Carrying a large number of tools with you at all times can be difficult and it’s definitely a hassle that can slow you down considerably. When you’re trying to get something done you want to make sure that you are carrying everything you might possibly need (especially if you find yourself in some type of post-apocalyptic world) but you also don’t want to be weighed down with a heavy bag of tools only to find the one that you really need isn’t even among them.
[the_ad_placement id=”in-text-1-type-r”]That’s why having the best keychain multi tool is important.
What is a keychain multi tool
A keychain multi tool is a small tool that can be easily attached to your key ring. It’s generally larger than a pocketknife because it contains a range of additional tools besides just a small knife but it’s still small enough that you can easily carry it in your purse or your pocket. These tools are generally made of metal and this is important because they need to last a long time. You want something that’s going to stay sturdy and work well for any task.
What you need with this multi tool
If you’re looking for a multi tool you need to think about the most important aspects. Some of these tools can be quite large because they contain a large number of different tools in them. Some are going to be quite small because they only contain a couple smaller tools in them.
See also: Self Defense Keychain: 8 Amazing Items that Hold the Key to Your Protection
These are probably not the ones you’re going to want because something with a lot of tools is going to be too heavy and bulky while something with only a few tools is not going to supply you with what you need when it comes time to use it.
What you want is something that’s right about in the middle. You want a few different tools together so you can accomplish a variety of tasks without a lot of difficulty but make sure that you’re not getting caught up in everything you might possibly need to do. In a pinch, you’ll be surprised how well you can make the tools you have work for different tasks that they weren’t actually designed for. This is good because it means you can get a slightly smaller tool while still accomplishing everything you need.
One thing you should think about is if you need something dedicated to a specific task. Although general tools are going to work for most purposes, you’re going to need to consider more specialized aspects. If you need a tool that’s going to repair your bow, for example, you’re not going to find the tools you need on a traditional multi tool. Chances are you’re going to need to get something specialized. If you’re looking for things like tightening a screw or cutting open a package however, you’ll be able to find those things on a variety of multi tools.
Knife
The first thing you absolutely need in your multi tool is a pocketknife. This is probably one of the most standard aspects of any multi tool and it’s also extremely important because it allows you to get into things that you need, cut ropes or notch trees to keep your bearings and a whole lot more. Take look at our article on how to choose the best EDC keychain items to help you with more options.
You want to make sure it’s a small blade because larger ones can be a problem if you are trying to fly somewhere or if you’re walking into certain buildings. A small blade is also all you’re going to need for this purpose. You can keep a larger one somewhere else if you need it for survival purposes.
Pliers
These can also be very important because you’ll be able to open things that you might really want. The pliers give you a little more control and strength to turn screws or bolts or even break something if you need to. It’s not necessarily the best quality pair of pliers but you will be able to get a lot done. You want to make sure that you have these though because there are a lot of ways that you can use them.
Screwdriver
This isn’t an absolute necessity but it can be helpful. Some multi tools have large screwdrivers (or larger at least) so that they can take care of building or repairing anything you’ve put together. Others might have only a small screwdriver for repairing your glasses or other aspects.
If you wear glasses you’ll definitely want one of the smaller screwdrivers because you probably already know how frequently the screws get loosened or come out. The last thing you want in a survival situation is to not have your glasses because the screw came out and they’re broken.
Saw/serrated knife
These are slightly different than the traditional pocketknife that you get in just about all multi tools. Instead, this knife or small saw is designed to cut through wood and that’s extremely important if you need it for survival or even for camping. You don’t necessarily want to carry around a giant saw but you might want something that will help you cut some smaller branches for building a fire (for example). With a small pocket saw you’ll be able to get some smaller branches that will serve your purpose just fine and without all the extra weight of a large saw.
Choosing the right multi tool
If you’re trying to choose the right tool you want to make sure you know what you’re going to be using it for. After all, that multi tool needs to work right. So make sure you think about it and then think about the tools themselves. What are they made out of? Who is making them? Do they have a guarantee?
[the_ad_placement id=”in-text-2-type-r”]These are all things that are going to prove extremely important as you’re trying to shop around so make sure you’re considering each of them before you pick something out. Choosing the wrong one is just going to be a waste of your money after all.
What is it made of?
The first thing to think about is the material. You want something that’s going to last and that means you need something high quality. You will probably want to look at a stainless steel tool because it’s going to be strong enough to do the jobs you want it to without bending or breaking.
It’s also going to be easier to keep clean and it’s not going to rust, which is extremely important if you’re not always going to be in the best of conditions.
Who is producing it?
Next, consider the company that makes your multi tool. Different companies are going to make their tools a little bit differently and you may not find it as high quality as something you’ve had before. You’re not going to want an off brand tool unless you have some time to test it out first. Some are probably very good quality and they’ll get you a bargain because they’re not as well known, but name brands are known for a reason and that’s generally because they are high quality. Just make sure you’re paying attention and testing your tool before it’s absolutely crucial.
Does it have a guarantee?
Check out the guarantee or warranty on the product before you stick it away in your gear and never look at it again. You want to make sure there’s a good, long guarantee on the product and you definitely want to know what it covers as well. Is it only malfunction or defect of the product or does it cover general wear and tear as well? Sure if there’s an emergency or a survival event you’re not going to worry about getting your money back but a long guarantee generally means a higher quality product.
