Category: Tools

Wera Kraftform Kompakt Screwdriver Makes an Awesome Sidekick

I have more screwdrivers than I do bones, yet I’m still on the lookout for the perfect EDC driver. Although not perfect, the Wera Kraftform Kompakt 25 comes pretty darn close.

The Kompakt 25 features a hidden bit compartment that is revealed with the push of a button, and an extendable shaft Rapidaptor locking bit adapter. The screwdriver is compact but still a little large for pocket-carry, but it does come with a nice low-profile belt pouch. Also included are 6 standard-size insert bits – 3 slotted and 3 Phillips.

Buy Now(via Amazon)

Average street price is $30-40.

If I need a more compact screwdriver or one with greater bit-holding capacity, I still have my trusty PB Swiss Insider. But to be honest, the Wera Kraftform-style handle is much more comfortable.

April 12, 2012
Opinel Keychain Knife is Itty Bitty and Stylish

Remember what I said the other day, about how the best pocket knife is the one you carry? I meant it. If you cannot or will not carry a pocket knife or multi-tool, there are still quite a few keychain-sized multi-tools available. Any knife is (usually) better than no knife.

The Opinel keychain is 1-7/8″ when closed and 3-1/8″ open with the 1-5/16″ blade fully extended. The blade is made from stainless steel, and the handle is beechwood. Normally sub-$10 knives make me wary, but not this one.

While I do like keychain tools that have industrial-looking or mass-appeal designs, the Opinel knife really caught my eye as something different. Maybe it’s the wood handle. Yes, it’s definitely the wood handle.

Buy Now(via Amazon)
Also available via Harry Epstein

There are a number of other mini knife options as well. At first thought the SOG Micron knife comes to mind, but it’s a little bit too small and flat, and so I regularly misplace it. I’m still not over SOG’s lousy customer service incident.

April 5, 2012
Leatherman Micra Multi-Tool, a Fan-Favorite Mini Tool with Scissors

Leatherman’s Micra keychain multi-tool has been around for quite some time, and remains a favorite choice. While we do favor the newer Leatherman Style CS, but won’t be giving up our Micra anytime soon.

The Micra features scissors, a small knife blade, 3 screwdrivers, nail file, ruler, bottle opener, and tweezers. It’s made from stainless steel to prevent corrosion, and weighs hardly anything.

Buy Now(via Amazon)

If the plain stainless steel finish is too boring for your liking, new color options should add just the right amount of flare to your keychain.

If you find yourself cutting more paper than anything else, you might want to step up to the Kum PenCut scissors.

March 22, 2012
Wenger HypeX Wearable Survival Tools

Wenger, well known for making Swiss Army Knife products big and small, is coming out with a new line of unisex HypeX multi-functional jewelry and wearable survival tools.

Each tool will come with a 21-inch silicone necklace with a stainless steel clasp and either a neoprene or reusable waterproof plastic pouch. We’ve also read that additional models are in the design phase.

These first HypeX models will be released around June 2012 for $49-99. This seems a bit pricey to us, but we’ll reserve judgement for now.

Wenger HypeX Buss

The Buss is one of the more decorative-looking HypeX tools. It features two screwdrivers – Phillips and slotted – that fold out once the cover is removed. The T-handle shape the pendant should allow for a reasonable amount of torque delivery.

Wenger HypeX Pietra

The Pietra is one of the simpler HypeX tools, featuring only a knife sharpener on one side and fire-starting flint on the other.

Wenger HypeX Ridge

The HypeX Ridge is a little more recognizable and features a number of 6pt hex wrenches. We’re not quite sure what the V-shaped feature at the front of the tool is for.

Wenger HypeX Whug

The oddly-named Whug features removable tweezers and an emergency whistle.

Wenger HypeX Wyss

The Wyss is designed with quite a few more tools than the other HypeX pendants. It features hex wrenches, a wire stripper, pry bar, can opener and bottle opener.

March 2, 2012
Swiss+Tech Utili-Key Keychain Multi-Tool

Swiss+Tech’s Utili-Key is the most minimalist keychain multi-tool we’ve ever seen. It sports 6 functions – a combination plain edge and serrated knife blade, Phillips and slotted screwdrivers, micro-sized screwdriver, and a bottle opener.

The aptly-named Utili-Key attaches to your keyring and hides among your keys until called upon for use. While we wish the Utili-Key came in different color options, its polished stainless steel finish helps maintain a discrete and low-profile appearance.

Buy Now (via Amazon)

If 6 features aren’t quite enough for you, maybe the 19-in-1 Swiss+Tech Micro-Max will better suit your needs.

February 21, 2012
Pocketweez Super-Compact Premium Tweezers

Some keychain multi-tools, such as the venerable Victorinox Swiss Army Knife and Leatherman Style CS, feature slide-out tweezers. But have you ever tried to use these thin stamped sheet metal tweezers? They’re fine for light duty tasks, but often lack the strength to securely grip slivers, splinters, and other things you want to pull out of your skin pronto.

Pocketweez are USA-made precision tweezers that fold up into a compact 2-1/2″ form factor. There’s even a hole to slide a keyring through. The tweezers are made from stainless steel, and the tips look strong enough to tackle any tweezing task I can think of.

More Info via Pocketweez ($28)

My wife carries around a pair of ultra-fine-tip tweezers that have saved her from discomfort in the past. Just last week she pulled out a fiber of some kind that had poked into her hand. She carries them in a handbag, and unfortunately, I can’t just carry full-sized tweezers in my pants pocket. Well, I can, but it sure won’t be comfortable.

$28 seems like a bit much to spend on portable tweezers. The Pocketweez looks to have received quite a few positive reviews and favorable testimonials, but for the time being it’ll remain on my wishlist. Of course, this also means that I will probably suffer a splinter in a few days when on-the-go, with no effective means to remove it.

February 14, 2012
New Pico Keychain-Sized Grappling Hook

Even if you’re not Batman or a ninja, there are still many potential uses for a mini grappling hook. But don’t rely on it for life-saving applications – it’s not designed for life support.

County Comm’s new Pico grappling hook is more compact and lighter than the next smallest model. It’s made from stainless steel and features 3 removable prongs that store inside an O-ring-sealed inner compartment. With a bit of accessory cord or 550 paracord you can deploy the grappling hook at a moment’s notice.

The Pico grappling hook is currently priced at $22.

More Info (via County Comm)

February 13, 2012
CRKT 9200 Pocket Tool

The new CRKT Tool packs several useful features and functions into a pocket-friendly package. Straight edge knife? Check. Multiple screwdriver sizes? Check. Recessed box wrenches? Yep, it’s got those too.

At $50 the Tool is a bit pricey, but we’re hoping for a lower street price once it’s released.

Buy Now (via CRKT)

And here’s a more detailed preview of the CRKT Multi-Tool over at ToolGuyd.

February 10, 2012
Kum PenCut Pocket-Friendly Scissors

I’ve used compact and pocketable scissors before, and they usually look far better than they perform. These sharp-looking Kum PenCut scissors break the trend – not only are they compact, but they’re known for their solid performance.

The pen-sized scissors features flexible fold-out handles, a protective cap, and a pocket clip. Bonus: they come in several colors – black, green, and pink.

Buy Now (via JetPens) Price: $15.25.

February 10, 2012