The Knipex Cobra XS (87 00 100) are the ultimate pocket pliers, and they’re currently a couple of dollars less than when they first launched.
Knipex Cobra adjustable “water pump” style pliers are fantastic. They’re comfortable to use, easy to adjust, and durable.
The Cobra XS is the smallest size you can get, with a 4″ length and full 28 mm (~1.10″) jaw opening width. It can can grip hex fasteners with flats up to 24mm across.
Advertisement
I tend to use my XS as general purpose pliers, whenever something small needs to be pulled, squeezed, turned, twisted, or manipulated. There are lot of small everyday-type tasks where this will do the trick and save me a trip to the toolbox.
The XS doesn’t adjust the same way as larger sizes, but I haven’t had any problems with it yet. It can also self-lock onto fasteners, pipes, and whatever else you’re grabbing, requiring less force to get your work done.
A pinch guard helps to keep your fingers safe.
The price can be tricky to justify, but this is the kind of tool where you’ll easily forget about the cost once it’s in your hand.
I also really like Knipex’s 5″ Cobra pliers, which were also difficult to justify.
It always stings me when smaller tools cost the same or sometimes even more than larger ones. But, if that’s the tool that works better, I tell myself that the manufacturing processes are the same or largely similar, with only small differences in the amount of raw materials used.
Advertisement
I use my 7-1/4″ Cobra pliers the most, followed by the XS or 5″ size, depending on which finds its way into my pocket first on busy days. The 5″ has a dipped grip and push-button adjustment mechanism, while the XS is adjusted in a similar manner to tongue and groove pliers, but without the frustration.
The Cobra XS is made in Germany.
Price: ~$30
Read More:
Jerry
I have both these and the 5 inch. The 5 inch seem to be a bit more useful, but these little guys seem to open just as wide and all but disappear into a pocket. I like the adjustment on these better than the 5 inch as well. Very strong and well made. About the only negative is that they are so small its hard to get a lot of leverage with them. The 5 inch coupled with a multi tool in a piggyback holster is the cats meow for EDC carry in a situation where you actually expect to use pliers. These are super great for pocket carry. Not cheap, but amazing build quality.
Jerry
I just loomed and right now the Knipex 6 and 7-1/4 inch are discounted to be cheaper than the 4 and 5 inch, and the 10 inch are only $2-3 more.
fred
The Knipex 86-03 series plier wrenches with smooth jaws are also available in a 5-inch (125mm) size. But they seem to be priced much higher – and probably have less universal utility.
MM
I’ll admit they are not cheap, but the 5″ Pliers Wrench is one of my most frequently used hand tools. If I was going to EDC a small number of tools it would be on my short list for certain. I really need to get a second one so I can keep one on my precision workbench and another with most of my tools in the roll cab.
J. Newell
Before I add my $0.02, I want to say that what I really want from Knipex is a 125mm or 150mm version of the Twin-Grip #82 pliers. (I’m not sure how well these would translate to XS/100mm size.). Add those to a set of 86 and 87 pliers and I’d feel invincible, at least as far as pliers go.
I have pairs of the 86 and 87 pliers in 10″, 7.5″ and (slight blush) 6″, 5″ and 4″. I got the pair of XS pliers from a US dealer who’s not in the lower 48 for a very reasonable price. The 300mm and 180mm sizes don’t need any comment.
The rationale for the 6″ was that they can go into a carry-on bag with no controversy and are big enough to be genuinely useful, where the 5″ feel a little small for some general tasks.
The 4″ XS pair is a hoot but the 5″ size isn’t much bigger in size or weight and they feel disproportionately more useful. Depending on the vendor, they’re also often less expensive. The 4″ pliers both adjust differently but for what they can tackle there is no disadvantage I can see. (Brilliant bit of design work.)
Other than the flying point, to me/for my uses, the 5″/125mm are extremely carry-able and fit nicely with the 7.5″/180mm and 10″/300mm pairs.
MM
I don’t own this size of Cobras but I have the 7-1/4, 10″ Extra-Slim, two pairs of 12″, and the XXL. If this little guy is anything like its big brothers it’s going to be an awesome tool. I suspect I’d like the 5″ better. I have the 5″ pliers wrench and I prefer it to my buddy’s XS model. The 5″ is still plenty small enough to drop in a pocket.
J. Newell
I would be interested in your experience on the Extra-Slim. I can envision situations where they’d work better than more conventionally shaped/sized pliers (and not just Knipex pliers), but haven’t found myself in a situation where a Cobra or a pair of Channellocks couldn’t get access.
