Leatherman's preferred multitool choices for hikers, trail runners, climbers, and campers revealed
Outdoor enthusiasts, no matter where their adventures take them, need a versatile multi-tool to handle a multitude of tasks. When it comes to multi-tools, there's one brand that reigns supreme: Leatherman.
Originating from Oregon in the 1970s, Leatherman brought us the very first pliers-based multi-tool. The story goes that founder Tim Leatherman, on a road trip across Europe in 1975, kept facing odd jobs from dodgy plumbing to engine troubles during his travels. Inspired, he dreamt up the idea of a portable pair of pliers that could do multiple jobs.
It took another eight years for the first prototype to get approved, but since Cabela's placed its first order for 500 Leatherman PSTs in 1983, the brand has never looked back. From fixing zippers to hammering pegs, trimming straps, opening cans, and removing pots, Leatherman multi-tools have become indispensable for any outdoor adventure.
Despite the endless uses for a multi-tool, choosing the perfect one for your specific activity can be daunting. With dozens of models and styles available, all made in Portland, Oregon, knowing which one is best can seem challenging. That's why we reached out to the brand for suggestions on the best Leatherman multi-tools for each adventure we love. Here's what they offered:
For day hikes, weekend excursions, or any outdoor activities that require a solid all-rounder: Leatherman Bond
While the Leatherman Bond boasts only 14 functions, it offers more uses than you'd ever need on a day hike. This minimalist tool can handle those basic tasks like trimming straps and bandages, removing splinters, and opening packages. Perfect for those with a smaller pack, this tiny the tool is easy to bring along on every hike without weighing you down and can also fit in a pocket.
For longer backpacking trips: Leatherman Signal
If your hiking adventures often take place over several days with nights spent in the wild, you might want a more comprehensively featured multi-tool that can help you set up camp and stay safe overnight. The Signal is a great choice - packing all the features of the Bond like pliers and a bottle opener, but with additional outdoor-specific tools: a firestarter, a hammer to help you anchor tent pegs, a one-handed blade, and even an emergency whistle. It barely weighs an ounce more than the Bond, making it the perfect companion for your backpacking journey.
For car camping: Leatherman ARC
If camping for you involves the luxury of an air mattress and a Yeti cooler, you likely want a deluxe Leatherman like the beefy Leatherman ARC. This top-of-the-range model is the very first multi-tool to use a MagnaCut steel blade, which is stronger, more corrosion-resistant, and sharper. Plus, it boasts all the premium features, such as large and small bit drivers for tinkering with all your toys at camp.
For trail running: Leatherman Micra
If you prefer trail running shoes to hiking boots and hydration packs to day packs, every ounce matters, and carrying a multi-tool might not even have occurred to you. But what if you get wet feet and a blister emergency hours from anywhere in the backcountry? The Leatherman Micra is a lifesaver - weighing less than two ounces and the size of a keychain, it still packs scissors, a knife, tweezers, and multiple screwdrivers. And, it can be attached to the outside of your running vest via a split ring loop for easy access when needed.
For rock climbing: Leatherman Skeletool
Besides camping, no other activity on this list requires as much gear as rock climbing, and with more gear comes more opportunity for things to go wrong. From trimming webbing and prying open stubborn carabiners to tightening bolts, you'll find all sorts of uses for the awesome Leatherman Skeletool (or Skeletool CX), which fittingly looks a bit like a carabiner and is popular with both climbers and cyclists.
The Skeletool is lightweight at just five ounces and minimalist with just seven tools, including a knife, pliers, and wire cutters. Its design means you can clip it to your harness, and most importantly, you can operate it with one hand if you need it halfway through a pitch.
For a credit-card-sized alternative to the above, check out our recent review of the Tactica M.020, a thin multi-tool that we think is the best bit of camping kit you can fit in your pocket. Happy trails!
In the realm of outdoor enthusiasts, the Leatherman Bond is a preferred choice for day hikes and weekend excursions due to its versatile yet compact design, ideal for handling essential tasks like trimming straps and removing splinters. For longer backpacking trips necessitating more outdoor-specific tools, the Leatherman Signal stands out with additional features such as a firestarter, hammer, and emergency whistle.
