13 Best One Piece Multi Tools

Last Updated January 9, 2024
Top 3 Best One Piece Multi Tools
Gerber Shard
Gerber Shard One Piece Multi Tool
  • Titanium oxide coated stainless steel body.
  • Includes a pry bar, wire stripper, small and medium flat drivers, Phillips head driver, bottle opener, and a lanyard hole.
  • Compact and lightweight, TSA compliant, and cost-effective.
  • Ideal for minor outdoor tasks but with limited leverage and a coating that may wear over time.
PocketMonkey
Pocket Monkey One Piece Multi-tool
  • Credit card-sized tool with 12 functions including screwdrivers, a phone kickstand, hex wrenches, an orange peeler, door latch slip, earbud wrap, letter opener, ruler, and straight edge.
  • Fits easily in a wallet but some tools like the screwdrivers are not optimally sized for their intended uses.
Nite Ize DoohicKey
Doohickey one piece multi tool
  • Available in black or chrome stainless steel, this tool is 2.6 inches long and weighs 0.4 oz.
  • Includes a screwdriver, box cutter, bottle opener, three size hex wrench, ruler, and carabiner clip.
  • Praised for its reasonable price and TSA compliance, though the bottle opener may require multiple attempts to open a bottle.
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One piece multi tools fill an interesting niche in the world of EDC and handymen. The first time most people see one they aren’t really sure what they’re looking at. They don’t fold, they don’t have pliers, and they only rarely have a knife blade on them. Mostly they look like doodad’s you clip your keychain to. Thinking that’s all they are can be a big mistake.

These interesting little tools actually provide you with a huge amount of value for their small size. Today we’ll review some of these little tools and try to find the best one piece multi tool on the market.

Best One Piece Multi Tools Reviewed

One piece multi tools are frequently written off by ‘serious’ tool guys as toys. It’s true they aren’t nearly as functional as full size versions but they’re small and portable enough that you can be sure you’ll always have them on you.

There are now dozens of offerings from lots of big name knife, multi tool, and general equipment companies. They’re made out of high quality steel, titanium, and plastic and come in more forms than you can imagine. We’ve picked out thirteen of the top one piece multi tools to cover for you today. These cover the most common styles of one piece multi tool on the market today.

Gerber Shard – Runner Up Overall Best

Upon delving into the world of one-piece multi-tools, I was instantly captivated by the Gerber Shard’s petite yet sturdy outlook. Gerber’s foray into this market segment presents a blend of quality craftsmanship and practical tool assortment housed in a titanium oxide coated stainless steel body. Although its miniature stature stands at just 2.75 inches and a feather-light weight of 0.6 ounces, the Shard packs seven functional utilities: a pry bar, wire stripper, two flat drivers (small and medium), a Phillips head driver, a bottle opener, and a lanyard hole.

Being an outdoors enthusiast with a penchant for hiking, camping, and RVing, I’m always on the hunt for compact, durable, and useful gadgets. The Gerber Shard piqued my curiosity, not just for its multi-functionality, but also for its simplistic design that doesn’t scream “I’m carrying a toolkit” in my pocket.

My maiden voyage with the Shard was on a weekend hiking trail. While the trails were familiar, the adventures were new with the Shard at my side, hooked securely to my keychain via the lanyard hole. As the day unfolded, I found myself reaching for the Shard more often than anticipated. The pry bar came in handy to lift a stubborn staple off a signpost, while the flat drivers were perfect for minor adjustments to my camping stove. Though initially skeptical, the Phillips head won me over when it adeptly tightened a loose screw on my sunglasses.

The bottle opener, though not the epitome of elegance, did its job efficiently at the campfire, popping open beverage bottles as we reveled in the night’s tranquility. However, the wire stripper remained untested, as did the lanyard hole’s other purported use – a pseudo wire stripper. Perhaps on another adventure, they’ll find their purpose.

