Have you read our guide on how to choose a practical multi-tool? If you haven’t, I’ll urge to do so before continuing. If you did, maybe the decision is close at hand but you’re looking for inspiration to expand your research. Thus, without further ado, allow me to introduce you to 11 of the most popular multi-tool brands.
All brands on this list offer at least one multi-tool with the following characteristics:
- Made primarily of one or a combination of durable metals (e.g., aluminum, titanium, stainless steel), in addition to inlaid plastic materials such as carbon fiber or cellidor.
- Mix of different sizes and form factors (pocket knife, plier, credit card, etc.).
- Contains two or more tools or features, primarily knife blade, screwdriver, bottle/can opener, pliers, and scissors.
Combining a compact size with durability and practicality of having numerous tools in one single item, you should be able to handle most common quick fixes whenever you’re in a pinch. However, these won’t replace the single, purpose-built tools needed for more intensive, repetitive tasks or jobs.
| Brand | Accessory | Credit card | Minimalist | Plier | Pocket knife |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Big Idea Design | ✔ | ✔ | |||
| CountyComm | ✔ | ✔ | |||
| Dango Products | ✔ | ✔ | |||
| Gear Infusion | ✔ | ✔ | |||
| Griffin Pocket Tool | ✔ | ✔ | |||
| Leatherman | ✔ | ✔ | |||
| Nite Ize | ✔ | ✔ | |||
| Pharaoh EDC | ✔ | ✔ | |||
| Scout Leather | ✔ | ✔ | |||
| TEC Accessories | ✔ | ✔ | |||
| Victorinox | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
Big Idea Design
- Origin: United States
- Materials: Titanium
- Styles: Accessory, minimalist
- Features: 3 – 8 tools
- Prices: $70 – $175 (USD)
- Website: bigidesign.com
Big Idea Design (BID) was started in 2011 in Chattanooga, TN. Their focus is to bring innovative EDC gear to people who want to do more and carry less. BID offers minimalist and accessory multi-tools made exclusively from titanium plus stainless steel components, with feature combinations that range from 3 to 8 tools in one. They also market some adjustable or multi-bit wrenches and screwdrivers.
CountyComm
- Origin: United States
- Materials: Stainless steel, titanium
- Styles: Accessory, minimalist
- Features: 2 tools
- Prices: $15 – $70 (USD)
- Website: countycomm.com
Based in Sunnyvale, CA, CountyComm was established in 1992. They primarily manufacture and sell tactical gear to U.S. government agencies, but retail any excess inventories to the general public. Within those products, CountyComm offers a couple pry bars or utility knives, which also contain with a bottle opener or screwdriver. Their products are made from titanium or D9 steel and come in accessory or minimalist form factors.
Dango Products
- Origin: United States
- Materials: Aluminum, stainless steel, titanium
- Styles: Credit card, minimalist
- Features: 2 – 14 tools
- Prices: $20 – $130 (USD)
- Website: dangoproducts.com
Headquartered in Santa Clara, CA, Dango Products is an American manufacturer established in 2015. Their objective is to elevate everyday carry products coupled with modern aesthetics and lasting materials. Dango produces a few minimalist multi-tools, or as add-ons for their wallets in credit card form factor, with up to 14 functions. They’re made from either aluminum or stainless steel, with even one titanium model.
Gear Infusion
- Origin: United States
- Materials: Stainless steel, titanium
- Styles: Accessory, minimalist
- Features: 2 – 4 tools
- Prices: $10 – $40 (USD)
- Website: gearinfusion.com
Gear Infusion was established in 2016 in Fountainville, PA. Their challenge is to design invaluable products, which seize the opportunity to create a lasting impact. Gear Infusion utilizes stainless steel or titanium to create accessory and minimalist multi-tools. Their products will usually accommodate between 2 to 4 functions or tools into a tiny form factor that can be added to a keychain or carried separately.
Griffin Pocket Tool
- Origin: United States
- Materials: Brass, copper, stainless steel, titanium
- Styles: Accessory, minimalist
- Features: 10 – 16 tools
- Prices: $20 – $70 (USD)
- Website: griffinpockettool.com
American brand Griffin Pocket Tool (or GPT for short) was launched in 2015 in Atlanta, GA. Their aim is to make the most rugged and useful multi-tool that fits in a keychain. GPT manufactures 4 distinct minimalist multi-tool lines which vary in size and number of features included (up to 16-in-1). Their products are machined out of a variety of metals, particularly titanium and stainless steel, which are small enough that they can be easily added to a keychain.
