Our pick: the Gerber Dime, 2.2 oz, the lightest tool here with pliers, scissors, tweezers and a blade. Ultralight: Victorinox Classic SD, 0.8 oz. Full-size pliers: Leatherman Skeletool, 5 oz. For emergencies: Leatherman Signal, with a ferro rod and whistle.
Weight in one line: no single tool here covers all six trail jobs below. The lightest way to cover them is a Dime plus a Victorinox Huntsman, 5.6 oz together, still 2.9 oz less than a Leatherman Wave+ on its own.
| Multi-tool | Best for | Weight | Closed length | Pliers? | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gerber Dime | Best overall | 2.2 oz | 2.75 in | Small | $ | Check price |
| Victorinox Classic SD | Best ultralight | 0.8 oz | 2.3 in | No | $ | Check price |
| Victorinox Huntsman | Best with a saw under 4 oz | 3.4 oz | 3.6 in | No | $$ | Check price |
| Victorinox Swiss Card Lite | Best flat tool with a light | 26 g (0.9 oz) | 3.2 in | No | — | Check price |
| SOG MacV Tool | Best no-knife keychain tool | — | — | No | $ | Check price |
| Leatherman Skeletool | Best lightweight full-size pliers | 5 oz | 4 in | Full size | $$ | Check price |
| Leatherman Signal | Best for emergencies | 7.5 oz | 4.5 in | Full size | $$$ | Check price |
| Gerber Suspension-NXT | Best budget full-size | 6.7 oz | 4.25 in | Full size | $$ | Check price |
| Victorinox Swiss Tool Spirit X | Lightest with pliers, scissors and saw | 7.4 oz | 4.1 in | Full size | $$$ | Check price |
| Leatherman ARC | Best premium | 8.6 oz | 4.25 in | Full size | $$$ | Check price |
Weights and closed lengths from each maker’s product page, October 2026. “—” means the maker doesn’t publish it. Price bands at maker list price, October 2026: $ under $40 · $$ $40–100 · $$$ over $100. Victorinox’s US store doesn’t list the Swiss Card Lite, so it has no US list price.
Which multi-tool covers your trail jobs for the least weight?
On a backpacking trip, a multi-tool mostly does six jobs. We checked each maker’s own tool list against each one, so you can find the lightest pick that covers yours.
| Multi-tool | Weight | Cut cord or food | Fix gear | Pliers (hot pots) | Scissors (blisters, tape) | Tweezers (splinters, ticks) | Saw | Jobs | Oz per job | Carry-on? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Victorinox Classic SD | 0.8 oz | Small blade | Screwdriver tip on the nail file | No | Yes | Yes | No | 4 | 0.20 | Checked bag only |
| Victorinox Swiss Card Lite | 0.9 oz | Small blade | 3 and 5 mm flat, two Phillips | No | Yes | Yes, plus a pin | No | 4 | 0.23 | Checked bag only |
| SOG MacV Tool | — | Line cutter (cord only) | Three drivers, three wrenches, hex bit driver, pry bar | No | No | No | No | 2 | — | Check with officer |
| Gerber Dime | 2.2 oz | 1.5 in blade, package opener | Flat and cross drivers, file | Needle-nose | Yes | Yes | No | 5 | 0.44 | Checked bag only |
| Victorinox Huntsman | 3.4 oz | Large and small blades | 3 and 6 mm drivers, awl | No | Yes | Yes | Wood saw | 5 | 0.68 | Checked bag only |
| Leatherman Skeletool | 5 oz | 2.6 in combo blade | Bit driver, Phillips and flat bits | Needle-nose and regular | No | No | No | 3 | 1.67 | Checked bag only |
| Gerber Suspension-NXT | 6.7 oz | 2.25 in combo blade | Cross and three flat drivers, awl, file | Needle-nose and regular | Yes | No | No | 4 | 1.68 | Checked bag only |
| Victorinox Swiss Tool Spirit X | 7.4 oz | Large blade | Four drivers, file, reamer, chisel | Needle-nose | Yes | No | Wood and metal saws | 5 | 1.48 | Checked bag only |
| Leatherman Signal | 7.5 oz | 2.73 in combo knife | Bit driver, awl, two box wrenches | Needle-nose and regular | No | No | Saw | 4 | 1.88 | Checked bag only |
| Leatherman Wave+ (not a pick) | 8.5 oz | Plain and serrated knives | Bit drivers, files | Needle-nose and regular | Yes | No | Saw | 5 | 1.70 | Checked bag only |
| Leatherman ARC | 8.6 oz | 2.76 in MagnaCut blade | Bit drivers, files, awl, pry tool | Needle-nose and regular | Yes | No | Saw | 5 | 1.72 | Checked bag only |
Weights and tool lists from each maker’s product page, October 2026. A job counts when the maker lists a tool for it; this is a reading of the specs, not a performance test. Oz per job = weight ÷ jobs. SOG doesn’t publish the MacV’s weight. Carry-on verdicts use TSA’s rules, below.
