I tested the $13 multitool that everyone's buying these days. Here's my verdict

3 hours ago 2
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ZDNET's cardinal takeaways

  • Amazon Basics' 15-in-1 stainless alloy multitool is disposable astatine Amazon for $13
  • It's a well-made 15-in-1 with a myriad of utile tools, and the terms can't beryllium beat.
  • Not each instrumentality volition beryllium utile for everyone - I've ne'er utilized a food scaler oregon hook remover

I've been covering tons of fund multitools lately -- the benignant of tools you don't caput utilizing and abusing, and if worse comes to worst, losing oregon breaking. I've reviewed several successful the sub-$50 terms bracket, and I've been truly impressed. I adjacent recovered 1 that I tin take done airdrome information and onto a plane

Also: 10 tiny gadgets I ne'er permission location without - and AirTags are not connected the list

However, determination was 1 that I had missed, and it lone came to my attraction erstwhile a mates of readers pointed it retired to maine and asked for my verdict. This was the 15-in-1 stainless alloy multitool with a pouch knife, erstwhile again from the Amazon Basics range.

This happening tin beauteous overmuch bash it all. Let's instrumentality a look astatine the lineup of tools that marque up the "15" successful the 15-in-1:

  1. Knife
  2. Saw
  3. Fish scaler
  4. Hook remover
  5. Scissors
  6. Can opener
  7. Bottle opener
  8. Slotted screwdriver
  9. Phillips screwdriver
  10. Ice breaker
  11. Metal file
  12. Nail cleaner
  13. Awl
  14. Corkscrew
  15. Carabiner keyring 
The tools connected  this 15-in-1 multitool are each  good   made and constructed from stainless alloy  that is highly   wear-resistant.

The tools connected this 15-in-1 multitool are each good made and constructed from stainless alloy that is highly wear-resistant.

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET

I tin disagreement these into 4 categories:

  • Super Useful: Knife, scissors, the 2 screwdrivers, vessel opener
  • Useful: Saw, tin opener, awl, corkscrew, and the keyring
  • Things I Use Once successful a Blue Moon: Metal file, nail cleaner, and crystal breaker
  • Stuff I've Never Used: Fish scaler and hook remover (I've been sportfishing implicit the years but person ne'er utilized either of these connected immoderate multitool, and they travel connected a batch of them!).
Fish scaler with hook remover ... a instrumentality   that's connected  galore  multitool that I've yet to use!

Fish scaler with hook remover ... a instrumentality that's connected galore multitool that I've yet to use!

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET

Your mileage whitethorn vary, but aft 4 decades of utilizing Swiss Army Knives and different multitools, this is however my usage breaks down.

The tools are each made of unspecified stainless alloy (probably 304 and 316 based connected hardness and deterioration resistance), and they're each coated successful a achromatic decorativeness that seems reasonably durable. The handles are made of aluminum, which has cutouts (not definite if this is for styling oregon to trim weight), and they're nicely contoured to acceptable the hand, making astir of the tools comfy to use.

My favourite  instrumentality   -- the scissors!

My favourite instrumentality -- the scissors!

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET

I bash person a fewer small gripes, and they revolve astir the tools connected apical of the multitool: the corkscrew, Phillips screwdriver, awl, nail file, and crystal breaker. I'd similar these to beryllium designed truthful they unfastened toward the mediate of the grip alternatively than to 1 end, arsenic they presently do. This would marque the tools easier to use.

The presumption   of the tools connected  the apical  isn't the best, and leads to an off-balance feeling erstwhile   they're used.

The presumption of the tools connected the apical isn't the best, and leads to an off-balance feeling erstwhile they're used. 

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET

Also, the corkscrew is simply a small connected the tiny broadside successful presumption of diameter, and I was a spot acrophobic that it would rip retired of the cork alternatively than propulsion it out. Maybe I'm conscionable utilized to beefier screwdrivers.

Also: I expected this inexpensive multitool to beryllium junk, but I was mode off

There's besides a nylon loop pouch if you don't privation to transportation this multitool successful your pocket. 

The nylon transportation  pouch is astir  arsenic  basal  arsenic  they get.

The nylon transportation pouch is astir arsenic basal arsenic they get.

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET

ZDNET's buying advice

If you're looking for a cheap, cheerful, yet usable multitool with a clump of features (and possibly you're idiosyncratic who uses food scalers each the time), the Amazon Basics 15-in-1 stainless alloy multitool is simply a large 1 to prime up. Everything connected it works, it's built to past for years, and for the existent asking terms of $12.91, you're not going to beryllium upset if you request to regenerate it.

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