SOG has come out with a new multi-tool, the Flash MT, which they describe as a street-smart multi-tool that boasts everyday capabilities in a compact package.
Who is this for? SOG says:
For those who value daily readiness, the versatile Flash MT provides an understated and highly functional solution.
Advertisement
They also say that it’s a breeze to carry and that their team heaped special attention on the assisted opening cryo D2 steel blade, making it more practical than most multi-tool knives. Now we’re getting somewhere!
The SOG Flash MT has a unique stainless-steel housing [that] holds seven tools:
- Compound leverage pliers
- Wire cutter
- Magnetic bit holder and bits
- Bottle opener
- Assisted open clip point blade
- Flat head screwdriver
I suppose that the double-ended 4mm hex screwdriver bit counts separately, which brings the tool count to 7 or 8 depending on how you look at it.
The pliers feature SOG’s compound leverage design. I own a SOG tool, and at the least, the compound leverage mechanism helps with quickly opening and closing the pliers.
The knife features an assisted opening mechanism, and what looks to be a liner lock. The blade size is 2.4″, and it’s made from D2 steel. D2 is generally a tough tool steel, and this would indeed differentiate and maybe even elevate the SOG Flash MT from other multi-tools with knives.
This image also shows off a deep carry-style pocket clip.
Advertisement
The SOG Flash MT measures 3.4″ closed, making it a more compact pocket-carry knife.
It comes with a double-sided 4mm hex bit, with Phillips and slotted tips. I would presume that the magnetic bit holder can work with comparably-sized off-the-shelf 4mm hex screwdriver bits.
SOG does not disclose the screwdriver sizes, but they look precision/miniature-sized. It’s sized for… posing next to watches and a beat-up coin pouch or wallet-looking thing.
The Flash MT will be available in urban gray with a cyan blue accent, or silver.
It looks like the cyan accent matches other new SOG releases – a folding knife, and a smartphone PopSocket with one-piece PopGrip multi-tool.
Price: $69.95
Discussion
Not to mince words, I think there’s a disconnect between how the tool is marketed, and what it delivers.
“A street-smart” and “modern styled” multi-tool, as a “understated and highly functional solution” “for those who value daily readiness.”
I can’t help but roll my eyes at this, although maybe I’m a bit grumpy and sensitive about word choices today.
The good news is that it seems SOG did put a lot of thought and care into designing a compact and even minimalist EDC (everyday carry) tool.
They say that its D2 steel blade makes it more practical than most multi-tool knives, and I would agree with this. D2 can be a step up from the 420HC that Leatherman uses for their multi-tool knife blades.
However, D2 is not a stainless steel, making it much more likely to rust, which is presumably why SOG gave the knife a black surface finish. D2 is a good performing tool steel.
The assisted opening mechanism seems like a further attempt to make the Flash MT a go-to pocket tool.
Some multi-tool knife blades are small, less accessible, or clunky, prompting some users to carry a separate folding knife. You probably won’t have to do that with this one.
I was initially put off by the idea of an assisted opening mechanism, but it looks like there’s a safety lock (you’ll see what I mean in the video below). For me, this means the knife opening style isn’t a deal-breaker.
The compound-action pliers are going to be a typical SOG selling point. SOG says that it offers twice the cutting and gripping power of conventional pliers. The Flash MT is a smaller-sized multi-tool, and so the compound leverage feature might be even more beneficial here.
The wire cutter blades are built into the pliers head, but that’s to be expected; you’ll have to spend quite a bit more to get a multi-tool with replaceable wire cutting blades.
The combination bottle opener and slotted screwdriver looks unremarkable, but could be a useful inclusion.
What are your thoughts on the magnetic 4mm hex screwdriver bit holder? To me, this seems slightly out of place next to a 2.4″ D2 knife blade and gear-driven compound leverage pliers.
The standard “micro” bit sizing can allow for some customizations, but how often do you come across smaller-scale fastening tasks when on-the-go?
The SOG Flash MT looks to be a pocket-sized EDC multi-tool that fits in somewhere between keychain-scale and full-sized tools. I’d say there are some good things going for it.
Speaking personally, if I needed another minimalist multi-tool, I’d rather spend $5 more and get a Leatherman Skeletool. But, compared to the Skeletool, the Flash MT does have some differentiating features – the compound leverage pliers, 4mm bit holder and included bit, and D2 2.4″ assisted-opening knife.
Video Intro
GPKnives (a great retailer) has a quick video intro:
Kent Skinner
“A street-smart” and “modern styled” multi-tool, as a “understated and highly functional solution” “for those who value daily readiness.”