I appreciate the Gerber Shard’s inconspicuous presence in my pocket. Despite its small stature, it delivered a commendable performance in the great outdoors. While it may not replace a full-fledged toolbox, it’s the kind of companion that quietly waits in the wings, ready to swoop in and save the day when minor inconveniences strike. And the best part? It comfortably nestled in my pocket without poking my thigh or adding bulk, making it a true minimalist’s multi-tool.

However, the Shard is not without its downsides. The black metal coating began showing signs of wear after a few outdoor escapades. Though a minor cosmetic issue, it does take away from the tool’s aesthetic appeal over time. Moreover, while the drivers are serviceable for light tasks, they falter when faced with more demanding, tightly fixed screws.

A particular incident etched the Shard’s utility in my mind. It was a crisp morning, the sun barely breaking the horizon as I set out on a solo hike through a dense woodland trail. A few miles in, I realized one of the screws on my trusty old boots had come loose. With a sigh, I retrieved the Shard from my pocket, its cold metal warming up in my hands as I scrutinized the errant screw. The medium flat driver on the Shard seemed to beckon. With cautious optimism, I set to work. To my astonishment, the driver snugly fit the screw, affording me just enough leverage to tighten it securely.

I couldn’t help but marvel at the Shard’s discreet prowess. The journey continued, with the Shard swinging lightly on my keychain, its silhouette almost smirking in the soft daylight. It wasn’t just a passive bystander; it was an active participant in my adventures, ready to step in when needed. This tiny gadget had transcended its physical dimensions to offer a semblance of assurance as I tread further into the wilderness. The Gerber Shard was no longer just a tool; it had become a symbol of self-reliance in the great outdoors.

In conclusion, the Gerber Shard has proven to be a worthy companion for the minimalist outdoor aficionado. It’s a testament to how a humble piece of metal can embody the spirit of readiness, offering a blend of practicality and unassuming reliability. Its shortcomings are overshadowed by its ability to be a silent, yet capable partner in the face of minor adversities, making it a solid entrant in the realm of one-piece multi-tools.

Tools included:

  • Pry bar
  • Wire stripper
  • Small flat driver
  • Medium flat driver
  • Cross driver (Phillips Head)
  • Bottle opener
  • Lanyard hole

Pros:

  • Compact and Lightweight: Easily fits in the pocket or on a keychain without adding bulk.
  • Versatile Utility: Offers a range of tools including drivers, a pry bar, a wire stripper, and a bottle opener, catering to various minor day-to-day tasks.
  • Durable Construction: The titanium oxide coated stainless steel body withstands regular use and outdoor rigors.
  • Cost-Effective: Provides a good value for its price, especially when compared to other one-piece multi-tools.
  • TSA Compliant: A bonus for frequent flyers, easily passes through airport security.
  • Minimalist Friendly: Its one-piece design is a boon for minimalists seeking utility without the clutter.

Cons:

  • Limited Leverage: The small size can be a limiting factor when dealing with tightly fixed screws or more demanding tasks.
  • Wearing Coating: The black metal coating tends to wear off over time, especially when attached to a keyring.
  • No Blade: Lacks a dedicated blade, which might be a miss for some users, although its design allows for simple cutting and puncturing tasks.
  • Functional but Not Exceptional: While it performs well for its size, it doesn’t replace the efficiency and ease of use of full-sized tools.

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Gerber Shard One Piece Multi Tool

PocketMonkey

The PocketMonkey by Zootility is one of the oddest looking little tools we’ve ever seen. It’s got a rounded shape with numerous small protrusions and little bits sticking out. It does however come with 12 different useful functions in a package about the size of a credit card. Included functions are:

  • Bottle opener
  • Flat screwdriver
  • Phillips screwdriver
  • Micro screwdriver
  • Phone kickstand
  • Six size hex wrenches
  • Orange peeler
  • Door latch slip
  • Earbud wrap
  • Letter opener
  • Ruler
  • Straight edge

Like us you may have had a little double take when you read some of those functions. We can attest that they all work the way they say they will, but why would you need most of them? The upside of the PocketMonkey’s design is that it will fit right in your wallet the same as a credit card so it doesn’t dangle from your keychain. The actual tools on this tool could honestly use a little work. The screwdrivers were all either slightly too thick, wide, or large for their intended use. The micro screwdriver in particular didn’t fit on our eyeglasses screws, a use so common you would think they’d have taken the time to check that.

The PocketMonkey has an interesting design and is priced quite a bit lower than many other tools on this list. Wallet carry tools are a cool concept but we generally find them even less capable than other one piece multi tools. The PocketMonkey is well made and does many of the things it says it will do, they just aren’t things most people will frequently find themselves grabbing a tool for.

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Pocket Monkey One Piece Multi-tool

Nite Ize DoohicKey – Best Value One Piece Multi Tool

Nite Ize specializes in micro sized tools with outsized usefulness and the DoohicKey is no exception. This stylish little tool is available in black or chromed stainless steel and is just 2.6 inches long and weighs only .4 oz. For that you get a well made little TSA compliant tool with six useful functions built right in. The tools include:

  • Screwdriver
  • Box cutter
  • Bottle opener
  • Three size hex wrench
  • Ruler
  • Carabiner clip

These tools work as well as any we’ve seen on one piece multi tools. The screwdriver in particular gets a firm purchase in medium to large size screws. The box cutter is basically just a slightly thinner edge on one side of the screwdriver but gets the job done when you need it to. The bottle opener usually requires more than one try to open a bottle but always manages to pop it by the end.

One of the things we love most about the DoohicKey is how reasonably priced it is. Lacking some of the geewhiz features of other one piece tools on this list and not available in pricy titanium, the DoohicKey is our pick for value winner.

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Doohickey one piece multi tool

Leatherman Brewzer

Leatherman has a well deserved reputation among multi tool enthusiasts for producing high quality products that get the job done. The Brewzer is a tiny little tool at just 2.45 inches long and half an ounce of weight. It’s made out of stainless steel and is one of the more elegant looking one piece multi tools available. At its small size and light weight it’s perfect for clipping to a carabiner or attaching to your keychain through the amusingly beer bottle shaped hole.

Unlike some of the other tools on this list Leatherman doesn’t try to overload it with tools. The Brewzer is listed as having just two, a bottle opener and a mini pry bar. We actually really like its lack of any kind of blade as it makes the Brewzer entirely TSA and international travel friendly. The bottle opener works great, easily opening beer bottles, Coke bottles or any other glass bottle you like.

The pry bar is made entirely from heat treated steel and does a really good job at popping paint cans, stuck lids and other light tasks. One thing we really love about it is the slight depression on the forward edge of the pry bar. It makes it easier to slide the edge under a stubborn container and get that first purchase.

Overall the Leatherman Brewzer is an inexpensive and useful little tool that does everything it advertises. It’s definitely not the only tool you’ll need but it’s nice to have something with you all the time.

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Leatherman Brewzer one-piece multi-tool

Böker Plus Vox Access Tool

Böker is a European knife and tool manufacturer that has been producing high quality blades for more than 200 years. It’s based in Solingen, Germany known for hundreds of years as the “City of Blades” due to the exquisite craftsmanship of the swords, knives, and other metal tools produced there. The Vox Access Tool is one of Böker’s first offerings in the one piece multi tool market.

It’s clear when looking at the Vox Access Tool that the build quality at least is excellent. Böker made this tool out of lightweight and corrosion resistant titanium. It’s definitely one of the nicest looking tools on this list, though it’s also one of the largest. The Vox Access Tool is 3.6 inches long yet weighs only .7 ounces due to its titanium construction. Interestingly the only advertised tools on it are a combination pry bar/nail puller, bottle opener, and a window breaker spike.

