If you ask me, you can’t have too many multi-tools. I stash them in my purse, in the car for road trips, in my day pack for day hikes, and of course, in my camping gear and my backpacking gear. UST Brands has been making survival and outdoor tools for nearly a century, and they know what they’re doing. Below are two multi-tools that truly do perform in multiple arenas, and are budget-friendly enough to warrant buying a few of each.
Survival Beast 0.5 Multi-Tool:
The Survival Beast 0.5 is smaller than the palm of my hand, even with tools opened, and attaches to any key chain, belt loop, or backpack. Currently, it’s attached to my ski boot bag (more on why in a minute). This 5-in-1 tool includes a flathead screwdriver, Phillips screwdriver, bottle opener, cutting blade, and LED light. It’s attached to a small carabiner, making it ready to attach to whatever, wherever. You get a two-year warranty, and the main body of the tool is made from anodized aluminum, making it resistant to rust (crucial since I take my gear into the elements).
I like to use the flathead screwdriver to make minor adjustments to my ski binding without having to trek to the repair hut mid-ski day, and of course the bottle opener is self-explanatory. Since the Survival Beast comes with its own carabiner, I’ll just move it from my ski bag to my backpack in the spring. I really like having access to a LED light for those times I don’t have my headlamp at the ready.
The Survival Beast is only $7.99 on UST Brands or even a few bucks less on Amazon.
To my outdoorsy teen sons, nothing is more cool than a carabiner…unless it’s a carabiner with a knife. In fact, I kept this tool in my possession for all of two minutes before they snatched it up to attach to one of their backpacks. Basically, the Klipp Biner Knife is a compact knife and carabiner duo that grips comfortably and naturally in one hand. The knife blade length is 1.75″ (44 mm), which isn’t large, but big enough to be of use cutting through cord, slicing small branches or brush, and the like. The carabiner attaches to packs and bags, of course, and the knife locks for safety. Our only caveat: we found the knife lock to be a little bit temperamental. You could attach the Biner Knife to a key chain, too, but I think it would be fairly bulky.
The Klipp Biner Knife sells for $5.99 on the UST Brands website, or on Amazon for a bit less.