The 8 Best EDC Multitools for All Your Needs in the Outdoors

Comparison Table

	Best Feature	Tools	Dimensions	Weight	Material	Pros	Cons
5050 $	Check price for LEATHERMAN Leatherman WINGMAN Best “All-Around” Leatherman WINGMAN LEATHERMAN Check Price	Tools 14	Dimensions 5 x 3.5 x 1.8 inches	Weight 7 ounces	Material 420 HC Stainless Steel	Slim profile Light as a Feather Quite Affordable	Accessories cannot be used while closed No locks on accessory tools
5050 $	Check price for VICTORINOX Swiss Army Best Pocket Multitool for EDC Swiss Army VICTORINOX Check Price	Tools 32	Dimensions 3.3 x 1.8 x 0.8	Weight 7.7 oz	Material X55CrMo14 Stainless Steel	Versatile with many functions Tiny enough to fit snugly in the smallest of pockets Perfect for activities where weight is a criterion	It lacks robust pillars
5050 $	Check price for GERBER Gerber DIME “Bang For Your Buck” Gerber DIME GERBER Check Price	Tools 12	Dimensions 2.75 x 4 x 0.6 inches	Weight 2.2 ounces	Material 3Cr13 Stainless Steel	Very Affordable Light & Small	Can bend under high stress Drivers & Keychain are in each other’s way
5050 $	Check price for LEATHERMAN Wave Best “Workhorse” EDC Multitool Wave LEATHERMAN Check Price	Tools 18	Dimensions 4 x 1 x 1	Weight 10.6 oz	Material 420 HC Stainless Steel	Versatile Fits in hand Perfect for activities that need a robust tool	Big and heavy in weight May not be able to pull out some tools you would need
5050 $	Check price for LEATHERMAN Leatherman SURGE Best Heavy-Duty Multitool Leatherman SURGE LEATHERMAN Check Price	Tools 21	Dimensions 9.3 x 6.3 x 4.5 inches	Weight 12.5 ounces	Material 420 HC Stainless Steel	21 Tools! Optional BitKit add-on Extremely sturdy	Bulky & Heavy More expensive than its competitors
5050 $	Check price for GERBER Gerber MP600 Best “One Handed” Multitool Gerber MP600 GERBER Check Price	Tools 15	Dimensions 6.6 x 2.5 x 0.75 inches	Weight 8 ounces	Material 420 HC Stainless Steel	Lots of Features for the price Solid tool lock system Comes with the sheath	No Scissors Plyers are not spring loaded
	Check price for GERBER Gerber MP400 Best Scissors Gerber MP400 GERBER Check Price	Tools 13	Dimensions 5.8 x 2.8 x 1.5 inches	Weight 5.92 ounces	Material 420 HC Stainless Steel	Great Ergonomics Good Scissors High Portability	Blade could be sharper Flimsier than full-size models
5050 $	Check price for SOG SOG POWERPINT Best Knife Blade SOG POWERPINT SOG Check Price	Tools 18	Dimensions 5 x 3 x 2 inches	Weight 4.2 ounces	Material 5Cr15MoV Stainless Steel	More affordable than Leatherman Small (3.2”) & Light (4.2oz) Knife is SHARP	Not as sturdy as Leatherman or Gerber Can’t handle torque very well

Leatherman WINGMAN – Best “All-Around” Multitool

 

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Leatherman’s recent entry into the EDC market was met with some skepticism as to whether they would be able reproduce their signature durability and versatility in a medium that was both smaller and lighter than popular models like the SIGNAL or the CHARGE. The WINGMAN, while not nearly as small as some other EDC tools, proves that they can pull it off.

The WINGMAN has a slim profile that sits nicely against the hip. It’s not too tall, either, so driving in my truck I don’t have to feel it jabbing into my side as I do with some other, bigger tools. Even walking I can barely notice it. It’s light as a feather.

