Awesome Tools

Hobby tool maker Dremel’s soldering iron is powered by butane, so it can be used in places where electricity isn’t available. It also features interchangeable tips so you can use it for cutting, shrinking, wood-burning, cleaning, and other tasks that require heat all in one portable tool.

Get your campfire started quickly and reliably every time with this unique tool from The Atomic Bear. The anodized aluminum wand holds a length of paraffin-infused rope, which stays lighted while you hold it in the fire – and without burning your fingers. Includes three 13″ lengths of wax rope.

This minimal knife is machined from a 4mm thick piece of twill-weave carbon fiber. It’s incredibly lightweight at just 25 grams. It’s definitely a case of form over function though, as carbon fiber won’t retain a razor-sharp edge. It’s best used as a dagger, letter opener, or display piece.

Designed to fit in Orbitkey’s leather key organizer, but fine on any keychain, this blade combines a box cutter, bottle opener, pry bar, flat- and Phillips-head screwdrivers, letter opener, imperial and metric rulers, and a file. Made from durable 420 stainless steel.

A good flashlight is a critical part of every tool kit and bug-out bag. If you want a light that will help you survive the zombie apocalypse, then a tactical flashlight is the way to go. These high-output lights are built for durability, grip and can be used as a self-defense tool in a pinch. Everyday Carry shares 10 of their faves.

This handsome and structured leather pouch from Shulga Studio provides the perfect home for pocket tools and accessories. Its main compartment is great for compact multitools, while its side pocket is just right for a flashlight or a short pen. Available in a variety of colors, with optional personalization available.

There’s something to be said for this old school metal toolbox from Japan’s Trusco Nakayama. It offers a classic look, a durable steel body done up in a bold blue, and a smooth-opening double-hinged top. Its two-level design keeps small items organized separately from larger ones.

This compact and basic stainless steel utility knife doubles as a money clip, and is great for opening boxes, envelopes, and other everyday light-duty tasks. It can also clip to your belt, and measures just 2.875″ long when closed.

Find Bigfoot every time you reach for this handy multitool from UST. The stainless steel Sasquatch tool incorporates a hex wrench, bottle opener, cord cutter, flathead and Phillips screwdrivers, a butterfly wrench and a can opener. It’s also TSA compliant and includes a carabiner for clipping it to your backpack or belt loop.

This versatile and well-priced pocket tool includes pliers and a wide variety of useful blades, including large and small knives, a saw blade, screwdrivers, a wire cutter and strippers, a bottle opener, and a can opener. Its blades are made from stone-washed stainless steel, while its handles are aluminum.

Looking to fill your pockets with some great new gear? Everyday Carry tallied up its most popular reader-submitted items from April 2021 and they’re here with the results. Among our faves are the small, but mighty Olight S2R Baton II flashlight and the handy Gerber Shard pocket tool.

It’s always a good time for grilled meats and veggies, so don’t let the cold weather stop you from using your BBQ grill. While you’re at it, you deserve some new grill tools. This set of 18″ long stainless steel tools includes a multi-use spatula, a fork, knife, tongs, and a carrying case. Three of the tools have built-in bottle openers too.

Designed by Peter Fegan for Boker, this pocketable tool is primarily designed for prying objects apart. But it also doubles as a flat-blade screwdriver and a Kubotan for self-defense. It’s made from 440C stainless steel and has a pocket seam clip and a loop for attaching to a strap or hook.

Nitecore’s compact camping lantern offers plenty of smooth and bright light. Its nine high CRI LEDs produce up to 280 lumens and can be set to illuminate only from its sides, top, or in all directions. Load it up with a pair of powerful 21700 batteries, and it can quick-charge your phone or other gadgets.

This handy compact driver from Japanese tool company Engineer is great for getting into tight spaces. It has both straight and 90º bit holders and includes an assortment of 10 metric bits. It doesn’t ratchet though. For that, check out the DR-55.

This compact tool was designed by Joe Wu for CRKT. It can store up to four bits in its chamber, and ships with T6, T8, flathead 0.6 x 4.5, Philip PH1 bits, and has a driver socket beneath its threaded cap. It’s made from aluminum with a scratch-resistant anodized finish, and includes a pocket clip and key ring.

Leatherman’s bestselling Signal Multi-tool looks great in a matte black finish. The outdoorsman’s tool comes with a firestarter, an emergency whistle, a knife sharpener, a combo knife, a saw, a hammer, box wrenches, a 1/4″ bit driver, can and bottle openers, and more.

Friction welding is the process of joining two metals together by spinning them rapidly until they heat up enough to meld together. Anni, Lauri, and his dad Timo from the Beyond the Press channel show how rigged up an old manual lathe to join two hammers together by rapidly spinning one while the other was stationary.

RAEgearUSA makes these three pocket-sized bronze and steel alloy tools. Each one packs a variety of drivers, wrenches, a nail pry, chisel/scraper, and more. The Derringer 1 has 18 functions, while the Derringer 2 has 24, and the Derringer 3 packs 27, including a level and bit storage slots.

Fishbone’s metal gadget is designed for knotless joining and tying of ropes and straps. It holds up to 0.5″ rope or 1″ flat webbing, and has built-in neodymium magnets for stacking and storage. Available in stainless steel or lightweight aluminum. They also make a mini version for 0.25″ or smaller rope or paracord.

Italian knifemaker Maserin’s pocket tool is substantial and versatile. It starts off with a 2.6″ stainless steel knife blade, and adds to that a tool blade with a can opener, bottle opener, screwdriver, wrenches and more. It’s all set into a handsome body with sturdy G-10 handle scales. Available in black/black, black/silver, blue, or orange.

If you’ve ever worked on a project where you needed equally-spaced markings, you know it can be a pain to do it accurately. M Power’s handy device makes it so easy to make equidistant marks. Stretch it out, and it can mark up to eight points, with its total length maxing out at two feet. It also has a center point finder.

Klecker Knives makes this tool that combines multiple functions into an axe head. It has a knife blade, hammer head, gut hook, bottle opener, hex wrench set, 1/4″ driver, lanyard hole, carabineer gate, and ruler. Its clamping system can be used with standard axe handles or wood you find while out hiking or camping.

This compact tool packs 10 fold-out bits, including hex, torx, flat, and phillips drivers. Its removable outer clip adds wrenches, a tire lever, spoke wrenches, a bottle opener. It measures just 2.2″ x 1.3″ x 0.4″, so it’s easy to carry in any pocket. Fix also makes a belt that can hold the tool in its buckle.

This pen-sized tool puts an electric drill in the palm of your hand. Designed for crafting and other small DIY projects, the Wowstick easily makes holes in resin, plastic, wood, clay, beads, aluminum and copper sheets, and more. It comes with eight drill bits and runs for up to two hours on a charge via its USB-C port.

Everyday Carry’s selection of budget-priced pocket knives proves you don’t have to spend an arm and a leg to get a good blade. From the classic utility of the Opinel No. 9 to the modern and minimal looks of the QSP Penguin Pocket Knife, every knife on the list can be had for less than $55.