What Is the Best Multitool for Everyday Carry?

Leatherman Wave+

Earning the top spot on our list is the Leatherman Wave+, the latest iteration of the classic Leatherman Wave. The company has since retired its original bestseller back in 2004, but we’re pretty glad they came up with a nice replacement in its stead.

The Wave+ basically has all the functionalities of the original Wave—the only difference is that it’s outfitted with replaceable wire cutters that are just as durable as its predecessor’s.

There’s a lot to love about the Wave+. First off, it’s very handy. At only 8.5 ounces, the Wave+ has a nice reassuring weight without being too bulky. It comes with a nice sheath so you can carry it around with you all day. It’s a shame that it doesn’t have a pocket clip— that would’ve made things a whole lot better.

The Wave+ feels great in the hand, thanks to the rounded corners of its handle. The edges are nice and smooth, so it doesn’t pinch your hands during use. The handles are functional and comfortable at the same time.

Next, it’s got an excellent variety of tools. It basically has everything you need for day-to-day jobs, like the aforementioned wire cutters, two very sharp knife blades, a saw, wire crimpers, and bit drivers, to name a few. Most of these tools can easily be accessed from the outside with one hand, making the Wave+ very easy to use.

All of the tools lock securely in place as well. We simply love Leatherman’s locking mechanism. The linerlocks aren’t only ergonomic, they’re also incredibly discreet and blend seamlessly with the multitool’s overall design.

We gotta say, this multitool's blades are just a cut above the rest (see what we did there?). Both knife blades and the saw are 2.9 inches long and are wicked sharp out of the box. They’re not full-sized blades, sure, but they do an excellent job without further sharpening.

Both knife blades can cut and slice through various cordage with ease. The saw is arguably the best one on this list; it's solid, compact, and has fine teeth that can easily saw through wood and other materials.

The scissors are spring-loaded and are as sharp as the blades, too. Cutting through various materials like nylon, zip ties, and fabric was a walk in the park.

The Wave+’s needle nose pliers have a more narrow point compared to their bigger peers (such as the Victorinox Swisstool X, which we review below), but they can hold their own just fine. They’re actually pretty versatile, doing great in both detailed and heavy-duty tasks.

The Wave+ comes with full-sized bits, as well as small bits for more minute tasks. Both bits are double-sided, meaning you can easily switch them out depending on your needs. We initially had doubts if the small bit driver could hold out because it was thin, like a pencil lead. Eventually, we found that it does really well, especially for detailed tasks like fixing eyeglasses and the like.

At a little under $90, the Wave+ offers solid workmanship and a great selection of functional and ergonomic tools. It performed so well that the only thing that would make it better would be a pocket clip. If you want an EDC multitool that has virtually everything you need, the Leatherman Wave+ is your best bet.

Victorinox Swisstool X

Right on Leatherman’s heels is the Victorinox Swisstool X, a heavy-duty multitool from the creators of the Swiss Army Knife.

It’s pretty hard to find fault in a Victorinox tool in terms of overall quality and design, but you gotta admit, this one is pretty pricey and a tad bit heavy for an EDC. This is why it landed on the second spot instead of the first. Other than that, the Swisstool X did spectacularly on our review and testing.

At 11 oz and 4.5 inches when folded, the Swisstool X is the heaviest and biggest multitool on this list. This is both a blessing and a curse.

On one hand, some people might not be comfortable with carrying something so hefty in their EDC kits. On the other hand, the Swisstool X is like an entire toolbox. With 24 functional tools, you probably won’t need to carry anything else.

The Swisstool X’s pliers are bigger and thicker than the rest, so you can use them for more extensive tasks. The same goes for its wire cutters: they’re more robust and have a bigger bite, so they’re able to cut through various wires with ease. You can use and abuse the Swisstool X for everyday tasks without worrying it will break.

Another great thing about the Swisstool X is its number of tools. While it doesn’t have interchangeable bits, it does have 4 flat screwdrivers of different sizes and a large Phillips screwdriver. It also has a file, chisel, and a sharp pair of spring-action scissors…and that’s just naming a few.

The Swisstool X has three cutting tools—one straight-edge blade, one serrated blade, and one saw. The primary blade is almost 3 inches long and, like the Wave+, insanely sharp out of the box. You can use them to do various tasks like whittling feather sticks and cutting and slicing through cordage without further sharpening.

Perhaps the downside is that not all of these tools can be opened or operated with one hand. The tool’s a bit too bulky for one-hand operations. The upside? They all lock securely in place. Boy, do we love the lock on the Swisstool X. You can find it at the bottom of the handles when opened, and it looks like a classy accessory that adds charm to the whole design of the tool.

