I am off tonight and I’m having some drinks and wasting my time fondling tools and playing video games. My intoxicated self decided to sit around thinking about where I would rank tools from different brands by category. I’m thinking…
1. Keychains/Mini Tools
2. Pocket Tools/Knives
3. Standard Sized Mutltitools
4. Heavy Duty Tools
Obviously, which tools/SAKs come out on top will vary from person to person based on individual needs and the types of tasks we all deal with from day to day, but I came up with my own personal picks based on what I like and have used as of right now…
1. Keychains/Mini Tools: Victorinox Classic and Rambler. Honestly, I think these are a tie based on whether or not you need a bottle opener on your keychain. The Classic has a special place in my heart as my dad has had one on his keys for as long as I can remember and always replaces it when it gets worn out. I’ve always looked at the Classic as… A true classic, honestly. My father also bought me a Squirt when I was young as my first Multitool and it has huge sentimental value to me, but he always packed a Classic – And for good reason. It’s ultralight, disappears on any keychain with no problems, and has all the makings of a very useful little Mini Tool. Obviously you won’t be fixing your whole house with your keychain. Victorinox has a way of knowing what really belongs on a tool in this size range and doesn’t put anything useless into their keychain sized blades. Gotta love them for this.
2. Pocket Tools/Knives: Leatherman Juice CS4 is my personal favorite. No tie in this one. I love to have the ability to carry a pair of pliers that I can really crank down on and get leverage over. I also love to have a toolset that rivals that of a quality SAK. I can carry the CS4 in my 5th jeans pocket no problem. I had one in the past and carried it religiously for a long time. Eventually I ended up giving it away to another member of these forums to show him what I loved about the tool so much and it took me a long time to get another, but after carrying many SAKs and other small pocket tools this one is the best tool set I’ve found. It has everything I want in a pocket tool and nothing that I don’t, and even if I find myself stuck in the woods for a few days without ideal gear I know I have a tool set in the CS4 that will do its part to keep me alive as long as I do mine (obviously, within reason).
3. Standard Sized Tools: Victorinox Swisstool Spirit X (W/ Ratchet) is my pick. I love my Rebar, which was formerly my favorite tool all around, and my Charge TTi… But the Swisstool Spirit X has ALL of the tools I want in a standard sized tool and nothing that I don’t. I’m not a fan of serrated blades and even as a wearer of glasses, I don’t need a glasses screwdriver directly built into my multitool. The Charge TTi is my runner up, but the Spirit X beats it with it’s awl and chisel and overall fit and finish. I like that the Charge has 1 hand opening tools, but this feature isn’t truly that important in a tool like this considering that I always have a dedicated 1 hand opening folder and that I’d rather have more capabilities than fewer, regardless of whether or not I can open the tool 1 handed.
4. Heavy Duty Tools: Leatherman MUT. I know that there are more practical choices than this… The Surge, Supertool, and Swisstool lines all have a more diverse set of tools… But nothing screams “Heavy Duty” like a tool that has a built in HAMMER! I’ll be honest: I don’t see much of a point in a heavy duty tool over a standard sized multitool based on the tools on the inside. The tools that really benefit from being beefed up in my mind are the pliers, blade, and saw. The MUT beefs these up well, plus it has the hammer ability. When I think “Heavy Duty”, I think of crude uses – NOT of a tool that basically functions as a mini toolbox. Once I hit this size range, a full set of tools just makes more sense… Although the MUT has a good amount of utility, AND it can help me maintain my firearms. Plus, it’s really cool looking. If I absolutely HAD to pick something more practical over the MUT, I’d take the Supertool 300, but I don’t. So MUT it is because it’s awesome and it has the main tools that I would want in something “Heavy Duty” anyway. 

So now I’m curious what the rest of you consider to be the best tools for yourselves within each category. What tool sets have you settled on as your favorites? What tools are useful to you and what is superfluous? What are your primary considerations when it comes to picking the tools that you’ll rely on from day to day? Part of what is fun about multitools is that the “Perfect Tool” for everyone is bound to be completely different from just about everyone else! Hope you guys enjoyed my picks and I hope to see some more.