All the tools-save one-deploy from the outside of the frame. The tools are packed into the frame very closely, like scientific instrumentation. Below, you’ll find the best multitools available, some surprising values, and maybe a cautionary tale.įresh out of the box, the SwissTool Spirit X impressed us with its fit and finish. No tool was left untouched.Īfter all that was said and done, we averaged the recorded scores, noted our impressions, and made our final judgements. Finally, we filed wood, metal, and even our own fingernails. We disassembled and reassembled an old British carburetor, an electrical junction box, and a standard three-prong outlet. We opened bottles, cans, and shipping packaging. We carved white pine boards and maple branches. With the pliers, we gripped, squeezed, twisted, and turned various bits of hardware. In our test, we cut rope, twine, lamp wire, 14-gauge indoor branch circuit wire, maple saplings and branches, paper, and plastic-we also stripped the wire we cut and crimped electrical connectors. In our scoring, we counted these as one, since the functions are often performed by one regular, full-size tool. Note that, in their descriptions, manufacturers often count different capabilities of a specific tool individually to arrive at a higher number of “tools.” For example, pliers may be counted three or four times if they can function as needle-nose pliers, regular pliers, wire cutters, and/or wire strippers. How well they did earned them a score on a scale of one to five, and then we calculated the average of all scores to determine how that model stacks up against a mythical ideal multitool. How We Testedĭuring testing, we performed tasks to utilize every tool or every function of each tool on each model. When buying, prioritize which tools are most important to you and select a model where those are well designed and function appropriately. This might mean there’s room for only one screwdriver, or that it isn’t positioned for optimal use. When brands try to pack greater functionality into a limited amount of space, compromises must be made. However, not all multitools are created equal, and even among the best, some of the individual tools may not work as well as you’d hope. Multitools are designed to fill in when carrying a full tool box isn’t practical-and they can definitely get you out of a jam.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |