Best Budget Multitools 2026: Wingman vs Suspension NXT

TrailKit is reader-supported. We may earn a commission from links on this page at no cost to you.

You don’t need to spend $120 on a Leatherman to get a multitool that actually pulls its weight. The best budget multitools of 2026 — led by the Leatherman Wingman and Gerber Suspension NXT — deliver real pliers, real blades, and one-hand-friendly designs for well under $60. Here’s how the value picks compare, and where it’s still worth spending a little more.

How we picked these

Multitools are easy to over-spec and easy to over-hype. Our picks are the budget tools that owners keep reaching for years after purchase — not the ones with the longest tool count on the packaging. We weighed each against a consistent checklist:

• Do the core tools work well? Pliers, one good blade, and drivers you’ll use, executed properly, beat 18 gimmick tools.
• One-handed access to the most-used tools, ideally without prying the whole thing open.
• Build quality for the price — snappy, wobble-free tools that lock or hold securely.
• Warranty and brand track record, because a multitool is a buy-once item if the maker stands behind it.
• Weight and carry — a tool you’ll actually keep on you is worth more than a heavier one you leave at home.

Tool counts are marketing; usable tools are what matter. Everything below earns its spot on that basis.

What “budget” buys you in 2026

Budget multitools have gotten genuinely good. A decade ago the advice was “just buy a Leatherman”; now several sub-$60 tools cover 90% of everyday tasks without feeling cheap. What you give up at this price is usually:

• Outside-accessible blades — many budget tools make you open the pliers to reach the knife.
• Premium materials — basic stainless instead of upgraded steels; expect to touch up edges.
• Replaceable wire cutters — a premium feature you won’t find down here.

What you keep: spring-loaded pliers, a usable knife, screwdrivers, scissors, and an opener — the tools you’ll actually reach for.

Leatherman Wingman — best overall value

The Wingman is the value benchmark. It gives you spring-loaded pliers, an outside-accessible blade you can open one-handed, spring-action scissors that genuinely work, and a package opener — for a price that routinely lands under $60. Crucially, the most-used tools open from the outside, so you’re not prying the pliers apart just to cut a thread.

That outside-access detail is the single biggest reason the Wingman feels a tier above its price. On many cheaper tools, cutting one zip-tie means unfolding the whole plier head, using the blade, and folding it all back — enough friction that people stop bothering. On the Wingman the blade and scissors are right there, which is what turns a drawer tool into a daily carry.

It also carries Leatherman’s 25-year warranty, which is rare at this price. The trade-offs: it’s a midsize tool with basic stainless (expect to strop the edge now and then), and the bit drivers are fixed flathead/Phillips rather than a swappable bit kit. Check current pricing on the Leatherman Wingman.

Gerber Suspension NXT — best for one-hand pliers

The Suspension NXT is one of the most affordable full-size multitools you can buy, and it punches above its price. The headline feature is spring-loaded pliers that open wide and deploy one-handed, plus outboard-opening tools and a lightweight frame. It’s the pick if you want maximum plier function for minimum money.

The lightweight aluminum frame is the double-edged part: it makes the NXT noticeably easier to carry all day than heavier steel tools, but it also means it doesn’t feel as planted when you’re really cranking on something stubborn. For opening, gripping, and light repair work it’s excellent; for heavy prying it’s outclassed by denser tools. Downsides: the included blade and drivers are serviceable rather than special. See the Gerber Suspension NXT.

Gerber Dime — best keychain multitool

If full-size is overkill, the Gerber Dime is the value micro pick. At roughly keychain size and around 2.2 oz, it still packs spring-loaded pliers, scissors, a small blade, a bottle opener, and drivers — enough to handle small fixes you’d otherwise need a junk drawer for.

The Dime’s real job is presence: it’s small enough that it rides on a keychain or in a bag pocket permanently, so it’s there for the loose screw, the stubborn package, or the snipped thread when your big tool is at home. It’s not a heavy-duty tool and the tiny blade is for light cutting only, but as an always-with-you backup it’s hard to beat for the money. Look up the Gerber Dime.

