarrassed to own. Today they happen to be one of the best options in a practical pocket folder.

Though Victorinox was the first to offer the do-everything knife, many other companies offer equally good alternatives today. Instead of including a tiny foldout pair of pliers as a blade, the knife blades and other tools fold into the handles of the well known Leatherman Multi-tool, a favorite of travelers and handymen. Specialty multi-tools are now designed for particular vocations, hobbies and emergency uses. While years ago the approach was to provide an assortment of tools for any situation, today blades and tools are put together in appropriate combinations. There’s a multi-tool for fishing, another for computer repair, another for golfers, and so on. Swiss Army followed the trend, but usually still includes their traditional parcel hook and toothpick, just in case.

Those who think outside the box can appreciate the renegades — new ideas in new forms, produced by companies you may never have heard of until they won the industry’s top honors for best knife.

Some of Our Favorites

The award-winning Tool-Zilla Jr. is our choice for Best Multi Tool. It’s from Columbia Knife and River provides strong basic tools and a good knife blade.

Columbia’s Guppie converts to a functional crescent wrench. Forget chewing things up with the pliers, use this.

The Swiss Army Rescue Tool from Victorinox is a great emergency knife for the urban traveler.

Read All of Our Multitool Reviews Below


Multi Tool

Buck X-Tract Multi-tool, One Handed | Lockback Combo Edge Knife w/ LED 731

Multi-purpose gear for hikers, backpackers, and other outdoorsmen gets better every year. If you make the Buck 731 X-Tract LED Multi-Tool...
JT Hats
1 min read

Leatherman Super Tool 300 New | Stainless Steel Locking Multitool Pliers w/ Sheath 831102

Leatherman’s back with an even stronger version of the original Leatherman Super Tool. The Super Tool 300 Multi-tool offers the strongest...
Sharon
1 min read

Eat’N Tool Camping Cutlery Knife by Columbia River | CRKT Spork Multitool w/ Carabiner, Screwdriver 9100C

Designed by Liong Mah for the I.D. Products division of Columbia River Knife and Tool, the Eat’N Tool gives hikers and...
Sharon
1 min read

Leatherman Core Multitool w/ Pocket Knife Combo Set | Crater Folding Clip Pocketknife C33LX 831085

Leatherman offers two of their best tools in this combination set. The Core Multi-tool still ranks as the most rugged Leatherman...
JT Hats
1 min read

Wenger Rangergrip Multitool w/ Combo Edge Blade | Swiss Army Knife for Outdoorsman 178 16313

Wenger used important features of the Alinghi yachtsman’s knife in this large folder designed for the modern woodsman. Advanced ergonomic body...
JT Hats
1 min read

Wenger Evolution Lock Swiss Army Knife | Ergonomic Locking Pocketknife S18 16821

Wenger’s Evolution Lock Swiss Army Knife improves the simpler flat-sided Swiss multi-function pocket folders by adding ergonomically correct contours to the...
JT Hats
59 sec read

Wenger Tool Chest Watchmaker Pocketknife | Swiss Army Micro Knife Tool 16109

The Wenger Micro Tool Chest Watchmaker’s Knife could also find a place in the pocket of any technician who works with...
JT Hats
1 min read

Wenger Alinghi Yachtsman Boating Multitool | Swiss Army Knife Locking Knife 16310

Eight multi-purpose blades give the Alinghi Yachtsman a total of 17 functions. This sensible assortment of strong tools makes the Alinghi...
JT Hats
1 min read

Topeak Alien II Bicycle Repair Multi Tool | Bike Cycling Folding Toolkit w/ Storage Bag

The Topeak Alien II had better be good, because it’s 10.21 ounces of steel to hang on the bike. But, with...
JT Hats
1 min read

Wenger Giant Swiss Army Pocket Knife 16999 | Collectible Guinness World Record Everything Pocketknife

Wenger of Switzerland holds the current Guinness World Record for the Most Multifunctional Penknife, and the Wenger 16999 is the reason...
JT Hats
1 min read

Gerber Shard Key Chain Multitool Passes Airport Security | Emergency Travel Tool 22-01769

Designed as a simple emergency multitool, the Gerber Shard Key Chain Tool also meets one of today’s unusual standards — it...
JT Hats
55 sec read

Leatherman Core Multitool & Crater Knife Combo Set | Plain Edge & Serrated Lockback 831085 C33LX

One of the most sensible improvements to any multitool is a separate knife to use instead of the awkward pen-knife blade...
JT Hats
59 sec read

Leatherman Steens Hunting Knife Multitool 830625 | Gut Hook & Bone Saw w/ Rosewood Handle, Fine Diamond Hone