Companies that make a low-quality product know that it won’t last that long, which means they’re not going to put a lifetime guarantee on it because they know they’re going to be paying out a lot of money when the product fails. On the other hand, if a company knows that their product is good they’re going to put a long guarantee on there because they want you to know that they believe in the product and that they trust it to last. That means they’re going to stand behind it no matter what you decide to do with it.
How much does it cost?
You’re definitely going to want to think about the cost of the tool that you’re getting. If it sounds too good to be true it probably is. That means you’re probably getting a tool that isn’t made of quality materials or isn’t going to hold up to what you need. You also don’t want to spend a fortune on a tool because chances are you’re only going to be paying for a name. After you get up a little in the price you really can’t get anything else to accommodate for the higher price.
For example, if you have a product that costs over $100 and only offers the same tools as one that costs $30 you want to carefully look at both options. Is the $100 one enough of an upgrade in other areas that it’s worth the extra money? You’ll probably find that there’s something in the middle that works out the best for your needs, balancing out the cost with the features. Even if you have enough money to buy the best possible product, the most expensive is not necessarily going to be what you’re looking for.
Is it easy to use?
Obviously you don’t want to get a tool that you aren’t even going to be able to use. That means you should be able to pull the pieces out easily and get to the tool that you want quickly and easily. You don’t want something that you have to finagle all the time in order to get to the tool you want or that you just can’t find the tool that you want. That’s going to cost you time and when you’re out on your own, fending for yourself, you just might not have that extra time to waste.
If you have to pull out a variety of different tools to get to the one tool that you need that’s going to slow you down. If the tool you need isn’t easy to use once you do pull it out that’s not going to be helpful either. You’ll find that you’re really struggling with that knife or that screwdriver because the other tools butt up against it and it’s difficult to get a grip on. So make sure you pull out all the pieces and try to use each one right away. Even if you just go through the motion of using it you’ll get a good idea of how it’s going to work.
Does it fit properly?
If you’re going to put it on a keychain is it going to fit well? Is it light enough that you can easily add it to your keys without getting weighed down? Is it easy to attach to your keys but still secure enough that it won’t fall off? All of these things are going to be extremely important because you need to have easy access to whatever you bring with you, after all. You don’t want to buy a tool then find out you can’t actually put it where you want.
Is a keychain multi tool for you?
Sometimes you really can’t make do with such a tool. For a lot of people it’s necessary to have something larger that you can carry around because it’s going to give you the ability to carry larger tools. If you have a multi tool that fits in your pocket, for example, or on your belt, it will be able to be larger than one that needs to fit on your keychain. That means it could have simply larger tools or it could have more tools. Multi tools that go in your bag can be even larger or you could opt for full size tools instead.
Belt/pocket multi tool
These tools are slightly bigger than their keychain counterparts but they generally have miniature tools still. They may have a few extras to go along with them or they may be just a few inches larger so that you get something that’s a little more user friendly when you pull it out.
They can also be easier to carry because you have a little more room in a pocket or on your belt than you do on your keychain, plus you don’t have to work around your keys when you use any of the tools.
Bag multi tool
If you opt for something large enough that it’s going to fit in a bag rather than being able to carry it directly on your person you’re going to have the ability for even larger tools. You can get something that has larger size tools or something that just has a larger variety of tools here. It’s also going to be a little easier to use if the tools are larger because they’re designed for ergonomics instead of just designed to be compact.
Full size tools
If you’re going to be carrying out a lot of tasks you want to make sure you have larger tools. If you need to build an entire shelter, for example, small tools from a multi tool just aren’t going to cut it. If you’re going to be hunting or cooking over a long period of time you’re not going to do it with a multi tool either. You need something that’s actually suited to the task and that will provide you with everything you need in order to get the job done properly and efficiently.
[the_ad_placement id=”in-text-3-type-r”]Evaluating your needs is the first step and if you’re looking and deciding that what you need is larger than a keychain multi tool you want to make sure you’re getting what you actually need. It’s easy to find something for any budget and for any set of needs, but if it’s not going to meet your needs that’s definitely not going to be a benefit to you and it’s actually going to be a waste of money even if it’s otherwise a very good tool. Don’t fall into a trap of buying something that you can’t use just because it’s a good deal.
Finding a good keychain multi tool is extremely important because you want to make sure that you are always prepared for anything.
Make sure that you are looking at all the different options and that you are choosing something that has all the tools you’re going to need for anything that might come your way. It’s not necessarily going to be easy to find, but you definitely want to make sure that you are shopping around and thinking about all the things you may need to do with that tool in the future so you really can get the best keychain multi tool.
To help you choose, read our article reviews of the top survival multitool for more information.
I always opt for the bag multi-tool than the keychain tool. I can never put my trust on the small tools for the different situations. Did anyone use the keychain tool before? I will be glad if you can share you experiences.
No regrets getting myself one keychain multi tool. serves the purpose right. It is light but solid and sturdy. reliable blade and pliers. I often used the scissors and they are easily accessible. Amazon sells varied multi tool you can check on. Athough there are no major cons with the product, i find the screnwdriver hard to deploy, before i can use it i need to deploy the scissors first which is quite a minimal hassle but other than that it is still very good for me!
Interesting! I have a keychain multi-tool, but I rarely ever take it on camping trips because it is bulky and heavy. Is there a particular light-weight model that would suit my needs?
There are several that you can choose from.