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My Top Picks for Kids

When picking a multi-tool for your kid there are a few things to take into consideration. So I’ve broken my top picks into different categories.

MY OVERALL TOP PICK:  Leatherman Leap (click here for current price on Amazon) (paid link)

BEST WITHOUT A KNIFE:  Leatherman Style PS (click here for current price on Amazon) (paid link)

BEST WITH A KNIFE:  Leatherman Wingman (click here for current price on Amazon) (paid link)

BEST FULL-SIZE:  Gerber MP600 Bladeless (click here for current price on Amazon) (paid link)

BEST ON A BUDGET:  Gerber Dime (click here for current price on Amazon) (paid link)

My Overall Top Pick

The Leatherman LEAP is my overall top pick primarily because it’s the only multi-tool made just for kids. With a knife blade that can be attached when your child is responsible enough for a knife. This allows for the multi-tool to grow with your child.

Because the Leap was made for kids it was built with safety first. The first thing you will notice is that it was built with smaller hands in mind with two hand opening blades and tools for safe operation. Also, all of the tools lock open to prevent fingers from being pinched or cut.

Even though the Leap was built for kids, they built it to last. The quality of materials and fit and finish are on par with anything else in that price range.

Tools

  1. Needle Nose Pliers
  2. Regular Pliers
  3. Hard Wire Cutters
  4. Wire Cutters
  5. 420HC Knife
  6. Saw
  7. Spring-action Scissors
  8. Ruler
  9. Tweezers
  10. Bottle Opener
  11. Phillips Screwdriver
  12. Medium Flat Blade Screwdriver
  13. Small Flat Blade Screwdriver

Features

  • Lanyard Hole
  • Outside Accessible Features
  • Ergo Grip
  • User Installed Knife Blade

Best Without A Knife

The Leatherman Style PS is fairly small which is great for small hands, plus it has no knife blade, perfect for younger children who are not ready for a knife. The spring-loaded pliers will make it easier for them to use, they will have no trouble helping you out when a second set of pliers is needed.

Best With A Knife

The Leatherman Wingman is great when your child is ready for a multi-tool with a knife but still needs something mid-sized for their growing hands. With the features of a full-size multi-tool, the Wingman has the features of a full-sized multi-tool that has been shrunk down in size. 

Best Full-Size

Although Leatherman makes the Knifeless Rebar, it falls outside of the $50 the price range I’ve tried to stay under because kids lose things all the time. Don’t worry though, we are in luck because Gerber makes the MP600 Bladeless. The MP600 Bladeless not only has no knife blade it also has a unique saw that is much less aggressive than normal multi-tool saw blades. Other than these two features, this multi-tool is a full-featured, full-sized, workhorse.

Best on a Budget

Now if you have one of those kids that can’t keep track of anything if their life depended on it, then you don’t want to spend too much on a multi-tool. That’s where the Gerber Dime comes in. The Gerber Dime is an inexpensive little multi-tool packed with features. There is also the Gerber Dime Travel, a bladeless version with a slightly different tool-set. (click here to check it out on Amazon) (paid link)