Intrigued with carrying the minimum size tools which still have a practical value for EDC,I have recently compared the top 3 mini-size multi-tools - Leatherman Squirt P4,Sebertech M4 sebertool,SOG Crossgrip.I believe there are only 4 essential tools that any size multi-tool must have
liers w/ wire cutters,knife blade,and both standard slot and phillips screwdrivers.The expected price range for these multi-tools is usually $20-$30.
Third Place- SOG Crossgrip - 2 oz.
The pliers have an unusual rounded modified needlenose design,the grippers of which can handle 3/4" bolts/nuts;good wire cutters.They also feature SOG's unique compound leverage design,but are compromised by the rounded profile which offer neither the benefits of needlenose or full-width designs.The pliers are spring loaded,but the thin handles are not made for comfort.The plier tips also don't line up very well,and there is a slight looseness to the feel of the pliers when in use,possibly due to the compound leverage design.The knife is 1 5/8",bevel only on one side,and doesn't lock open.The medium size screwdriver is also beveled on only one side.The tweezers are an odd,unusually wide design,and not very useful.The extra-small screwdriver/bottle opener combo needs a slightly thinner tip to fit some eyeglasses screws.The phillips screwdriver seems to have almost been an afterthought-it's barely more than a 1/2"long,a flat,one-sided design,beveled on only one side.The fingernail type file only has serrrations on one side.The handles do have 5" ruler markings on the outside.Of the 3 tools tested,the Crossgrip is the only one which doesn't have access of the 6 tool blades from the outside-the tool must be opened-an inconvenience factor.It is also the only tool which provides easy disassembly due to its hex bolt construction.There are several pointed edges on one end of the handles-a vinyl "sheath" is included and needed for comfortable pocket carry. Size-2 1/2" long,7/8" wide,1/2" thickness(the largest tool of the 3).
Second place(a very close 2nd) - Sebertech M4 Sebertool- weight-1.6 oz. The full-width pliers have grippers which can handle 5/8" bolts/nuts;good wire cutters.They are not spring loaded-a slight disadvantage,but have fairly comfortable handles when in use.The knife blade is 1 1/2",beveled on both sides,with a very sharp tip;the blade also locks open.The medium screwdriver is a very good design,while the phillips is the full,4-sided design,the only multi-tool which has this type.The file is 2-sided,fine/coarse,w/nail cleaner tip.The tweezers are poorly designed and practically useless(would have been better equipped with a small serrated or saw blade).The extra-small screwdriver/bottle opener combo has a tip which is too large for eyeglass/wristwatch screws.The handles and pliers of the M4 are teflon coated,and the overall quality is quite good,though some of the outside tools can be a little difficult to open.All four corners of the folded tool are sharp and can cut into pockets;a small vinyl "sheath" is included to ease pocket carry.All of the 6 tool blades are accessible from the outside of the handles,and very importantly,all tools securely lock open,a feature unique among multi-tools this small.Surprisingly,this design offers 2 different methods for unlocking the tool blades,both of which work well.This seems to be a strong,well built tool,capable of doing real work. Size - only 2"long,3/8" thickness, but 1 3/16" wide.
First place - Leatherman Squirt P4 - 2 oz.
The pliers are needlenose,which may or may not be more useful than full-width tips,depending on the job at hand.These have the same high quality look and feel of those found on the larger Leatherman models,except the P4 has the added benefit of spring loaded handles. The handles are also nicely rounded and very comfortable to use.The grippers can handle 9/16" nuts/bolts,and the wire cutters are excellent.The knife blade is 1 5/8",single bevel,and not locking-it could use an improved design.The awl is only 7/8" and could use a little extra sharpening.The extra-small screwdriver will fit the tiny screws on watches and eyeglasses.The file is 3-sided,fine/coarse and with a serrated edge.The medium screwdriver/bottle opener combo works well enough.Though the phillips screwdriver is the flat,one-sided design,it actually works quite well.The overall quality is the best of the 3 tested,with no sharp edges or corners to tear pockets.All of the 6 tool blades are accessible from the outside of the handles.The spring loaded handles also snap together nicely when folding up the pliers after use. Size - 2 1/4"long,3/4"wide,1/2"thickness.
Conclusion - I'll be giving the SOG Crossgrip away as a Christmas gift.Despite its compound leverage advantage,I thought it was the poorest overall design-a disappointment after having read some favorable comments on the forum.The Sebertool M4 is an intriguing design,especially with the locking feature on all the tools,but its its sharp corners,extra width(about 50% wider than the Squirt),and lack of ease and smoothness when opening and closing the handles to access the pliers,makes it a little less convenient to carry and use compared to the Leatherman.The Squirt P4 is presently the overall best and most refined design among today's smallest multi-tools.Its classy appearance,and the feel when opening and closing the handles sets it apart from the others.It is also the only design with no useless tools,such as the tweezers found on the other two.In summary,the Squirt P4 is the most comfortable to carry,and the most convenient to use. ( Your comments are welcomed).
liers w/ wire cutters,knife blade,and both standard slot and phillips screwdrivers.The expected price range for these multi-tools is usually $20-$30.Third Place- SOG Crossgrip - 2 oz.
