If you just have to have a multi-tool around at all times, then a multi-tool that lives on your keychain could fit the bill, or maybe you want a small backup to your full-sized multi-tool. A keychain multi-tool won’t cost you much and could be just the tool to get you out of a bind.
Whatever the reason (and I say you don’t really need a reason to own another multi-tool), the keychain multi-tool is the smallest multi-tool that can include a useful pair of pliers. That fact alone means a keychain multi-tool can be a useful sidekick for small MacGyver jobs in your life. Get one with a small pair of scissors and a couple of screwdrivers and it will be worth its weight in platinum.
The difficulty is that there’s a lot of keychain multi-tools on the market and there is a lot that has a similar toolset. Some are from the four big brand multi-tool makers and some from not so well-known brands.
My strong view is that it’s worth investing in a multi-tool from one of the 4 big brands because that’s going to give you more confidence in the quality of it. And if you did ever experience any quality issues, you have the peace of mind of the excellent warranties the big brands offer.
So of the 4 big brands, the best keychain multi-tool for my money is the Gerber Dime. That’s a “Buy It!” recommendation from MacGyver. Besides the black version, there’s a Purple, Green, and Red.
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One of the things I really like about the Dime is that it’s a good size for a keychain being only 2.75 inches (7 cms) and it’s not going to weigh your keys down too much being only 2.2 0z (62 gms). Then there are the outside accessible tools meaning you can get to all the tools – except the pliers – without folding back the handles.
The tools are the right ones for a keychain multi-tool too. There’s a small knife, scissors, flathead and Phillips screwdrivers, a file to smooth off some rough edges and a special type of box cutter that will cut the box but won’t cut you. The Dime has a pair a pair of tweezers to pick stuff out of little spaces or to pluck your eyebrows while you have your winter tires put on. Attach it to your keychain with the lanyard ring. To top it all off, there’s a bottle opener that stays available even when the handles are closed. Just in case you need to open a beverage in a hurry.
I almost forgot, of course, the Dime has a pair of pliers. You’re not going to want to fix your off-roader with them because the jaws just aren’t big enough to open very wide but what do you expect for a keychain multi-tool? They will still come in handy and have a nut/bolt gripper cutout section as well as some light duty wire cutters.
There are alternatives to the Dime which are also impressive. If you want another choice, of course, Leatherman also has keychain multi-tools. My alternative pick is the Leatherman Squirt PS4 which has a good set of tools including a set of pliers and scissors, screwdrivers, and file. And a bottle opener of course. Another interesting alternative if you don’t need pliers on your keychain, there’s the Leatherman Micra that has a good pair of scissors instead. Plus a knife and other secondary tools. Only weighs 1.8 oz (51 gms).