Nail cutting with multi-tool scissors – Have I gone mad?

I usually like a multi-tool with a pair of scissors. It’s one of the tools I personally look for when choosing the right multi-tool. I find them handy to have handy even though some of them aren’t very large. And sometimes I find myself needing to cut my fingernails or even my toenails and I don’t have a pair of nail clippers with me. So what about nail cutting with multi-tool scissors? Is it a stupid idea? Could it make a mess of my nails or maybe my nails will defeat the scissors? If you’ve ever thought about using your multi-tool scissors to trim your nails but weren’t game to take the risk, this article will tell you whether it a good idea or a crazy one.

I tried 3 different multi-tool scissors from 3 different major brands to find out 3 things:

1. 1. Are there any multi-tool scissors you CAN use to cut your nails?

1. 1. Are there any multi-tool scissors you CAN’T use to cut your nails?

1. Are multi-tool scissors BETTER than nail clippers?

To put them to the test and come up with a winner, I cut my fingernails. Then I put them to the even tougher task of trimming my toenails. Assuming you’re not squeamish about see nails being cut, you can watch these multi-tool scissors being put to the test against my nails. Have a look at this video I made.

Multi-tool Scissor Challenge – Leatherman Surge vs SOG Sync II vs Victorinox SwissTool Spirit XBS

To make sure a few brands had a chance at winning the nail challenge, I choose multi-tool scissors from Leatherman, SOG and Victorinox (SAK). Each of them has different size scissors. The Leatherman Surge has the largest scissors with the SOG Sync II’s scissors being the smallest – the Victorinox SwissTool Spirit X scissors are only slightly larger. To be a contender, you actually have to be able to use the scissors. So size does matter when you think about handling. Especially if you have reasonably sized hands. The scissors also have to be sharp to cut through the nail so sharpness will also have a part to play in winning this challenge. A basic feature of the scissors is spring-loaded handles and these 3 contenders all passed that test.

First Challenge – The Fingernails

First I tried the Victorinox SwissTool and even though it only has a small set of scissors, they are fairly sturdy and appear to be sharp. They had no trouble cutting through the nail and I had one fingernail trimmed back to size and shape in no time. The next pair was the SOG Sync II. These are the smallest scissors of the trio and it showed. I had a bit of trouble figuring out which way up I should use them so tried them both ways. But both ways were a bit awkward to handle for this task. The square shape of the tool itself doesn’t make it the best shape in the hand. It did cut the nail but struggled and I thought it wasn’t going to do the job at one point. In the end, it made it but wasn’t the best cut or the quickest. Finally, it was the Leatherman Surge’s turn with its large scissors. Not only were they the biggest, they easily tackled the job at hand (see what I did there?) and whipped off the excess nail length in no time flat. So the winner here is the Leatherman Surge, followed not too far behind by the Victorinox SwissTool. Then there’s a fair amount of daylight back to the SOG Sync II in third place.

Second Challenge – The Toenails

The toenails are a harder challenge. Ever wondered why fingernail clippers are smaller than toenail clippers? That’s right, toenail clippers need to be sturdier and have more cutting grunt to get through a toenail. Will the winner from the fingernail challenge stay in first place when the toenail trimming scores are tallied? Read on for the surprising outcome….

In the same order as the fingernail challenge, first scissors up for the toenail torture test was the SwissTool. For its small size, it used a good design, build quality and sharpness to get the job done. I never felt like it was going to fail. Then it was the Sync II’s turn. Along with being difficult to maneuver it into the right position to get at the toenail, when it did get into the right position, it really struggled to get through the toenail. I had to just use the tips of the scissors to cut small pieces so that it didn’t overwhelm the blades. Then it was time for the Surge to show it’s stuff. Like its performance on the fingernails, it made short work of the toenail. Cutting cleanly through and never getting close to failing.

The challenge winner

If you’ve read this far it will be no surprise to you that the clear winner of this challenge is the Leatherman Surge scissors. They are the most capable of trimming nails and I wouldn’t hesitate to use them to cut either my fingernails or my toenails. I’d also be comfortable grabbing the Victorinox SwissTool Spirit X scissors to trim my nails. They don’t work quite as well as the Surge but they work plenty well enough. Then if I was short on other options, I would be OK using the SOG Sync II to get my nails under control. Might take me longer than the Surge and SwissTool and might not get the cleanest cuts but it will get you through. You can always use the Sync II’s file to sand off any rough edges off your nails!

You’re never going to want to start up a manicure and pedicure business using only multi-tool scissors. They won’t replace a good pair of nail clippers. But if you’re caught in the urban jungle or the wilds of Yosemite, you might be surprised to know I wouldn’t hesitate to use any of these multi-tool scissors – they are way better than nothing and will do the job.

Have you used your multi-tool scissors to trim your nails before or maybe you haven’t been game to risk it before reading this and now you have? Let me know your experience in the comments below.