When to spend more

The budget tier covers most people. Step up to something like the Leatherman Wave+ if you need: a full swappable bit driver set, replaceable wire cutters, two outside-accessible blades, or a tool you’ll lean on hard every day for work. For occasional and everyday use, the extra spend mostly buys convenience and longevity, not capability.

A good rule of thumb: if you’d use a multitool a few times a week, the Wingman or Suspension NXT is plenty. If you’d use it several times a day for work — trades, maintenance, field service — the durability and bit flexibility of a premium tool pays for itself. If you do upgrade, a quality blade steel matters less here than on a dedicated knife — see our EDC knife steel guide for where steel really counts.

Quick comparison

Multitool	Type	Approx. weight	Outside-access blade	Best for
Leatherman Wingman	Full-size	~7 oz	Yes	Best all-around value
Gerber Suspension NXT	Full-size	~6.5 oz	Yes	One-hand spring pliers
Gerber Dime	Keychain	~2.2 oz	No	Pocket/keychain backup

How to pick

• One tool to cover most jobs cheaply: Leatherman Wingman.
• You want the easiest one-hand pliers for the least money: Gerber Suspension NXT.
• You just want a tiny always-there helper: Gerber Dime.

Keeping a budget multitool working

Cheaper tools use basic stainless and simple pivots, which actually makes them easy to maintain — a few minutes of care keeps one going for years:

• Wipe and dry it after wet use. Basic stainless will spot-rust if you close it away damp. A quick dry and an occasional drop of oil on the pivots prevents it.
• Strop or touch up the blade. Budget steel dulls faster than premium steel but sharpens more easily. A few passes on a strop or fine stone restores a working edge in minutes.
• Keep the pliers and pivots lightly oiled. A single drop of light machine oil on the joints keeps the action smooth and stops grit from grinding the pivots.
• Don’t pry with the blade. The most common way people kill a budget multitool is using the knife as a pry bar. Use the flathead driver for prying; keep the blade for cutting.

Common budget-multitool mistakes

• Buying for tool count. A tool with 20 functions where half are gimmicks is worse than one with eight that all work. Prioritize pliers, a blade, and drivers.
• Ignoring blade access. If the knife lives inside the pliers, you’ll use it less. Outside-access blades (Wingman, Suspension NXT) get used far more.
• Over-buying for occasional use. If it’ll live in a drawer and come out monthly, you don’t need a $150 tool. The Wingman does that job for a third of the price.

FAQ

Are budget multitools actually worth it? Yes. Sub-$60 tools like the Leatherman Wingman and Gerber Suspension NXT cover everyday cutting, gripping, and screwdriving reliably. You mainly trade away premium materials and a few convenience features, not core function.

Can you take a multitool on a plane? Not in carry-on — any blade or pliers must go in checked luggage per TSA rules. A bladeless keychain tool may be allowed, but always check current TSA guidance before flying.

Leatherman or Gerber for a budget multitool? Leatherman’s Wingman edges ahead on warranty (25 years) and finish; Gerber’s Suspension NXT wins on one-hand plier deployment and often price. Both are solid — pick based on which features you’ll use.

Do I need a multitool if I already carry a pocketknife? They cover different jobs. A knife cuts better and carries lighter; a multitool adds pliers, drivers, and scissors. Many people carry both — a dedicated knife for cutting and a multitool for everything else.

How long should a budget multitool last? With basic care, years. The Wingman’s 25-year warranty backs that up. The main wear points are the blade edge (resharpenable) and the pivots (keep them clean and oiled).

Takeaway

The “always buy Leatherman” rule isn’t gospel anymore. The Leatherman Wingman is the best all-around budget value, the Gerber Suspension NXT gives you the smoothest one-hand pliers for the money, and the Gerber Dime rides along on your keychain for the small stuff. Match the size to how you’ll carry it, keep the pivots clean, and you’ll have a tool you actually use for years.