I really hate marketing. This is such a turnoff to me.
All noise; no signal.
In general, the more BS the marketing people spew, the more I assume the product can’t stand on its own. I’ll keep my “street dumb” and “last decade styled” Leatherman on my belt, thanks.
Steven L
You aren’t being “grumpy” – or you and I are equally grumpy.
SOG has some good products, don’t think this one is for me.
Jared
I think this one is interesting. I have an SOG Powerlock, which is quite a good multitool – but too heavy for me to carry.
SOG’s plier heads are quite good. On my Powerlock, the plier teeth are sharp and all perfectly mesh with each other – which is surprising and can’t be accidental. I also like their compound-leverage design. I think it sort of “upsizes” the pliers. Not only that, the plier heads are very precise – they are more needlenose-design than Leatherman. I’ve found the head pretty durable too.
Another thing, I assume SOG will offer replacement plier heads – they do for my Powerlock, and they aren’t very expensive. So although you don’t get replacable cutters, it wouldn’t surprise me if you could buy the whole plier head for about $15 and swap it out if it wears down.
Despite all of that, I carry a Skeletool. This is the first SOG that seems like a compelling alternative. I DO NOT need another multi-tool, but were I doing it over again I think I would have to consider this as a Skeletool competitor.
A good knife, more powerful pliers, compact design, deep carry clip… these are exactly the features I most prize.
I don’t share your disappointment with the precision-screwdriver tips Stuart. I actually like that. This already has a large-size flatblade built-in anyway. A PH2 would be welcome, but I’d like a PH0 and small flatblade for eyeglasses and electronics. Maybe this comes with it, but if not at least I can supply my own.
It’s even nice that the screwdriver bits insert in the middle of the tool – nice touch.
I’m seeing a LOT to like about this new design. So much that who knows… maybe I’ll talk myself into one after all.
Jared
If these specs I’m reading are correct, even better.
Seems like the SOG is:
– a little lighter (4.7oz to 5oz),
– shorter (3.4″ vs. 4″),
– cheaper, and
– has one more tool (skeletool also counts both ends of the bits, so I think that’s fair – plus they count the pliers twice!).
I might talk myself into this after all. Both the Skeletool and this new SOG tool are more “tacticool”-looking than I prefer, but I think this is a worthy competitor.
James C
I can ignore the marketing. I think it’s a pretty unique design. You don’t see many AO knife blades and tiny removable screwdriver bits on multi tools. The bit seems like an afterthought and I question its utility for me, but at least it doesn’t seem to add much bulk.
Like you said, the Skeletool is a competitor. I’d like to see those two side by side. I’ve decided the Skeletool is slightly too big for me to EDC. In fact, maybe what would be perfect for me would be if Leatherman made a Skeletool mini, say 3/4 the size.
Stuart
Ooh – you might have loved the Leatherman Freestyle, which has been retired. The Freestyle was like the Skeletool, but without the carabiner clip or bit driver. https://14cyiuhvcgv.com/new-leatherman-freestyle-multitool-preview/%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E
Leatherman Retired Multi-Tools
James C
Yeah, that one is close to my ideal but I do like the Skeletool bit driver.
I recently bought the Gerber Armbar Slim. The quality is a notch down but I like the form factor and tool selection. It will be about perfect when I figure out how to add a pocket clip.
Jared
In the first photo, on the handle of the tool (directly above the person’s thumb), there’s a half-circle cutout. Is that there for some reason? Maybe a wire stripper?
Also, does this have a “hard wire cutter” like the skeletool does?
Stuart
They don’t say. Multi-tool wire strippers are generally v-shaped to accommodate multiple wire gauge sizes.
There’s no mention of a hard wire cutter, only a “wire cutter.”
MIKE GUENTHER
I have several multi tools. An older Leatherman and a Gerber. Both are kind of bulky with the Gerber being more so. Both are also a PITA to get the tools to flip out of. I’ve broken many a thumbnail trying to pry a tool or blade out.
I do have a SOG keychain knife that I absolutely love. Pen knife size with a locking blade.
fred
Will the assisted opening blade make it illegal to carry in some locales?
Koko The Talking Ape
Yes, though in the US, knife laws vary by state, probably by county, and certainly by city. Sometimes these laws distinguish between open carry and concealed carry. It’s a huge hodgepodge, in other words.
AJS
Possibly, depends on your state and local laws. However, I would assume most LEO are not going to waste their time checking a AO multitool. 😉
Stuart
I don’t believe so, but as Koko said, knife laws can vary widely.
Law enforcement interpretation of knife laws can also vary.