Did you know? None of the full-size pliers tools here has tweezers. The Dime is the only pick with both pliers and tweezers. Add a 0.8 oz Classic SD to a 5 oz Skeletool and you cover five jobs for 5.8 oz, still lighter than the Spirit X, Signal or ARC alone.
How we chose
Our writers have reviewed most of these over the years, and most cards link to a full review. For this October 2026 update (edited by Brian Hamilton), we re-checked every pick on its maker’s own site: that it’s still sold, and its weight, length and tool list.
Then we scored each tool on the six trail jobs above from the maker’s tool list, not its headline tool count, and read TSA’s rules for the flight to the trailhead. We didn’t weigh or field-test tools for this update; the weights are the makers’.
All eight picks from our earlier list are still sold, so all eight stay. We added two:
- Victorinox Classic SD: three of the guides we checked for this search pick it for ultralight hikers, and at 0.8 oz it’s the lightest way to carry scissors and tweezers.
- Leatherman Skeletool: it fills the gap between the 3.4 oz Huntsman and the 6.7 oz Suspension-NXT with full-size pliers at 5 oz.
We left out retired tools that other guides still recommend: the Leatherman Squirt PS4 (“no longer in production”) and Charge+ TTi, and Gerber’s bladeless Dime Travel, which is gone from Gerber’s catalog.
Best ultralight multi-tools for backpacking (under 4 oz)
1. Gerber Dime: Best overall
The lightest tool on this page with pliers, and the only pick with both pliers and tweezers. For 2.2 oz you get spring-loaded needle-nose pliers, a wire cutter, a 1.5 in blade, scissors, tweezers, a file, drivers and a bottle opener that works with the tool closed.
Our keychain roundup rated it a pretty good keychain tool whose tools work well for their size. Two gripes: the blade’s sheepsfoot shape has almost no point, and at this size the pliers weren’t much use for turning bolts or getting a firm grip.
Key specs: 2.2 oz · 2.75 in closed, 4.25 in open · 1.5 in plain-edge blade · stainless steel · retail package opener · limited lifetime warranty · $
Pros
- Pliers, scissors and tweezers at 2.2 oz
- Covers five of the six trail jobs
- Bottle opener works with the tool closed
- Low price
Cons
- Small pliers don’t grip hard
- Blade has almost no point
- No saw
Skip it if: you need pliers you can bear down on. The Skeletool’s are full size, at 5 oz. More in our Gerber Dime review.
2. Victorinox Classic SD: Best ultralight
New in this update; it’s here on Victorinox’s specs.
The lightest pick at 0.8 oz, and four of the six trail jobs: a small blade for cord and food, scissors for blister tape, tweezers for splinters, and a nail file with a screwdriver tip. Three of the guides we checked for this search name it the pick for ultralight hikers.
The blade doesn’t lock, per Victorinox, and the whole knife is 2.3 in long. Think of it as scissors and tweezers with a small knife, not a camp knife.
Key specs: 0.8 oz · 2.3 × 0.7 × 0.4 in · 7 functions: small blade, scissors, nail file with 2.5 mm screwdriver, tweezers, toothpick, key ring · lifetime warranty · $
Pros
- Lightest pick at 0.8 oz
- Scissors and tweezers for foot care
- Lowest oz per job on the page
- Lifetime warranty
Cons
- No pliers or saw
- Blade doesn’t lock
- Tweezers and toothpick slide out and can go missing
Skip it if: you need pliers; the Dime adds them for 1.4 oz more. Our Victorinox Classic SD review has more detail.
