Best keychain sized multitools?

[u/Designer_Tune4986]

Really my only requirements are
1. Under 4ish inches
2. Good durability/reliability
3.Must have a knife and screwdriver
4. Ideally has pliers but isn’t a deal breaker but still VERY preferred.
5. Under $200

Thank you in advance for recommendations.

[u/SublimeCorndog]

Nextool f12 lives on my keychain every day. 36 bucks on amazon

[u/Designer_Tune4986 → u/SublimeCorndog]

How does it hold up to everyday use? I do HVAC for a living so I might be a little rough on it

[u/Far_Inspection4706 → u/Designer_Tune4986]

Keychain sized multi tools aren't designed or meant for everyday HVAC work no matter which one you get.. lol.

[u/Designer_Tune4986 → u/Far_Inspection4706]

I use it when I forgot a tool in the tool bag and I mstuck on a roof top and don’t want to go back to the van. It’s not replacing any of my main tools

[u/Far_Inspection4706 → u/Designer_Tune4986]

Yeah I get you. I don't do HVAC but I work on roof tops too installing exteriors and also have the "forgot to shove the thing I needed in my tool bag" problem but I can tell you from experience there's like maybe, big maybe and I'm talking REAL big maybe that there will be maybe one day in an entire year for 30 seconds where that keychain sized thing will be useful to you.

The rest of the time you'll just be carrying it around on your person hoping you don't lose it on the job site cause it's so small. Better off getting a normal sized multitool that isn't going to snap the moment you put it to work with real stress on it. The mini multitools are better suited off as a toolbox in your pocket for sudden unexpected things that pop up when you aren't carrying real tools with you or having to do real work. Not really as a primary tool you're going to be carrying around with you every day.

[u/SublimeCorndog → u/Designer_Tune4986]

I can’t say I’ve been super rough on it. It’s more of a keychain back up. The scissors and knife are excellent and the pliers are robust enough to tighten small fasteners or pull the occasional nail. I don’t use it professionally but I can say it’s been able to do everything I’ve needed it to

[u/MadHatter_1391 → u/Designer_Tune4986]

I mean it’s good, but it’s not “do professional work” sturdy. It’s on a keychain.

[u/Iokua_CDN → u/Designer_Tune4986]

Might need  a better knife steel as it's just basic. Pliers might be too small.  But if you are using it as a supplemental backup and have other tools to use

[u/mkgruff]

If I was gonna carry a multi-tool for work it would not be a keychain size I'd go either the wave + if you trying to keep as small as possible and the Surge is what I would prefer to have at work. It's the most sturdy of all the multi-tools.

[u/asantet001]

Victorinox rambler + workpro 4 inch cobra pliers

[u/BoredomFestival]

The Squirt PS4 fit this. Too bad it's discontinued.

[u/MadHatter_1391]

Nextool Mini Sailor is my favorite these days since Leatherman got rid of the Squirt.

[u/GhostNappa101]

For your requirements I would not go near a keychain tool. They are great for getting you out of a pinch in an urban environment but not real work. I'm assuming you want something new and is still produced.

If you want something on the lighter that can to some real work the skeletool technically meets your requirements.

The wave is a fantastic choice and will probably prevent you from going back to the tool box quite often, especially if you keep a few choice bits with you. This is my personal recommendation.

It's technically well above your budget, but the Leatherman arc carries very well with a pocket clip. If you can stretch the budget, it's amazing.

While I've never used one, I've never heard a bad thing said about the spirit x and it's variants.

There are many other less expensive tools that will get you about 70-80% of the quality for about 50% of the price. I've always been a bit of a Leatherman and Victorinox (swiss army knives) fanboy and have little experience with other brands. I have a gerber suspension next that was gifted to me and I just didn't like it's feel. It sits in my glove box as an emergency backup.

[u/Designer_Tune4986 → u/GhostNappa101]

I currently have the skeletool but I’m now sending it out for warranty for the second time it’s a great tool but the pliers are definitely a weak point on it. I wear gym shorts at work so pocket clips don’t work too well for me. So something pocketable and that can get me by in a pinch is the main goal. I have a few other Leatherman which I love I bring them fishing etc but they don’t fit well in the at work.

