The 8 Best Multitools of 2025, Tested By Popular Mechanics

A great multitool is basically a tiny apology to your future self. Flat tire? Loose cabinet hinge? A suspiciously sealed box that’s clearly hiding
“assembly required” energy? No problembecause you’re carrying a pocket-sized Swiss Army of “I got this.”

Popular Mechanics didn’t just stare at product photos and declare winners. Their editors actually put multitools through real-world taskscutting,
crimping, twisting, prying, and generally trying to make these gadgets earn their keep. Meanwhile, other major U.S. gear and lifestyle outlets spent
2025 arguing (affectionately, of course) about what matters most: blade steel, pliers strength, one-hand access, size, weight, or just “does it save me
from walking back to the garage?”

The result: eight standout multitools that cover the entire spectrumfrom keychain “life saver” tools to premium “buy once, cry once” plier-based
beasts. If you want one multitool that actually gets used (instead of living in a drawer like a forgotten gym membership), start here.

How Popular Mechanics Tested These Multitools

Testing a multitool isn’t glamorous. It’s a lot of cutting, carving, opening, stripping, tightening, and trying not to pinch your hand while doing it.
Popular Mechanics’ approach focused on using the tools like real people do: slicing through rope and packaging, cutting and stripping wire, turning
fasteners, gripping hardware with pliers, filing rough edges, and checking how each tool feels after repeated use. The point wasn’t to crown the
multitool with the most featuresit was to find the ones that perform when you actually need them.

What to Look For in the Best Multitool in 2025

Pliers quality beats “30 tools!” marketing

If you’re shopping plier-based multitools, pliers are the engine. Everything else is the cupholder. Look for solid grip, good ergonomics, and cutters
that don’t feel like they were designed by someone who has never met a piece of wire.

Blade steel mattersespecially if you use it weekly

In 2025, premium multitools leaned harder into better blade steels. If you mostly open packages and cut the occasional zip tie, almost any decent blade
works. If you’re cutting rope, trimming branches, or doing daily EDC tasks, better steel can mean fewer dull moments (and fewer “why won’t this cut?”
tantrums).

Outside-access tools and one-hand opening are not just “nice”

If you actually carry a multitool, you’ll use it one-handed more often than you think. Holding something in one hand while you deploy a blade or driver
with the other is the difference between “handy” and “why did I buy this?”

Pick your top three tools first

Before you fall for the siren song of “includes a fish scaler,” name the tools you’ll truly use: knife, drivers, pliers, scissors, saw, file. The best
multitool for camping looks different than the best EDC multitool for city life. Your pocket doesn’t care about your fantasies. It cares about weight.

The 8 Best Multitools of 2025, Tested By Popular Mechanics

1) Victorinox SwissTool Spirit X (Best Overall)

If you want one multitool that feels like it was designed by adults who pay taxes, the SwissTool Spirit X is a classic “best overall” pick. Popular
Mechanics favored it as the tool they’d grab for fixing almost anything in a pinch, and it’s easy to see why: it delivers the core functions with a
refined, reliable feel.

• Great for: homeowners, DIYers, glovebox carry, “I want one tool that just works.”
• Why it stands out: balanced tool selection and a sturdy all-around build that doesn’t feel gimmicky.
• Watch-outs: if you want ultra-light EDC, this is more “serious tool” than “barely-there pocket pal.”

2) RoverTac 12-in-1 (Best Value)

Not everyone needs a luxury multitool. Sometimes you need a “good enough to save the day” option that won’t make your wallet file a complaint. That’s
where the RoverTac 12-in-1 comes in: Popular Mechanics liked it for delivering decent performance at a low priceespecially for occasional use.

Think of it as the multitool equivalent of a spare tire: you hope you don’t need it often, but you’re glad it’s there. It’s bulkier than premium tools,
and you shouldn’t expect heirloom durability. But for basic cutting, opening, and light turning tasks, it pulls its weight.

• Great for: budget shoppers, emergency kits, camping bins, car console storage.
• Why it stands out: lots of utility per dollar, plus a sheath for carry.
• Watch-outs: don’t buy this expecting it to replace a real tool kitor survive daily hard use.

3) SOG PowerLitre (Best Opening and Closing Mechanism)

Some multitools open with the grace of a rusty gate. The SOG PowerLitre is not one of them. Popular Mechanics called out how smooth and satisfying the
action isso smooth you’ll probably fidget with it like it’s a premium pen. (Your friends will be thrilled. Your friends are lying.)

