What are some good "Multi-Tool" options?

[Ricky&Jack]

I went on my first overnight with my Husky lastnite. We did Amicalola to Black Gap Shelter ont he approach trail.

It was my first overnight and I greatly over-packed.... My pack weighted 37 lbs for 1 night.

I wasn't sure what tools I would need, so I brought along a few. I brought a pocket knife. A pair of those big orange handled scissors, a pocket flashlight, small screwdrivers, and some misc items.

I realized today I didnt need big scissors cause I have a knife.

Is there a popular "multi-tool" item that hikers prefer, so that I can leave these behind next time and still be prepared?

Would a cheap swiss-army knockoff, or a $5 multi tool from walmart be good?

Or is there something stronger, more functional that you recommend I check into, so I can have many needed items in 1 place?

[Coffee]

Swiss Army Knife Classic weighs 0.75 ounce and has a small blade, scissors, a small file/screwdriver combo, tweezers and a toothpick and is usually available for $10-15 on Amazon. When I first purchased new gear in 2012, I got a large Swiss Army Knife that was about 4x the weight and had more functionality but I've never felt like I needed much more than the classic. You mention a flashlight. I carry a headlamp (Black Diamond Spot) instead of a flashlight.

[Mags]

I carry a multi-tool for backcountry skiing. I need to make repairs in the field at times.

For three-season hiking on a well defined trail? The swiss army classic is more than adequate for most people.

Not sure why you may need a screw driver?

[Ricky&Jack]

screwdriver is cause its easier to charge a weeks worth of cellphone batteries, and then just unscrew the phone and swap batteries when it dies.

5 iphone batteries weighs less than 1 portable power supply. So i bring charged batteries.

[FarmerChef]

If you must have a screwdriver then buy one of those mini screwdriver kits (like the kind for computers, not the stubby screwdrivers). Otherwise, the one on the swiss army style knife is more than sufficient. Honestly, all you will probably find you need is a blade and a can opener like this one: http://www.amazon.com/P-38-Can-Opene...rds=can+opener

As far as charging a cell phone goes...good management of the phone means you can usually just recharge it when you hit town. Of course if you want to listen to music then that's another story. Though it would make a lot more sense and last a lot longer if you got a ipod Mini or similar instead of an iphone for music and use the phone for phone, internet, pictures/video, etc. Just a suggestion there based on my real world usage of my iphone on miles and miles of trails. But your needs/wants/experience could be different.

[Starchild]

screwdriver is cause its easier to charge a weeks worth of cellphone batteries, and then just unscrew the phone and swap batteries when it dies.

5 iphone batteries weighs less than 1 portable power supply. So i bring charged batteries.

Don't know about the iP5, but with the iP4 I could leave the screws out and swap batteries w/o a screwdriver.

But due to fragility I decided to go with the battery pack to recharge it.

[Drybones]

Never had a need for any tool other than a lightweight pocket knife.

[Odd Man Out]

Swiss Army Knife Classic weighs 0.75 ounce and has a small blade, scissors, a small file/screwdriver combo, tweezers and a toothpick and is usually available for $10-15 on Amazon. When I first purchased new gear in 2012, I got a large Swiss Army Knife that was about 4x the weight and had more functionality but I've never felt like I needed much more than the classic. You mention a flashlight. I carry a headlamp (Black Diamond Spot) instead of a flashlight.

I checked out the SAK Classic, but I thought I would like a knife and scissors that are slightly larger, so I got the Ambassador. It's essentially identical to the classic, just a little bigger, but not as big as the "standard" SAK.

[Sarcasm the elf]

I'm a big fan of carrying a leatherman micra ( the tiny leatherman that fits on a keychain.) instead of plyers it folds out into a small pair of scissors, which I find myself using more often than any other tool. Also has a decent small knife, a file and the ever important bottle opener.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00002...&robot_redir=1

[bigcranky]

+1 for the Swiss Army Classic. Yes, it's tiny, and yes, it doesn't look impressive, but it does everything I need for a multitool. I do take a larger folding knife, but this is my most used tool.

[jimmyjam]

+ 1 on the mini swiss. It's all you will need.

