Top 3 Reasons to Pack a Camping Multi-Tool

Picture this: you’re out in the woods, and it’s just you and your camping gear. Suddenly, you realize that your stove isn’t working, your shelter fell apart, or there’s an emergency, and you don’t have enough tools. There’s only one item that makes your experience and eases the burden of carrying so many bulky tools with you, and that’s a multi-tool! You might be thinking, “Isn’t a pocket knife enough?” But oh, how very wrong you are.

Even if you’re a total beginner, you’ll find a multi-tool surprisingly easy to use and safe, thanks to user-friendly designs and safety mechanisms. I’ll share with you the top three reasons why a camp multi-tool needs to be at the top of your packing list. From utility to real-life examples, you’ll see how a compact, multi-functional tool transforms your outdoor experience, and you’ll learn what we at BushLife consider the best multi-tool for camping.

Spread the Love

Disclosure: Posts may contain affiliate links. Purchases made through our links result in a small commission to us at no charge to you. We only recommend products that meet our brand standards based on testing and first hand use by our authors.

1. Multi-tool Camping Adds Utility & Portability

Portability is the most glaring reason to bring a multi-tool camping. It’s pocket-sized, lightweight and compact, making for a perfect EDC. It easily slips into a pocket or attaches to your belt with a belt holster (sheath) or carabiner clip. Giving you quick access to the tool when you need it most!

Imagine hiking to your campsite with a backpack full of heavy, full-sized tools – ouch!!! A multi-tool eliminates the need to be weighed down by such bulky tools that take up way too much space in your backpack. Hiking or excursions away from your campsite become easier, which is why the multitool becomes the best lightweight choice for those who value efficiency in their outdoor gear.

Most people think of all-in-one gadgets as useless trinkets. And you’d be right, but not in the case of a small full-featured multitool – it’s quite the powerhouse! In most camping situations, you’ll need a multitude of tools, like pliers, screwdrivers, and various knife blades. You can find these tools and extras in a compact design that allows you set up your tent, even prepare your next meal more quickly and efficiently. 

A multitool even has a place in emergency situations where you need a specific tool to cut tangled ropes or fix broken equipment.

2. Emergency Preparedness with a Camping Multi-tool

Cutting ropes, repairing broken tent stakes, pulling food off a campfire, opening cans of food, are just some of the basic tasks that a camping tool helps take care of, but what utility does a multitool have when you need it most?

When you’re out in the wilderness, a survival multi-tool can be a lifesaver in emergencies, like: 

• Cutting wood (small branches) to start a fire
• Using the fire starter or the knife’s spine to ignite a fire
• Making a shelter
• Making spears
• Hanging traps
• Signalling for help with an emergency whistle
• Harvesting your prey
• Aiding in first aid

Let’s not forget that the multi-tool can also be utilized as a weapon in self-defence situations and, of course, dealing with a nasty splinter or two. I highly recommend making a multi-tool, like the Leatherman or Gerber, a part of your survival gear and carrying it with you.

Below is a short video on how to make a snare using a multi-tool to procure food.

3. The Efficiency of an All-Purpose Tool

It’s wild how one tool eliminates the need for several others. The more features your multi-tool has, the more efficient and easier your chores around camp become. Some multitools come with specific job-related tools, like:

• A hammer to stake a tent
• Various blades to cut cordage or ripstop straps
• A built-in saw to cut down branches
• Use the Ferro rod to start a campfire
• Remove splinters or debris from your wound with the multi-tool tweezers
• Use the multitool scissors to cut dressings to size
• Besides opening cans, use the multi-tool pliers to remove hot pots from the campfire
• Use the multi-tool camping knife to clean fish or cut up vegetables
• In an emergency, process game with the multitool cutting hook to feed yourself

Even emergency car repairs can be completed with a multi-tool, as it can fit into the tighter spaces of the engine bay.

How to Use Common Multi-tool Features When Camping

Let’s look at how each function on a multi-tool can help you around your campsite.

