Best EDC Multitools: 6 Ranked Picks for Daily Carry

A good multitool is the item that turns "I'll have to come back with tools" into "give me a second." It lives on your belt or in a bag and handles the small mechanical problems of a day, a loose screw, a stubborn package, a snipped zip tie, a bottle that needs opening, without a trip to the toolbox. The category is dominated by a few makers who have spent decades refining the format, and these are the ones worth carrying, ranked from the do-everything default to the keychain minimalists, with a plain reason each earns its spot.

How we ranked these multitools

We ranked these on the things that decide whether a multitool actually gets carried and used: how many of your real daily tasks it covers, whether the most-used tools are quick to reach, build quality and warranty, and carry weight. The picks come from cross-referencing manufacturer tool lists and materials against long-run community consensus, the method behind our gear scoring. A multitool with 30 implements you never touch loses to one with the right dozen you reach for daily, so accessibility and everyday fit counted for more than a raw tool count.

1. Leatherman Wave+ — Best Overall

The Wave+ is the multitool most enthusiasts name when someone asks for one recommendation, and for good reason. It carries a full 18 tools, but the design details are what earn its spot: the two most-used implements, a plain blade and a serrated blade, plus files, open on the outside so you can deploy them one-handed without unfolding the pliers. The needle-nose pliers have replaceable wire cutters, so the one part that wears out can be swapped instead of retiring the tool. It is backed by Leatherman's 25-year warranty and built heavy enough to lean on. At around $110 and roughly half a pound, it is not the lightest carry, but it is the most capable all-rounder. Our Leatherman Wave+ review and the Wave+ vs Free comparison cover it in depth. Check the Leatherman Wave+ price on Amazon.

2. Leatherman Skeletool CX — Best Minimalist

Not everyone wants 18 tools and half a pound on their belt. The Skeletool CX strips the multitool to its essentials, pliers, a one-hand-opening 154CM blade, a bit driver, and a bottle opener, in a skeletonized frame that weighs around 5 ounces. It covers the tasks most people actually reach for, cut, grip, drive a screw, open a bottle, and leaves out the ones they rarely touch. The result is a tool light enough to carry every day without noticing, with a premium 154CM blade steel that holds an edge better than the standard steel on cheaper tools. The bit driver takes flat, replaceable bits stored in the handle, so it drives a range of screws despite the minimalist frame, and the deep-carry clip means it rides like a folder rather than needing a belt sheath. If the Wave+ feels like more than you need, this is the smarter everyday carry. Check the Leatherman Skeletool CX price on Amazon.

3. Gerber Center-Drive Plus — Best Bit Driver

The Center-Drive's headline is exactly what its name says, and it is a real advantage. Most multitool screwdrivers sit off to the side, so you drive screws at an awkward offset angle; the Center-Drive puts a full-size bit driver on the tool's center axis, so it lines up with your wrist like a real screwdriver and delivers proper torque. Add a one-thumb-opening blade and spring-loaded pliers, and it is the pick for anyone who drives a lot of screws, makers, trades, anyone assembling and fixing rather than just cutting. See how it stacks up in Leatherman vs Gerber and the Gerber Center-Drive review. Check the Gerber Center-Drive Plus price on Amazon.

4. Leatherman Arc — Best Premium Flagship

The Arc is the top of the range, and its headline is the blade: premium MagnaCut steel, which holds an edge exceptionally well and resists corrosion, a genuine upgrade over the standard steel on most multitools. It pairs that with outside-access one-hand tools, a bit driver, and the full complement of implements, wrapped in Leatherman's best fit and finish and the 25-year warranty. At around $230 it is a serious investment and more than most carriers need, but if you want the best blade steel in a multitool and buy-once-cry-once build, it is the flagship to reach for. Our Leatherman Arc review covers whether the MagnaCut premium is worth it. Check the Leatherman Arc price on Amazon.

5. Leatherman Micra — Best Keychain Scissors

Sometimes the tool you use most is the smallest. The Micra is a keychain-sized multitool built around a genuinely excellent spring-loaded scissors, plus a small blade, a couple of screwdrivers, tweezers, and a file, all in a package that rides on your keys or in a coin pocket. For the everyday reality of trimming threads, opening blister packs, and snipping tags, those scissors do more real work than a big blade. At around $35 it is the keychain companion to a larger tool, or a standalone minimalist carry for people who mostly need scissors and a small edge. Check the Leatherman Micra price on Amazon.

6. Gerber Dime — Best Budget Keychain Pliers

If you want pliers on your keychain without spending much, the Dime is the pick. For around $25 it packs spring-loaded needle-nose pliers, a small blade, scissors, a bottle and package opener, and a couple of drivers into a keychain-sized body. It is not as refined as the pricier tools here, the tolerances are looser and the tools take more effort to deploy, but it covers a lot of ground for the money and makes an easy gift or a knock-around backup for a glovebox or a bag. It is the budget on-ramp to the pliers-based multitool, and a low-risk way to learn whether you reach for pliers enough to justify stepping up. Check the Gerber Dime price on Amazon.

How to choose an EDC multitool

Start with the format. A pliers-based tool like the Wave+ centers everything around needle-nose pliers and is the most versatile for gripping, bending, and cutting wire; a bit-driver-focused tool like the Center-Drive prioritizes driving screws. Next, weigh outside-access blades, tools that open from the closed position let you use the blade one-handed without deploying the pliers, a real everyday convenience the Wave+, Skeletool, and Arc all offer. Check whether the wire cutters are replaceable, since those wear out first and a swappable set means the tool outlives them. Consider blade steel: standard stainless is fine and easy to sharpen, while premium steels like the Arc's MagnaCut hold an edge far longer. And weigh warranty, Leatherman's 25-year coverage is a real long-term value that quietly justifies a higher up-front price. Think about lock safety too: on a full-size tool, look for implements that lock open so a blade or driver cannot fold on your hand under load, a standard feature on the Wave+ and Arc. If you also carry a dedicated folder, keep the multitool's blade for utility tasks, opening boxes, cutting cordage, breaking down packaging, trimming a loose thread, and let each tool do what it is best at rather than duplicating effort.

Carry matters as much as the tool. A full-size multitool rides best in a belt sheath or a pocket organizer, while a keychain tool like the Micra or Dime lives on your keys. Our guide on how to carry a multitool covers belt, pocket, and pouch options, and a multitool covers the "fix" and often the "cut" bases in the loadout builder. If you want a one-hand magnetic multitool that trades the Wave+'s outside-access blades for a different opening system, our Leatherman Free P2 review covers that alternative. Pair any of these with a good pocket light from our best EDC flashlights hub and you have covered most of a day's small problems. And do not overlook fit: a full-size multitool you find too heavy will live in a drawer, so if you are unsure, start with a mid-size or minimalist tool like the Skeletool and step up only if you catch yourself wishing for more implements. The right multitool is the one that is actually on you when the problem shows up.