My multi-tools
Gerber Gear Suspension-NXT and SOG PowerPint (sitting next to a pen for scale)
Aside from the Victorinox Swiss Army Classic SD Knife that I wrote about in a previous blog post I also have two other multi-tools that I’ve bought in the last year or so. My little Victorinox certainly handles many day-to-day tasks and needs but sometimes I need something a little bigger or a different kind of tool that’s not available on that one.
When I decided to buy a multi-tool the first brand that I thought of was Leatherman because it’s the one so many people talk about. The problem for me was that the one that had the tool set I was interested in cost something like $175 and at the time I didn’t even know if I wanted to carry a multi-tool regularly. I just couldn’t justify spending that kind of money on something that might end up tossed in a drawer if it didn’t work out. So, I started looking around for multi-tools with similar tool sets that still had decent reviews for less money.
That’s when I came across the Gerber Gear Suspension-NXT which comes with 15 tools built into it and at the time I purchased it I got it for around $30. It seems quite sturdy, and it certainly came in handy many times for random things. It was a bit bigger and heavier than I was expecting but since it was my first larger multi-tool, I didn’t really know what to expect. But for that price I couldn’t really complain because it got the job done and it didn’t break the bank!
Gerber Gear Suspension-NXT multi-tool with tools folded out
About a year after I bought the Gerber multi-tool, I started seeing people talking about another multi-tool that seemed to have a similar set of tools but at a smaller size. Enter the SOG PowerPint! According to the list this multi-tool has 18 tools on it, and it cost me about $45 at the time. I bought one and have been carrying that daily ever since. One cool feature of the SOG PowerPint is that when the multi-tool is closed you can slot standard ¼” hex bits into the end and be able to swap out the bits for various tasks. So, you have options besides the built-in screwdrivers.
SOG PowerPint multi-tool with tools folded out
I still love the Gerber Gear Suspension-NXT and have no regrets starting with that one. For some people the SOG PowerPint might be too small and in those cases, I’d certainly suggest the Gerber Gear Suspension-NXT. There are so many options out there!
Keep in mind when you look at multi-tools that there are tools included that you likely will never use and tools that you will use all the time. The key is to look at the individual tools to see that the combination of items will meet your needs and not just the number of tools included. Just having more tools is not always better. I’m not sure there is such a thing as a “perfect” multi-tool for anyone. It always feels like there’s something missing or something not quite right for each user. But everyone has different feelings about this! Maybe you can find just the right one for your use case(s).
Gerber Gear Suspension-NXT and SOG PowerPint unfolded to show pliers
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