Leatherman
- Origin: United States
- Materials: Stainless steel, titanium
- Styles: Plier, pocket knife
- Features: 6 – 21 tools
- Prices: $50 – $230 (USD)
- Website: leatherman.com
Leatherman was established in 1983 in Portland, OR. They first introduced the iconic Pocket Survival Tool in the same year, incorporating a butterfly knife-style mechanism with a larger and more robust form factor. Leatherman’s main form factor (plier) is complemented by a couple pocket knife models, which features ranging from 6 up to 21 tools. Their products are made predominantly of stainless steel with a few models incorporating titanium components or inlays.
Nite Ize
- Origin: United States
- Materials: Stainless steel
- Styles: Accessory, credit card
- Features: 6 – 10 tools
- Prices: $6 – $16 (USD)
- Website: niteize.com
Nite Ize was established in 1989 in Boulder, CO. They aim to manufacture invention-driven products aimed to help with organization and protection of gear. Nite Ize produces extremely affordable multi-tools made exclusively of stainless steel, which could be complemented with polycarbonate components in certain models. Their products come in either accessory or credit card format.
Pharaoh EDC
- Origin: United States
- Materials: Brass, stainless steel, titanium, zirconium
- Styles: Accessory, minimalist
- Features: 2 tools
- Prices: $50 – $100 (USD)
- Website: pharaohedc.com
Pharaoh EDC was founded in 2020 in a small workshop at an undisclosed location in the USA. Their mission is to produce high-quality everyday carry tools for enthusiasts with an eye for what is useful and aesthetically pleasing. Pharaoh EDC offers two multi-tool models machined from metals such as titanium and stainless steel, markedly in accessory or minimalist formats. Their products include simply two tool functions, bottle opener and pry bar.
Scout Leather
- Origin: United States
- Materials: Aluminum, stainless steel, titanium
- Styles: Accessory, minimalist
- Features: 2 – 5 tools
- Prices: $25 – $200 (USD)
- Website: scoutleatherco.com
Scout Leather was initiated in 2021 out of Mountain View, CA. Their aim is to create essential products designed from necessity and personal experience yet using a modern approach. Scout Leather offers multitools made from aluminum, stainless steel, and titanium, containing between 2 and 5 features. Their products come generally in either accessory or minimalist styles.
TEC Accessories
- Origin: United States
- Materials: Titanium
- Styles: Accessory, minimalist
- Features: 5 – 8 tools
- Prices: $25 – $55 (USD)
- Website: tecaccessories.com
TEC Accessories was established in 2004 in Queen Creek, AZ. They design products which are practical and offer pride of ownership, basically something they’ve come to term ‘practical obsessions’. TEC offers multi-tools in accessory and minimalist formats, containing between 5 and 8 functions. Their products are made entirely from machined titanium.
Victorinox
- Origin: Switzerland
- Materials: ABS/cellidor, stainless steel, titanium
- Styles: Credit card, plier, pocket knife
- Features: 2 – 27 tools
- Prices: $15 – $265 (USD)
- Website: victorinox.com
Victorinox, only non-American manufacturer in our list, was established in Ibach in 1884. Their infamous Swiss Army knife was introduced in 1891, after winning the contract to produce army-issued folding knives to Swiss soldiers. Victorinox manufactures multi-tools in credit card and plier formats, on top of their celebrate pocket knife format. Their products are made from stainless steel, sometimes containing titanium or ABS/cellidor plastic components, and including from 2 to 27 functions.
Key takeaways
In conclusion, here are some pros and cons of choosing a product from any of these popular multi-tool brands.
Pros of a multi-tool:
- Compact and easy to carry in pocket, utility belt, or backpack
- Voids the need to carry a full set of tools on a daily basis
- Provides enough features needed on most daily situations and tasks
Cons of a multi-tool:
- Does not substitute single, purpose-built tools in more thorough tasks
- Needs to be properly maintained to ensure durability and usability
- Not practical enough for people with jobs that require heavy tool usage