Awesome Tools

Never be caught without the proper driver. This kit includes more than 90 magnetic bits to fit just about every small screw, with bits for flat, Philips, micro-torx, pentalobe, tri-wing, square, Posidriv, and triangle heads. It also includes a flex extender, tweezers, mini metric sockets, and other tools for working with small parts.

Many of us carry a pocket knife, but if you hunt or fish, a fixed blade is a must. These knives feature full-tang blades, so they can handle the kind of force that skinning and butchering tasks require. Everyday Carry rounded up 10 of the best hunting knives, from classic wood-handle designs to sleek steel and carbon fiber models.

This TSA-compliant multitool packs 40 functions into a credit card form. It includes metric and imperial wrenches, rulers, an angle gauge, screwdrivers, a cord cutter, 1/4″ hex bit holder, can and bottle openers, and an optional money clip. It’s made from stainless steel, and comes in bead-blasted silver or black finishes.

This tactical flashlight uses a laser light engine to project a beam as far as 3400 feet away. Its tightly-focused beam is designed for distance targeting while casting a lower-intensity light field in its periphery. It’s IP65-rated waterproof and shock resistant, and its bezel incorporates hardened points for self-defense.

The NEBO Inspector 500+ is ideal for mechanics. Its area light and spotlight modes offer versatility, while a magnetic base lets you use it hands-free on a steel surface like under a car hood. The penlight kicks out up to 500 lumens, while the area light can do 400. It runs on either rechargeable or AAA batteries.

If you’ve ever had to hammer a nail in a tight space, you’ll appreciate Skil’s cordless power hammer. It can drive nails up to 3.5″ long with its percussive action. A magnet holds nails for one-handed driving, and its head adjusts between 0º, 45º, and 90º angles. Includes a 2.0Ah lithium battery and a quick charger. Demo video here.

It may look like a Sharpie, but this former permanent marker hides a razor-sharp hobby knife inside. Vital Carry takes Sharpie barrels and fills them with a CNC-machined blade holder that keeps them securely in place with a set screw instead of those wobbly friction holders. Available in aluminum, copper, titanium, or brass.

Wuben’s palm-sized flashlight outputs up to 900 lumens with a 175º beam. It has five brightness levels plus strobe and SOS modes and a built-in magnet for attaching to metal surfaces. In addition to black and white cases, it comes in gold, cracked glaze, and circuit special editions, with cool white neutral white light sources.

How Ridiculous has been having all kinds of fun chopping things in half with their 2-ton axe. This time they turned their attention to see what the giant tool might do when dropped on stacks of the same item. Among this week’s victims are a tower of concrete blocks, a pallet full of fire extinguishers, and cans of spray paint

This unique titanium tool from ActMax splits in two to create a phone/tablet stand and doubles as a self-defense weapon. It also packs a pry bar, a rope cutter, a bottle opener, a screwdriver, a nail puller, and more. It’s also got slots for adding glow-in-the-dark tritium vials. Its halves hold together with powerful magnets.

This simple camping accessory belongs in every backpack. The Tindår combines an aluminum sleeve and a paraffin-infused rope that acts like an extended matchstick. It burns for up to an hour to help get your campfire started and keep it burning. The sleeve can be used to snuff the flame or as a mini-bellows with the wick removed.

Virginia-based Teale Designs makes this everyday essentials multitool that combines a pry bar, bottle opener, and 1/4″ hex driver. Each one is machined and hand-finished in brass and includes a lanyard and a double-ended driver bit that stows inside its body.

This stainless steel wallet card comes from the makers of the Tiny Survival Guide. It packs 17 emergency field tools including a combo knife/spear point, sewing needles, fishing hooks, mini harpoons, a spare button, a micro drill, saw blades, tweezers, and more. A combo kit with their wallet-sized survival guide is also available.

This minimalist stainless steel tool from Gear Spool has a tapered end that’s great for prying things apart as well as removing labels, turning flat blade screws, opening cans, and cutting through packing tape. It can even be used to split logs when hit with a hammer. Measuring just about 3″ long, it’s a great addition to any keychain.

Japan’s Nichia Corporation makes some of the best LED for flashlights. Their 519A module is designed to produce a high-CRI light that’s easy on the eyes and can push out impressive brightness with less amperage than its predecessor. Everyday Carry picked five flashlights that pack the 519A, ranging from 500 to 3800 lumens.

Gerber’s excellent Dual-Force multitool now comes in a matte black finish. Like its silver brother, it packs a dozen tools, with highlights including strong butterfly-jaw pliers, a center-axis bit driver, and firmly-locking tool blades. Functions include a wire cutter, wire stripper, saw, files, knife, chisel edge, and ruler edge.

This titanium pry tool from Prometheus Design Werx has a built-in striker for sparking fires. The striker can be rotated through its four carbide edges to maximize life, and its pry tip can open packages. The tool has jimping for a firm grip, and a lanyard hole. The ferro rod isn’t included, but you can find plenty on Amazon.

Gerber’s military-grade 19″ tomahawk is designed for breaking down barriers. It weighs 36 oz. and has a full-tang 420HC steel blade. Its head chops through obstacles, while its back edge is a hammer. A cutout in its head serves as a handle for controlling the pry bar at its other end. Includes a MOLLE-compatible sheath.

This new version of Vital Carry’s firestarter is small but powerful. It can help light fires instantly by sending electrical current into steel wool tinder, and it even works in damp conditions. The Sparky Mini is easy to carry on your keychain and comes in aluminum, brass, copper, and titanium versions.

This rechargeable light bar is perfect for working under your car hood, near breaker panels, or other metal surfaces. It has two powerful magnets and hidden swivel hooks for mounting versatility, and its 7800mAh battery pack can also recharge gadgets. It outputs up to 1200 lumens and offers four adjustable color temperatures.

This triangular titanium tool is small enough to carry on your keychain or inside your wallet. Among its 14 functions are a bottle opener, multiple wrenches, a wire stripper, a staple remover, a 1/4″ hex bit driver, drill guides, a box opener, and a flat-blade screwdriver. Includes a titanium split ring.

This portable work light is one of the most versatile we’ve seen. It has a triple-headed lighting unit with adjustable angles. It can be used standalone, hanging, or attached to the included aluminum tripod. It has 700-, 1200-, and 2200-lumen brightness modes in warm and cool color temps and runs for up to 17 hours in low mode.

Ophelion Mechatronic handcrafts this handsome hardwood box for storing a ratcheting driver and up to 24 1/4″ hex bits. Each is made from maple with rare earth magnets to keep its lid on. It’s compatible with Ares 70040 or Sealey AK6962 drivers (not included) and can be ordered with tools, or in a 48 bit only version.