Everyone on the internet seems to be clamoring after this Dewalt multi-tool, and so it seemed worth mentioning that it’s back in stock.
I bought the same Dewalt multi-tool 11 years ago. It was not as refined as Leatherman or even Gerber multi-tools, but its current price of $16.97 seems unbeatable.
I finally gave mine away maybe a year or two ago. While unimpressive, it came in handy over the years – I kept it in one of my tool boxes and grabbed it on occasion when nothing else was in easy reach.
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For a brand-name multi-tool still available for under $20, I’d likely be more forgiving today than in my original review. But make no mistake, this is a sub-$20 multi-tool with sub-$20 multi-tool quality.
Dewalt backs it up with a lifetime warranty.
Frankly, I can’t recommend a better full-size multi-tool for anywhere close to this price.
Some of the product images show the pliers having a black and silver finish, and others show a silver finish. It’s unclear which style is currently shipping.
At the time of this posting, Amazon’s shipping ETA is already into January. Home Depot’s page is reporting that they have over 1600 in stock for free shipping.
Price: $16.97
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Want Something Better?
Gerber Suspension-NXT Multi-Tool – $32 at Amazon
My current standard lower-budget recommendation would be for the Gerber Suspension-NXT, which is currently $35 at Amazon and eligible for $3 clickable coupon.
Gerber multi-tools are decent, and this one is fairly basic but should be reliable.
However, it’s nearly double the price of the Dewalt, with nothing I can recommend in between.
Leatherman Wingman Multi-Tool – $56 at Amazon
The Wingman – now a “classic” tool, is one of Leatherman’s lower-featured full-size multi-tools. It delivers a very good experience, but without some of the features and perks of their more premium tools.
For example, it doesn’t have replaceable wire cutting jaws, or a bit holder.
The $56 price reflects a 20% holiday season discount from its regular price of $70.
Leatherman has an even more affordable basic multi-tool, the Rev, but for $6 more I’d get the Wingman.
For perspective, you can get 3 Dewalt multi-tools for the same price. Prices on multi-tools went up over the years, but apparently someone forgot to tell Dewalt.
Dustin
Remember when they used to have the wingman in holiday sale at HD for $20? I wish I would have bought ten back then!
Stuart
And Skeletool for $25.
I’ve nearly given away all of my extras.
Yadda
I bought Wingman and Sidekicks on clearance for under $10 and Skeletools were clearance priced at $15. Those were the days.
Yadda
I also bought clearance Dewalt Multi tools one year for $7 at HD. They cMe with a second smaller multi tool in a gift pack.
bg100
Oh yeah.. that’s where my mini multi tool came from. Great stocking stuffers!
Scott K
That was my first thought in reading this post – that’s how I got mine and a few gifts. I love my Wingman and tend to reach for it over my Skeletool at times. I’m not sure I see $50-70 of value in it, though.
Tdot77
Stuart you have slight typo above
“Gerber Suspension-NXT, which is currently $5 on Amazon”. I think you missed the *’3′ in there, but the link above it says it’s correct price of $32, after $3 discount. However I do wish the Gerber was indeed 5 bucks!
Although I’ve never had a decent quality multi tool(Gerber, Leatherman, etc), the cheapo ones I’ve gotten as gifts always snap right at the low quality pliers. I guess it’s left a bad taste in my mouth so I just don’t bother with them, but I’d like to try one of these out. I’m a DeWalt guy and for the price it seems decent, though I’d probably feel better with the Gerber as far as quality goes. Maybe someday….
Anyway I carry a 5″ Knipex cobras in a belt hip holster with my Wuben flashlight and just keep a Gerber EAB(knife) on my pocket for cuts. This setup is better in my opinion cause cobras are much better at doing plier things (tighten a hose, loosen a nut\bolt\screw) than these needle nose multi tools ‘pliers’ could ever attempt to do(try tightening a 3/4″ hose). Also I will never worry that the Cobra jaw is going to snap when I’m trying to tighten something, even with my body weight on it completely. Cobras are so nice, I think I could pull a sliver with the jaw tips cause they’re so well aligned & tight too. I guess the multi tools just aren’t for everyone. I did want to like them though, maybe I just never found the right one(non cheapo), but I just can’t seem to get over the pliers thing. Sorry for tangent\rant.
