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Whether you are a novice DIY enthusiast or an experienced technical tradesperson, a power multi-tool is an important investment that deserves a place in your toolbox.
A good multi-tool will be your go-to power tool for hundreds of household activities; due to its simplicity and multi-functionality. However, the best one is compact enough to carry with ease and packed with all the essentials of an elaborate toolbox.
There’s an extensive variety of multi-tools available in the market, each with its own uniqueness. This heavy-duty multi-tool guide is intended to give you a general review of some of the best tools available and all the things you can do with them.
Picking the Best Heavy Duty Multi-Tool – The Buying Guide
To make the best out of your purchase, you should make sure that it is equipped with all essential requirements.
We have made it easier for you and compiled a list of the most important things to look for, which will help you decide the practicality and functionality of any tool.
With the help of this list, you can check whether a tool is worth buying or not.
Area of Interest
Before beginning your search for the right tool, you should first figure out what you need the tool for and the different tasks you want to fulfill. Is it a hobby or an activity that requires the use of a multi-tool for you? Or are you an outdoors person who needs a tool available with them at all times?
Once you have the answers to these questions, you can narrow down your research to other factors.
Size and Weight
The first and foremost requirement of any multi-tool is its compactness and portability. You have to ask yourself about how you are going to carry it? Whether you want it with you all the time in your pocket? Or do you need it on your occasional outdoor trips in your backpack?
Whatever your answer may be, a good multi-tool should be small enough to be carried around easily, and it should be light in weight for ease in portability.
Price and Brand
It is very common to have a budget in mind when looking to buy something. In the case of a multi-tool, you will have to see the price range in which good quality multi-tools fall.
It is also important to consider the manufacturing brand. It does not necessarily mean to look for a brand name, but to look for the quality a brand offers, their credibility, and what they stand for.
Functionality
The variety of tools being offered in a multi-tool are important to consider. You will have to decide which one has the most tools that can perform maximum functions. For every function, a component/mini-tool is provided. The most common components and their functions available in almost all multi-tools are:
- Pliers
- An opener (bottle, can, crate, etc.)
- Screwdrivers
- Scissors
- Knife
- Cutter/ Saw
- Chisel / Scraper
These are only a few of the widely available tools in a multi-tool. It is up to you to choose which one has all the functions that you require.
Design
While designing a multi-tool, the designers take extreme care to provide functionality along with usability. These multi-tools are always designed to optimize their performance and provide maximum benefit to the user.
A well-thought and well-designed tool always make the user’s experience better without causing any confusion or difficulty.
Build Quality
The efficiency of any tool depends on its strength and durability. It is important to have a sturdy multi-tool that will withstand the tests of time.
Their strength comes from the materials and the finesse of the workmanship that goes into the making of these tools. You can find information about the material used in the manufacturer’s list.
Warranty
The usage and experience of any tool differ from person to person, which is why a good after-sales warranty will always prove to be a necessary feature while buying any multi-tool.
In case of any mishandling, you would not want to let go of your tool just because one or two of its components are damaged. In such a situation, a company that offers warranty services will always be a top priority.
These are only the most important qualities you need to look out for, and they will help you narrow down your search to a few of the most sought-after tools in the industry. To make it even easier for you, we have done the research and come up with a list of 10 of the best heavy-duty multi-tools available in the market.
Best Heavy Duty Multi-Tool – Top 10 Reviewed
Leatherman Surge
Features
- Dimensions (LxWxH): 2 x 5.1 x 0.9 inches
- Weight: 14.4 Ounces
- Material: Nylon sheath
- Color: Black with Premium Nylon Sheath
- Locking Blade: Yes
- Components: Pliers, wire cutters, knives, scissors, saw, screwdrivers, openers, files
The Leatherman Surge is arguably one of the best multi-tool out there. It is a combination of quality and innovation. It is equipped with 21 tools, which offer countless different purposes.
It has sturdy pliers, and its scissors are almost as big as a full-size scissor. It is designed so that you can actually have up to 4 tools open at the same time. To top it all, this product comes with a confident 25-year warranty.