The pry bar and nail puller both work well enough. One thing we really like is the raised wedge on the underside of the puller that gives you additional leverage when getting started. You’re not going to be pulling free any large diameter nails with it but you can definitely pop up heavy duty building staples and standard nails. The bottle opener was unfortunately less impressive. Like many of the tools we’re reviewing here it doubles as the carabiner/keychain hole and you can see the compromises they made there. It works, but you’ll probably need to try more than once.

The window breaker is a small metal spike on the opposite end of the pry bar. It’s sandwiched between two rubber O rings to protect your hands and pants while using it. We didn’t get to try it out but a metal spike usually beats a window pretty handily. The only real negatives we have against this tool is it’s less than perfect bottle opener and lack of other tools. The Böker Plus Vox Access Tool is a neat little design but it lacks many of the features other tools on this list boast.

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Boker Plus one piece multi tool

Schrade SCTPT Key Chain Pry Tool

Schrade is a well known name in the knife and small tool field and the SCTPT is their entry level one piece multi tool offering. It’s made out of titanium with a scratch resistant finish and packs six tools into a very small package. The advertised tools include:

  • Strap cutter
  • Bottle Opener
  • Flat head screwdriver
  • Pry tip
  • Five size wrench driver
  • ÂŒ inch hex driver

That’s a lot of tools for something that weighs just half an ounce and comes in at 3.25 inches. From what we’ve seen they all work fairly well. Our only real complaints concern the strap cutter, the pry tip, and the wrench driver. Given titanium’s inherent qualities the strap cutter isn’t as sharp as carbon steel would be. Despite this it does a good job at opening boxes and would get through a seat belt without too much effort. The pry tip gets lower marks. The tip of it is just too thick to get into appropriately sized crevices.

The wrench driver is the real weak point. Where it’s located on the SCTPT basically requires you to grip the pry bar/strap cutter to turn. Not only does it seriously limit the amount of force you can apply, it also makes an accidental cut much more likely. One unfortunate downside to the strap cutter on the SCTPT is that you won’t be able to travel with it. The small cutter counts as a bladed instrument and will get confiscated by most security agents.

Overall this is a good multi tool at a reasonable price, but the best one piece multi tool available? We’re not sure about that. It’s large compared to many other tools and while it does provide a lot of features they don’t all work as well as they should.

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Schrade one piece multi-tool

BANG TI Titanium Punisher

The BANG TI Titanium Punisher is an 8 in 1 tool that has a unique design to it. The top half of the tool is shaped into a Punisher logo. It’s got a distinctly ‘tacticool’ look to it and we aren’t super enamored with it ourselves. It’s advertised as having eight tools in just under three inches of tool, including:

  • Pry bar
  • Six size hex wrench driver
  • Wire stripper
  • Box opener
  • Flat screwdriver
  • Church key
  • Staple remover
  • Bottle opener

We’ll be honest here, many of these purported tools are just different functions of the same tool. The pry bar is also the staple remover, wire stripper, box cutter, and screwdriver. They didn’t even attempt to change the orientation of the pry bar to improve it’s function in these ways. The wire cutter is barely functional and the staple remover was difficult to use because of the angle of the tool. The church key is also the bottle opener. What you really get is a small notched pry bar with a bottle opener and a six size hex wrench.

Overall we didn’t love the Titanium Punisher. It felt more gimmicky than a lot of the other tools on this list and just didn’t meet our standard for a really useful tool.

