Top pick
Of all the multi-tools we tried, the Leatherman Skeletool CX is the one we kept reaching for long after testing concluded. And it’s the one we still carry daily, three years later. Its knife deploys and locks smoothly with one hand—without your having to first open up the pliers. And its high-quality, 154CM blade steel holds an edge longer than most multi-tool blades. Other multi-tools are so bulky that they need to be carried in a belt sheath, but the lighter, slimmer Skeletool fits comfortably in a pocket. It can also clip onto a belt or backpack with either a pocket clip or a carabiner (which doubles as an easy-access bottle opener). The CX’s pliers unfold easily, have the precision to pull a small splinter, and are comfortable to hold, thanks to the asymmetric handle. This multi-tool’s two Phillips and two flathead screwdrivers capably handle the most common screws. And the Skeletool is backed by a 25-year warranty. But this model is so sturdily built, we’d be surprised if you needed to use the warranty; other Leathermans we’ve owned and used for over a decade have held up perfectly.
Closed dimensions: 4⅛ by 1¼ by ½ inches
Weight: 5.2 ounces
Blade length: 2⅝ inches
Tools included: needle-nose pliers, wire cutter, bottle opener, Phillips screwdriver (2), flat screwdriver (2), carabiner clip
Also great
The Free P2 has a larger tool selection—including scissors and a package opener—than the Skeletool CX. But the biggest difference is that all of the tools, including the pliers, can be deployed using one hand.
If you are seeking a larger multi-tool, yet one that is extremely easy to use, we recommend the Leatherman Free P2. The Free P2, released in 2019, is an entirely new design for Leatherman. With its handles closed, all of the tools can be accessed with a single hand, a unique feature in the world of multi-tools. You can even deploy the pliers one-handed, with just a flip of the wrist. After we tested the Free P2 for several weeks, other full-size multi-tools, such as the classic Leatherman Wave+, started to feel clunky and laborious to open. The Free P2 is over 2½ ounces heavier than the Skeletool CX, but it has a slender, streamlined design and comes with a pocket clip. Although it has more weight to it, we never found it unwieldy or awkward to carry.
Closed dimensions: 4 by 1½ by ⅝ inches
Weight: 7½ ounces
Blade length: 2⅝ inches
Tools included: needle-nose pliers, wire cutter, electrical crimper, wire stripper, knife, scissors, package opener, awl, can opener, bottle opener, wood/metal file, Phillips screwdriver, medium flat screwdriver, small flat screwdriver, extra-small flat screwdriver, pry tool, ruler
Also great
The high-priced Leatherman Arc offers a full set of tools, and its knife’s high-end blade steel holds an edge many times longer than the rest.
For the full-on, deluxe multi-tool experience, we like the Leatherman Arc. In many ways, the Arc is a premium version of the Free P2 (which is already a premium tool). It has the same excellent one-handed tool deployment and magnetic balisong handles. Yet the focal point of the Arc is the high-end steel used in the knife blade—in testing it has held an edge far longer than the steel used on other multi-tools, including the 154CM blade on the Skeletool CX. The Arc has a wider tool selection than the other models we recommend, with items like an awl, a saw, a file, and a precision screwdriver. Because of the pricey blade steel, the Arc retails for roughly $230, making it an unlikely purchase for most. To put the cost in perspective, there are pocket knives that use similar steel which sell for hundreds more. So if you use the knife a lot, and the more-complete tool set appeals to you, the Arc might be worth the investment. It’s also covered by Leatherman’s 25-year warranty.
Closed dimensions: 4¼ by 1 3/10 by 17/25 inches
Weight: 8⅗ ounces
Blade length: 2¾ inches
Tools included: needle-nose pliers, wire cutter, electrical crimper, wire stripper, knife, scissors, awl, can opener, bottle opener, saw, wood/metal file, Phillips and flat screwdriver, Phillips and flat precision screwdriver, pry tool.
Also great
The Signal has the Skeletool’s basic set of tools, plus a few extras geared toward the outdoors and emergency preparation, including an effective whistle and a fire starter.
