As an avid outdoor enthusiast and hiker, I can tell you right now that one of the first items that goes on every hiker’s packing list is a multi-tool knife. You won’t find any professional outdoor adventurer around without at least one of these on them at all times (sometimes more… which is ironic for a multi-tool but hikers have lots of situations to worry about.) The fact however, is that these are available everywhere.

Here is a list of the Best Hiking Knife Multi-tool

Image	Hiking Knife Multi-tool	Rating
	Victorinox Swiss Army 53931
	Gerber Dime Multi-Tool
	Victorinox SwissTool RS
	Leatherman New Wave Multi-Tool
	SOG Power Assist Multi-Tool

You can pick one up in line at the supermarket they’re always around. It’s not worth it though to risk convenience for quality. When trapped in an emergency situation anywhere from a splinter to fixing your jeep when car troubles arise in the wilderness you’re going to want the best tool for the job. That’s why today I present to you my top five favorites when it comes to multi-tool knives.

Top Five Best Hiking Knife Multi-tool

 1.  Victorinox Swiss Army 53931 Field Master Pocket Knife

Rating: 4.8 / 5.0

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It’s almost impossible to not have heard about Swiss Army tools and for a good reason. You can’t go wrong with the classics and this brand has risen to popularity because of their high quality. The Field Master is a rather small (3.5 inches) knife that’s built for condensed security and is sturdy as can be. It’s one of my favorites because of the size. I prefer my tool kit to be a bit of an in between and I find that the also popular Rambler pocket knife is a bit too small for me. I want my tools to be compact but a bit larger to maximize time in case of an emergency situation.

The field master features 16 stainless steel tools these being: multiple blades, a can opener, bottle opener, wood saw, scissors, a screwdriver tweezers and key ring among a few others. My favorite tool is the wood saw- which isn’t on a lot of knives and on the Field Master it is surprisingly sharp. Be careful if you’re used to smaller knives- this may not be the choice for you.

 2.  Gerber Dime Multi-Tool

Rating: 4.1 / 5.0

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This cost effective multi-tool may not live up to the same name as Swiss Army but I do love the simplicity and pure quality of it. I suggest sharpening the knives if you don’t have another tool you like to carry around, when having a camp fire after a long hike this summer I loved using the knife to whittle and chop small pieces of wood.

It includes some of features such as: steel pliers, wire cutters, a fine edge blade, flathead screwdriver, tweezers and a file to name just a few. The spring loaded scissors also came in surprisingly handy when cutting through tangled strings due to a tent mishap- it’s lighter than a traditional knife as well so you don’t’ have to worry about it weighing you down. I also aesthetically enjoy the look of the piece.

For short hikes and camping trips this is a great tool to maximize for handiness and cost effectiveness. It never hurts to have this in your multi-tool repertoire. This is one of those great pieces that you can carry on your keychain (2.7 inches.) You won’t have to worry about taking the time to pack it because it will always be there. Unfortunately I don’t find it as sturdy as the bigger brands.

 3.  Victorinox SwissTool RS

Rating: 4.5 / 5.0

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Sometimes you have to go back to the best and I’m not ashamed to once again be featuring a Swiss Army favorite. To start things off I just want to say how awesome the grip is! I love that I can get a sturdy handle on the knife when using it to cut anything. This knife has been there for a lot of issues I’ve been in and I wholeheartedly rely on it.

This knife includes: a bender, scraper, crimper, cutter bottle and can opener just to name a few. Personally, I’m a sucker for this multi-tool. The durability on this piece is also insane, you won’t have to worry about the blade falling apart they definitely built these to last. It’s also no bother at an average 4.5 inches.

 4.  Leatherman New Wave Multi-Tool

Rating: 4.7 / 5.0

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You can’t forget about this bad boy. It’s a splurge but well worth it. No fluff here just everything you could ever possibly need built into a compact (4 inches) resilient device. Some of the capabilities of the New Wave include: multiple pliers, multiple wire-cutters, knives, a saw, scissors, metal/wood file, bottle/can opener, wire stripper and ruler.

The knives on this bad boy are some of the sharpest-if not the sharpest that I’ve ever used on a carry around tool. I also love that each tool locks into place I hate worrying about a tool slipping back in when I am worrying about getting a job done. Sturdiness is always on the top of my list. This is probably the tool that I’ve been reaching for the most often. I’ve gotten years of use out of mine and I won’t be turning back anytime soon. I like to consider Leatherman and I partners for life.

 5.  SOG Power Assist Multi-Tool

Rating: 4.2 / 5.0

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Here we have another contender for most used. The SOG Company knows what they’re doing. In fact they even offer lifetime warranties- although I doubt you’ll use it. I’ve had this knife for years and its hard wearing features can take a beating in the wilderness.

It features some of your classic features such as: a fully serrated blade, straight blade, v-cutter, multiple screwdrivers, can/bottle opener and a ruler. This tool isn’t for the faint of heart however. When extended it reaches up to 7 inches and is a hefty 4.6 inches when folded. If you’re not looking for a literal “heavy” duty this might not be the tool for you. As for me, I’m definitely up for the challenge.

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