• Needle-nose Pliers: Repair gear, and zippers, remove fish hooks, pull a pot from the fire, make hooks or snare traps, untie knots, probe unknown objects, grip, twist
• Wood Saw: Cut branches, make bushcraft items
• Flathead Screwdriver: Tighten a screw, bicycle repair, open canned food, use as a spear, untieing knots
• Wire Cutter: Cut copper, brass, iron, aluminum, steel, cut a stuck fishing hook
• Wire Stripper: Remove the insulation from electric wires
• Knives: Process prey, shave, start a fire, used for digging, wood-splitting, trimming limbs
• Serrated Blade: Slicing or cutting food, belts, ropes, fabric
• Scissors: Cut bandages, remove dressings, cut fabric, open food packs
• Cutting Hook: Processing game, cutting seat belts
• Ruler: Measure a fish
• Can Opener: Opening cans or metal containers without a built in opening mechanism
• Bottle Opener: Removing bottle caps
• Metal File: Sharpening blades, hooks and making things fit in repair scenarios
• Large Bit Driver: Expanding screwdriver selection
• Tweezers: Remove splinters, ticks
• Toothpick: Cleaning or removing debris in tight spaces
• Magnifying Glass: Start a fire, aid in reading if you forgot or broke your glasses
• Ferro Rod: Start a fire
• Hammer: Hammer tent stakes

What to Look for When Buying a Multi-Tool for Camping?

With so many multi-tools to choose from, what does one look for to ensure you’re getting the most for your buck? When choosing your first multi-tool, look at the build quality. Opt for high-end steel options like:

• Magnacut steel – excellent for corrosion resistance, toughness, edge retention, and expensive
• 420HC steel – high-carbon blades are easy to sharpen, resist rust, budget-friendly, but don’t hold an edge for long
• 154CM – better and more expensive than the 420HC, harder to sharpen

Quality tools are made to withstand wear, are tough and have high hot hardness. More reputable brands offer 25-year warranties, which is absolutely phenomenal.

For tools for camping, you’ll want corrosion resistant pocket tool with various blades, like serrated, straight and saw, as well as a flat and Phillips screwdrivers, pliers and wire cutters. A plus would be a hammer and a Ferro rod. Make sure that the features have a locking mechanism when used in an open position. Without this locking feature, you risk injuring yourself. 

Multi-tools also come in various sizes, from a small keychain multitool to a large one to fit into your pocket or on your belt using a belt loop. Don’t buy the small multitools – they are completely and utterly useless. You should be able to complete a task without struggling to hold the tool. If you do find yourself wrestling with your multipurpose camping tool, it’s time for an upgrade!

A reasonable budget for a quality beginner camping multi-tool would be in the $60 to $100 range. That being said, if you spend a little more, you’ll either get more features or better quality steel that will last you for many years.

Multitool Brands

A few brands of multi-tools we would recommend for camping are Leatherman, Gerber and Swiss Army Knife. You might be asking yourself, ‘How do I choose between Leatherman, Gerber, and Victorinox for my first multi-tool?’ We own all three brands – Leatherman is our preferred choice and a favourite amongst preppers and bushcrafters for its ruggedness, quality, daily use, and reliability. Victorinox is known for its higher-end look, quality and precision. The Gerber multi-tools are known for their one-handed opening, are budget-friendly, and are usually larger in size.

Why is Leatherman the Best Multitool?

We’ve had almost no problems with the several Leatherman pocket multi-tools over the past 15 years, which is why we can say that the Leatherman tools are the best multi-tools money can buy.

A favourite of my husband’s and one that he uses as his EDC is the Leatherman Charge Plus TTi. It makes for the best camping multi tool and is the best Leatherman he has ever owned – see our full Leatherman Charge+ TTi review and choose the right tool for your next camping trip. Not only does it feature 19 tools, but it is also made of titanium and high-carbon steel and has lasted for years without problems. He also likes switching his EDC to the Leatherman Sidekick backup. If this is your first multi-tool, I recommend buying the Sidekick; it’s budget-friendly, easy to use, and has enough tools to get you through most jobs. For something a bit more advanced and $60 more, the Leatherman Wave+ is an excellent option. The cutters are replaceable, it includes bit drivers, a crimper, and a diamond-coated file.

For the true outdoorsy folks, Leatherman recommends the Arc, which is more expensive than the high-quality Charge Plus TTi, but it also seems plagued with quality issues, according to many outdoorsmen.

