REVIEW – We love multi-tools and EDC gear here on The Gadgeteer, so when I was offered the chance to take a look at the Orioners Z1 multi-tool, I didn’t hesitate to say yes. This pocket-sized powerhouse has been designed to combine functionality with sleek design. From a bottle opener to a saw, the Orioners Z1 promises to be your go-to companion for tackling various tasks on the fly. My cat Ozzy either thinks this multi-tool looks delicious, or he’s sticking out his tongue at my attempt to make him move out of the way during my product photoshoot. Either way, let’s take a look at this EDC tool.
What is it?
The Orioners Z1 is a multi-tool made of CNC-machined grade 5 titanium. It features 13 functions, which I’ll cover below.
What’s in the box?
- Orioners Z1 multi-tool
Design and features
At 4.75 inches long, the Orioners Z1 multi-tool is a little longer than a typical pocket knife. I’m not sure which side is the front and which is the back, but we’ll start with the side that has three tritium slots. It’s up to you to source your own tritium vials.
The opposite side has a CNC milled bit holder with a magnet in the base. Included with the Orioners Z1 multi-tool are four S2 alloy steel bits. Note that the Orioners Z1 multi-tool does not have built-in storage to store the bits.
One of the more interesting features of the Orioners Z1 multi-tool is that it has two fold out blades. There’s a saw blade and a knife blade with a quick-release blade holder design.
I would rather have a screwdriver or a file than the saw blade. It’s possible to remove the saw blade by unscrewing the screw. This is a star screw, but luckily one of the included Torx bits fits the screw. You’ll obviously need a separate bit driver though.
The knife (scalpel) blades are replaceable/removable. This makes it convenient when the blade becomes dull.
The bit driver feature is handy as long as you have some other method of carrying/storing the bits.
With the magnetic base, the bit attaches securely to the holder, and the handle of the Z1 provides good torque.
This multi-tool has a built-in quick spring clip that you can use to clip the tool to your belt loop or other strap.
The clip doesn’t actually have a spring, but the titanium has been cut in such a way to create a springy mechanism that Orioners say has been tested over 30,000 times and is stronger than ordinary spring memory metal and should not deform with normal use.
In addition to the bit driver, the Orioners Z1 multi-tool has a hexagonal wrench with 10 sizes. If you look at the image above and compare to the image below, you can see how they designed the wrench to allow for the different sizes.
You will also notice that one side of the tool has a 2 inch ruler and the opposite side as a 5mm ruler.
Other tools/functions built into the Z1 include a bottle opener that can double as a nail puller and bike spoke wrenches.
The business end of the tool has a prybar, and they are saying that the tip is a window breaker. You can also use the tip as a box opener if you don’t want to goop up the knife blade with sticky tape residue.
What I like about the Orioners Z1 multi-tool
- Knife blade with replaceable blades
- 10 wrench sizes
What needs to be improved?
- Some type of bit storage would be nice
- Replace the saw blade with a screwdriver, a file, or another tool
Final thoughts
The Orioners Z1 multi-tool is well made, and prybar enthusiasts (is that a category of EDC fans?) will like the selection of tools. While there’s room for improvement, such as built-in bit storage and potentially swapping out the saw blade for other tools, the Z1’s overall design and functionality make it an interesting contender in the crowded multi-tool space.
Price: starting at $65
Where to buy: Kickstarter
Source: The sample for this review was provided by Orioners. Orioners did not have a final say on the review and did not preview the review before it was published.
