The 20 Best Keychain Multi-Tools
A pocket knife is nice if you want to peel an apple, cut a loose thread on your shirt, or whittle a wooden idol in your spare time, but there’s no denying the functional appeal of a comprehensive multi-tool. Not only do most of them offer up a couple of different blade options (straight, serrated, etc.), but these pocket knives on steroids come complete with scissors, pliers, screwdrivers, wrenches, hex bits, a bottle opener, and sometimes even bizarre extras like carabiners and safety whistles. Hey, you never know what you’ll need, which is why multitools are so popular.
Of course, getting all of these amenities in a single tool has a tradeoff. Most multitools fold up fairly compact, but they can definitely add some unwanted bulk to the pocket of your jeans, often considerably more than a standard pocket knife. The good news is, we live in a capitalist society, which means supply rises to meet demand. Consumers wanted smaller, more portable keychain multi-tools and manufacturers responded with options that provide incredible functionality in multitools tiny enough to attach to your keychain.
What do the best keychain multi-tools have to offer? Which ones will best suit your needs? With 20 great options to choose from, you’re sure to find the best multi-tool for your keychain.
Leatherman Squirt PS4
Leatherman is indisputably the gold standard when it comes to multitools, with durable and convenient options that are like having your entire Snap-On tool box in the pocket of your pants. Okay, maybe that’s a bit of an exaggeration, but Leatherman didn’t get to the top of the heap by offering subpar products. The Squirt PS4 is no exception, providing a knife, scissors, screwdrivers, pliers, wire cutters, a bottle opener, and even a wood and metal file in a scant 2.25-inch body (when closed). Plus, you’ll get Leatherman’s 25-year warranty. For the win. – Shop Now
Gerber Shard Keychain Multi-Tool
Not every multitool has to feature spring-loaded action and folding parts. Gerber’s Shard Keychain Tool is a prize example of how to do simplicity right. This solid state multitool for your keychain may look like little more than a badass bottle opener, but it actually has seven essential functions built in, including a pry bar, a small and large flathead screwdriver, a wire stripper, a cross driver, a lanyard hole, and of course, a bottle opener, all at just 2.75-inches in length and a mere 0.6 ounces. Titanium nitride coating resists corrosion and this handy tool is airline safe. – Shop Now
Gerber Dime Travel
Another offering from the masterminds at Gerber, this butterfly multitool is worlds away from the simple and sleek Shard Keychain Tool, but it offers an even more impressive array of features and functions. It folds to a scant 2.8 inches of stainless steel perfection and opens to display 12 tools, including needle nose and regular pliers, wire cutters, a flathead screwdriver, cross driver, scissors, tweezers, a coarse and fine file, a lanyard, a bottle opener, and incredibly, a zipper pull, so you can get in and out of your busted hoodie until you have time to take it to the dry cleaners to have a new zipper installed. – Shop Now
CRKT Viva Keychain Mult-Tool
Hooked on your belt loop or attached to your keychain, this 4-inch, 1-ounce metal miracle provides just a few essential tools, including a prybar, a multi-wrench (with five different size hexes), a flathead screwdriver, and a bottle opener. The stonewashed, stainless steel is attractive and tough, holding up to all the abuses you’re bound to heap on, not to mention the damage dangling keys could do. It may look like a stylized face-hugger from the mind of H.R. Giger, but somehow that only makes it more appealing. – Shop Now