This upgrade of the Leatherman Ukiah design replaces the Ukiah’s glass-filled nylon handle construction with stronger components of machined aluminum and...
JT Hats
1 min read

Swiss Army Craftsman Pocket Knife | Victorinox Multitool 20 Piece Emergency Kit, Red

With over twenty usable tools in a 3-1/2 inch handle, this knife will seem heavy to most users. Although it’s still...
JT Hats
1 min read

Victorinox Swiss Army Bantam Alox Pocket Knife Multitool | Plain Edge Spear Point Blade w/ Aluminum Handle in Silver, Red

Only 3-1/2 inches long, the Swiss Army Bantam Alox Pocket Knife packs five useful functions into a pocket folder with only...
JT Hats
52 sec read

Coast Pocket Pliers Multitool Knife, Black C5799 | LED Flashlight Tool Set & Easy Rubber Grip

The best (or worst) thing about a multi-tool like the Coast C5799 LED Pocket Pliers is always the pliers. If it...
JT Hats
1 min read

Swiss Army Grip Nomad Knife Multitool by Victorinox | Includes Locking Blade, Corkscrew, Key Chain w/ Red Cellidor Handle

With such a varied array of sizes and combinations available, any knife user could find a Swiss Army knife to fit...
JT Hats
55 sec read

Boy Scout Swiss Army Explorer Knife BSA | Victorinox Pocketknife Multitool, Red w/ Magnifying Lens & Corkscrew

The Boy Scout version of the Victorinox Swiss Army Explorer features the same versatile set of blades and tools and includes...
JT Hats
1 min read

Columbia River Knife & Tool Custom Folding Knife Set 9040GWC | CRKT GoWork Multi Tool Flux Pack, 2009 Innovative Design Award

Blade Magazine presented Columbia River Knife & Tool with the 2009 Most Innovative Imported Design award, earned by CRKT’s Flux knife...
JT Hats
1 min read

Flexcut Wood Carving Knife Multitool | Carvin Jack Includes Scorp, Sweep, Gouge, Chisel

Obviously designed by a woodcarver, the Flexcut Carvin Jack packs a basic set of woodcarving knives and gouges into a multi-tool...
JT Hats
1 min read

SOG Power Assist Multitool | Black EOD Knife B67-N with Pliers, Fuse Lighter

Bitter memories of standard-issue military gear always make me skeptical of manufacturers who produce military-style products like the SOG Power Assist...
JT Hats
1 min read

Leatherman Fuse Multi Tool, No Knife | Stainless Steel Locking Blade

So it’s come to this: the Leatherman Fuse Multi-tool without Knife. Designed for use by students and employees restricted to non-cutting...
JT Hats
58 sec read

Swiss Army Fishing Pocket Knife | Fisherman Angler Multitool w/ Scaling Blade, Gut Hook

Especially designed to meet the needs of anglers, the Swiss Army Fisherman includes a special blade for scaling fish. Ruler markings...
JT Hats
59 sec read

Victorinox Hercules Stainless Steel Swiss Army Pocket Knife

Victorinox makes the classic Swiss Army Knife in a multitude of forms–on their website you can even design your own, choosing...
Ken
56 sec read

Kissing Crane Congress Stag Pocket Knife | Stainless Steel Folding Utility Blade

For decades the knife industry has been built around the legal length limit, which in most countries allows unlicensed carry, concealed...
Ken
46 sec read

Eye Brand Stockman Knife | Solingen Steel Blade, Stag Handle

I love stockman knives. I grew up in a small western town and used to watch the old ranchers carving pieces...
Ken
47 sec read

Victorinox Forester Lockblade Swiss Army Knife | Pocket Knife Multi-tool

Most of us who hike today carry quite a bit of gear with us. The necessary modern philosophy of “pack it...
Ken
1 min read

Boker Derlin Black Congress Pocket Knife | Stockman’s Stainless Steel Blade

Everybody’s pocket knife used to look like this, back when small differences in style and quality were the most dramatic choices...
Ken
53 sec read

Buck Lockback Metro TM LED Pocket Knife | Emergency Flashlight Keyring | Stainless Steel Blade

Buck’s ergonomic keyring pocket knife is better suited to lighting up keyholes than doing any cutting work. It’s small size and...
Ken
49 sec read

Victorinox Ranger 75 Swiss Army Pocket Knife | Camping Multitool

Victorinox’s 5.1″ folded length Ranger, with a main knife blade almost 4″ long and forged from high carbon stainless steel, ranks...
Ken
55 sec read