The multi-tools that fit in the mini size and weight categories are ideal for carrying in your pocket. They can be carried every day without being a burden. That’s the upside. The not so upside is that none of them are what you would call “full function”. You’re not fighting your way out of the jungle with these. You are going to be able to open the box from Fedex, tighten that screw that’s always coming loose and trim your nose hairs – if that’s what you like to do.
There are a few good options to choose from in the mini size category. It’s the Leatherman Juice range that I like. And the MacGyver “Buy It!” recommendation in that range is the Leatherman Juice S2. Check the latest price on Amazon.
Why the S2? Simple – it’s the scissors. I always like a pair of scissors on my multi-tools and particularly for smaller multi-tools. There are other versions in the Juice range but none of them have scissors. Scissors are just plain handy to have around and these ones are spring-loaded. Of course in a small multi-tool like the Juice S2, they aren’t going to be enormous but they are still worth having.
The Juice S2 isn’t so mini that it doesn’t have a pair of pliers. They are needle-nose and have a bolt/nut gripper section as well as some wire cutters. The wire cutters don’t have replaceable cutting blades so you only want to use these for light duty wire cutting in case you damage them.
There’s one knife, a straight edge with a nail nick. The shape and size remind me of a pocketknife style. I can’t figure why, but the knife doesn’t take up all the length of the handle cavity so it could have been longer. I’m sure Leatherman had their reasons to design it this way but in any case, the knife is long enough.
I like that 2 of the most commonly used tools – the scissors and the knife – are outside accessible so you can get to them without opening up the Juice S2.
The secondary tools are mainly screwdrivers. There are small, medium and large versions of a flathead screwdriver plus a “one size fits all” Phillips screwdriver. Finishing out the secondary tools are a combination bottle opener and can opener.
None of these secondary tools lock in the open position which would have been a nice feature. I guess we have to remember that mini multi-tools like this are really only designed for the occasional light job. A good reminder of that is the keychain attachment loop that swings out of the handle. Hang if off your keychain, or you can buy it with an optional sheath or it’s small enough to just slip in your pocket of course.
To top it off, the Juice S2 comes in 2 colors – Granite (grey) and Cinnabar (I’d say this is orange). It’s not the cheapest mini multi-tool out there but does reflect Leatherman quality.
Alternatives to the Leatherman Juice S2
If the Juice S2 isn’t for you then you might want to look at the other Juice versions or have a look at a soon-to-be-released medium-sized multi-tool from SOG – the PowerPint. You can’t get one just yet but you can see what it has to offer on SOG’s site. And it looks really interesting. It has a straight blade knife, serrated blade and a pair of pliers, an awl and a jewelry driver. To top it off it has a hex bit driver and the full retail price is less than the Juice.
If you don’t need pliers, the other alternative to the Juice S2 could be a pocket knife, especially something like a Swiss Army Knife made by my ‘Quality’ crown winners Victorinox. Obviously, a pocket knife is easy to carry with you because it fits in your pocket! It’s good for smaller type jobs and there are plenty of versions to choose one that has the tools you want. Check out this Victorinox pocket knife model on Amazon.