Bobby
This is actually pretty cool and I might pick one up. The assisted feature is nice to have especially when wearing gloves.
I’m also interested in the sog altair when it’s released. Sog making a comeback recently.
Joe H
I wear glasses and so does my girlfriend so I always keep a glasses size screwdriver with me all the time. I like it when multitools give the option to make that more practical.
Chad R
The screwdriver seems useless to me but they all do. I’m either dealing with those tiny screws kids toys all have on battery compartments now (which multi-tools are almost universally too large to fit, so I keep a jeweler’s screwdriver in the kitchen junk drawer) or too “serious” (some deeply embedded 3″ wood screw or rusted dashboard-trim screw in a car) for a multi-tool to handle.
I wish this combo had two changes. First, I’d love to see a Gerber Dime style box opener blade. Let’s face it, lots of us open boxes many times a day, and I don’t want to use my main blade for that. The Dime nails this aspect. And the Dime’s bottle opener is on the end, so it’s instantly usable. I’m the go-to opener guy at barbeques because I’m not always fumbling a small can-opener style blade out of a multitool like this.
But the Dime’s knife is useless (and ships dull) so I carry a standard pocketknife. Its pliers are also useless – I’ve broken two in the past year alone.
I’d love to see this Flash but with a box-opener replacing the bit holder and the bottle opener on the end Dime-style. Too much to wish for?
Nathan
so I have a skeletool that I bought because of this site and the pliers on it have never ever been used as pliers. or even thought about to use as pliers. The screw driver piece and the knife piece are the only useful thing to me. OH and the bottle opener.
BUT let me say I only carry the skeltool to work – in an office – where I can’t have a greater than 3in knife, and I wear slacks not jeans/workpants etc so I don’t also want to carry anything large format either. I’d carry a wave but I don’t want to hear mess at security about the knife/saw etc.
And I love my wave it lives in the car – or the gun bag.
This is made for an office worker and I hate the marketing too but I can picture who will love that. They work in my office. I like this device too it took me a while to sort the pliers and handle idea but I like it as it makes the device body – a basic folding knife shape. I like that too.
2 things – I’d rather they just left off the pliers I’m not going to use that to turn a bolt and I’m not going to use that to cut a wire maybe. what I’d love is a strong scissor and maybe even a little seration to help it cut plastic clam shell but still cut paper/cardboard. That’d be awesome in the office. and I’ve used strong scissors to cut wire in a pinch.
the other – I like the center drive concept still and I like their idea for the bit holder thing only issue is. couldn’t it have held a real 1/4 hex. And will it tolerate single sided bits. I have a few 1/8th (4mm) precision bits and I’d like to use those because if the office it would be nice to have . PH0 and 1/8th slot – mostly for glasses and I’d like to also use any other precision bit for. Tx 5 I think it is on my laptop. PH1 for a few things. it’d be nice to even get a PH2 on there.
But over all I like the idea – pliers make little to no sense though in this size. In fact I regret buying the skeltool as I thought I’d use it more – but I don’t.
Jared
Gerber Splice perhaps? Or the SOG Snippet? SOG “baton” multitools might interest you too (do they still make those?) – there are versions that pack a bunch of insert bits.
The ROXON isn’t bad either if you want a very scissor-forward MT design. I don’t think it’s Leatherman quality, but not junky either.
Personally, my multitool MUST include pliers.
James C
I’m in a similar boat. Skeletool is too big and I really only use knife and screwdriver. I just bought the a Gerber Armbar Slim. If it had a pocket clip it would be about perfect for me. I plan on modding one on. Opening the knife is a little cumbersome one handed but not too bad. I think it will break in.
Charles
Yeah, I don’t know. The small drivers are interesting, but I’d hate to try to tighten up some glasses with a multitool – there is a reason why jewelers screwdrivers are skinny. I see bloodshed trying to use this to tighten something tiny.
Having a knife that doesn’t require being pried out is nice though….
Andrew
Buzzwords and “synergistic marketing” aside, I’m interested. I had a previous SOG pliers multi-colored, and it was rather useful. I do like the idea of a better lock on the knife blade; the last one was a pivoting pawl with a groove in the back that failed on one of the first occasions I used it, causing the blade to pivot forward and take a good bite out of my finger. I accepted that I would have to change my grip to use it going forward, and it never failed me again, but being able to hold a knife in a manner where I have a strong amount or control is what really appeals to me.
Tony
I like the idea of an assisted opening knife on a multi tool. I also like the idea of the compound leverage pliers, bottle opener and flat head screwdriver. Don’t have any use for the hex screw but whatever it is. Might see if I can replace it with a Ferro rod or something.