Ultralight inexpensive multitools

[Frnc]

This website only sells quality gear. However for the price and weight, they ain't likely to win a power contest with a Leatherman.

https://ultralightoutdoorgear.co.uk/nextool/
They are listed in weight order, heaviest is 130g, dearest is £30 and weighs 79g.

For reference, my non-UK street legal Leatherman rebar weighs 204g, and costs £76. There is a UK version with scissors instead of a blade I think. The blade locks on mine.

[tarmactatt]

I've been looking for a replacement for my leatherman Squirt PS4 for a while since they discontinued it. I picked up a couple of these Nextool multitools from AliExpress when on offer.

The quality is okay for the price, not going to win any competitions against the Leatherman Squirt but they are inexpensive and readily available.

Nextool mini flagship is my favourite size but has worst build quality, there is play in the handles and a few sharp edges. Snagged it for £16.

The nextool mini sailor scissors is slightly larger but still smaller than e.g Leatherman wingman, it's good for larger scissors than a SAK. Also in my possession is the Nextool 11 in 1 mini sailor pliers, equally well built, pliers are okay. Both of the mini sailor variants are equally well built, handles don't have play, sharp edges (scissors and knife) are sharp, no locking blades. Snagged both for £14.50 each.

[Omega]

If someone wants pliers, then Knioex might be a good choice - I have Victorinox Spirit X and SwissChamp, but think SwissChamp with Knipex is a lighter, cheaper, more convenient and stronger solution (though ratchet tool in Spirit X is great and convenient)

[Frnc]

I have a mini ratchet set in my bike pannier, made by Topeak, has adjustable torque
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07KC63MDT
I have a minute SAK in there as well
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B001U51Z4Y for getting things out of tyres eg piece of glass
Plus the usual multitool, hex wrenches, chain breaker etc.

[tarmactatt]

I think these ratchet 1/4 bit drivers are very handy, especially with a bike; I have one and some bits in my kitchen "DIY junk drawer", plus one with a range of bike-specific bits (Hex and torx) in my "cycling toolkit".

If one wanted to go lighter, there is/was the PBSwiss bike tool which uses a regular 5mm Allen key and adaptor to hold 1/4in bits, you'd lose the nice ratchet ability though.

Still looking for good, small pliers for gripping nuts, undoing knots, pulling sharps out of the tyre, squeezing things, etc. The leatherman squirt pliers are still the best I've handled so far, perhaps some standalone pliers might be better, but at a significant weight & volume penalty.

[Frnc]

I think these ratchet 1/4 bit drivers are very handy, especially with a bike; I have one and some bits in my kitchen "DIY junk drawer", plus one with a range of bike-specific bits (Hex and torx) in my "cycling toolkit".

If one wanted to go lighter, there is/was the PBSwiss bike tool which uses a regular 5mm Allen key and adaptor to hold 1/4in bits, you'd lose the nice ratchet ability though.

Still looking for good, small pliers for gripping nuts, undoing knots, pulling sharps out of the tyre, squeezing things, etc. The leatherman squirt pliers are still the best I've handled so far, perhaps some standalone pliers might be better, but at a significant weight & volume penalty.

I don't have any pliers in my bike bag actually. The Squirt sounds interesting. Is it UK street legal, i.e. is the blade non-locking? The blade on my Rebar is locking, but it's not in my bike bag. It's in the camping section of my BOB.


Seems like the Squirt is out of stock everywhere at the moment though.

[tarmactatt]

I think these ratchet 1/4 bit drivers are very handy, especially with a bike; I have one and some bits in my kitchen "DIY junk drawer", plus one with a range of bike-specific bits (Hex and torx) in my "cycling toolkit".

If one wanted to go lighter, there is/was the PBSwiss bike tool which uses a regular 5mm Allen key and adaptor to hold 1/4in bits, you'd lose the nice ratchet ability though.

Still looking for good, small pliers for gripping nuts, undoing knots, pulling sharps out of the tyre, squeezing things, etc. The leatherman squirt pliers are still the best I've handled so far, perhaps some standalone pliers might be better, but at a significant weight & volume penalty.

I don't have any pliers in my bike bag actually. The Squirt sounds interesting. Is it UK street legal, i.e. is the blade non-locking? The blade on my Rebar is locking, but it's not in my bike bag. It's in the camping section of my BOB.


Seems like the Squirt is out of stock everywhere at the moment though.

I mentioned in a previous post leatherman have unfortunately discontinued the squirt tools and now only the Micra (scissors) exists in the keychain tool line-up. All tools on the Squirt are non-locking.

I've not tried a Gerber dime, I think they're "cheap and cheerful" though so likely no upgrade to the nextool selection.

Victorinox do some tools which include pliers (angler, Dulux tinker) but I don't want the added weight of the additional tools. Id love a Special Mechanic ( https://sakwiki.com/tiki-index.php?page ... l+Mechanic ) but these are unobtanium, and I can't justify the cost of commissioning a custom swiss army knife.

I'm going to investigate standalone pliers, I think the 100mm Knipex pliers wrench or cobras might be good for a larger cycle toolkit, unfortunately, neither a wire cutter function.

The 125mm Maun Multipurpose pliers (https://www.maunindustries.com/side-cut ... re-125-mm/ have a smaller jaw capacity than the Knipex of a similar length, they can cut 1.6mm piano wire which should work for most brake cable, I'm not sure if the cutters open wide enough to cut cable housing though. For me, it is a bonus they are made in England.

Logically one might want to grip something in the pliers while cutting it, so separate tools might be justified...

[tanstaafl]

I used to be a massive leatherman collector but the price and falling QC led me elsewhere.....

Daicamping DL30 Surge beater https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=teWTatP ... =Maxlvledc

For smaller go for the SOG Powerpint https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=teWTatP ... =Maxlvledc


Both on Ali Express sub £30

[tarmactatt]

I've a DL30 and I'd put it in the category of "okay for the money I guess".

After not-too-rigerous use, the serrated blade is floppy and when closing the t-shank holder, the hinged "cover" of the t-shank holder snags on the frame of the handle and opens.

The bolts are all thread-locked from factory so it's not a simple case of tightness, I think the frame of the multi tool is bent.

The SOG tools are also "okay", I've a Powerlitre because I find the corkscrew useful.

UK EDC issue of locking tools aside, the tool is not what I'd describe as "lightweight", the nylon case is very bulky for the size of the tool. I find the finish and the quality of the folding tools in the handles to be mediocre/adequate at a price of £30; I'd be very disappointed if I'd paid full UK RRP (£50-£60). Other than the blade, can opener and scissors, the other handle tools seem like random additions to fill the space. At some point I will probably disassemble and convert to a non-locking blade, and remove/modify some of the weird junk metal tools. Negatives aside, the pliers themselves are quite good, the bonus of being able to use 1/4" screwdriver bits is huge, too.

[Zolner]

I agree, Leatherman is definitely the best choice – durable, functional, and worth every gram and penny.