Despite its weight, the Swisstool X still manages to look sleek and sophisticated. We reckon its surface is shiny enough to signal for help.

All in all, the Swisstool X is a robust and reliable multitool. It might not be the lightest nor the cheapest tool out there, but it sure is worth the money. This is your go-to multitool if you don’t mind spending extra on more functionalities and don’t mind the additional ounces, either.

Leatherman Skeletool

Third on our list is the minimalist Leatherman Skeletool. Clocking in at only 5 ounces, this is the best multitool if you want something basic yet functional.

Looking at the Skeletool, you’ll first notice its unique and minimalist design. It doesn’t look very comfy at first glance, but actually holding and using the tool will tell you otherwise.

The grip is surprisingly ergonomic. It’s lightweight and feels great in the hand. The Skeletool also comes with a replaceable pocket clip so you can stow it away easier.

Because of its weight and design, we observed that this multitool can also be great for backpackers and ultralight campers.

As far as tool selection goes, the Skeletool only has a pair of needlenose and regular pliers, wire cutters, a combo knife, a carabiner that doubles as a bottle opener, and a large bit driver. That’s it!

This arsenal doesn’t sound like a lot, especially if you compare it with the Swisstool X’s 24 tools, but Leatherman makes up for it with the Skeletool’s no-nonsense functionality.

The tough-as-nails 420HC knife blade is a combo—it’s both plain-edge and serrated, making it great for both slicing and cutting through tougher material. Some people generally dislike combo knives. If you’re one of them, don’t worry. The Skeletool does its cutting and slicing jobs beautifully.

The best part about the knife is that you can easily access it from the outside with a simple flick of your thumb. It conveniently locks securely in place, too, so you don’t have to worry about accidentally swinging it loose. Like every Leatherman tool out there, the Skeletool is outfitted with liner locks, which allow you to put the blade away with one hand as well. This feature conveniently saves you time and energy.

The Skeletool’s pliers are smaller than the others on this list, but they can hold their own; they cut through our 2mm and 2.5mm corded wires pretty easily with one hand. The 3rd wire (5.5 mm) understandably needed a bit more force, but the Skeletool pulled through, nonetheless.

The Skeletool’s bit driver can be accessed if you partially open the device. You get two dual-ended bits: a square drive and a Philipps, with different sizes on each end. The tool also comes with a compartment for the spare bit so you can switch them out as needed. We love this extra touch. It gives the otherwise basic tool selection a bit of versatility.

The carabiner is great if you’re backpacking or camping. We used it to carry a bunch of accessories during the short camping trip and it performed really well. It doesn’t hurt that the carabiner also doubles as a bottle opener. Of course, if you had to put only 7 tools in a compact device, a bottle opener is non-negotiable.

In conclusion, the Skeletool is a straightforward, no-nonsense tool great for everyday carry. Since it’s lightweight, you can also take it with you when camping or hiking. It won’t be able to do as many jobs as the Wave+ or the Swisstool X, but it is easier to carry and use. If you want a basic multitool that can be carried anywhere, the Leatherman Skeletool is your tool of choice. 

Gerber Suspension Multi-Plier

In fourth place is Gerber’s Suspension Multi-plier. It was a close fight between this and the Leatherman Wingman, but after considering the number of tools and price point, the Suspension eventually won out.

Let’s talk about the Suspension’s looks for a bit. Gerber has a way of designing its tools to look extra badass, and the best example of this is the Suspension Multi-plier. Between the rugged, open-frame handles and its titanium coating, the Suspension looks every inch a "tough guy" tool.

We just wish its blades performed like tough guy tools as well. See, we found the Suspension’s blades to be a bit of a bust. Allow us to explain:

This tool had three blades—a straight-edge blade, a serrated one, and a saw. First off, these blades are smaller in proportion to the rest of the tool. Actually, they’re the smallest blades among the full-sized multitools in this list. Our second observation is that none of the cutting tools are very sharp out of the box. The knife blades barely passed our cutting tests, and they did so with a lot of difficulties.

The saw has really big, clunky teeth that had little to no bite at the beginning of the test. It’s got big serrations that are best for coarser woodwork, but it doesn’t have the finesse nor the sharpness of the Leatherman Wave+ or the Swisstool Spirit X.

The upside is that the rest of the multitool seems to function great.

The pliers are spring-loaded, which kind of balances the bulkiness of the handles. The wire cutters are robust and can easily handle tough wires and material. Its scissors work the same: they’re large and, unlike the knives, thankfully sharp enough.

