A Tool For All Reasons - Multi-Tool Review
By Jim Hodgson and Darren Scruggs

While using and reviewing the following assortment of multi-tools for this month's Field Test, one thought kept popping up in our thoughts and conversation: "Man, it would have been cool to have one of these when we were Boy Scouts." Of course, the precision tools of today with their myriad features may have been a bit of overkill for a 12-year old. After all, just how many young scouts need a cocktail fork anyway?

As active adults, however, we can appreciate the pleasure of having a single compact tool that services a variety of unanticipated needs, be they along the trail, at the warehouse, under the hood or in the back yard.

For this multi-tool review, our test crew consisted of the regulars from the GearReview.com team, along with co-author Jim Hodgson, a mechanical engineer at a rocket propulsion plant by day, but a fellow outdoor enthusiast at heart. Jim asked a few friends down at the plant to scrutinize the mechanical design and utility of the tools from both an engineer's and a user's perspective. So much for the theory that designing multi-tools isn't rocket science.

Following are the tools we reviewed divided into two categories: full-size and mini.

Full Size Tools

Leatherman Wave
Leatherman Sideclip
Leatherman Flair
SOG Power Plier
Schrade Tough Tool
BuckTool
Kershaw Multitool
Gerber Multi-Plier
The Game Tracker Multi-tool

Full Size Tool Feature Matrix

Mini Tools

Leatherman Micra
SOG Cross Cut
SOG Cross Grip
Buck Mini-Tool
Coast Micro-Pliers

Mini Tool Feature Matrix

Darren Scruggs is a contributing editor at GearReview.com