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Punisher one piece multi-tool

Wallet Ninja 2.0 – Best Wallet Multi Tool

The Wallet Ninja is another entry in the wallet carry one piece multi tool market. It fits well in your wallet and takes up about the same amount of space as two credit cards pressed together. It provides you with an advertised 20, that’s right, 20 different tools/functions in a credit card sized package. These are:

  • Six hex wrenches
  • Four differently sized screwdrivers
  • Box opener
  • Can opener
  • Cell phone stand
  • Fruit peeler
  • Mirror
  • Fingernail file
  • Nail puller
  • Cm ruler
  • Inches ruler

That’s a lot of tools in a very small package and so far they all work well. The screwdrivers and wrench are both difficult to use but that’s more down to the form factor than any mistake on the company’s part. It’s hard to get any real purchase or torque on something that size or shape. All the other tools work well. The one that really surprised us was the can opener. It functions a lot like a p-51 army can opener and does a reasonably good job.

If you’ve been thinking about getting a wallet tool this is the one to go with. It’s well made, lightweight, and provides more legitimately useful features than a lot of its competitors do.

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Wallet Ninja one-piece multi-tool

CRKT K.E.R.T. EDC

The CRKT Keyring Emergency Rescue Tool (K.E.R.T) is designed as an EDC tool to be used in case of life’s emergencies. It provides you with five tools in a 2.5 inch, .8 oz package and comes with a built in key ring to attach your keys to. The tools on the K.E.R.T include:

  • Seat belt cutter
  • Oxygen tank wrench
  • ÂŒ inch hex wrench
  • Bottle opener
  • Flathead screwdriver

This tool has a serious focus on emergency utility. Only the bottle opener and screwdriver are likely to see any real use outside an emergency. They both work well but can’t really match the day to day usefulness of some of the other tools on this list.

If you work in emergency services and frequently need rescue tools this could be a useful little backup, otherwise we recommend you pick up a different one piece multi tool.

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CRKT one-piece multi-tool

Swiss Tech Micro Wrench Multi Tool

Swiss Tech is well known for making numerous small pocket and keychain tools. The Micro Wrench Multi Tool combines nine tools into a 2.9 inch long ⅓ of an ounce package. It includes:

  • Six small hex wrenches
  • ÂŒ bit driver
  • ⅜ inch hex wrench
  • Fingernail cleaner
  • Bottle opener
  • Nail puller
  • Pry bar
  • Flathead screwdriver
  • Two spoke wrenches
  • Key ring notch

The Micro Wrench is made from sturdy stainless steel and is the lightest tool on our list. The tools themselves work fairly well but have similar compromises due to their small size. The pry bar is a little on the thin side but does an acceptable job on lighter tasks. We really like the spoke wrenches on here. Cyclists and others who deal with spoked wheels will find these to be very useful indeed.

Overall this is a fairly nice tool with a few unique features you won’t find on other tools. The spoke wrenches in particular would be very helpful for cyclists.

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Swiss Tech one piece multi tool

Keyport MOCA

Keyport is known as a maker of modular pivoting knife and tool carriers. The MOCA is one of their attachable tools that works with their Pivot holder. It has ten tools in a 2.7 inch, half ounce tool, including:

  • Bottle opener
  • Flathead screwdriver
  • Cord cutter
  • Hex bit driver
  • ÂŒ inch wrench
  • Box opener
  • 5/16 inch wrench
  • ⅜ inch wrench
  • 2 inch ruler
  • Scoring tool

The box cutter/scoring tool work very well, one of the best out of the tools we reviewed. It does unfortunately make it unsuitable for frequent travelers but overall is a good feature. The bottle opener is somewhat difficult to use just because of the angle of the tool but always works in the end. Frequent complaints include the screwdriver being just slightly too wide to use on standard screws.

Overall the Keyport is a good tool but falls just short of the best one piece multi tools. It’s stainless steel construction is sturdy without being overly heavy and all of the tools feel well made. The only issues relate to the thicknesses of the screwdriver and the angle of other tools.