3. Victorinox Huntsman: Best with a saw under 4 oz
The Swiss Army knife most people picture, and the lightest pick with a saw. For 3.4 oz you get two blades, a wood saw, scissors, tweezers, a reamer with a sewing eye, a hook, can and bottle openers and two screwdrivers. Victorinox pitches it for “sawing wood or cutting ropes” on hikes.
Our Swiss Army knife roundup called its blades, saw and scissors amply sized for their jobs. Pliers are the one trail job it misses.
Key specs: 3.4 oz · 3.6 × 1 × 0.8 in · 15 functions incl. large and small blades, wood saw, scissors, tweezers, reamer with sewing awl, corkscrew · blades don’t lock · lifetime warranty · $$
Pros
- Saw, scissors and tweezers at 3.4 oz
- Two blades, so one stays clean for food
- Sewing awl for pack and tent repairs
- Lifetime warranty
Cons
- No pliers
- Blades don’t lock
- Corkscrew is dead weight on most trips
Skip it if: you won’t saw anything. The Classic SD keeps the scissors and tweezers at 0.8 oz. More in our Victorinox Huntsman review.
4. Victorinox Swiss Card Lite: Best flat tool with a light
A Swiss Army knife taken apart and slid into a credit-card case: small blade, scissors, tweezers, a pin, four screwdrivers, a magnifier, rulers, a pressurized pen and an LED. At 26 g it fits a wallet or a hip-belt pocket.
Our credit-card roundup rated its screwdriver far better than most card tools, found the LED good for finding a keyhole and the pen smooth, and noted it’s thicker than most card tools.
Victorinox’s US store doesn’t list it right now; its international site does.
Key specs: 26 g (0.9 oz) · 82 × 55 × 4 mm (3.2 × 2.2 × 0.16 in) · 13 functions: small blade, scissors, tweezers, pin, 3 and 5 mm flat and two Phillips drivers, magnifier, cm and inch rulers, LED, pressurized pen · lifetime warranty
Pros
- Flat enough for a wallet
- LED and pen built in
- Same four jobs as the Classic SD
Cons
- Tools come out separately and can go missing
- Not on Victorinox’s US store
- No pliers or saw
Skip it if: you’d rather not keep track of loose pieces; the Classic SD keeps its tools on one body. See our Swiss Card Lite review and credit-card multi-tool roundup.
5. SOG MacV Tool: Best no-knife keychain tool
A one-piece, skull-shaped tool with no moving parts and no knife blade. SOG lists 12 functions: a pry bar, bottle opener, three drivers, a line cutter, a blade sharpener, three wrenches, a hex bit driver and a lanyard hole.
In our one-piece roundup the sharpener did a reasonably good job putting a field edge on a knife, and we rated the full-size bottle opener better than most. Our pry bar roundup liked its larger-than-usual pry bar for a more secure grip.
It’s a companion to a knife, not a replacement: the line cutter handles cord and nothing else. SOG’s page doesn’t publish its weight or size.
Key specs: weight and length not published · one piece · 12 functions incl. line cutter, blade sharpener, three wrenches, hex bit driver · lifetime warranty · $
Pros
- Nothing folds, so nothing loosens
- Sharpener touches up your knife
- Good bottle opener and pry bar
- Lowest price here
Cons
- No blade, scissors, pliers or tweezers
- Line cutter may get a second look at security
- SOG publishes no weight
Skip it if: you carry only one tool; every other pick cuts food too. More in our SOG MacV review and best one-piece multi-tools.
Best full-size multi-tools for backpacking
6. Leatherman Skeletool: Best lightweight full-size pliers
New in this update. The lightest full-size Leatherman: needle-nose pliers, wire cutters, a locking 2.6 in combo blade and a bit driver in a 5 oz frame, with bit storage in the handle and a carabiner clip that doubles as a bottle opener.
Our Skeletool review rated that bottle opener one of the better ones on any multi-tool. Its gripe still stands: the bit driver takes Leatherman’s own flat bits, not standard 1/4 in hex bits.
It skips scissors, tweezers and a saw, so it covers three of the six jobs. Add a 0.8 oz Classic SD and you have five, at 5.8 oz.