The pliers have an unusual rounded modified needlenose design,the grippers of which can handle 3/4" bolts/nuts;good wire cutters.They also feature SOG's unique compound leverage design,but are compromised by the rounded profile which offer neither the benefits of needlenose or full-width designs.The pliers are spring loaded,but the thin handles are not made for comfort.The plier tips also don't line up very well,and there is a slight looseness to the feel of the pliers when in use,possibly due to the compound leverage design.The knife is 1 5/8",bevel only on one side,and doesn't lock open.The medium size screwdriver is also beveled on only one side.The tweezers are an odd,unusually wide design,and not very useful.The extra-small screwdriver/bottle opener combo needs a slightly thinner tip to fit some eyeglasses screws.The phillips screwdriver seems to have almost been an afterthought-it's barely more than a 1/2"long,a flat,one-sided design,beveled on only one side.The fingernail type file only has serrrations on one side.The handles do have 5" ruler markings on the outside.Of the 3 tools tested,the Crossgrip is the only one which doesn't have access of the 6 tool blades from the outside-the tool must be opened-an inconvenience factor.It is also the only tool which provides easy disassembly due to its hex bolt construction.There are several pointed edges on one end of the handles-a vinyl "sheath" is included and needed for comfortable pocket carry. Size-2 1/2" long,7/8" wide,1/2" thickness(the largest tool of the 3).
Second place(a very close 2nd) - Sebertech M4 Sebertool- weight-1.6 oz. The full-width pliers have grippers which can handle 5/8" bolts/nuts;good wire cutters.They are not spring loaded-a slight disadvantage,but have fairly comfortable handles when in use.The knife blade is 1 1/2",beveled on both sides,with a very sharp tip;the blade also locks open.The medium screwdriver is a very good design,while the phillips is the full,4-sided design,the only multi-tool which has this type.The file is 2-sided,fine/coarse,w/nail cleaner tip.The tweezers are poorly designed and practically useless(would have been better equipped with a small serrated or saw blade).The extra-small screwdriver/bottle opener combo has a tip which is too large for eyeglass/wristwatch screws.The handles and pliers of the M4 are teflon coated,and the overall quality is quite good,though some of the outside tools can be a little difficult to open.All four corners of the folded tool are sharp and can cut into pockets;a small vinyl "sheath" is included to ease pocket carry.All of the 6 tool blades are accessible from the outside of the handles,and very importantly,all tools securely lock open,a feature unique among multi-tools this small.Surprisingly,this design offers 2 different methods for unlocking the tool blades,both of which work well.This seems to be a strong,well built tool,capable of doing real work. Size - only 2"long,3/8" thickness, but 1 3/16" wide.
First place - Leatherman Squirt P4 - 2 oz.
The pliers are needlenose,which may or may not be more useful than full-width tips,depending on the job at hand.These have the same high quality look and feel of those found on the larger Leatherman models,except the P4 has the added benefit of spring loaded handles. The handles are also nicely rounded and very comfortable to use.The grippers can handle 9/16" nuts/bolts,and the wire cutters are excellent.The knife blade is 1 5/8",single bevel,and not locking-it could use an improved design.The awl is only 7/8" and could use a little extra sharpening.The extra-small screwdriver will fit the tiny screws on watches and eyeglasses.The file is 3-sided,fine/coarse and with a serrated edge.The medium screwdriver/bottle opener combo works well enough.Though the phillips screwdriver is the flat,one-sided design,it actually works quite well.The overall quality is the best of the 3 tested,with no sharp edges or corners to tear pockets.All of the 6 tool blades are accessible from the outside of the handles.The spring loaded handles also snap together nicely when folding up the pliers after use. Size - 2 1/4"long,3/4"wide,1/2"thickness.
Conclusion - I'll be giving the SOG Crossgrip away as a Christmas gift.Despite its compound leverage advantage,I thought it was the poorest overall design-a disappointment after having read some favorable comments on the forum.The Sebertool M4 is an intriguing design,especially with the locking feature on all the tools,but its its sharp corners,extra width(about 50% wider than the Squirt),and lack of ease and smoothness when opening and closing the handles to access the pliers,makes it a little less convenient to carry and use compared to the Leatherman.The Squirt P4 is presently the overall best and most refined design among today's smallest multi-tools.Its classy appearance,and the feel when opening and closing the handles sets it apart from the others.It is also the only design with no useless tools,such as the tweezers found on the other two.In summary,the Squirt P4 is the most comfortable to carry,and the most convenient to use. ( Your comments are welcomed).