Read complete review: Leatherman Surge
Gerber Suspension-NXT
Features
- Dimensions (LxWxH): 25 x 1 x 4.25 inches
- Weight: 6.4 Ounces
- Material: Stainless steel
- Color: Multi
- Locking Blade: Yes
- Components include wire stripper, screwdrivers, openers, pliers, knives.
The Gerber suspension-NXT is the revolutionized version of Gerber‘s classic multi-tool design. It consists of 15 tools that come in handy in everyday use.
This new version is slim and compact enough to be carried around daily and comes with a friendly pocket clip so you can attach it to your pocket or belt. It is the best multi-tool available in this price range.
Irwin Vise-Grip
Features
- Dimensions (LxWxH): 98 x 2.36 x 0.71 inches
- Weight: 16 Ounces
- Material: Alloy steel
- Color: Silver
- Tools included are a locking plier, wire cutter.
This classic Irwin Locking Plier is a tool for the strong-handed. It is made from alloy steel of high grade and heat-treated to increase its strength and durability. Locking pliers are a handy solution to grabbing tightly onto all those places you need it most.
IRWIN has included in this product special pressure adjustment screws and triggers releasing handles. Its curved jaw has hardened teeth that allow it to have a strong grip on materials of any shape and can be used for various applications. This is a heavy-duty tool on which you can depend for doing the toughest jobs.
Leatherman Super Tool 300
Features
- Dimensions (LxWxH): 2 x 4 x 1.97 inches
- Weight: 9.6 ounces
- Material: Stainless steel
- Color: Available in silver and black
- Tools included are pliers, screwdrivers, knives, wire cutters, saw, bottle and can openers, ruler, file, and an electrical crimper.
One of our favorite entries into the line is the Leatherman Super Tool 300 multi-tool. It has been around for ages, and people love to own this multi-tool.
This super tool includes premium replaceable wire cutters and a saw. It is manufactured using stainless steel, which makes it perfect for everyday use without causing any major damage, however, occasional oiling and cleaning will increase the longevity of this product. This tool comes in a classic leather sheath.
This tool may seem heavy initially, but it is soon forgotten once you realize how many functions you can perform using it. It is equipped with 19 different tools which cover a wide range of uses.
Read complete review: Leatherman Super Tool 300
Gerber Center Drive
Features
- Dimensions (LxWxH): 1.5 x 1.5 x 4.7 inches
- Weight: 9.44 Ounces
- Material: Multiple materials, including carbide wire cutters and magnetic bits
- Color: Black
- Tools included are pliers, full-size magnetic bit drivers, full-size knife, carbide wire cutters, bottle and can openers, ruler, file, and a tool lock.
- Made in the USA
Who does not love innovative technology to make things better and easier for them? The Gerber Center Drive multi-tool is most famous for its innovation in design and functionality. It does come with relatively new tools, which may come in handy once in a while. Its new ergonomic design makes it very user-friendly, which is why it is loved by almost everyone.
The usual functional pliers are complemented by the new bit drivers, a full-size main blade, and some secondary tools inside the pliers’ handles. The Gerber Center Drive is almost packed with functional tools, but they are never too much to use, making it sensible to use and very easy to handle. It also features the traditional butterfly opening but a one-handed slide opening mechanism.
Read complete review: Gerber Center Drive
SOG PowerLock EOD
Features
- Dimensions (LxWxH): 7 x 2.3 x 0.73 inches
- Weight: 9.6 Ounces
- Material: Black oxide-finished stainless steel
- Color: Black
- Comes with SOG’s PowerLock
- Tools included are tactical pliers, multi-tool screwdrivers, knife, wire crimper, bottle and can openers, wood saw, and ruler.
When it comes to the best pliers available, SOG is undeniably the best in the industry. They are known for producing exceptionally well-made military-grade multi-tools.
