This Popular Camping Tool is Less Useful Than You Think

We may receive a commission on purchases made from links.

One of the biggest considerations before heading outdoors overnight is gear, as discussed in this ultimate guide to packing. What kind of tent do you need? Do you have a warm sleeping bag? Is your camping stove easy to use? Does it have enough fuel? Do you have a reliable headlamp and some kind of lantern for when it gets dark? Having the right gear makes camping go much more smoothly — along with these simple tips — and this especially goes for tools. You might bring a hatchet or saw for dealing with firewood, or even a shovel to dig trenches and pits.

However, when you’re backpacking you don’t have the luxury of carrying so much weight, smaller implements become more important, and one that has long been in every camper’s arsenal is the multi-tool. A multi-tool contains a number of implements that conveniently fold out when they’re needed. Models such as the Leatherman and the legendary Swiss Army Knife spring to mind — with its array of blades, tweezers, can and bottle opener, screwdriver, file, corkscrew, scissors, plastic toothpick, and more. 

The idea is that multi-tools will provide you with any tool you need when the moment arises and are the ultimate way to head out into the woods prepared. It turns out, however, that they may be more trouble than they’re worth, that in the vast majority of situations outdoors, a sharp, sturdy, simple knife is really all you need.

When comparing multi-tools and camping knives, the first consideration is size and weight. It goes without a saying that a multitool is both heavier and bulkier, weighing up to 12 ounces, while a pocket knife is only going to come in at 3 to 4 ounces. Multi-tools are also not often easy to use. They can be hard to get a good grip on, while a simple knife is designed to fit perfectly in your hand. When it comes to durability, a multi-tool also doesn’t last as long as a good knife, so you’re losing a few points on lifespan as well.

There’s also the idea of quality. “Away from a Phillips-head screwdriver and can opener, the tool you’re going to find yourself using most often outdoors is a knife blade,” writes outdoor lifestyle columnist Wes Stiles in Outside. “And while yes, multi-tools and Swiss Army Knives do tend to include one of those, they’re usually small and of poor quality.” He also outlines two further reasons multi-tools fall short: “1) the handle will be uncomfortable and 2) it’ll be subject to failure.”