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Keyport one piece multi tool

SOG MacV

The SOG MacV is undeniably the most tactically focused one piece tool on this list. It has a much more convoluted shape than most of the elegant looking tools we reviewed but does manage to pack 12 tools in. Included tools are:

  • Bottle opener
  • Carbide sharpener
  • Cord cutter
  • Large flat screwdriver
  • Small flat screwdriver
  • Hex bit driver
  • Nail puller
  • Phillips screwdriver
  • Pry bar
  • ÂŒ inch wrench
  • ⅜ inch wrench
  • 5/16 wrench

Unlike some of the other multi tools on this list all of the MacV’s 12 tools are individual tools. It does this without sacrificing portability or size, coming in at just 2.5 inches long and weighing .6 ounces. The tools on the SOG work as well as any one piece multi tool we’ve seen. The included sharpener is unique among one piece tools and does a reasonably good job putting a field edge on your knife. We really like the full size bottle opener as many of the others on one piece tools fall short of excellent.

The SOG MacV is definitely a contender for best one piece multi tool. It’s well made, includes a lot of useful tools in a very small package, and fulfills many needs. If you don’t mind the skull design of it this is an excellent choice for a one piece multi tool.

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SOG one-piece multi-tool

Griffin Pocket Multi Tool – Best One Piece Multi Tool

Griffin is an interesting company for this list in that they only make one piece multi tools. Their flagship tool, the Pocket Multi Tool, is available in several different finishes, materials, and sizes that allow you to customize it to your needs. It also boasts 12 different tools, including:

  • Scoring tool
  • Box cutter
  • 5/16 hex wrench
  • Bit driver
  • 4,5,6, and 7 mm hex wrenches
  • Pocket clip
  • Pry tool
  • Flathead screwdriver
  • Ruler

To cram this many tools into a one piece multi tool Griffin had to make some compromises. The first is that the Pocket Multi Tool is big, coming in at 4.25 inches on the original tool. This is fast approaching the folded length of full size multi tools. Another is that most of these “tools” are just different functions of one tool. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but it is a little disingenuous in their advertising.

All the tools on the Pocket Multi Tool work pretty well. The larger size of the tool gives it a bit more torque on the hex wrenches than many other tools on this list but also make it more difficult to carry. Griffin advertises it as the tool that improves your keys organization by hanging them from the side of your pocket. This works well, but if you’re already carrying a knife and flashlight as many of us are it can be difficult to find space for it.

All in all the Griffin Pocket Multi Tool is one of the best one piece multi tools on the market. The customizability gets big points from us as you can pick out the version and material that fits your needs best.

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Griffin one piece multi tool

Best One Piece Multi Tool – Top 13 Recap

Conclusion

One piece multi tools definitely won’t see you out of every situation you find yourself in. What they provide is a useful tool that you’ll always have with you. They’re tiny, lightweight and come in a wild array of styles.

Our pick for value tool goes to the Nite Ize DoohicKey. It has less tools than some of the other tools on the list but just can’t be beat for the price. It’s frequently available for just a few dollars on several different websites.

If you’re set on adding a wallet carry tool to your EDC you can’t go wrong with the Wallet Ninja. It provides you with a substantial number of tools and has some functionality you won’t find in any other one piece tool. Best of all, it fits right in your wallet and is TSA compliant.

The moment of truth, the overall best one piece multi tool, is the Griffin Pocket Multi Tool. This was a difficult decision but the Griffin’s combination of available materials, sizes, and styles beat out all the competition. You can get a Pocket Multi Tool in titanium, stainless steel, carbon fiber, and even copper. It also has one of the best sets of tools available in the one piece category.

4 thoughts on “13 Best One Piece Multi Tools”

  1. Love this list. I’m going to also give a shout out to the CRKT Eat’N Tool. The perfect single piece keychain tool for hikers and campers.

    Reply
  2. Just got the Gerber Shard based on this review. It’s incredibly compact and the pry bar is surprisingly handy for small tasks!

    Reply
  3. I bought the PocketMonkey, and it’s a mixed bag. Fits perfectly in my wallet, but the screwdrivers are a bit off in size. Great for occasional use but not for serious work.

    Reply

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