10 Best Multi Tools (Review) in 2020

You may have owned a multi tool or 2 before but not one like this. The Leatherman Surge Multi Tool is the ultimate combination of style, functionality and price. A truly must have piece of kit for electricians, HVAC technicians, auto mechanics, handymen and do-it-yourselfers of every skill level. Sure you can lug around a heavy and cumbersome tool box everywhere you go, but why would you when you can replace practically the entire box of tools with this one multi tool?

The Leatherman Surge multi tool has been engineered with practicality in mind. The designers understand that sometimes you just can’t afford to release your hold on a wire or duct or drawer or any of a hundred other things in order to grab a tool and put it to work. So they created a multi tool with easy single-handed accessibility. A lot of folks when they learn about this feature and see it in action for themselves have the same reaction: “It’s about time.” The Leatherman Surge is the best Leatherman multi on this list and one of those things like your car or the refrigerator that just makes your life easier. If you’re a craftsman or a do-it-yourselfer you owe it to yourself to pick one up and make it a permanent addition to your tool kit. You won’t regret it.

Gerber has taken a pragmatic approach to designing this multi tool. Their goal is to make it as effective and useful as possible without loading it up with tools people may or may not use. And to keep the whole thing extremely affordable. As a result there’s not a wasted micron of anodized stainless steel on the Dime and the implement looks every bit as good as it works.

The Dime is extremely lightweight. So much so that you may forget that you’re carrying it in your pocket (with the keychain knife). When the tools are open they automatically lock in place so that you don’t suffer an accidental cut or abrasion. The opener stays accessible even when the unit is closed and doesn’t look or feel ridiculous because of this. The tools are expertly chosen to allow you to apply the Dime to as many different tasks as possible and the whole thing can be had for less than 2 movie tickets. What are you waiting for? The Dime may be the best looking multi tool on the market and it’s no slouch in functionality as well. It provides the kind of bang for your buck that you may have thought was a thing of the past but thankfully, Gerber still knows what gets the DIYer’s heart racing. Be sure to combine it with some of the best measuring tools from our list.

In the spirit of the classic Swiss Army Knife, the Victorinox SwissTool multi tool is quality and versatility incarnate. Its lightweight design and compact size mean it’s never a hassle to take along and its beautifully engineered handle is an ergonomic dream come true; comfortable, secure and stylish to boot. If it’s been imagined for a multi tool the Victorinox can probably handle it. This multi tool has an astonishing 27 functions making it a must for any professional handyman’s toolbox.

You’d be hard pressed to find a better engineered tool of any kind at any price. The Victorinox covers all the bases function-wise, can be opened easily from the handle’s exterior side without having to open the pliers and each tool on display here locks in place, eliminating a major cause of multi tool mishaps. Each of the stainless steel implements is warranted for life and each is carefully crafted to achieve optimal efficiency. The Victorinox SwissTool multi tool should be compulsory equipment for handymen and women, boaters, campers, rescue workers, police, soldiers and anyone else who may run across situations that present a variety of potential challenges.

The item that gets most people’s attention is the glass-filled nylon handle and it should. This material is extremely tough and durable and negates the need for an inner steel framework, thereby reducing the weight of the multi tool. And light as a feather this pocket multi tool is, checking in at a barely perceptible 1.6 oz.

The 831448 PS folds down to a pocket-friendly 2.9 inches so there’s no excuse about it not fitting in your toolbox or being too big and heavy to drag along. This multi tool will allow you to execute all manner of minor repairs without having to have a slew of hardware at your side all the time. Ideal for hunters, boaters, campers, electricians, HVAC technicians, sound techs, roadies and more. Size matters when it comes to your multi tool. That is you don’t want one that’s too big or too heavy. The 831448 PS from Leatherman will be Johnny on the spot for all those jobs for which a single tool isn’t enough but a full toolbox is too much. All this at an affordable price as well. Our handy guide to the best torque wrench features more great products like this. 

If there is one common thread winding its way through the remarks of those who’ve resisted multi tools it’s this: no full-sized tools, no good. Well, even the most diehard skeptic must now yield to the Gerber Center-Drive multi tool. With full-sized pliers, full-sized magnetic bit screwdriver and full-sized knife blade, there’s nothing to stop you from replacing your bulky tool box with this one simple and beautifully crafted multi tool.

