How We Research
Every guide on Obsessionism starts with one question: will this tool handle the jobs the person shopping for it really does? A tool for a car's glove box needs different things than a tool for a key ring or a weekend in the woods.
Here is how we answer it.
1. We start with your jobs
We ask what you'll use the tool for most. Tightening a cabinet screw, cutting zip ties, stripping wire, opening boxes and fixing gear at camp all point to different tools.
We also ask how you'll carry it. A belt-size tool with a sheath and a tool that rides on your keys are very different choices.
2. We compare specs and features
We look at the pliers type, wire cutters, blade count and blade steel, screwdrivers and bit drivers, saws, scissors and files. We also check whether blades lock and whether you can reach them with the tool closed.
Size and weight matter too, so we compare closed length and weight whenever the maker lists them. Leatherman, Gerber and Victorinox describe their tools in their own words, so we name the brand for every claim, including warranty terms.
3. We look at owner feedback
We read what owners report after carrying a tool. We look for patterns, like stiff joints, scissors that wear out, sheaths that fall apart or pliers that flex under load.
One bad review doesn't sink a tool. A pattern does.
4. We score each tool
Our score weighs specs, features and buyer feedback against what you're shopping for. A tool that's ideal for one reader may score lower in a guide written for another.
Scores spread out on purpose. A 10 is rare.
5. We keep pages current
Makers update tools and retire old models. Popular multitools also have look-alike copies, so we check model names and link only new units.
We skip unknown brands with no track record and any tool with a known recall. When we change a guide, the "Updated on" date at the top changes with it.
What our picks are not
Our picks are research, not lab tests. We don't claim to have used every tool we cover.
Multitools have sharp blades and strong pliers. Follow the maker's instructions, keep them away from children, and never use a metal-handled tool on live electrical wiring.
Rules for carrying blades differ by state, city and airline. Check the current rules where you live and travel.