When starting my search for a multi-tool for my youngest child I discovered something that amazed me, there was only one company that marketed a multi-tool specifically for kids, the Leatherman Leap. I knew that others had to be making something similar. So down the rabbit hole, I went.
The more time I spent searching the more I realized that there was no real resource for someone looking for multi-tools for children. I know that my kid wanted one and I that I wanted her to have one, but was she ready? I then began the search and I knew I had somethings to figure out along the way.
When Is The Right Time?
What Makes It Kid Friendly?
What Options Are Available?
How Much Does It Cost?
When Is The Right Time?
At some point
So at what age do you decide that it’s ok for them to have their first real multi-tool? That is a very difficult question to answer. Every
At this point you know you can’t just give them your multi-tool, with a sharp knife and a price tag of $75 plus. You don’t just hand it over and say go have some fun, the next thing you know your $75+ multi-tool is lost or worse yet you find yourself on the way to the ER with some serious stitches in their future. So finding something they can call their own and is safe for them to use without constant supervision just seems like a good idea.
What Makes A Multi-Tool Kid Friendly?
So what makes a multi-tool kid friendly? If you summed up all the factors into one word it would have to be SAFETY, first and foremost. Multi-tools and tools, in general, have sharp edges and moving parts, both of which have their concerns.
As with any tool, education will be very important. Teaching them what each tool is for and how to use it properly will be up to you. Most multi-tools have pliers that fold or slide out to allow access to the pliers. With this style of
When talking about multi-tools for younger users it’s important to take into account two more factors: size and weight. You don’t want it to be too big and heavy to be safely manipulated with smaller, weaker hands.
What Options Are Available?
Now for the hard part. With only Leatherman advertising a
(Click here to check out my Top Picks For Kids on my Recommended Tools page) There I consolidate my Top Picks by category.
Now obviously most multi-tools come with at least one knife blade sometimes two. So finding quality multi-tools that don’t have a knife blade can be a little difficult. So we need to break up the available tool options into different categories. We will start by dividing them into two main categories; Tools with knife blades and tools without knife blades.
This is where Leatherman does have an advantage over the competition. The Leatherman Leap is at the top of both categories because it comes with a knife blade that can be installed by a parent when the child is ready for the responsibility of a knife. This puts the Leatherman Leap as my top pick for younger children. Giving parents the ability to upgrade their multi-tool when the time comes.
The Leatherman Leap
Tools Included: Pliers, wire cutters, saw, spring-action scissors, ruler, tweezers, bottle opener, Phillips screwdriver, medium flat blade screwdriver, and a small flat blade screwdriver.
Specs and Features
- Comes with Add-on 420HC Stainless Steel knife (2.17″ long)
- Closed Length – 3.30″
- Weight – 4.9 oz
- My Top Overall Pick
Best Options Without Blades
Leatherman Style PS
Tools Included: Spring action Pliers, wire cutters, spring action scissors, tweezers, nail file, flat blade screwdriver, Phillips screwdriver, and a carabiner/bottle opener.