The real benefit isn’t just “fun to flip.” A smoother mechanism makes the tool faster to use and easier to grip confidently, especially when you’re
clamping down on hardware. It’s also compact enough to ride in a pocket without feeling like you’re carrying a stapler.

• Great for: daily carry fans, people who hate stiff deployments, light-to-medium repair tasks.
• Why it stands out: smooth action and compact design without feeling flimsy.
• Watch-outs: as with many compact multis, some niche tools can be more “available” than “amazing.”

4) Gerber Armbar Drive (Best Compact Model)

The Armbar Drive is for people who live in the real worldwhere the most common multitool problems are: 1) a screw needs turning, 2) something needs
cutting, and 3) you don’t want a pocket brick. Popular Mechanics praised it for keeping things simple with a pocketknife-like frame and genuinely usable
tools.

The star feature is the driver setup. Across 2025 coverage from U.S. gear reviewers, “a real driver” kept coming up as the difference between a gimmick
tool and a daily-use one. The Armbar Drive delivers that in a clean design, plus scissors and an awl for those moments when you need to poke a precise
hole instead of improvising with the tip of your keys (again).

• Great for: minimalist EDC, apartment dwellers, office/commute carry, quick fixes.
• Why it stands out: driver + blade + scissors in a slim, practical layout.
• Watch-outs: you may want to sharpen the blade out of the box for best performance.

5) Gerber Dime (Most Portable)

The Gerber Dime is tiny, keychain-friendly, and oddly capableas long as you keep expectations proportional to its size. Popular Mechanics liked it for
everyday little tasks: opening packages, quick snips, bottle duty, and light gripping.

Keychain multitools live and die by “are you actually willing to carry it?” The Dime gets the yes. It’s the kind of tool you forget you have… until you
need it, at which point you look like a wizard who prepared for the exact moment someone handed you a stubborn blister pack.

• Great for: keychains, travel bags (where allowed), light daily tasks, backup carry.
• Why it stands out: portability plus a surprisingly helpful tool mix.
• Watch-outs: tiny scissors and small leveragethis is not for heavy-duty work.

6) Gerber Dual-Force (Best Pliers)

If pliers are your love language, the Gerber Dual-Force is the multitool equivalent of showing up with flowers, a poem, and a torque wrench. Popular
Mechanics highlighted the wide jaws and dual-position design that let you grab larger fasteners or awkward objects more confidently than most multis.

Here’s why that matters: a lot of multitools claim “pliers,” but many feel cramped when you actually need real bite. Dual-Force is built for gripping
first, and the rest of the tool set supports that mission with a knife, saw, and file for broader utility.

• Great for: mechanics, DIYers, household repairs, anyone who grips/turns hardware often.
• Why it stands out: jaw versatility and real gripping capability.
• Watch-outs: like many robust multis, it’s not the lightest thing you’ll ever pocket.

7) Leatherman Signal (Best for Camping and Outdoor Use)

The Signal is the friend who shows up to the campsite with extra batteries, a lighter, and a plan. Popular Mechanics emphasized its outdoor-first set of
featuresmost notably a fire-starting ferro rod and carry-friendly design that clips easily to a pack.

In broader 2025 coverage, outdoor-oriented reviewers kept circling the same idea: “best multitool” changes depending on your environment. If you spend
weekends in the woods, you want tools that support camp chorescordage, minor repairs, and problem-solving when the nearest hardware store is one bear
encounter away.

• Great for: camping, hiking, overlanding, emergency preparedness kits.
• Why it stands out: outdoors functionality that’s actually useful, not decorative.
• Watch-outs: specialty tools can mean trade-offs versus a pure “workshop” multitool.

8) Leatherman Arc (Best Blade / Premium Pick)

The Leatherman Arc is the multitool people buy when they’re done compromising. Popular Mechanics praised it for doing nearly everything well, with a
standout premium blade steel that holds an edge and resists corrosion better than typical multitool knives.

Across U.S. reviews in 2025, the Arc showed up repeatedly as the “top-tier” choiceespecially for people who want one-hand-friendly operation and a blade
that feels like it belongs on a serious folding knife. The downside is obvious: it costs real money. The upside is also obvious: it feels like it.

• Great for: serious EDC, home projects, people who want premium materials and smooth deployment.
• Why it stands out: top-level blade steel and a refined, highly usable tool layout.
• Watch-outs: expensivethis is a long-term investment, not an impulse add-to-cart.

