7 Best Backpacking Multi Tools For Ultralight Trips That Justify the Ounces

Your trekking pole basket just vanished into a muddy bog, a stove valve is stubbornly stuck, and a blister is forming on your heel that needs immediate attention. These are the small, trip-defining moments where a few well-chosen ounces of steel can be worth pounds of prevention. In the ultralight world, where every gram is scrutinized, the multi-tool is often the first luxury to be cut—but the right one can be a trip-saver, not just dead weight.

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Why Even Carry a Multi-Tool on an Ultralight Trip?

The ultralight ethos is simple: carry less, move faster, and enjoy more. This often means ruthlessly cutting anything that isn’t essential for survival. So why would anyone add a multi-tool, a piece of gear that seems like a non-essential "just in case" item? The answer lies in shifting the perspective from weight to capability. A tiny, one-ounce tool can be the difference between a minor inconvenience and a full-blown retreat to the trailhead.

Think of it as a compact problem-solving kit. It’s not for building a shelter from scratch; it’s for the common, frustrating failures of modern gear. A good multi-tool can help you perform critical trailside surgery on a broken pack buckle, tighten a loose screw on a stove, cut moleskin for a hot spot, or pull a stubborn splinter that would otherwise fester for days.

The key is selecting a tool where the functions directly address the most likely problems you’ll face with your specific gear and trip style. A thru-hiker on the Appalachian Trail has different repair needs than a weekend warrior in the desert. The goal isn’t to carry a toolbox; it’s to carry the one right tool that prevents a small problem from ending your trip.

Victorinox Classic SD: The Sub-Ounce Essential

When your entire gear philosophy revolves around counting individual grams, the Victorinox Classic SD is often the only multi-tool that makes the cut. Weighing a feathery 0.74 ounces, it’s lighter than an energy gel and disappears on a keychain or in a ditty bag. It’s the undisputed champion of minimalist functionality and has been a staple in first-aid kits for decades for good reason.

Don’t let its tiny size fool you. The Classic SD provides the three most-used tools on any trail: a small, sharp blade for cutting cord or opening food packages; surprisingly precise scissors for trimming medical tape or cutting moleskin; and the legendary tweezers for extracting thorns and splinters. For the strict ultralight backpacker, this is often all you need. It handles basic first aid and minor gear tweaks without a single wasted gram.

This tool is the definition of a scalpel, not an axe. It won’t help you bend a broken tent pole back into shape or tighten a nut on your ice axe. But for thousands of miles on well-trodden trails like the PCT or AT, its focused toolset is more than enough. It’s the perfect choice when your repair strategy is based on tape, cordage, and ingenuity.

Leatherman Squirt PS4: Pliers in Your Pocket

You’re trying to coax a finicky canister stove back to life, but the fuel jet is clogged and you can’t get a grip on it. This is the exact moment you’ll wish you had pliers. The Leatherman Squirt PS4 is the answer to that prayer, representing a significant leap in capability from the Victorinox Classic for a modest weight penalty, coming in at around 2 ounces.

The spring-action pliers are the star of the show. They are nimble enough to handle delicate repair work but strong enough to bend a rogue tent stake, tighten a loose trekking pole flick-lock, or hold a hot pot lid. The Squirt also includes a useful blade, scissors, a file, and two screwdrivers. It transforms you from someone who can only cut things to someone who can actually fix things.

This is the tool for the backpacker who understands that mechanical failures are a real possibility. If you carry a liquid fuel stove, rely on adjustable trekking poles, or venture into places where a gear failure is more than a minor annoyance, the extra ounce for pliers is one of the best investments you can make. The decision between the Classic SD and the Squirt PS4 is the fundamental ultralight multi-tool dilemma: minimalist cutting vs. versatile fixing.

Gerber Dime: A Budget-Friendly Keychain Tool

For the backpacker who wants the functionality of pliers without the premium price tag of a Leatherman, the Gerber Dime is a fantastic contender. It delivers a similar toolset to the Squirt PS4—including pliers, scissors, and a blade—at a weight of 2.2 ounces and often at a lower cost. It’s a workhorse that proves you don’t need to spend a lot to be prepared.

One of the Dime’s standout features is a dedicated retail package opener, which is surprisingly useful for slicing through tough plastic or sealed food bags without dulling your main blade. The pliers are not spring-loaded like the Squirt’s, a point of personal preference for many, but they are plenty capable for trailside tasks. The toolset is externally accessible, meaning you don’t have to open the whole tool to use the bottle opener, which is a nice touch around camp.

The Dime is an excellent choice for weekend warriors, scout troops, or anyone building their first backpacking kit. While the fit and finish may not feel as refined as some of its competitors, its functional design and accessibility make it a reliable companion. It provides that crucial plier capability for a very reasonable investment in both dollars and ounces.