Key specs: 5 oz · 4 in closed, 6 in open · 2.6 in 420HC combo blade, locking · 7 tools · Phillips #1/#2 and 1/4 and 3/16 in flat bits · removable pocket clip · 25-year warranty · sheath sold separately · $$
Pros
- Full-size pliers at 5 oz
- Locking blade
- Carabiner clip with a good bottle opener
- 25-year warranty
Cons
- No scissors, tweezers or saw
- Leatherman-only bits
- Sheath sold separately
Skip it if: you want scissors with your pliers; the Suspension-NXT adds them for 1.7 oz more. The Skeletool CX has a 154CM blade at the same weight. More in our Leatherman Skeletool review.
7. Leatherman Signal: Best for emergencies
The only pick with a fire starter and a whistle: a removable ferro rod with a safety whistle rides in the handle, along with a diamond-coated sharpener. Around them sit pliers, a 2.73 in combo knife, a saw, a hammer face, an awl with a thread loop and a bit driver.
In our Signal review the needle-nose pliers grabbed a stuck fish hook or an embedded tent stake, and the hammer drove tent stakes, though not nails. The small ferro rod threw copious sparks struck with the back of the saw, and the whistle was very loud.
Two cons from that review: the sharpener isn’t good enough for regular use, and the ferro rod wears out quickly. At 7.5 oz it also has no scissors or tweezers.
Key specs: 7.5 oz · 4.5 in closed, 6.75 in open · 2.73 in 420HC combo knife · 19 tools incl. saw, hammer, ferro rod, whistle, diamond sharpener · every tool but the plier head locks · 25-year warranty · sheath sold separately · $$$
Pros
- Fire starter and whistle built in
- Pliers that pull a stuck tent stake
- Hammer face for stakes
- All tools lock
Cons
- Heavy at 7.5 oz
- No scissors or tweezers
- Ferro rod wears out quickly
Skip it if: you already carry a lighter and a whistle; the Skeletool saves 2.5 oz. More in our Leatherman Signal review.
8. Gerber Suspension-NXT: Best budget full-size
The cheapest full-size pliers tool here, and lighter than the Signal or ARC at 6.7 oz. Gerber lists 15 tools: needle-nose and regular pliers, a wire cutter, a 2.25 in part-serrated blade, scissors, a cross driver, three flat drivers, an awl, a file, a ruler, a wire stripper and openers.
Every outboard tool locks and the pliers are spring-loaded, per Gerber. Our review covers the original Suspension, which Gerber still sells; the NXT adds the wire stripper, awl, file, ruler and a medium driver.
Gerber’s page gives two closed lengths: 4.25 in in its feature list (6.25 in open) and 2.75 in in its spec table. We use 4.25 in.
Key specs: 6.7 oz · 4.25 in closed, 6.25 in open · 2.25 in plain and serrated combo blade · 15 tools · all outboard tools lock · pocket clip · limited lifetime warranty · $$
Pros
- Lowest price of the full-size picks
- Pliers and scissors at 6.7 oz
- All tools lock
- Deep pocket clip
Cons
- No saw or tweezers
- 1.7 oz heavier than the Skeletool
- Gerber’s length figures conflict
Skip it if: weight matters more than scissors; the Skeletool is 1.7 oz lighter. Our Gerber Suspension review covers the original version.
9. Victorinox Swiss Tool Spirit X: Lightest with pliers, scissors and saw
The lightest pick with pliers, scissors and a saw: 7.4 oz, against 8.5 oz for a Wave+ and 8.6 oz for the ARC. Victorinox lists 24 functions, including needle-nose pliers, wire and hard-wire cutters, a locking blade, scissors, wood and metal saws, a metal file, a chisel and four screwdrivers.
It covers five of the six trail jobs, missing only tweezers, and comes with a leather pouch. Victorinox’s page lists “Lifetime Warranty / 2 Year Warranty” without saying which part each one covers.
Key specs: 7.4 oz · 4.1 × 1.4 × 0.7 in · 24 functions incl. pliers, wire and hard-wire cutters, locking blade, scissors, wood saw, metal saw, metal file, chisel · leather pouch · Swiss made · $$$
Pros
- Pliers, scissors and saw at 7.4 oz
- Locking blade
- Leather pouch included
Cons
- No tweezers
- Pricey
- Warranty wording is unclear
Skip it if: you won’t saw anything; the Suspension-NXT keeps pliers and scissors for 0.7 oz less, at a lower price. More in our Swiss Tool Spirit X review.