Quick Matchmaker: Which Multitool Fits Your Life?

• I want one do-it-all multitool: Victorinox SwissTool Spirit X
• I need a cheap “just in case” tool: RoverTac 12-in-1
• I care about smooth action and compact carry: SOG PowerLitre
• I mainly need a knife + driver in a slim EDC: Gerber Armbar Drive
• I want a tiny keychain helper: Gerber Dime
• Pliers matter most to me: Gerber Dual-Force
• I camp and want outdoor-specific features: Leatherman Signal
• I want premium everything and will pay for it: Leatherman Arc

Carry and Care Tips (So Your Multitool Doesn’t Turn Into a Pocket Fossil)

Keep it clean, especially after outdoor use

Dirt and moisture are multitool kryptonite. If you camp, hike, or work in wet conditions, wipe it down, dry it, and don’t store it damp in a sheath.
A little maintenance keeps deployment smooth and prevents that gritty “sandpaper hinge” feeling.

Sharpen the blade before it embarrasses you

Even premium blades get dull. A quick touch-up now beats sawing through a zip tie later like you’re reenacting a survival show.

Don’t expect miracles from tiny tools

Keychain multitools are for quick wins, not heroic feats. If you’re trying to torque a stuck bolt with a micro driver, you’re not “resourceful”
you’re just auditioning for a wrist sprain.

Real-World Multitool Moments: of “Yep, This Is Why People Carry These”

If you want the honest truth about multitools, it’s this: you don’t buy one for the big dramatic emergencies. You buy one for the thousand tiny annoyances
that add upbecause modern life is basically a nonstop parade of “why is this like this?”

Scenario one: the box. You know the box. It arrives with enough tape to survive reentry from space. You start with optimism, then graduate to fingernails,
then keys, then that one pen you don’t even like. A multitool blade turns this into a five-second problem instead of a small personal crisis. Bonus points
if your tool has a dedicated package opener (your future self likes having skin on their fingertips).

Scenario two: the wobbly thing. Chairs, cabinet pulls, stroller brackets, a license plate frame that rattles like a tambourinelife is full of objects
that slowly loosen themselves out of spite. This is where a legit bit driver earns its keep. Not a “flat-ish metal nub we call a screwdriver,” but a real
driver that can seat into a Phillips head without slipping. The first time you tighten a screw in public and stop the wobble, people will look at you
like you just performed a magic trick. Resist the urge to bow.

Scenario three: the stubborn knot. Rope around a bundle, cordage on a campsite, plastic strap on a new purchasecutting tools matter. A sharp blade is
great, but scissors can be even better for controlled cuts (especially on thinner materials). In real use, scissors often become the secret MVP for
trimming loose threads, snipping zip ties, cutting tape cleanly, and handling small tasks without turning everything into a slash-and-tear situation.

Scenario four: the “I need pliers, not vibes” moment. Battery terminals, bent hooks, small hardware, pinched metalpliers are the heavy lifters. This is
why some people prioritize plier-centric multitools above all else. When you need to grip and twist, a well-designed pair of jaws saves time and prevents
damage (to both the hardware and your patience). If pliers are your most-used tool, you’ll understand immediately why beefier models feel worth carrying.

Scenario five: the outdoors problem-solving tax. Camping creates tiny challenges: a loose screw on a stove, a stubborn tent stake, a branch in the way, a
need to cut cord, a quick repair before the sun disappears. Outdoor-focused multitools shine here, especially when they include genuinely relevant features
for fire-starting or pack carry. It’s less about “survival fantasy” and more about “I would like dinner before dark.”

The pattern is predictable: multitools make you faster at small fixes. They reduce friction in everyday life. And they prevent that slow, tragic moment
where you realize you’re about to drive home because you don’t have a screwdriver. The best multitool isn’t the one with the most functionsit’s the one
you’ll actually carry, reach for, and use without thinking twice.

Conclusion

The best multitools of 2025 aren’t trying to replace your toolbox. They’re trying to replace the annoying gap between “I need a tool” and “I’m standing
here with only my hands and regret.” Popular Mechanics’ testing highlights eight standout options that cover every realistic use casebudget backups,
keychain convenience, compact EDC, camping capability, and premium do-it-all performance.

Choose the multitool that matches your daily life, not your daydream. If you want one safe pick, go for a balanced all-rounder. If you know your top
taskspliers, drivers, blade, scissorsopt for the tool that performs best where you actually live. Your pocket (and your future self) will thank you.