When folded up the Center-Drive is small enough to fit easily in your pocket and still light enough that you might forget you’re even carrying it. The full-sized tools are no gimmick. They’re all beautifully balanced, high quality kit made of high grade stainless steel. The remaining tools are not merely afterthoughts either. Several are close to full size and all are more than capable of holding their own against free standing competitors. If you had always resisted the multi tool because you needed something with more oomph, here it is. With the precision engineering of a Swiss watch and the strength and durability of the best hand tools out there the Gerber Center-Drive multi tool is a true game changer and the shape of things to come no doubt. If you are into pocket-sized tools, check pur guide on best EDC pocket organizers.

The Gerber Suspension multi tool plier is tough as a rock and built to deliver in all conditions. Ideal for electricians, HVAC technicians, auto mechanics, roadside assistance pros and more. The Suspension is easy to use, easy to tote around, easy on the eye and easy on the wallet. The contoured handle provides a custom feel while the logical design and placement of the various tools means you don’t spend any time tripping over them as you switch up.

Everything is fashioned from high strength 440 stainless steel and the whole thing folds up to practically nothing. The prominence of the plier function may fool some into thinking this is designed just for electricians, but it’s not. It’s for anyone who requires a variety of common tools to do their job. From the build quality to the look and feel this is a quality device that will make your life easier for many years to come. And all for the price of a couple of large pizzas. Amazing. Definitely an item that restores our faith in the notion that quality doesn’t have to drain your bank account.

The 813207 CS is not intended for the journeyman electrician or accomplished handyman, it’s more for the average guy or gal who tackles the occasional craft job or a minor repair to an appliance. And that’s fine because those folks make up the majority of the population and really don’t have any use for a high end multi tool with all the bells and whistles.

For such an unassuming piece of kit an incredible amount of thought obviously went into the tool’s design. It looks like something out of a science fiction movie and the fact that it has a carabiner built into the heel suggests it’s something 007 might want for his next adventure. Above we stated that the 813207 was compact and lightweight but that doesn’t do it justice. The tool weighs an incredible 1.4 oz and is only 2.9 inches long when closed. The Leatherman 813207 makes it onto our top 10 list because it’s that rare example of a high quality tool that was built with the average guy in mind. Everything here is really well built as you’d expect from Leatherman but the design is really where this multi tool gains separation from other similarly simple tools. You might even impress the ladies with it if you can believe that. Love this product? Check out our review of the best screwdriver set for our top picks. 

It might seem to some that we have Leatherman on the brain but we just call ‘em like we see ‘em. The Skeletool multi tool is versatility in action. It features high quality needlenose pliers, wire cutters, bottle opener, Phillips head screwdriver, hard-wire cutters, regular pliers and a 420 high carbon combo knife. The knife is larger than you’re probably used to seeing on a multi tool and the pliers more rugged and substantial. It’s all part of giving you more to work with while limiting the number of utensils to those you’re most likely to use.

The Leatherman Skeletool pocket multi tool is beautifully designed and a scant 4 inches long when closed. It lean too, tipping the scale at a trim 5 oz. The 420 high carbon steel used in its construction means this multi tool will be at your service for years to come and acquiring it won’t send you to the poor house either. A truly beautiful looking piece of functional kit that delivers big time where and when it counts. There are no slouches among the tools on offer here and yet the whole thing will fit into any pocket with no problem. If it hasn’t won any design awards yet it should.

If you’re serious about the adventure, a standard multitool might not be enough for you. What happens if you need to cut through a thick bush or need to build a shelter before night falls? You think a small pocket knife is going to be enough? The RoverTac Multitool is the ultimate adventure multitool. As you’ve probably guessed from the product image, it has a few key features that set it apart from your standard multitool. The most notable of these is definitely the ax/hammer head. These two tools might make the RoverTac Multitool a little less portable but so much better in a survival situation. 

In addition, the tool has pliers, wire cutters, screwdrivers, a knife, a fish descaler, and more. The whole thing is made from stainless steel and finished with black oxidation to stop it from rusting. If you don’t fully trust the quality of the tool, it comes with a 100% satisfaction guarantee anyway, so your purchase is protected. The RoverTac Multitool also comes with a premium nylon pouch that makes it safe to carry around and further protects it from rust.

Next up, we’ve got another multitool from RoverTac. This design of this multitool is based around the 3.3-inch blade stainless steel blade. Complete with a semi-serrated edge, this sharp knife is designed to be your EDC (everyday carry), especially if you spend a lot of time in the great outdoors. The price of this multitool would be fair even if it didn’t have any extra tools. It’s a formidable flip knife. Of course, being a multitool, it does have extra tools. These include pliers, wire cutters, a can opener, a screwdriver, a bottle opener, and more. It’s not as stacked with features as many of the other multitools on this list but the sharp knife more than makes up for it. You’d be surprised how many tasks you can do with just a knife.