[Wise Old Owl]

Knifes as a cutting tools is an extremely personal decision based on the user, the situation and level of skill. No one should impress upon you what is “best.” Best is a relative term. There are countless varieties and uses. Knives are categorized into fixed or folding, full, partial or hidden tang, serrated or plain edge, stainless or carbon steel, etc. Entire volumes of books can be written about blade selection. All I will recommend is buying the best you can afford and buying quality. You will pay for it either way, at the store or in the field. When you buy quality, you will only cry once! Some believe the farther you travel from situation, the bigger your knives should be. Example, a pocket knife in the office, a belt knife at all times, a full-size axe or machete for extended living in the wild. This is not what to do. Depending on the size of your kit (pocket, belt, pack, car or home), your knife needs can vary. No "10 essentials kit" should be without a knife or variety of cutting tools. Remember, one is none, two is one and three is in case you lose both of the first two. In my personal opinion, a knife is the first item you should add to your 10 essentials. Stainless is great for cutting food and keeping clean – cutting wood (fuzz stick or removing wet bark), survival and having a quality tool that does not go dull is not stainless, its a much stronger steel. Start with a light Leatherman Squirt or similar, the steel is stronger, stays sharper longer and the support pin is thicker than Swiss Wenger, over time I have distanced myself from Swiss, the smaller ones break too easily and IMO its a starter knife, there are better options. No knife is frequently posted here on this site - to me that is not an option. I hope that helps and I agree with Sarcasm the Elf.

[Rocket Jones]

I too have a Micra, but still find myself carrying my SAK Fisherman instead most of the time. Mostly habit, since that's my everyday carry too.

[MuddyWaters]

There is nothing at all wrong with a multi-tool, if you have a legitimate need for it.

Now take a close look at your gear, and count up the nuts, bolts, screws, cotterpins, and items that require prying off, turning with pliers, wire that needs cutting, etc.

What you will probably find is zero.

Take a small knife, take a tiny screwdriver if need one for battery, or something. Just dont succumb to bringing a 5oz multitool "just in case" when you can see for yourself there isnt any use for it.

[shakey_snake]

I take a letterman style PS. I's smaller than the micra.

It gets primarily used as a pot grabber, although the scissors are good for cutting duck tape to shape, and the nail file and tweezers are nice for grooming.

[BuckeyeBill]

Check out this one has just what you need.

[ChuckT]

I found that I used the scissors on my Victronix (sp?) to cut open Freeze Dried food. And the knife blade once to shorten a line. The other blades - nada. But I do carry, separately, an eye glasses repair kit. Never had to use it on the trail (yet), have had to use it on a driving vacation.

Sent from my Samsung Note 3 using Tapatalk.

[daddytwosticks]

Like the others have said, the smallest swiss army knife weighs under an ounce. This is all you will ever need.

[rafe]

Never had a need for any tool other than a lightweight pocket knife.

Same here. Gerber LST.

[Tuckahoe]

Knifes as a cutting tools is an extremely personal decision based on the user, the situation and level of skill. No one should impress upon you what is “best.” Best is a relative term. There are countless varieties and uses. Knives are categorized into fixed or folding, full, partial or hidden tang, serrated or plain edge, stainless or carbon steel, etc. Entire volumes of books can be written about blade selection. All I will recommend is buying the best you can afford and buying quality. You will pay for it either way, at the store or in the field. When you buy quality, you will only cry once! Some believe the farther you travel from situation, the bigger your knives should be. Example, a pocket knife in the office, a belt knife at all times, a full-size axe or machete for extended living in the wild. This is not what to do. Depending on the size of your kit (pocket, belt, pack, car or home), your knife needs can vary. No "10 essentials kit" should be without a knife or variety of cutting tools. Remember, one is none, two is one and three is in case you lose both of the first two. In my personal opinion, a knife is the first item you should add to your 10 essentials. Stainless is great for cutting food and keeping clean – cutting wood (fuzz stick or removing wet bark), survival and having a quality tool that does not go dull is not stainless, its a much stronger steel. Start with a light Leatherman Squirt or similar, the steel is stronger, stays sharper longer and the support pin is thicker than Swiss Wenger, over time I have distanced myself from Swiss, the smaller ones break too easily and IMO its a starter knife, there are better options. No knife is frequently posted here on this site - to me that is not an option. I hope that helps and I agree with Sarcasm the Elf.

There is nothing at all wrong with a multi-tool, if you have a legitimate need for it.

Now take a close look at your gear, and count up the nuts, bolts, screws, cotterpins, and items that require prying off, turning with pliers, wire that needs cutting, etc.

What you will probably find is zero.

Take a small knife, take a tiny screwdriver if need one for battery, or something. Just dont succumb to bringing a 5oz multitool "just in case" when you can see for yourself there isnt any use for it.

There is a lot of truth in these two posts. It is important to be prepared, with just the right tools without having the junk that you will never need. I've usually got my EDC knife -- a Kershaw Leek -- and then clipped into my pack is a Leatherman Style. The Leek is my go to knife for nearly all my needs, but the little Style is there as a back up for that moment when the Leek isnt the right tool, if I should sadly lose my knife, or is for whatever reason I cannot carry it. And for some reason I also have a little P-38 on the same clip I the pack... yeah you just never know when you will encounter a can without a pop top.

Here is a link for the Style --
http://www.amazon.com/Leatherman-831...xp_grid_pt_0_0