If you’re someone who spends a lot of time outside, or if you simply want to up your emergency-preparedness game, we also like the Leatherman Signal. At its core, the Signal shares many characteristics with the Skeletool CX: a stripped-down tool selection, the asymmetrical handles, and the carabiner-clip bottle-opener feature. Where the Signal differs is in the added emphasis on outdoor-oriented tools. In addition to the knife, pliers, bottle opener, and screwdriver, there’s a whistle, fire-starter rod, knife sharpener, saw, and awl. This multi-tool is larger than the Skeletool CX, but the additional tools—especially the whistle, fire-starter rod, and blade sharpener—are so nicely integrated into the design that it’s surprising how little bulk they add. They also work well! Because it’s more geared toward camping and survival, the Signal is more robust than the Skeletool, with larger pliers, replaceable wire cutter blades, and longer plier handles.
Closed dimensions: 4½ by 1⅝ by ¾ inches
Weight: 7½ ounces
Blade length: 2¾ inches
Tools included: needle-nose pliers, wire cutters, knife, saw, hammer, awl, can opener, bottle opener, Phillips screwdriver, flat screwdriver, quarter-inch box wrench, 3/16-inch box wrench, carabiner, ferro rod, whistle, sharpener
Also great
For such a small model, this tool is surprisingly capable. And the Dime’s pliers, bottle opener, and clamshell cutter are quite satisfying to use.
The Gerber Gear Dime is smaller than a Bic lighter, yet it’s capable and satisfying to use. Designed to attach to a keyring, it contains a great selection of useful tools, including scissors, pliers, a bottle opener, a knife, two screwdrivers, and a clamshell cutter (for safely slicing open retail packaging). The Dime has some nice touches—there’s an externally mounted bottle opener (like on the Skeletool CX), precise plier jaws, and a cool variety of colors (black, green, and red). And it usually costs under $30. But the knife blade doesn’t lock (typical of tools its size), and its pliers make better tweezers than the actual tweezers it includes.
Closed dimensions: 2¾ by 13/16 by ½ inches
Weight: 2.3 ounces
Blade length: 1⅜ inches
Tools included: needle-nose pliers, regular pliers, wire cutters, tweezers, bottle opener, knife, clamshell opener, scissors, flat screwdriver, Phillips screwdriver, coarse and fine file, lanyard ring
Also great
The Leatherman Free T4 lacks pliers, so it’s smaller than the other models here, but it has a nice set of basic tools and a strong build quality.
Pliers add a wide range of functionality to a multi-tool, but they also add size. If you’re looking for something a little smaller, we like the Leatherman Free T4. This plier-less model has a well-rounded selection of tools, including scissors and tweezers. It also has features that many non-pliers models lack—all of the tools, including the knife, lock in the open position, and it has a pocket clip. As with the Leatherman Free P2 and Arc, with the Free T4 you can deploy all of the tools using only one hand (although the knife can be a little tricky). This model is solidly built and is covered under Leatherman’s 25-year warranty.
Closed dimensions: 3⅝ by 1 by ⅞ inches
Weight: 4.3 ounces
Blade length: 2 1/16 inches
Tools included: knife, scissors, pry tool, package opener, awl, bottle opener, file, Phillips screwdriver, flat screwdriver (3), tweezers
Also great
The Gerber Armbar Drive is similar to the Free T4, but it’s not as refined. It’s also not as expensive.
If you are seeking a simple, budget-oriented multi-tool, we recommend the Gerber Gear Armbar Drive. Like the Free T4, this one lacks the pliers, so it doesn’t have the functionality of models like the Skeletool CX. But it makes up for that with its small size and weight. The Armbar has a basic yet well-rounded set of tools: knife, screwdrivers, package opener, scissors, and a bottle opener. The design of the bottle opener is especially inventive and can be used quickly with one hand. The downsides are that the screwdriver does not lock in the open position (but the knife does), and it lacks a pocket clip. Otherwise, we see this is a great entry-level multi-tool for someone who doesn’t want the added bulk of the pliers.
Closed dimensions: 3½ by ¾ by ¾ inches
Weight: 3.1 ounces
Blade length: 2⅝ inches
Tools included: knife, Phillips screwdriver, flat screwdriver, pry tool, bottle opener, scissors, awl, striking tool