The SOG PowerLock EOD comes with its very own patented opening mechanism known as Compound Leverage System, which helps in increasing the output from your grip compared to other pliers and makes it easy for single-handed use.
Read complete review: SOG Powerlock EOD
Victorinox SwissTool X
Features
- Dimensions (LxWxH): 5 x 2 x 2 inches
- Weight: 7.4 Ounces
- Material: Polished Stainless steel
- Color: Silver steel
- Made in Switzerland
- Tools included are needle-nose pliers, screwdrivers, large blades, wire crimper, bottle, crate and can openers, corkscrew, wood and metal saw, and a ruler.
Out of all the multi-tools made using stainless steel, The Victorinox SwissTool is the most durable one because it has the maximum corrosion resistance. The reason behind this is the premium polished finish which is found on all Victorinox multi-tools.
This European company, which is famous for its Swiss Knife, has made an entry into the multi-tool category by creating some of the most powerful tools out there.
This tool is compact in size and light in weight. And with 27 tools attached, the tool maintains a classy appearance. It will assist you with practically every job, and we strongly advise anyone to use it.
Read complete review: Victorinox SwissTool X
Leatherman Crunch
Features
- Dimensions (LxWxH): 6 x 5.1 x 1.9 inches
- Weight: 16 ounces
- Material: Stainless steel
- Color: Stainless steel with Nylon Sheath
- Tools included are locking pliers, screwdrivers, serrated knife, wire cutters, bottle opener, hex bit driver, wood and metal saw, and ruler
- Made in the USA
Leatherman Crunch is a gorgeous-looking locking plier with just the right amount of carefully selected tools which are mostly required. With a smaller number of component tools, it allowed the brand to focus more on the performance of the provided tools.
It is so innovative that it has almost zero competition when it comes to being a successful locking plier.
Read complete review: Leatherman Crunch
Gerber MP600
Features
- Dimensions (LxWxH): 6 x 2.5 x 0.75 inches
- Weight: 8 ounces
- Material: Stainless steel
- Color: Stainless steel with ballistic nylon sheath
- Tools included are locking pliers, screwdrivers, serrated knife, wire cutters, bottle opener, hex bit driver, wood and metal saw, and ruler
- Made in the USA
The Gerber MP600 Multi-Plier is an excellent general-purpose multi-tool that has a solid and functional built. The Gerber Multi-Plier 600 is a one-of-a-kind instrument with sliding pliers rather than a “butterfly” type opening.
It’s low-cost, well-made, and forward-thinking. The Multi-Plier 600 has just the features you’d get from a basic multi-tool. The limited set of knives, files, and drivers, along with both a can and bottle opener, is typical of most tools in this price range.
Read complete review: Gerber MP600
SOG PowerAssist
Features
- Dimensions (LxWxH): 7 x 1.9 x 0.77 inches
- Weight: 9.6 ounces.
- Material: 420 stainless steel with a black oxide coating
- Color: Black with ballistic nylon sheath
- Tools included are pliers, screwdrivers, knife, wire cutters, bottle opener, V-cutter, file, and ruler
- Made in the USA.
The PowerAssist multi-tool is a fully equipped pocket knife/utility toolset in one instrument. It is designed for rugged use hence the large and bulky stature. This tool is made for either a professional or someone who is highly committed to their DIYs.
Read complete review: SOG PowerAssist
Conclusion
Multi-tools are those useful devices that make life simpler. It’s no wonder that expert handymen have these gadgets in their toolkit because of the additional ease of portability and versatility.
We have attempted to provide you with all the key details in these reviews to make an informed decision as quickly as possible. We also hope that the buyer’s guide will assist you in finding the best gadget for your money.
Hi, I’m Johnny, the chief editor at Svetools.com. Since I was a kid, DIY has been my thing – playing around with all sorts of tools, from power tools to classic wrenches. I started the Svetools blog to share my love for DIY and all things a house Handyman should know. Whether it’s product reviews or essential how-to’s articles, I cover it all. Need assistance or have a question? Hit me up using the details on our contact us page.