We are men. We always feel as though we need our chosen tools nearby. There is a culture of men always feeling the need to be prepared for anything. Just in case the world ends tomorrow, we have what we need to survive and protect. We are so dedicated to this that an entire industry called everyday carry, or EDC, has grown around it. But there is a component of EDC tools that cannot be forgotten: the multi-tool. Not only is it vital to get yourself one of the best multi-tools, but it may be the most vital.
Multi-tools are the most important item in EDC
All the best EDC kits have a handful of must-haves to ensure you’re prepared for any eventuality. A great EDC knife is the first thought many have when they think of everyday carry. But there is a long list of possible things to carry: a flashlight, a first-aid kit, a lighter, a compass. Each of these items has a very specific design intent.
However, the multi-tool is arguably the most vital item in your kit because it covers upward of two dozen different uses. With a multitude of tools built within its casing, a multi-tool will take you from everyday gentleman to MacGyver.
Gerber Truss Multi-Tool
Gerber has long been a favorite here at The Manual, and with good reason. Their knives and field tools are durable, reliable, and affordable. The Truss multi-tool is no different. Its all-in-one design boasts 17 tools, including openers, pliers, wire cutters, a saw, and multiple blades and drivers. They all fit inside a compact, 4.35-inch footprint with a pocketable, 8-ounce weight.
5.11 LE EMT Multi-tool 2.0
Speaking of being ready for anything, it’s hard to go wrong when looking for an everyday carry item when you go with a company embodying the slogan “Always Be Ready.” It specializes in providing everything you need from law enforcement to EMTs and firefighters. The 2.0 5.11 brings a glass breaker, round and flat pliers, an oxygen wrench, flex cuff cutters, and a handcuff key — truly everything you could need in one tool.
Leatherman Free T4
After more than three decades, Portland-based Leatherman is a fixture in the industry and continues to craft high-quality tools of all shapes and sizes. Among its most pocketable multi-tools is the Free T4 Leatherman multi-tool. The compact design boasts a dozen of the most common tools, including spring-action scissors, a pry tool, multiple screwdrivers, tweezers, and a 420HC blade. If size matters, opt for the T2 with most of the same tools in an even smaller form factor.
SOG PowerAccess Deluxe
Thanks to 21 tools and a 12-piece hex bit kit, you’ll be able to do almost anything with the SOG PowerAccess Deluxe. Fold open the stainless steel body to access needle-nose pliers, a gripper, and wire cutters. Of course, there’s also a saw, serrated blade, can opener, awl chisel, and ruler on the side. Each component locks when fully extended, and a clever compound leverage gear system helps provide twice the cutting and gripping power. Hidden in the center joint is a protractor, so there’s no excuse for being off on your angles. A nylon sheath keeps the Deluxe and all the bits together.
Lever Gear Toolcard Pro
For a similarly sleek minimalist alternative with more utility, there’s Lever Gear’s Toolcard Pro. The pocket-friendly multi-tool fits in your handy wallet, or you could use the optional, removable money clip and replace your wallet completely. Forty tools are included, from screwdrivers to pry bars to cord-cutters to a protractor. It’s also TSA-compliant, so you can take it with you on the plane and fix all your problems while traveling. Well … maybe not all your problems.
The James Brand The Halifax
There’s beauty in simplicity. Few brands appreciate that as clearly as The James Brand, the Oregon-based maker best-known for its EDC knives with a minimalist aesthetic. The Halifax is a similarly designed EDC multi-tool for the everyman. It’s sleek and compact with only the most essential tools to get most men through the day: A scraper, a flat/Philips head combo screwdriver, and, of course, a bottle opener. Plus, the Cerakote-coated titanium construction will outlive you.
Victorinox Swiss Army Work Champ XL
For the man who needs to feel prepared for anything, the Swiss Army’s Work Champ XL is ready to tackle just about any task. As the name implies, it’s a 12-ounce beast of a multi-tool with 31 individual functions. That includes must-haves like a bottle opener, corkscrew, scissors, and a toothpick. But there are plenty of niche tools, too, like a seatbelt cutter, a marlin spike, and a dedicated gutting blade. Whether you’re a longshoreman, a bear hunter, or a prepper living off-grid in the wilds of Alaska, this multi-tool has your back.
Havalon Evolve Black
As a scalpel-production company, Havalon might be unknown to some outdoorsmen. But those roots help make the company’s Evolve Black a truly unique multi-tool. While it boasts fewer overall tools than most on this list, it does feature a user-changeable main blade. For anyone who appreciates the utmost precision and the ability to service their tool in the field, this is a must-have feature. Spare blades — six standard 60A blades and two Piranta saw blades — are included to keep you going for years.
Gear Infusion EverRatchet Keychain Tool
Another ultra-compact multi-tool, Gear Infusion’s EverRatchet, is billed as “the world’s first ratchet keychain tool.” The unique design provides dynamic ratcheting, so you needn’t lift and reset the tool between turns, making it far more practical (for ratcheting jobs, at least) than its competitors. It also adds a scraper, fire flint, seven wrenches, a bottle opener, and more. It does lack a blade of any kind, but that fact also makes it carry-on-friendly for travelers.
CRKT Septimo Multi-Tool
For two and a half decades, the Columbia River Knife & Tool dedicated itself to valuing quality and innovation while building a community of people who love and are obsessed with creating and carrying the best knives and multi-tools. Designed by Jeremy Valdez, a 14-year veteran of the Green Berets, this is an EDC multi-tool knife on steroids. Instead of a butterfly-open style, this tool builds the glass tamp, screwdriver, and more into the handle. This option is made by and for warriors.
No matter which way you decide to go, this list ispacked with great options for the best multi-tools on the market. Whether you’re on the set of Macgyver or a real-life CIA man, with a tool from this list, no one will be able to tell the difference.