I carry the Leatherman Free T2 just for the sheer convenience of opening packages for my children. It’s a no-frills multi-tool, but it does the job. Not everyone wants to use their multi-purpose tool as an everyday carry, and if this is you, Leatherman does make tools specific to your most beloved outdoor activities.

If you’re looking for a good all-around multi-tool that’s perfect for camping and is budget-friendly, check out the Leatherman Signal. It has 19 features, one of which is a Ferro rod for starting fires, a whistle, a hammer and a diamond blade sharpener. Everything you need is right at your fingertips!

What Can Go Wrong with a Survival Multitool?

We own plenty of multi-tools from other brands like Gerber, Victorinox, etc, but we find ourselves reaching for the Leatherman more often than not. 

What made us finally take the leap and invest in the Leatherman TTi+ were problems that would arise with other branded multi-tools. We had a multi-tool completely fall apart when working on a minor project, because the screw holding the tool loosened and fell out. There were times when the blades on different multitools would bend, chip, or break when cutting basic things.

The best incident was when a multitool’s Phillips screwdriver twisted because of its cheap material. It’s not like we went looking for cheap multi-tools; some of these were well-known brands, but corners were cut to make a sale. After struggling with crummy multi-tools, we made the switch and haven’t looked back. Leatherman is a brand we stand behind 100% – they’ve proven reliability and exceptional durability.

What Multitool Brands Do We Use and Recommend?

Another exceptional brand is Victorinox. Their products last for years and make fantastic hand-me-downs. My hubby was gifted a Swiss Champ multi-tool when he was younger and still uses it to this day! The Champ has 33 features, and being small, it fits perfectly into his pocket when day hiking and can take on any project thrown at it. For working around camp, we prefer something larger like the Multi-Plier 600 or Charge TTi+ – they’re easier to handle when faced with larger, more power-demanding tasks.

The other multi-tool we like and use frequently is the Gerber Multi-Plier 600. This is a 14-feature tool with a stainless steel construction. What my husband likes about this tool, besides it being the #1 tool for the US military, is its one-handed operation. A simple flick of the wrist allows the pliers to come right out for quick and easy use.

Best Camping Multi-Tool Comparison Chart

How To Maintain and Care for a Multi-tool

When you find the perfect camping multi-tool that puts a smile on your face, make sure you maintain it. Doing so will keep your multi-tool operational for many more camping trips or even last as a hand-me-down to your kid when you’re ready for the next upgrade. Using a rusty tool, especially in emergencies, can be dangerous, as are sticky or dull blades. Besides, it’s not a maintenance program that takes hours to complete – simply wipe it down before folding it up! Proper maintenance will ensure optimal tool deployment and preserve the material quality of your multi-tool for outdoor camping.

• Remove all debris, such as dirt and sand. You can use compressed air or a toothpick to do this. 
• Clean your blades after cutting anything wet or juicy. Not cleaning or wiping the multi-tool blades may cause corrosion or prevent your multi-tool from operating smoothly. 
• If you rinse your multi-tool, feather the tools and allow it to dry thoroughly.
• Use a Nano Oil or Ballistol to lubricate your all-purpose tool.
• Tigthen the screw(s) holding the multi-tool together.
• Use a knife sharpener to maintain edge retention on your blade.

Even after all the cleaning, sometimes, it’s just time to let your multitool go. When the features are missing, the corrosion is so bad that the tools have a hard time moving, pivot joints are broken, or the locking mechanism is shot, it’s time for a replacement. The last thing you want is for the tool to fall apart, cutting you in the process, which can lead to a nasty infection out in the backcountry with no help around.

A Final Thought on the EDC Multitool for Camping

Bringing a useful tool camping is a no-brainer. From utility, ease of use and compact size, a multi-tool is a must-have camp tool for every outdoor enthusiast and survivalist. Make sure you never leave home without a multi-tool! Remember, being prepared can make all the difference in your camping experience and outdoor survival situations.

👉 What’s your go-to multi-tool for camping? Share your recommendations in the comments below. If you found this article helpful, share it with a friend who needs to see this. Thank you!

Bookmark this post on Pinterest for future reference!