Sometimes we just want to travel light – but not naked. If you’re a Multi-Tool MacGyver like me, you don’t like to go anywhere without carrying a multi-tool with you. You just feel unprepared and a bit exposed. That’s where a multi-tool that doesn’t take up a lot of room, that has some easy carry options and doesn’t weigh you down is just the right tool for the job.
We have plenty of multi-tool options that fit the bill – key chain, one-piece and credit card multi-tools have their uses but if you want a lightweight multi-tool that has a pair of pliers, the field is narrowed.
My go-to lightweight multi-tool is the Leatherman Skeletool CX. It’s a fantastic multi-tool to carry for ‘just in case’ scenarios and gets my Lightweight crown. It’s easy to carry with multiple ways to hook it to yourself, the pliers have many functions and the knife is one-handed deployable. Looks are subjective but I really like the drilled out look of the Skeletool. MacGyver’s recommendation is “Buy It!”
The Skeletool CX is really easy to carry. Although it’s a full-sized multi-tool, it’s very easy to carry on a pocket clip. Not just because it’s lightweight at only 5 oz/142 gms, and not just because it’s slightly shorter than other full-sizers at only 4 in/10 cms, it’s because of its stylish deep carry pocket clip that comes as standard. Slips on and off your pocket or belt with just the right amount of resistance. The other useful carry option is the built-in carabiner which you can hook onto a belt loop or a bag strap.
Minimal but Useful Toolset
The Skeletool CX isn’t the do-all multi-tool. It has 7 tools but it has a good toolset covering most of the main tools you need. The pliers are a good size and well designed with a needle nose end and bolt grippers plus hard and soft wire cutters and wire strippers.
The one hand opening straight edge knife is easy to deploy with the thumb hole. It’s better quality steel than a lot of multi-tool knives as well being made out of 154CM stainless.
The other tool is a bit driver. The Skeletool CX comes with a double-ended Phillips head bit. A different size on each end. It also comes with another double-ended bit stored onboard. This bit has two different flat head sizes. Buy the optional 21 piece bit kit from Leatherman and you can choose which 2 favorite bits to carry onboard and store the rest. Makes it all the more versatile and useful.
The Skeletool CX easily earns its Lightweight crown but there is one thing that I don’t love about it. The pliers don’t have replaceable wire cutters. I’ll cut it some slack though because this isn’t a multi-tool for hardcore tasks so you shouldn’t be trying to cut anything too tough.
Because it’s a Leatherman, it’s not going to be the cheapest on the market – check out the current price on Amazon – but you do get Leatherman’s quality and their highly regarded 25-year warranty just in case something goes wrong. And I know we’re supposed to be only concerned about function but I admit I really like the look of the Skeletool with its weight reducing cutouts and curved shape that fits nicely in my hand.
If you don’t like the toolset of the CX, there are a couple of other versions that might suit you better. The standard Skeletool with a straight/serrated combo blade made of less expensive stainless steel, the Skeletool RX designed for first responders and the upmarket Skeletool Damascus with its fancy Damascus steel blade. You can’t go wrong with any of these.