When I was 9, my father gave me my first survival multi-tool for Christmas – a Leatherman PST, which had 14 tools. I carried it with me wherever I went and made my friends insanely envious.
I didn’t realize it at the time, but my father set me up to become a lifetime survivalist.
While I still love that original multi-tool I got, I’m not a traditionalist. I know that today’s survival multi-tools have come a long way since the original Leatherman.
Today’s multi-tools are:
- Lighter weight
- Made from tougher materials
- Rust-resistant
- Have a vast variety of tools – including full-size tools
- Are safer and stronger thanks to features like better locking systems
If you are serious about self-reliance, then carrying a multi-tool as part of your everyday carry (EDC) is one of the best habits you can get into.
Oh, and even decades later, I still enjoy making my friends envious of my cool multi-tools.
Comparison Chart
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Best Multi Tool
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Heavy Duty Multi Tool
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Best Micro Multi Tool
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Folding
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Folding
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Micro
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8.3oz
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10.2 oz
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3.2 oz
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4
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7.25
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1.9
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25 years
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25 Years
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Limited lifetime warranty
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The 5 Best Survival Multi Tools
It wasn’t easy for me to narrow down the best survival multi-tools to just five. I chose these because they are quite different from each other in terms of price, size, and functionality.
LEATHERMAN, Charge Plus
Best For: Survivalists who want a compact multi-tool that can perform – and aren’t afraid to pay for that quality!
This is one of Leatherman’s more expensive survival multi-tools, but also one of its best.
The design mimics a pocket knife so you can access many of the tools even when the tool is in the closed position.
The superior locking mechanism isn’t just for safety – it means that you can actually exert full pressure on the tools without them giving and thus use the tool for bigger jobs. I also love that the multi-tool has one-handed opening.
Type: Folding
Number of Tools: 19 including needlenose pliers, pliers, wire stripper, can opener, bottle opener, bit driver, ruler, diamond-coated file, serrated blade, and more.
- Great selection of tools
- Small closed size
- Locking mechanism for safety
- Suitable for larger jobs
- One-hand deployment
- Some tools accessible in closed position
- Expensive
- A bit heavy
Gerber Gear Needle Nose Pliers Multitool
Best For: Survivalists who need an affordable multi-tool capable of handling bigger jobs.
I particularly like that it has one-handed deployment and is tough enough to use for bigger jobs. Of course, that does come with the downside of it being bulkier and heavier.
- Suitable for larger jobs
- One-hand deployment
- Good value
- Heavy and bulky
- Locking mechanism of tools could be better
Leatherman Wingman
Best For: Survivalists looking for an entry-level survival multi-tool.
The Leatherman Wingman is one of the most popular survival multi-tools by the brand. That doesn’t necessarily mean it is the best, though – it is just one of the cheapest Leatherman multi-tools you can buy.
The Wingman won’t give you the reliability of more expensive Leatherman tools, but you will still be impressed with what it can do for the price.
See:
- Low price
- Small size
- One-hand deployment
- Not suitable for larger jobs
- Heavy for size
SOG PowerAssist Multi Tool
Best For: Survivalists who want quick access and heavy-duty tools but also superior safety mechanisms.
SOG is one of my favorite brands of affordable survival knives, and their multi-tools are also top-notch.
The PowerAssist uses advanced technology which “takes over for you” to open the knives. The side-release ensures that the blades stay closed.
- PowerAssist for easier one-hand opening
- Feels good in your hands
- Suitable for larger jobs
- Locking mechanism prevents injury
- Heavy
Swiss+Tech Micro Multitool
Best For: Survivalists who need a tool tiny enough to carry around with them on their keychain.
A multi-tool is only useful if you have it with you. For people who hate lugging around clunky survival tools (or who are already carrying a survival knife and don’t want to load themselves down with another large tool), the Swiss+Tech micro tool is a good option.
Even though it is tiny, the keychain-sized tool fits in a lot of useful tools suitable for smaller jobs.
- Very affordable
- Incredibly tiny and lightweight
- Great for EDC
- Not suitable for large jobs
- No scissors
Choosing the Best Survival Multi-Tool
As I am constantly saying on this website, there is no one best survival tool (just like there is also no one best way to pack a Bug Out Bag or make a survival plan.)
Each person’s needs are very different. You’ve got to narrow down your unique needs to figure out the best tool for you.
With that said, there are some things you always need to look at when choosing a multi-tool for survival.
Multi-Tool Type
Most of the survival multi-tools which made it to the “best” list are of the folding type. This is because these are generally the strongest.
However, not everyone can always carry around a bulky folding tool. You might want to consider some other types such as the one below.
Number of Tools (Functionality)
Some of the best survival multi-tools have over 20 different tools. Just don’t get caught up in the numbers. Lots of tools do NOT necessarily mean better.