MotorCityCraftsman
I grabbed a 4″ pair several weeks ago. They are tiny, and useful. They lay horizontal in my back pocket. Came in handy several times when out and about doing general work. Examples…tighten or loosen water hose connections, hitch ball on lawn tractor, stuck pvc glue cap removal.
Jared
I love these pliers. They work so well for the size. I think the closest competitor would be the small 4″ “ignition pliers” various brands make (I have a pair of Channellock 424’s for example).
The Channellocks are kind of neat to play with, but they have a fraction of the utility. It’s surprising how well the Knipex grip – plus they open way farther than ignition pliers.
I’m still waiting for a pair of the XS pliers wrench though. I don’t know if I need it, but it definitely tickles my fancy.
Luke H
https://chadstoolbox.com/knipex-86-04-100-micro-plier-wrench-pre-order-reservation/
Ask and you shall receive! 100mm Knipex Pliers Wrench now available for preorder. $50 clams though…also bare metal handles if that makes a difference either way.
Stuart
You mean $60.
I picked one up from KC for $64 minus 10$. It’s now $76 there.
The XS Pliers Wrench is extremely difficult to justify, especially compared to the 5″, which is $51 (https://amzn.to/3M5UO9v).
Luke H
Sorry, You are correct, $59, plus $7.99 to ship unless your order is over $99…..so $67. By themselves.
Maybe they will have a Father’s Day sale.
Joellikestools
I order the xs and the 5″ from KCtool recently. They are still a few weeks out since I had another backorder item in the cart. I am excited to try them out. The 7 1/4″ Cobras are probably my favorite and tool so I expect good things.
James C
Pocket pliers sound like they’d be good for a pinch.
Jared
😄
Joe H
You can definitely pinch something with them.
Koko The Talking Ape
Thanks, Stuart!
You know what these are better than? Slip-joint pliers.
I’m getting the 5″. I think the 4″ will be just too small for my hands.
Sparkymike
I also started with the crescent 4” pliers. I thought they were handy. I upgraded to the knipex. Man these run circles around the others. I think the major key is the length of the jaws. The can handle so much more. Also a good use is handling hot things like something you just cut or even to take out the sawzall blade.
Joe H
Gotta check if it’s hot with my hand first. Its a rule. Doesn’t matter if it was glowing a moment ago.
Lyle
Hahah
Carl
Damn, I hate this site. Every time I come here, I have to put additional tools on my want list.
James
I edc the 5” and they get frequent use both personally and professionally. I can’t imagine not carrying them now. When working it can save a trip to the truck. When not working they have all kinds of regular and irregular uses too.
Matt the Hoople
$30 isn’t horrible… as long as they are useful. For someone spending their day in a maintenance role out on the shop floor snugging up things and making adjustments, I could see these totally worth the cost. For me, I don’t have a need to carry pliers around with me normally. Since I have to go to the tool box anyway, I may as well grab something that affords a bit more leverage.
Heck, I paid $75 for the two piece mini pliers wrench set and use the 5” a ton so don’t mind the cost really.
For my situation the 5 or 6” cobras seem to make more sense.
Lloyd Worley
Pocket pliers? Haha! When I worked in the mill, a pair of 12″ Cobras were (back)pocket pliers, lol! All kidding aside, these look like a great addition to my tool drawer. Thanks for the review!
Blocky
I can say from experience, these disappear in the pocket. I have gone looking for the 180mm version bc I didn’t feel that this was on my person.
If you can only justify one mini pliers, I also recommend the 125mm version.
Oded
Why walk around with this in your pocket when you can walk around with a multi tool in your pocket? Not the exact same pliers but close enough and you get 20 tools more for the size.
MM
Try one and I think you’ll find the difference in the pliers is anything but close, the Cobras really are amazing in any size. If you haven’t tried one yet do so, they are an epiphany. These are much lighter than the average multi-tool, so I would think people who EDC them would carry them in conjunction with other tools.
I can certainly see situations were a traditional multi-tool might be more useful, it just depends on your specific needs. I think I’d rather EDC the cobras plus a pocketknife and a multibit screwdriver over a multi-tool but all my vehicles have multi-tools for emergencies instead.
Stuart
How wide do you have to open multi-tool pliers handles to grab something with a larger diameter?
Raycr
I bought this wrench for$27.19 from Amazon in February 2022.
It was too small for my hands. I had the 5 inch which has the same size jaws and the longer handles .
I found it more practical and like have nonslip coating on the handles. I also like the more positive dual side pivot instead of the single side pivot of the smaller one. You can replace the dual pivot joint and spring on the 5 inch but there is no replacing the pivot on the smaller one.
I sent it back since I like the 5 inch so much better.