SOG Crosscut 2.0
This shiny multitool is diminutive when closed at just 2.5 inches, but when you pop it open and flare out the tiny arsenal of tools, it becomes much more impressive. You’ll get everything you need for EDC thanks to practical features like tweezers, a toothpick, a nail file, and the very necessary bottle opener. When you need to fix a wobbly office chair or build a tiny birdhouse, though, you’ll also benefit from the straight edge blade, two flat screwdrivers, scissors, and even a ruler. At the low cost of twenty bills, you can’t lose. – Shop Now
Porter Key Knife
What if you not only had a multitool the size (2.5 inches) and weight (1 ounce) of the average key, but one that also mimics the shape? Sure, you probably never thought about it before, but when you get a gander at Porter’s Key Knife, you’ll see exactly what you didn’t know you were missing. This black beauty in stainless steel easily hides among the other keys on your keychain but slides open to reveal a straight edge, keyring-friendly blade. When closed, the curl at the top can open your favorite bottle of beer via an integrated bottle opener. – Shop Now
Leatherman Style CS Multi-Tool
Slightly more diminutive than the Squirt PS4, this sporty Leatherman multi-tool still offers eight tools to its counterpart’s nine. You’ll get a knife, spring-action scissors, a flat and a Phillips screwdriver, tweezers, a nail file, a bottle opener, and a handy carabiner that makes the tool easy to clip and unclip from your keychain. What’s missing? Mainly the pliers, along with a bit of weight – the Style CS is 1.4 ounces, trimming about 25% of the weight of the Squirt PS4. – Shop Now
Titanium Pocket Bit
You shoot it down, but it won’t fall – it’s the titanium pocket bit, with a 6mm flathead screwdriver on one end, a #2 Phillips on the other, and a hole through the middle that lets you spin it on your keychain like a propeller on a beanie. To say that this stealth tool is handy is an immense understatement, considering it’s just an inch in length and under 0.2 ounces. Did I mention it’s made of tough and lightweight titanium? It also comes with its own keychain. – Shop Now
Pickpocket Alpha Titanium Keychain Multi-Tool
At 2.3 inches and under a quarter of an ounce, this slim tool is nothing if not portable and convenient. The skeletonized titanium is also pretty cool looking, and durable and functional, to boot. This is another one that can clip to a belt loop or pocket to corral your keys, and multiple holes allow for myriad keychains, just in case you want to separate out your house, car, and work keys, for example. Sadly, the only other tool is a bottle opener, but really, what more do you need? – Shop Now
Gerber Bear Grylls Compact Multi-Tool
Gerber again? You bet. They’re clearly vying with Leatherman for the top spot and hoping to earn distinction with this branded tool backed by survivalist Bear Grylls (he might drink his own urine, but by god, he’s still alive). The stainless steel tool hits it out of the park with the inclusion of two full-size blades (fine edge and serrated), as well as needle nose pliers, wire cutters, a Phillips screwdriver, plus two flatheads (small and medium), tweezers, a lanyard ring, and the ubiquitous bottle opener. – Shop Now
QuicKey Keychain Tool
The portmanteau of quick and key is descriptive, if not particularly clever. More creative is the product itself, which is shaped like a key for discreet carry on your keychain. In addition, the tool features a file, a serrated edge, a scoring point, a #2 flathead screwdriver, and a bottle opener (necessary, I say!). Incredibly, it’s also fly safe and it won’t slice your fingers when you’re digging in your pocket for loose change. – Shop Now
CRKT K.E.R.T.