Leatherman Style PS: The TSA-Friendly Option

Picture this: you’ve just landed in a city far from home, ready to start a multi-day trek, only to have your multi-tool confiscated by airport security because you forgot it was in your carry-on. The Leatherman Style PS is purpose-built to avoid this exact scenario. It’s a "blameless" multi-tool, designed to be TSA-compliant by completely removing the knife blade.

This tool is all about smart travel. It retains the most critical repair and first-aid implements: spring-action pliers, scissors, tweezers, a nail file, and a screwdriver. For many trailside emergencies, this is the perfect combination. You can still fix your gear, pull splinters, and cut medical tape. The lack of a blade is a feature, not a bug, for the traveling backpacker.

The strategy here is to create a system. You carry the Style PS in your pocket or carry-on bag for hassle-free travel, and you pack a separate, dedicated knife in your checked luggage. This way, you get the best of both worlds—the convenience of a travel-safe tool and the cutting performance of a proper knife once you’re on the trail. It’s the ideal solution for anyone whose adventures begin with a flight.

SOG PowerPint: Compact Yet Surprisingly Capable

If keychain tools feel a bit too flimsy for your needs but a full-size multi-tool seems like overkill, the SOG PowerPint hits the sweet spot. At 4.2 ounces, it’s a noticeable step up in weight, but it delivers a massive increase in power and utility. This is the tool for the backpacker who often finds themselves in the role of "group gear mechanic."

The PowerPint’s core strength is its compound leverage system, which doubles the gripping power of the pliers compared to other tools of its size. This makes a real difference when you’re trying to crank on a stubborn bolt or bend a piece of metal. It also features a more robust set of 18 tools, including two blades (one serrated), a magnetic hex bit driver, and locking implements for safety.

This isn’t the tool for a gram-counting thru-hiker on a popular trail. It’s for adventurers heading into more remote or rugged terrain, like the backcountry of Alaska or the high peaks of Colorado, where self-sufficiency is non-negotiable. When the potential consequences of a gear failure are high, the extra two or three ounces for a tool this capable is a very wise trade. It’s a compact powerhouse that punches far above its weight class.

The James Brand The Ellis for Style and Function

Sometimes, you want a tool that feels as good in your hand as it performs on the trail. The James Brand The Ellis is for the backpacker who appreciates craftsmanship, minimalist design, and high-quality materials. It’s less of a traditional multi-tool packed with gadgets and more of a refined pocket knife with a few extra, brilliantly executed tricks up its sleeve.

The Ellis prioritizes the blade, offering a fantastic piece of Sandvik 12C27 steel that holds an edge beautifully. Instead of cramming in tiny, mediocre tools, it offers a single, robust back tool that combines a flathead screwdriver, scraper, and bottle opener. Some models swap this for a pair of scissors, allowing you to choose your priority. The "slip-joint" design is simple, reliable, and satisfying to use.

This is an investment piece, and its weight (2.8 ounces) and price reflect that. It’s for the person who wants one tool that can transition seamlessly from opening a package at home to making feather sticks for a fire at camp. It’s a statement about valuing quality over quantity, and for many, its elegant simplicity is more useful than a dozen tools they’ll never actually need.

Vargo Dig Dig Tool: The Multi-Use Trowel

The best multi-tool isn’t always the one with pliers. In the ultralight world, true efficiency comes from gear that serves multiple purposes, and the Vargo Dig Dig Tool is a masterclass in this principle. On the surface, it’s a cathole trowel, but its clever design makes it so much more, often saving weight by replacing other single-use items.

Its primary job is digging, and it does it better than almost any other ultralight trowel thanks to its aggressive, serrated edges that can chew through tough roots and rocky soil. But here’s the multi-tool magic: its curved U-shape makes it a surprisingly effective tent stake in soft ground or a deadman anchor in snow and sand. You can leave a few stakes at home, immediately offsetting its 1.25-ounce weight.

This tool embodies the ultralight mindset. It’s not about having a tool for every conceivable problem; it’s about having a simple, durable piece of gear that solves the most common and critical problems—in this case, Leave No Trace principles and shelter. For the minimalist who has already ditched a plier-based tool, the Dig Dig Tool adds crucial functionality for a negligible weight penalty.

Ultimately, the perfect multi-tool doesn’t exist on a spreadsheet; it exists on the trail that you hike. Don’t get paralyzed by the numbers. Think about the most likely problems you’ll face, consider your comfort with risk, and choose the tool that gives you the confidence to solve them. The goal is to be prepared enough to stay out there and enjoy the wild, not to build the theoretically perfect gear list.