In terms of scissors, you simply cannot beat the WINGMAN in terms of sharpness, foldability, and ease of use. They are the same scissors that Leatherman has installed in the SURGE model which is significantly more expensive.

The drawbacks? Firstly, almost all of the tools are inaccessible while it’s closed. There are also no blade locks on any of the tools, which is a pretty handy feature when you’re dealing with sharp objects (there is a lock on the knife). Overall, these feel like the tradeoffs you’re going to have to make when you’re getting such a good deal (~$50).

Victorinox Swiss Army Multitool – Best Pocket Multitool for EDC

If you are looking for a maximum number of tools packed into a single device, then have a look at Victorinox Swiss Tool. Swiss Army Tools is the pioneer of manufacturing multitool devices, so there is no doubt that their product is among the top ones in a multitool. This product of Swiss Army Tools is in a league of its own when it comes to multitool. It comprises 37 different tools.

The stainless steel of Victorinox is of superior quality than most of the competitors. Though the quality of steel is not to be compromised on, the material and addition of the tools make it heavier than its counterparts. It weighs 10 oz, which is only 2oz heavier than most of the Leatherman tools.

One thing you must know is that the increase in tools and quality does not come cheap. The Victroinox Swiss Tool costs nearly $140. That’s not too expensive when considering the design, number of tools, and quality. The Victroinox Swiss Tool offers a lifetime warranty.

Leatherman SURGE – Best “Workhorse” Multitool

 

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This one is an absolute powerhouse of an EDC. The Leatherman SURGE is one of the biggest models they make, and has 21 different tools to show for it. No doubt this is the highlight of this model. This thing has got everything you can think of, along with a few that you probably cant. You also have the option of throwing in the additional BitKit, which expands the arsenal even further (if you’re willing to sacrifice a bit in the way of size and weight, that is).

Knife quality is certainly there with the SURGE. Leatherman has once again produced a knife that is both easily accessible and firmly locking. This stuff is important out there, whether we’re talking about a week in the San Juans or week on a construction site.

Leatherman says that they have optimized this model to be operated with one hand. It doesn’t seem like they’re far off the mark, but some of the tools can be a bit stubborn in their early days of use. (It takes forever to break in a Leatherman, so you might as well get started right away).

Biggest drawback: this thing is simply a beast, so it does take up a lot of room and sits heavy at the hip. That’s exactly what you should expect from a tool that is offering so many features in addition to a heavy duty construction that is as yet unmatched in the whole industry.

Leatherman Wave Plus Multitool – Best All Round EDC Multitool

 

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The first version of the Wave was introduced in 1998 and introduced their OHT blades that I still to be one of the most popular feature of a lot of multitools today. Leatherman upgraded the Wave 6 years later with bigger and stronger tool and many other great features…

The improved Wave+ has all the basic tools you will need. There are wire cutters, regular and needlenose pliers, scissors, two 420HC blades: straight edge cutting knife and serrated edge knife saw, a can/bottle opener, and a bunch of screwdriver bits. The replaceable cutter for wire is the upgrade which was high awaited by Leatherman customers. All blades including serrated saw and straight edge come perfectly sharp right out of the box.

It may have some cons only if you compare the Wave to other Leatherman tools by weight or total number of tools. It weighs 3 ounces more than the Wingman and lacks some tools like awl, electrical crimper or wire stripper. (You need it if you need it…)

It has a sturdy and attractive design. This multitool from the Leatherman feels very comfortable in hand, and you can use most of the tools using only one hand.

It is not one of the flashiest tools from the manufacturers, so it comes at a reasonable price yet having all the quality features of multitool with an upgrade of wire cutters. So this can be your pick for EDC multitool if you are after quality and ease of use with lesser price.

Gerber DIME – Best “Bang For Your Buck” Multitool

The DIME represents blade & tool manufacturer Gerber’s desire to corner the market on sleek, high performance multitools that won’t break the bank. The DIME is selling online for ~$20, making it hands down the most affordable one out of the bunch.