Leatherman calls the ARC its most advanced multi-tool. The blade is MagnaCut steel, which Leatherman says holds its edge longer and resists rust, and every tool is outside-accessible, locks, and opens with one hand.
It covers the same five jobs as the Spirit X, with 20 tools including spring-action scissors, a saw, replaceable wire cutters, two bit drivers, files and a pry tool, and it takes Leatherman’s Bit Kit. The catch: at 8.6 oz it’s the heaviest pick, and the most expensive.
Key specs: 8.6 oz · 4.25 in closed, 6.45 in open · 2.76 in MagnaCut blade · 20 tools · every tool locks and opens from outside · PVD finish · 25-year warranty · $$$
Pros
- MagnaCut blade
- Every tool opens one-handed from outside
- Scissors and saw
- 25-year warranty
Cons
- Heaviest pick at 8.6 oz
- Most expensive pick
- No tweezers
Skip it if: you’d rather save 1.2 oz and a lot of money with the Spirit X. More in our Leatherman ARC review.
How much should a backpacking multi-tool weigh?
Less than most people carry. The picks here run from 0.8 oz to 8.6 oz, and every full-size pliers tool weighs 5 oz or more. One 8.6 oz ARC weighs more than ten Classic SDs.
Start from your job list, not the tool count. A blade, scissors and tweezers take 0.8 oz. Pliers take you to 2.2 oz (small) or 5 oz (full size). On this page, a pliers tool with a saw starts at 7.4 oz.
Why we count jobs, not tools: makers count differently. Gerber’s Dime page says “12 useful tools” in one place and lists “10 tools” in another. Victorinox counts the key ring as a function, and Leatherman lists the Signal’s two bottle openers separately.
SOG counts the MacV’s lanyard hole, which our pry bar roundup called “kind of iffy”. A tool count tells you little about what you can do on the trail.
Do you need pliers for backpacking?
Only if you’ll use them. Pliers are the heaviest part of a multi-tool: the lightest full-size pliers here, on the Skeletool, add 4.2 oz over a Classic SD.
They earn the weight if you lift pots off the stove without a pot lifter, fix gear in the field, fish (our Signal review used the pliers on a stuck fish hook), or need wire cutters.
If your cook kit has a pot lifter and your repairs are tape and cord, skip the pliers. A blade, scissors and tweezers cover the rest. More picks for day trips are in our best multi-tool for hiking guide, and car-camping tools in our best camping multi-tool roundup.
Which Leatherman is best for backpacking?
The Skeletool if weight comes first: full-size pliers at 5 oz. The Signal if you want a fire starter and whistle on the tool, and the ARC if you want the best blade.
The Wave+, the top pick in several of the guides we checked, weighs 8.5 oz, more than the Signal. In our Leatherman Wave+ review the saw cut small limbs on camping trips and the scissors cut plastic and cardboard well, but it has no tweezers either.
Skip the small Leathermans some guides still list. The Squirt PS4 is retired (Leatherman: “no longer in production”), and the titanium Charge+ TTi is gone too (see our titanium multi-tools guide).
The Leatherman Micra (1.8 oz) is still sold but has no pliers. The Classic SD covers the same four jobs for 1 oz less.
Can you fly to the trailhead with a multi-tool?
In checked baggage, yes; in your carry-on, only without a blade. TSA says “Multi-tools (multipurpose tools) with knives of any length are prohibited” in carry-on, while those “with scissors less than 4 inches may be placed in carry-on bags”. Saws are carry-on No, and tools must be 7 in or shorter.
That puts every pick but one in your checked bag. The MacV has no blade, but its line cutter is a cutting edge, so expect a question at the checkpoint: TSA says the final decision rests with the officer. Sheath or wrap anything sharp in a checked bag, as TSA asks.
Flying carry-on only? Victorinox’s bladeless Jetsetter is the same 2.3 in size and 0.8 oz as the Classic SD, with scissors, tweezers and a magnetic Phillips instead of a blade. Our bladeless and TSA-compliant multi-tools guide checks each implement against TSA’s wording.
TSA rules from the multi-tools, scissors, saws and tools pages on tsa.gov, read October 2026.