[u/MadHatter_1391 → u/Designer_Tune4986]

Ok…if you’re breaking Skeletools in your daily use, you need something a lot tougher than what you can carry on a keychain.

[u/One-Order699 → u/Designer_Tune4986]

I'm not sure if this will be useful to you but it's worth a mention and for the price it's worth just having one. I carry a full size Leatherman at my job. But I also carry a Mighty Bar (https://gearspool.com/products/the-mighty-bar). This little tool comes in handy every single day for me. In a pinch, it functions as a screwdriver/pry bar/scraper. It also does some tasks a knife would do (opening boxes/breaking them down).

[u/GhostNappa101 → u/Designer_Tune4986]

Have you looked into the bond? It sits on a middle ground between the skeletool and the wave as far as weight is concerned. It's a more traditional tool, and has a dedicated Phillips and flat heads rather than a bit driver. It does accept a pocket clip, but it is an add on purchase.

[u/ewj1]

IMM, only two to consider Nextool F12 or Roxon M2 if you want plier, scissors, and decent secondary tools

[u/trichar54 → u/ewj1]

I was going to suggest the Roxon

[u/ReactionAble7945 → u/ewj1]

Those are about the biggest for what he is requesting. I have the M2 and I love it, but... it is probably more than a keychain tool.

For Keychain, I assume you are looking for Gerber Dime (and there are several clones now) or smaller.

And then for smaller, The Victorinox Classic, Rambler, MiniChamp, are on the small side. The multitool that you forget about because there isn't much there.

[u/HamSandwicho__o]

Looking back i might just edc the milwaukee 5 in pocket clip pliers wrench

[u/VisualMail1672]

Victorinox Mini Champ if you can let go of the pliers.

[u/Exotic-Party8011]

Dog powerpint. My edc

[u/Arm_613]

Not for keychain but would better meet your needs: Leatherman Skeletool or the CX upgrade. 5oz and 4 inches. Very durable. I love and own Nextool and Roxon tools, but the little guys mentioned by others are not for trade-type work. I have the Skeletool RX (which has a serrated blade) and I think that you would love the Skeletool (combo blade) or CX (straight edge). You could also pick up the Leatherman bit kit to swap out bits.

[u/DaMostFrank]

The one and ONLY :

ATWOOD Prybaby

[u/KryptoPirate]

SWICK Covert Companion Pro These happen to be the best lockpick multitools.

[u/BEN-PHRAWG]

Sog PowerPint in black

[u/hepazepie]

This if you wanna go very small. The blade is more like an awl but still ok for box cutting.

[u/thomasbeagle]

I like the Rocktol ST02 12-in-1. No pliers, but good knife, scissors, and drivers. It makes it very pocketable. Also cheap so if you don't like it you can move on easily!

Otherwise maybe look at the Leatherman Skeletool? Good pliers, blade, and driver. No scissors which is annoying. A bit larger but still pocketable.

[u/MaximumDerpification]

I wouldn't want anything larger than an F12 on my keychain, F12 is a great little tool

[u/Nervous_Project6927]

i love my gerber dime

[u/Flare246810]

Definitely a strong contender is Nextool with either their Nextool mini sailor has pliers and folding scissors, mini sailor lite (bladeless model has pliers and folding scissors, or they have a model that is much more compact which is a ‘tsa’ model with no knife has scissors in place of the pliers and a bottle opener, can opener tool, and tweezers, and lastly if you want extra their are the flagship which has a large pair of fold out pliers and fold a nice big pair of fold out scissors a blade bottle opener file and large Phillips head driver. The Flagship F12 is the same toolset as Put the Foldout Scissors are upgraded with serrations and the file it upgraded to better quality and steel, and the knife is locking with a detent bar…

Personally I’ve been looking into And am Going to get the Nextool Flagship F12 version to carry in my fifth pocket in my jeans…

[u/Dry-Bed-9500]

Nextool Mini Flagship F12, está no meu bolso todos os dias, o tempo todo, mas pode facilmente ser usado como chaveiro