There are ten tools here, mostly the standard. The spring loaded pliers is a nice touch for a model on this end of the price spectrum, and frankly a bit unexpected. The scissors are sharp and seem to be engineered well, though they are probably too small to get any real cutting work done. I find that I’m using the package opener / box cutter more than any other tool on this thing.

For the price, you’re not going to get anything as well made as Gerber. On the same token, you’re not going to get yourself a tank, either. The DIME is no workhorse. It’s made to be thin and light, so the pliers are prone to bending after extended use and there will probably be some light paint chipping in within the first year of use.

Gerber DIME diagram

Also, I can’t figure out why they’d put the screwdrivers right next to the keyring. That can make it a little difficult to access the tools when it’s hooked to a lanyard or keychain.

Gerber MP600 – Best “One Handed” Multitool

A step up from its little brother, the MP600 is both stronger and more versatile than the DIME, offering sturdier construction and a few extra tools without a significant rise in price. The MP600 are light enough to handle everyday carry but butch enough to take care of business out on the trail.

Out of the box these things can be a little sticky in terms of operation. A bit of machine oil usually does the trick, but as is the case with this class of EDC multitool, sometimes it just takes a few months to break it in. One thing that benefits from this sturdiness is the tool lock system, which really feels like it can be trusted to hold up to some real stress.

Gerber MP600 diagram

It is unclear why Gerber decided to leave scissors out of the mix for the MP600, they would perhaps be the only thing needed for a really complete set of tools. I might also suggest the implementation of spring loaded plyers. For a multitool of its size, it can be a bit tiring to use.

Gerber MP400 – Best Scissors on a Multitool

The MP400 is a great little tool by Gerber, a solid effort to replicate the great features and ease of use of their full size catalog while cutting off a bit of weight and size. In terms of how this thing feels both in your hand and on your hip, it’s like a dream. Seriously one of the smallest and lightest multitools that still has enough features to make it a worthwhile EDC and not just a glove-compartment backup like some small models.

Gerber MP400 diagram

Scissors are well designed and bigger than you might expect, making it one of the best features on the whole tool. Grip is fantastic. The MP400 just floats in your hand, making it a pleasure to work with in a number of different situations.

The primary knife blade leaves something to be desired in terms of sharpness. You will only be able to sharpen this edge to a certain point, but for more everyday purposes it certainly gets the job done. I can’t see why Gerber decided to put the fingernail catch on the inside of the blade as opposed to the outside. That makes it a bit harder to open, especially with one hand.

Noticed some slight bending when putting the Phillips head to a stubborn screw. I’m not particularly surprised considering the relatively shortened girth of some of the extra components. The MP400 is a compact model designed to be more on-the-go than get-r-done, though it certainly contains elements of both.

SOG POWERPINT Multitool – Best Knife Blade on a Multitool

Seeing as how SOG got their start in making great knives, it comes of no surprise that their line of multitools offers some of the sharpest, most sturdy blades that you can find. What is a surprise is that they manage to do it with a real understanding that it takes more than just a knife to make a great multitool.

The POWERPINT is the both the smallest and the lightest tool on SOG’s repertoire, coming in as less than half the weight of their flagship POWERLOCK model, with the same amount of tools. That’s pretty impressive.

SOG seems to be modeling themselves after Leatherman in this design, and that’s no bad thing. The tool placement is intuitive and smoothly functioning. The grip is familiar and comfortable, though the POWERPINT is a bit too stiff for effective one hand operation.

SOG POWERPINT diagram

What I didn’t like: the POWERPINT simply is not engineered to handle a significant amount of torque. If you’ve got a stubborn bolt, rusted screw, or something similar, there is the risk that you will cause some bending or even breaking. There is an interchangeable bit system available for this model, however, the torque problem renders it a bit obsolete.