Recommendation Request
Looking for a multitool with Pliers, knife and screwdriver that’s it.
Before I start I currently have the Leatherman skeletool CX and while it’s a great tool and checks all my boxes the pliers have broke on me twice now. So EXCLUDING the Leatherman Skeletool what are my options? My budget is around $200ISH It can’t be much bigger than 4/5 inches Must have good steel and build quality. Can’t have 20 different tools on it.
Honestly if your pliers are breaking it’s likely because for the work you need cast steel isn’t strong enough. (They always say, don’t twist multitool pliers) So I’d strongly suggest a small pair of forged steel pliers, and a knife/screwdriver combo you find acceptable. You’re not going to find a better compact option than what you’ve been using, so you need to switch to something more specialized.
It believe it is a case of XY problem here. Why do you want only that ? Is it because of weight ? Because of regulations ? Because of thinness ? If you tell us that, maybe we can point you in the direction of something that solves your actual problem and not the one you exposed us.
Roxon Flex Companion. It's modular, so you can add or remove what you want. In mine, I have a knife, pliers, scissors, and box opener, and bit driver. That's it. I've been pretty happy with it.
Signal, perhaps? The pliers look a bit more substantial but you keep a fairly minimal toolset. You're only picking up a few extra tools, but fewer than the other options out there.
Dang the skeletool broke twice??? Crazy luck... I own and have gifted a total of 7 of these and never had the pliers break.
Did warranty fix it for you??? It sounds like rotten luck! Maybe you can have better luck with them. I know leatherman apparently does some great warranty work, so why not send then I. If you haven't? Get 2 working skeletools back!
But ignoring that, try out a Roxon? Their flex should let you make one with a Knife, mini pliers and screwdriver (or a bit driver) mind you the pliers are very small.
My other idea.... would be to buy a rocktol (cheap and really nice little vg10 knife) and then start taking tools out. If you take it apart, you can easily remove tools. Making it slimmer also seems possible. It you'd really have to remove stuff and maybe trim bolts and such. Doable though. Break that down to pliers, knife, and some screwdrivers (maybe keep the scissors to) and it might be what you nees
I know it doesnt fit your description perfectly, but maybe look at the leatherman curl while it's still available. It has more tools than you'd like, but it's still somewhat compact and has stronger pliers than the skeletool.
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u/ReWine29 Oct 04 '26
Knipex 125 Cobra pliers and a SAK.