What we liked most about it is that many of the tools can be accessed from the outside. All of them securely lock in place using Gerber’s patented Saf.T locking mechanism. Sure, it’s not as subtle as Leatherman’s linerlocks, but they work just fine. You might need long nails to access the tools, but as far as functionality goes, they do their job pretty well.

The Suspension has a somewhat limited selection of screwdrivers and does not have removable bits. But at only $38, this isn't a big issue. Actually, at $38, you can get a lot if you decide to get yourself this multitool.

All in all, the Suspension is pretty functional and affordable. It’s just a shame that its blades aren’t as sharp as expected. If they were, we’d be ready to give this Gerber tool a higher rank in our review.

Leatherman Wingman

At only 7 oz and 4 inches, the Leatherman Wingman is a great EDC multitool that has the best of both worlds. It’s got the Skeletool’s compact, lightweight body but has a wide variety of tools, like the Wave+.

The kicker is that unlike its more expensive cousins, the Wingman only costs under $50.

People who love to have more control when doing small, detailed jobs will love the Wingman, as it is one of the few multitools in this list with spring-action pliers. Doing tasks with one hand is a breeze.

The Wingman’s handles don’t come with the Wave+’s rounded edges or the Skeletool’s lightweight, ergonomic feel. They might pinch a bit, but it’s a relatively small issue in the grand scheme of things.

Now, pulling off a relatively affordable device with this many tools means that compromises had to be made. We found a couple of them in the Wingman’s wire cutters and blades.

First, the wire cutters don’t have the finesse of the Wave+. While they’re quite robust, they also don’t have a sharp edge, so they had some difficulty going through the thicker corded wires.

Next, the Wingman has a combo knife instead of two separate blades. It’s capable of cutting through various cordage and material, but it wasn’t as sharp as the rest of the Leatherman lineup.

Perhaps our biggest gripe with the Wingman was its scissors. We had a bit of difficulty using the scissors during the initial part of the testing because they didn’t spring into action. Later, we found out that for the spring-loaded mechanism to work, you have to fully lock the scissors in place; otherwise, they’ll just flop around.

We eventually got them to work properly after a bit of tweaking, but it really would have been better if they worked from the get-go. On the upside, the scissors are large, sharp, and can be easily accessed from the outside.

The Wingman doesn’t have changeable bits, but it does have a couple of screwdrivers you can access when you fully open the tool. You don’t get the same versatility, but they are solid and great for most heavy-duty tasks. One of the flathead screwdrivers doubles as a small ruler that one can use to measure small accessories like bits or screws. We just wish that it had more outside-accessible tools.

Although the Wingman’s tools didn’t perform as well as the Wave+, it does have a cheaper price point. For $50, you can have a functional tool that’s both lightweight and capable of doing everyday jobs pretty well. This is the best multitool if you’re looking for an everyday carry tool that won’t hurt your wallet.

Leatherman Squirt PS4

As we mentioned earlier, we included two keychain tools in this list: the Leatherman Squirt and the Gerber Dime. After testing, one won out over the other…and we’re actually not that surprised it’s the Leatherman Squirt.

The Leatherman Squirt is a keychain tool that’s no heavier than a couple of ounces. It’s packed with 9 tools, including a pair of spring-action pliers that work pretty great for its size and a pair of sharp, albeit tiny, scissors.

Since this keychain tool is spring-loaded, you can use it for small, detailed tasks, like manipulating thin GI wires. We don’t recommend using their wire cutters for tougher jobs, though.

What we love about the Squirt are its matte grip and compact build. Even though it’s considerably smaller than most multitools in this list, it still feels solid and reliable. It doesn’t feel flimsy or awkward to use, even if you have big hands.

Another great thing about the Squirt is that most of its tools can be accessed from the outside. These tools include a sharp pair of scissors that can cut through various materials like zip ties, paper, and nylon cords.

Since the scissors are pretty small, though, it wasn’t able to get through some of the thicker types of cordage we had for testing. Thankfully, the small but sharp knife blade can step in to do slightly tougher tasks like cutting through cordage and whittling.

Aside from the cutting tools, you also get two screwdrivers: a medium flathead and a small Phillips/flathead combo. Again, while you can't expect them to do heavy-duty stuff, they do hold their own. You can use them to do basic tasks like unscrewing battery covers, assembling model toys, fixing eyeglasses, and the like.

We love the Squirt’s file. It’s two-sided and considerably longer than the Dime’s.

Overall, the Squirt proved that even small keychain tools can come in high quality. In the battle of small, keychain tools, this clearly won over the Gerber Dime, which we’ll review in detail below.