Thanks again for all you do(& don’t do!).
Stuart
Thank you, *fixed*!
Jerry
The pliers on good multi tools are much better than the cheapos. I EDC a Leatherman Super Tool or Super Tool 300, and they are strong enough to cut barbed wire or chain link fence (although the chain link will nick the cutting edge on the original Super Tool pliers, but they won’t break). That said, even the best multi-tools are a compromise tool, they are not meant to be a replacement for a tool set, but rather to get as many features in as small a package as is practical. Tools like the Super Tool or Gerber Diesel do have good, strong pliers but at the cost of a bigger heavier tool. If you want decent pliers on a smaller multi-tool your best choice would probably be the Leatherman Rebar. However, for the price, you could carry a cheaper multi tool and your small Knipex Cobras and have ‘real’ pliers. The negative would be now you are carrying 2 tools meaning more weight and bulk.
One of the best compromises I have found would be to get the small Knipex Cobra pliers along with their ‘double’ pouch belt sheath (or similar) and put something like a Swiss Army Knife in the other pouch. You will have ‘real’ pliers, and you can get whatever Swiss Army Knife you want in terms of features/size. I’ve found the small Cobra pliers on sale around $30, which leaves you $50-$80 for the knife and pouch. For the same money, you can have more useful tools, but at the cost of added bulk and weight. My only real gripe going that way is the Cobras do not have wire cutters, which I use pretty often. For that reason my EDC pliers are Wright offset jaw 6″ pliers which seem to grip about 90% as well as the Cobras, include wire cutters, and are half the price or less (identical pliers sold under Tekton name). The jaws don’t open as wide as the same size Cobras, but they get more than wide enough to grab garden hose eonnectors.
Jerry
The above was meant to be a reply to Tdot77 above
Tdot77
Thanks for reply! I’ll check them out.
Daniel V.
Stuart,
What about the guidesman overload at Menards for $25? I’d be curious to see your opinion on that. I have one and I quite like it, but I don’t have a leatherman to compare it to.
Stuart
I’m not familiar with Menards brands or that particular model.
Mopar4wd
I don’t see it online, but Lowes had a very similar Kobalt multi tool in black friday displays in store for $5 I picked one up about a week ago.
Blaine
Thanks, I bought one for each vehicle.
wrparks
Sam’s currently has the leatherman bolster for 39.94. My nephew received one today for a gift and I checked it out. Pliers extremely close to my wingman, maybe identical. Tool selection was different, but I can’t say exactly how. One of the handles (the one with the screwdrivers I think) was quite a bit thinner than the other.
https://www.samsclub.com/p/leatherman-bolster/P990347006
Stuart
Interesting. It was previously only available at Costco – I guess it’s just now a wholesale club exclusive. https://14cyiuhvcgv.com/leatherman-bolster-costco-multi-tool/%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E
Bolster seems a lot closer to the Rev than the Wingman.
Larry H
Costco currently has the Leatherman Rev for $44.99. Online and may be available in your local warehouse.
https://www.costco.com/leatherman-rev-multi-purpose-tool-with-nylon-sheath.product.4000247207.html
Angel Flores
I have my EDC leatherman with me 90% of the time but when the situation arises and I don’t have my leatherman with me the DeWALT multi-tool has gotten me out of pinch. It may be a under $20 tool but it works and it has lasted me a long time without any issues.
nigeldh
These are great to throw in various tool bags – plan B when you forgot to carry your Leatherman or Gerber
Ryobi has a baby bear Gerber competitor – RYOBI 14-in-1 Compact Multi-Tool https://www.homedepot.com/p/RYOBI-14-in-1-Compact-Multi-Tool-RHCMT01/320105462
These compact multi-tools are great in your backpack, man purse – just take it out before flying!
DAVE
I’ve had 2 of the Gerber multi-tools. The pocket clip bent out, on both. I tried removing the screws that held it in place, to bend it back correct, and the screws stripped out. I keep 1 in a drawer at work, and I gave the other away. I wouldn’t recommend it. Maybe to throw into a drawer or in a glovebox, but not a serious carry tool. Also, Gerber wouldn’t reply to either of my requests for help fiixing the tools, so there’s another issue.