The 5 Best Heavy-Duty Multitools for EDC
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Your search for the best multitools to EDC shouldn't stop at your pockets. There's a vast market of awesome tools that are compact enough to throw into your bag or everyday work kit while still being packed with a toolbox's worth of functions. In this guide, we list five of our favorite heavy-duty multitools that are brimming with quality and ready for hard use. These are the multitools you want at your side, whether in emergency scenarios or gearing up for your next workshop project.
Top 5 Heavy-Duty Multitools
Victorinox SwissChamp
Gracing the carries of soldiers and civilians alike for nearly three decades, the SwissChamp is one of Victorinox's finest and most functional multitools. The SwissChamp has 33 functions, from pliers to drivers to saws, and can deal with nearly every scenario both on and off the field. It’s quite impressive that it folds into a package just under 3.6 inches long and 1.2 inches tall. You can't go wrong adding this legendary multitool to your kit.
Leatherman Skeletool CX
Despite Leatherman's extensive catalog of tools (three of which grace this list!) One multitool has stood head and shoulders above the rest in recent years. Combining an excellent complement of tools, materials, and aesthetic, the Skeletool CX is simply one of the best multitools money can buy. Front and center, of course, are Leatherman's multi-function pliers with 4 tools. It's not often that a multitool has a 154CM steel blade that can open one-handed. This allows the Skeletool to not only perform as your main knife, but also consolidate or outright replace blade and tool combos for some. The blade folds neatly into its carbon fiber handles, with a large bit driver tipping off one side and carabiner/bottle opener gracing the other. It’s lightweight, simple, and efficient—what more could you ask for in a multitool?
Leatherman Surge
The Surge is Leatherman's heavyweight offering on this list, weighing in at a beefy 12.5 ounces with a 4.5 inch closed length. In exchange for the heftier frame, you get 21 solid tools up to Leatherman's highest standard. The Surge has the largest pliers and longest knives in their catalog, easy-to-use-locks, and four externally opening blades that stay conveniently accessible. Pair up the Surge with a bit kit and replaceable blades to extend its usefulness even further.
Leatherman Wingman
True to its name, the Leatherman Wingman is the perfect companion to your EDC. Housing 14 functions in a tool under 4 inches long and weighing only 7 ounces, the Wingman is a great way to add practical utility without taking as much space and weight as its bigger brothers on this list. A 420HC combo knife, spring action pliers and scissors, a package opener, and a useful set of drivers and openers make up the Wingman, giving you a great go-to tool for your everyday tasks. And with an MSRP of just 35 USD, it’s a more affordable and pocketable option for a feature-packed tool compared to the others on this list.
Gerber Diesel Multi-Plier
The Diesel isn't the smallest nor lightest multitool on this list, but we daresay its unique features make it one of the toughest. Spearheading its functions are the needlenose pliers, which can be deployed one-handed with a flick. The tools that fold into its handles are all larger than their peers’ (improving handling and grip), and lock up securely thanks to its Saf.T.Plus system. The Diesel also looks the part of an aggressively tough tool with its blacked-out paint job. Add the Diesel to your carry if you want a truly rugged and functional tool with some tactical styling on a budget.
We hope you enjoyed our list of multitools that upgrade your EDC to withstand the hardiest of tasks. Did we miss one of your favorites? Sound off in the comments below! And if you're looking for a multitool that's a bit more compact, don't miss our previous guide to the best pocket-friendly multitools.
He has lived through many personal and professional lives, spending nearly a decade in the workforce management industry, a minor career in gaming, and has lent a hand with entrepreneurial efforts back home in the Philippines. He has also been an active participant and helped build a number of significant social communities online, both for EDC and his other hobbies.
Mikey has been at the cusp of gaming, technology, and the internet since the ‘90s and continues to lend his experience, expertise, and authority to all his pursuits. When not online, in a game, or watching movies, you'll find him in the gym, speedrunning his next hobby, or talking at length about EDC with anyone willing to listen.
Bernard is known for bringing everyday carry out of obscurity and into the mainstream, having been published or featured in various publications such as GQ, TIME Magazine, The New York Times, VICE, HYPEBEAST, Outside, and many others. He has also played a part in curating, designing, and developing digital and physical products, resulting in successful crowdfunding projects or limited edition collaboration products with established softgoods brands. He stays on the pulse of the EDC industry by attending trade shows, participating in online interest communities, and actively engaging with fellow gear enthusiasts on social media.
In addition to being the editor-in-chief and main social media personality for EverydayCarry.com, Bernard is an avid gearhead and collector in general. His personal collections span technical bags, fountain pens, digital cameras, retro gaming hardware, personal hi-fi audio gear, and mechanical wristwatches, to name a few. Bernard Capulong is a prominent figure and trusted authority in the everyday carry industry with a career dedicated to helping people discover this hobby and stay prepared with quality gear.
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