Can I buy a vowel? You might have a hard time mumbling the name of this keychain multitool, but it’s better than referring to it as your Columbia River Knife & Tool Keyring Emergency Rescue Tool. Whew. So, what the heck is it? This tiny scrap of stainless steel (2.5 inches and 0.8 ounces) contains two wrenches, a flathead screwdriver, a bottle opener, and most important for drivers, a seatbelt strap cutter. This is one tiny tool you’ll definitely want to keep with your car keys. – Shop Now
Victorinox Swiss Army Pioneer Multi-Tool
Who hasn’t carried a Swiss Army knife in their pocket at one time or another? The slim profile and cherry red, plastic sheath are as popular and enduring as Levi’s jeans or Carhartt jackets – you’ll never be sorry you have them and they basically never go out of style. This version of the Offiziersmesser comes with crosshatched Alox scales (basically, beefed-up aluminum) that house a blade, a punch, 3mm and 5mm screwdrivers, a wire stripper, and both can and bottle openers. – Shop Now
Griffin Pocket Tool
Made from stainless steel or titanium, this beefcake features 16 tools in one compact design. It’s got six wrenches, screwdrivers, scoring and pry tools, a ruler, a pocket clip, and a bottle opener. It clips to your pocket and holds your keys for easy grab. It opens boxes and bottles with ease. It serves as your one-item toolbox perfect for keychains, cars, and everywhere else you might need a wrench or a screwdriver. I’m not going to say it’s the only tool you’ll ever need, but it comes pretty close. – Shop Now
Leatherman Micra
This compact multitool packs a lot into 2.5 inches and 1.8 ounces, including a knife, scissors, flat and Phillips screwdrivers, a ruler, a nail cleaner, tweezers, a bottle opener, a nail file, and both medium and extra small screwdrivers. Whether you’re looking to build some IKEA furniture or maintain beautifully manicured fingernails, this is apparently the tool for the job. Stick one in your tool box, tackle box, pocket, or man purse – sorry, messenger bag. Or simply stick it on your keychain for EDC versatility. – Shop Now
Timberline Key Tool
An ultralight, stainless steel keyring tool, this compact multitool weighs just 0.32 ounces with a length of 2.75 inches and comes with a sheath, which is necessary because the exposed cutting edge is surprisingly sharp. This tool can be used for basic tasks like opening packages, tightening screws, and popping the tops off your soda bottles, although you’ll have to be careful not to slice yourself in the process. It holds up under abuse and sharpens up like a dream. – Shop Now
SOG MacV Tool
Okay, let’s just start with the fact that this multitool looks like a friggin’ skull. Um, yeah, it’s already way cooler than any other multitool you’ve ever owned. It’s also pretty handy, thanks to 12 tools, including small and large flathead screwdrivers, a Phillips screwdriver, a cord cutter, a carbide sharpener, three wrenches, a quarter-inch hex bit, a nail puller, a pry bar, and a bottle opener. This stainless steel keychain-friendly multi-tool is also TSA compliant and features a handy lanyard hole so you can slip in on your keychain. – Shop Now
Nite Ize DoohicKey Key Tool
DoohicKey? Really? Silly name aside, this basic looking, key-size tool is surprisingly handy and offers a slew of valuable features. You’ll enjoy a box cutter, ruler, flathead screwdriver, three wrenches, and a bottle opener in black or stainless steel. It’s TSA compliant and just 2.6 inches and 0.4 ounces. It also features a built-in carabiner to easily clip to a belt loop or keychain. It’s streamlined, convenient, and easy to use, so maybe you can forget that the name makes your eyelid twitch with repressed hostility. – Shop Now
Leatherman Brewzer
Not to be outdone by competitors offering single-piece multitools, Leatherman once again hits the mark with the 2.45-inch, 0.5-ounce, stainless steel Brewzer, featuring a mini prybar and bottle opener. It hides among the keys on your chain and helps you open bottles of beer, as well as paint cans and probably packages (when you don’t want to foul your pocket knife with tape stickiness). You can also use the mini prybar to remove stubborn staples and nails lodged in drywall. Even better, the Brewzer can be yours for the cost of your morning latte, at a mere five bucks. – Shop Now
CRKT Micro Tool & Keychain Sharpener
Like the K.E.R.T., this CRKT offering features the unique addition of a seatbelt strap cutter, something you might not think you need, but you’ll definitely wish you had when your car is in the drink or your engine’s on fire and your seatbelt fastener won’t release you. This 3.4-inch, half ounce tool also features a field sharpener so you can get your pocket or fishing knife wickedly sharp when you need to slice a tomato or gut a fish on the go. Never fear, there’s also a bottle opener. – Shop Now
Disclosure: Clicking on these links and making a purchase may earn us a small referral fee, at no extra cost to you. Learn more here.
