There are lots of reasons why you might want to carry a multi-tool with you that doesn’t have a knife in its arsenal of handy tools. Maybe you don’t want to have a knife accessible to your children, maybe you don’t see a use for a knife or maybe you visit places that have a ‘no knife’ policy.
Flying with a Multi-Tool
By far the most common reason why people want a multi-tool with no knife is that they want to be able to carry all the other tools that make multi-tools essential gear but they want to take it with them when they travel.
In general terms, you are prohibited from traveling with sharp objects in your carry-on bag. But you can still take your multi-tool with a knife with you, you just have to pack it into your checked in bags and not carry it with you onto the plane. The airlines also want you to make sure a bag handler isn’t going to hurt themselves when they’re handling your bag so they want you to make sure the multi-tool is covered and it’s packed in the middle of your bag with things around it. It’s pretty unlikely this is going to be a problem though, is it?
The TSA does allow you to take a multi-tool without a knife in your carry-on. But not all airline staff know this or they don’t enforce it and so they might try to confiscate your multi-tool. Even though you have the TSA on your side you don’t really want to have an argument with airport security so the best thing to do is to take your multi-tool out of your carry-on bag and put it on a tray when it can be easily seen. If you can, you should open it up so you can see each item. Then point out to security that your multi-tool does not have a knife.
TSA Carry On and Check-In Baggage Requirements
| Item | Carry-On | Check-In Bags |
|---|---|---|
| Multi-tool without blade | Yes | Yes |
| Multi-tool with blade | No | Yes |
| Knives - plastic or round bladed | Yes | Yes |
| Knives - other | No | Yes |
| Tools or utensils more than 7 inches | No | Yes |
| Wrench or pliers less than 7 inches | Yes | Yes |
| Scissors more than 7 inches measured from pivot | No | Yes |
| Tweezers | Yes | Yes |
| Screwdriver more than 7 inches | No | Yes |
| Screwdriver less than 7 inches | Yes | Yes |
| Saw | No | Yes |
| Nail clippers | Yes | Yes |
| Corkscrew without blade | Yes | Yes |
| Corkscrew with blade | No | Yes |
Multi-tool makers have realized some people don’t want to carry a knife with them so they have models available to suit. Leatherman, Gerber, and Victorinox all make bladeless models. Here are 5 of the best.
Leatherman Style PS
This TSA friendly stainless steel multi-tool no knife can be attached to a split ring or a key ring. The handle is a glass filled nylon which is strong enough to not need a steel frame inside and also light. Speaking of weight, it only 1.58 ounces. The 8 tools included are:
- Spring loaded regular pliers
- Spring loaded needle nose pliers
- Spring loaded wire cutters
- Spring loaded scissors
- Flat and Phillips screwdriver
- Tweezers
- Nail file
- Carabiner/Bottle opener
Gerber Dime Travel
This is a mini knifeless keychain multi-tool. It’s a butterfly opening design in stainless steel and won’t weigh you down at only 1.4 ounces. It comes in any color as long as it’s black. Included components are:
- Spring loaded needle nose pliers
- Wire cutters
- Spring loaded scissors
- Zipper hook
- Fine and coarse files
- Small and medium flat screwdrivers
- Tweezers
- Bottle opener
Leatherman Tread
Rather than putting this multi-tool in your pocket or attaching it to your belt or keychain, the Leatherman Tread lives around your wrist. It’s a wearable stainless steel multi-tool that’s not cheap but it does make a statement, it’s TSA friendly and includes 29 tools. It’s available in silver or black. If the standard version is too bulky for you, there’s now a version that’s not as wide called the Tread LT.
- 3 Imperial box wrenches
- 3 Metric box wrenches
- 4 Imperial hex drives
- 2 Metric hex drives
- 5 Imperial flathead screwdrivers
- 3 sizes of Phillips head screwdrivers
- Carbide glass breaker
- Pick/SIM card tool
- Oxygen tank wrench
- Cutting hook
- 1/4″ socket driver
- Bottle opener
- #2 square drive
You can also buy adapters for the Leatherman Tread to attach to your 42mm Apple Watch or other watches.
Victorinox Swiss Army Jetsetter 3 Pocket Knife
This little made in Switzerland product is partially misnamed. It’s certainly pocket-sized but it doesn’t have a knife and that’s why it’s TSA friendly. It does have other useful tools you’ll want to carry though:
- Magnetic Phillips screwdriver tip
- Cap lifter/Bottle opener
- Wire stripper
- Small scissors
- Key ring
- Tweezers
- Toothpick
Gerber MP600 Multi-Plier, Needle Nose, Bladeless – my personal favorite and the one I recommend.
Made to comply with ‘No Knife’ policies including the TSA, this is a simple to use one-hand opening multi-tool you can take anywhere. Read why I rate this bladeless multi-tool so highly on the Recommended Multi-Tools page. It looks tough in stainless steel with its black oxide finish and includes these tools:
- Tungsten carbide wire cutters – replaceable
- Needlenose plier
- 3 flat screwdrivers
- Phillips screwdrivers
- File
- RemGrit saw – replaceable
- Can and bottle opener
- Scissors
- Ruler
So that’s 5 great multi-tools without a knife that means you don’t have to leave your essential tools at home when you travel or go to anyplace that has a ‘No Knife’ policy. You can always be prepared no matter where you are.
Multi-Tools – Don’t Leave Home Without One!
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