Specs and Features
- Closed Length – 2.9″
- Weight – 1.58 oz
- Glass-filled Nylon, Stainless Steel
Gerber Dime Travel
Tools Included: Spring action pliers, wire cutters, tweezers, bottle opener, scissors, flat blade screwdriver, coarse and fine file
Specs and Features
- Closed Length – 2.8″
- Weight – 2.2 oz
- Stainless Steel
- Zipper Hook
- Half the cost of a Leatherman but you get what you pay for
Gerber MP600 Bladeless
Tools Included: Needlenose pliers, Phillips screwdriver, wire cutter, bottle opener, can opener, file, scissors, saw, ruler, small, medium and large flat blade screwdrivers
Specs and Features
- Closed Length – 5.1″
- Weight – 9.0 oz
- Blade Steel – 420HC Stainless Steel
- The Only Full Size, Full Feature Multi-tool on my List
- Locking Tools
- One Hand Opening
- Replaceable RemGrit Saw
Victorinox Swiss Army Jetsetter
Tools Included: Bottle opener, magnetic Phillips screwdriver, wire stripper, scissors, tweezers,
Features and Specs
- Closed Length – 2.283″
- Weight – 0.776 oz
- Stainless Steel
- Smallest and Lightest tool on my list
- No Pliers
Best Options With Blades
Leatherman Sidekick
Tools Included: Spring-action Needlenose pliers, wire cutters, wire strippers, knife, saw, ruler, can opener, bottle opener, wood/metal file,
Specs and Features
- Closed Length – 3.8″
- Weight – 7 oz
- Blade Steel – 420HC Stainless Steel
- Blade Length – 2.6″
- Removable Pocket Clip
- Very similar to the Wingman has a saw in place of the scissors
Leatherman Wingman
Tools Included: Spring action needlenose pliers, wire cutters, wire strippers, combo knife, spring action scissors, package opener, ruler, can opener, bottle opener, wood/metal file, P
Specs and Features
- Closed Length – 3.8
- Weight – 7 oz
- Blade Steel – 420HC Stainless Steel
- Blade Length – 2.6″
- Locking Knife Blade
- Very Similar to the Sidekick, has Scissors in place of the saw
Leatherman Rev
Tools Included: Needlenose pliers, hard wire cutters, knife, package opener, wood/metal file, can opener, bottle opener, ruler, Phillips screwdriver, wire stripper
Specs and Features
- Closed Length – 3.8″
- Weight – 5.9 oz
- Blade Steel – 420HC Stainless Steel
- Blade Length 2.6″
- Locking Knife Blade
- Replaceable Pocket Clip
- Less cost than a Wingman or Sidekick but also less capable
Gerber Suspension
Tools Included: Spring-loaded needle nose pliers, wire cutter, fine edge knife, Phillips screwdriver, serrated knife, saw, bottle opener, can opener, scissors, small and large flat blade screwdrivers
Specs and Features
- Closed Length – 3.5″
- Weight – 9.0 oz
- Locking Blades and Tools
SOG PowerPint
Tools Included: Awl, fully serrated knife, straight edge knife, bottle opener, can opener, 3 sided file, small flat blade screwdriver, gripper, 1/4″ hex bit driver, jewelry driver, line cutter, compound leverage needlenose pliers, Phillips screwdriver, protractor, ruler, scissors, hard wire cutter
Specs and Features
- Weight – 4.20 oz
- Blade Steel – Stainless Steel
- Compound Leverage Pliers System
- Unique Features: protractor and jewelry driver
- Made in China
- Lifetime Warranty
SOG PowerAccess
Tools Included: Awl, knife, compound leverage needlenose pliers, bottle opener, can opener, crimpers, 3 sided file, 1/4″ hex bit driver, jewelry driver, Phillips screwdriver, protractor, ruler, hard wire cutter, small medium, and large flat blade screwdrivers
Specs and Features
- Closed Length – 4.1″
- Weight – 5.90 oz
- Blade Steel – 5CR15MOV
- Compound Leverage Pliers System
- Locking Blades and Tools
- Unique Features: protractor and jewelry driver
- Made in China
- Lifetime Warranty
SOG PowerLitre
Tools Included: Awl, bottle opener, can opener, corkscrew, compound leverage needlenose pliers, Phillips screwdriver, protractor, ruler, scissors, small flat blade screwdriver, gripper, straight edge knife blade, centered magnetic 1/4″ hex bit driver, jewelry driver, soft and hard wire cutters.
Specs and Features
- Weight – 4.6 oz
- Stainless Steel Knife
- Compound Leverage Pliers System
- Unique Features: protractor and jewelry driver
- Made in China
- Lifetime Warranty
How Much Does It Cost?
Cost is one thing that parents must also take into consideration. If your child tends to lose things then spending too much on a nice multi-tool isn’t a good idea. On the other hand, buying too cheap of a tool is also not such a good idea either, the lower cost comes with a trade off in quality of design and materials. With that in mind, most of the multi-tools listed hear are very affordable. With these multi-tools you will get something that will last and they usually come with a good warranty as well.
