T here we were, in the water in my friends jet boat when all of a sudden, it wouldn’t turn. Flying down the swampy black backwaters of North Carolina, we were quickly headed straight for the trees. We did a “james bond” and ended up shooting straight into the trees. When all was said and done, the boat wasn’t even touching the water. But there we were, in the middle of poisonous snake swamps. With nothing but our bare hands, we eventually got out of there. Needless to say, having the best multi tool for survival sure would have made the experience a little easier…in the middle of poisonous snake swamps. With nothing but our bare hands, we eventually got out of there. Needless to say, having the best multi tool for survival sure would have made the experience a little easier…
After reading this, you’ll know a little more about the best multi tools and some of the features you can expect to find.
But before you start looking, whether its a victronix swiss army, SOG power assist or a leatherman skeletool, you need to have your own comparison criteria. After that, you may want to check out survival multi tools or for the less adventurous, a keychain multi tool.
With the best survival multi tool available, and the right features, we could have signaled for help, or cut down branches to help us get out. But we didn’t have anything but our bare hands.
COMPARISION CRITERIA FOR THE BEST MULTI PURPOSE TOOLS
Not all multi tools are the same. Their function changes from situation to situation. Its a key factor because if you don’t have the right tools when you need them, then its kind of useless to have the tool to begin with.
Some of the tools you’ll find are bit drivers, bottle openers, hard-wire cutters and the expected knife blade. They can have a stainless steel finsh or a black oxide finish.
For instance, let’s say you are an angler on an camping trip. You catch a very nice Bass, but it’s not quite big enough to keep. So you want to pull the hook out, but how are you going to do it with a LeatherMan Micra. Or with a Swiss Army knife? A Gerber Crucial FAST would be much better suited to the task. It has needle nose pliers. One of the SOG EOD multi tools would be very nice with their corrosion resistant black oxide finish and the long needle nose pliers.
But sometimes you want something a little extra. Maybe a flashlight or other attachments. Then you need to check out the HK Flashlight Combo pack. Its also coated with a black oxide finish for durability
So now that you have a few examples, start mapping out what’s important to you in a multi tool. What kinds of environments will you find yourself in with your tool? Will it be a survival situation? If so, then let’s talk about that for a moment.
BEST MULTI TOOL FOR SURVIVAL
In a survival situation, having the best tool is essential. You need to have as much packed into a small package as is humanly possible. And you need performance .. On the spot with no disappointment. For instance, if you are in rainy environments, then rust prevention is important. Fishing is an important setting for a survival multi tool. One handed operation is important because one of your hands might be busy holding something important. Stainless steel is another factor to consider, going back to the rust factor.
The SOG B66-N Power Assist Multi Tool is the answer. This has black oxide and it has industrial grade construction. They have a unique “compound leverage technology” which gives you twice the cutting and gripping power of other multi toolsThey have a unique “compound leverage technology” which gives you twice the cutting and gripping power of other multi tools.
Another thing to think about with survival multi tools is how they will fit into your environment.. To help you survive longer. With wood all around, having a saw in a compact package is important. Look you arent going to get a chain saw, but something is better than nothing.. right? The SOG EOD PowerLock has a saw. This MultiTool is very durable, seeing as it is used with Explosive Ordinance Disposal teams. That’s where the EOD comes from.
But what if you never find yourself in a survival situation. What if you are always in an urban setting? Or just running from the grocer to the gas station and home again. What kind of multi tool would you need? How about a “keychain” type.
KEYCHAIN MULTI TOOLS
These are important for backpacking and hiking situations. They are light and small. But they also work very well in daily settings like in the car, at home and at work, when the unexpected comes and you need some assistance from a multi tool.
Since the introduction of the Micra, keychain multi tools are on the rise. Almost everyone has these.
But the Micra isn’t where it stops. The KutMaster MiniMaster is a great contender with 16 functions. It also has a locking L which locks each blade in place.
When it comes down to it, there isn’t a single multi tool that does it all. But if you do your research and check out some of the ones I’ve shared here, you’ll find the multi tool that can be your best friend when the unexpected comes.