Instead, look at the functionality of the multi-tool. Does it contain the tools you actually need? I don’t need 10 different types of screwdrivers when one or two will suffice for my needs.
Durability
In general, you can look at how long the manufacturer’s warranty is to understand how durable the survival multi-tool is. Of course, you’ll still need to take care of it.
Read this post on how to clean a multi-tool.
Locking Mechanism
The locking mechanism isn’t just about safety. A good locking mechanism means the multi-tool will handle more demanding jobs because it won’t have as much strain on its pivot point.
Just be warned that the best survival multi-tools with good locking mechanisms will cost much more. Quality is worth paying for, though – especially when it is the difference between actually getting the job done or injuring yourself in the attempt.
What do you think is the best survival multi-tool?
You really should include the Victorinox Spirit X. I have had it for many years. Its tools get the job done when some of my dedicated tools do not. Great quality
I have a original Leatherman multi tool plus a Wingman, and a Gerber M-400 in individual BOBs and my GHB stored in the car, along with a Micra on my keychain and Gerber Dime in the car’s center console for EDC use. I tend to use the smaller Micra for opening packages etc. Overall, I have found that most of the time I end up using my trusty Victornox Executive Swiss Army pocketknife daily for small chores. The full size tools don’t get used much. The keychain ones maybe once a week. I also have a Swiss Tech which is just about worthless and has no keychain attachment. I keep that in my tackle box just in case which hasn’t happened since the first time I tried to use it.
That’s some collection! Nice roundup of the pros and cons thanks for stopping by.
I have had a Leatherman super tool for over 20 years. Can’t tell you how many times I’ve used this for me as well as for others that needed help.
great tools.
You didn’t mention two of MY favorite tools the Gerber MP400 and the MP600 both military design.
Zowie! I had NO idea how ignorant I was (am?) WRT multitools until I read this article!
Ignorance isn’t a bad thing or meant to belittle someone, it just means that you don’t know what you don’t know. And that describes me precisely when talking about these tools.
To be fair, I have several multitools. One original Leatherman of OLD vintage but still in excellent shape and giving fine service, a Wave (I think) model which resides inside one of my BOB packs, and a Micro version, name unknown (or how I came to own it for that matter) which resides in my EDC Murse.
It rarely sees the light of day since I generally have purpose built tools at my disposal should the need arise, but IF I am a out and about and away from my “real” tools, it has worked fine when required.
But seeing the balance of the tools you review was eye opening. I had NO idea of the number out there and I suspect you’ve just scratched the surface.
Sadly, some of them are CRAZY expensive and of dubious merit or need, UNTIL YOU NEED THEM!
Like the version (mfr unknown) that has a Blasting Cap Crimping Tool.
Frankly, I don’t recall the last time I needed that feature so why pay for it?
Wait! I’m mistaken.
I DO remember when I used that feature. I was attached to the department EOD section as their Token Haz/Mat Critter and we were “disposing” of some boom-boom stuff somebody found.
Ok. We were Blowing Crap UP from the stockpile of some dirt bag who was blowing up rural mailboxes. But I digress.
Being kinda/sorta cross-trained with a few EOD skills, I was tasked with prepping the “caps” for the bigger stuff and the crimping feature of the multitool came into play. But that was a gazillion years ago and I don’t do any of that any more. (“Get out of this gig while you still have all your digits, Huggy!” they said so I did.)
Anyhoodle, I used the feature for three or four caps IIRC and gave the tool back to the EOD MasterBlaster.
But after reading this article I just did a quick search for multitools and learned there are more of them than Carter has Little Blue Pills! (If you remember that saying or what it references, congratulations! You, too, are older than DIRT!)
Regardless, the number of offerings for multitools is staggering and one could easily bankrupt the Piggy Bank if you bought too many of them.
Like firearms, can you REALLY have too many though? (Not a question to pose to your Significant other, I might add.)
Thanks for the article and reviews. Now I just need to find another “need” to justify buying another multitool.
Just what I need. 😉
Ha Ha – good stuff!
The correct number of multi-tools to own is N+1. Where N = current amount of multi-tools owned.
The Leatherman Crunch, mostly due to the visegrip part of it, which can hold REAL saw blades. I dont bother with a multitool for normal life. Around the house or car, I have a REAL tool box. So the multi-tool is for hiking/shtf. and in the woods, there’s not much use for a lot of tools that are built into a lot of the multitools. Also, you can swap out tools, modify them, even make a blade from scratch. So dont feel limited by what’s commercially available. Pair a Crunch with a Cold Steel shovel and there’s very little that needs done in the woods can’t be done by the Crunch, the saw blades and the chopper/shovel