A multitool should save you from carrying a toolbox, not become another heavy object you leave at home. The best choice is rarely the one with the most listed functions; it is the one with the pliers, driver, blade, and carry size that fit the jobs you actually encounter.
A maintenance technician may prioritize plier leverage and a practical screwdriver, while someone carrying a multitool every day may accept smaller implements to save weight and pocket space. These five standouts take different approaches to that compromise.
1. Leatherman ARC: Best Overall
The Leatherman ARC is built for people who want a full-size multitool without the usual hassle of digging out individual implements. Its FREE magnetic architecture is designed to provide one-handed access to its tools, making it more convenient for frequent use than traditional nail-nick designs.
The ARC has 20 tools and measures 4.25 inches closed. Its 2.76-inch MagnaCut knife blade gets the attention, but the supporting tools make it especially versatile. The loadout includes needlenose and regular pliers, replaceable wire cutters, spring-action scissors, a saw, a diamond-coated file, a wood/metal file, large and small bit drivers, and an awl.
Price: $249.95
Where to Buy: Amazon
CPM MagnaCut is widely known for balancing edge retention, toughness, and corrosion resistance, and Leatherman uses it for the ARC’s blade. The ARC also combines replaceable cutters, interchangeable driver bits, and one-handed access in a full-size platform.
Best for: EDC enthusiasts, technicians, homeowners, and frequent multitool users who value broad capability and fast access enough to justify a premium price.
2. Leatherman Surge: Best for Heavy-Duty Work
The Leatherman Surge favors strength and larger implements over pocket comfort. It has 21 listed functions and a bigger frame intended for users who expect a multitool to substitute for larger hand tools.
Its tool selection includes needlenose and regular pliers, replaceable wire cutters, stranded-wire cutters, an electrical crimper, two 420HC knife blades, large spring-action scissors, a large bit driver, screwdrivers, and an awl. The Blade Exchanger accepts the included saw and file, letting users swap those tools rather than permanently dedicating multiple spaces in the handle.
Price: $159.95
Where to Buy: Amazon
Leatherman calls the Surge one of its largest and strongest multitools. While “strongest” is the company’s characterization rather than an independently verified conclusion, its size and full-length handles clearly place it toward the heavy-duty end of the lineup.
The trade-off is straightforward: a larger tool can offer more leverage and more substantial implements, but it is much less convenient in a pocket. Most buyers will be better off carrying the Surge in a sheath, work bag, or vehicle kit.
Best for: Electricians, mechanics, maintenance workers, construction users, and serious DIYers who prioritize full-size implements over low weight.
3. Victorinox Swiss Tool Spirit X: Best for Refined Everyday Carry
The Victorinox Swiss Tool Spirit X is for buyers who want a full-size, plier-based multitool without a design that feels built exclusively for a worksite. Its slimmer profile and curved handles make it a more refined-looking alternative to many angular, blockier competitors.
Victorinox lists 24 functions, including needlenose pliers, wire cutters, a large blade, scissors, wood and metal saws, a metal file, multiple screwdrivers, a reamer, bottle and can openers, a chisel, and wire-related tools.
Price: $145
Where to Buy: Amazon
Tool counts need context because brands do not always define a “function” in the same way. A higher number does not automatically mean more separate physical implements or a better tool selection. The Spirit X’s appeal is its balance of conventional tools, full-size pliers, and a streamlined design.
It is not built around the one-handed-access philosophy of the ARC. Buyers who routinely need to deploy a blade or tool quickly with one hand should pay close attention to the operating design before buying.
Best for: Homeowners, cyclists, workshop users, and EDC buyers who want a broad, traditional tool selection in a slimmer package.
4. Gerber Center-Drive: Best for Screwdriver-Heavy Repairs
A multitool screwdriver often feels compromised because the bit sits off-center from the handle. The Gerber Center-Drive was designed to address that problem with a long bit driver positioned along the tool’s center axis.
That geometry makes the driver feel more like a conventional screwdriver when turning screws and fasteners. The Center-Drive also includes spring-loaded needlenose pliers, replaceable wire cutters, a 3.25-inch 420HC plain-edge blade, and a selection of additional tools for everyday repair work.
Price: $164.99
Where to Buy: Amazon
Gerber says the center-axis driver improves alignment and torque compared with more conventional multitool drivers. That performance advantage is a manufacturer claim, but the physical distinction is easy to understand: the extended driver places the bit closer to the tool’s centerline.
The Center-Drive is a more specialized choice than a tool designed to maximize overall function count. If you spend a significant part of your day tightening, loosening, or assembling hardware, a better driver may be more valuable than several small tools you rarely use.
Best for: Maintenance technicians, installers, equipment owners, and DIYers who frequently work with screws and fasteners.
5. SOG PowerPint: Best Compact Multitool
The SOG PowerPint takes the opposite approach from a heavy-duty multitool like the Surge. It aims to provide real pliers and a useful set of backup tools in a package small enough that you will actually carry it.
SOG lists 18 functions, including needlenose pliers, wire cutters, straight and serrated blades, scissors, an awl, file, jewelry driver, Phillips screwdriver, can and bottle openers, rulers, a line cutter, and a magnetic 1/4-inch hex bit holder.
Price: $35.99
Where to Buy: Amazon
The PowerPint also uses SOG’s Compound Leverage mechanism, which the company says increases gripping and cutting force through a geared pivot design. That should not be interpreted as proof that this smaller multitool can replace a full-size model in every plier task. Its shorter handles and smaller implements put it in a different class.
Its advantage is portability. The PowerPint delivers legitimate pliers, cutting tools, scissors, and driver capability without taking up the space or weight of a conventional full-size multitool.
Best for: Minimalist EDC users, hikers, cyclists, and anyone who wants a compact backup tool with pliers.
Which Multitool Should You Buy in 2026?
The Leatherman ARC is the best all-around option for buyers who want one premium multitool for a wide variety of jobs. Its one-handed access, MagnaCut blade, replaceable cutters, and interchangeable driver bits make it particularly well suited to people who will use it often.
Choose the Leatherman Surge when leverage and full-size implements matter more than pocket comfort. The Victorinox Swiss Tool Spirit X suits buyers who want a broad, traditional tool selection in a more streamlined design. The Gerber Center-Drive is the specialist option for screwdriver-heavy repairs, while the SOG PowerPint makes compactness the priority.
There is no universal best multitool. Tool counts vary by manufacturer, manufacturer performance claims do not replace independent testing, and a larger tool is not inherently more useful. The right choice depends on whether the multitool will live on a work belt, in a bag, or in your pocket every day.
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