Best Pocket Scissors in Multi-Tools: 8 Tested Picks Worth Carrying

Introduction

Scissors are one of the most-used implements on any multi-tool, and they are also one of the most inconsistent. Over the past few weeks, a large batch of pocket scissors from multi-tools and dedicated EDC scissors was put through the same cutting gauntlet, scored against a 20-point rubric with a maximum of two points per item, plus a precision bonus for cutting thread up close.

The results were genuinely surprising. Some big-name tools underperformed their reputation, while a few inexpensive or unexpected picks ran circles around them. Here are the standouts, the disappointments, and the scores that back all of it up.

How the Testing Worked

Each candidate was scored out of 20 across a gauntlet of materials, with up to two points per material. On top of that, a plus designation marks whether the scissors could complete a precision task: cutting thread cleanly at close range. Cutting performance, flex, and leverage all factored into the final result.

A few notes before the rankings: the single worst scorer of the entire process managed only two points out of twenty and is not worth buying under any circumstances. And the Leatherman Style CS shown here is currently discontinued and standing in for the Leatherman Micro, which was unavailable at test time.

Leatherman Style PS

The Style PS is one of the favorite small multi-tools for everyday carry, and it earned a solid 10 points plus the precision bonus. That is enough to place it above the Leatherman Wave’s scissor performance, which is a genuinely impressive result for something so small.

It is also exceptionally easy to carry, which matters when the whole point is a tool that lives in your pocket. If you want a tiny, competent scissor with real precision ability, this is an easy recommendation.

Leatherman Style CS

The Style CS also came in at 10 points, which was a little disappointing given how large its scissor is. The problem is not size but execution: too much play and too much flex in the pivot, which means it does not bite into tougher materials the way it should.

It still handles light tasks, but it underperformed other small dedicated scissor multi-tools. Note again that the Style CS is discontinued, and it stood in for the Leatherman Micro, which could not be found for this testing.

Gerber MP600

Both the Gerber MP600 and the smaller MP400 use the same scissor, and the performance here was one of the genuine surprises of the whole process: 15 out of 20. That is better than most, if not all, of the Leatherman scissors tested.

The leverage was good and the flex was minimal, which is exactly what you want from a multi-tool scissor. The result was strong enough that it suggests these Gerber scissors deserve further testing in their own right. For anyone who wants a multi-tool first and a genuinely good scissor second, this is a compelling option.

SOG Snippet

The SOG Snippet is a strange tool. It gets some things very right and some things not so much, and it is not the most comfortable tool to use. But you cannot argue with the cutting: at 16 points, its scissors are among the best small scissors ever used in this testing, outperforming most other small dedicated scissor multi-tools, including the Leatherman Style CS.

What sets it apart is serviceability. The scissors can be adjusted and tightened, and you can take them apart to sharpen them, which almost no pocket multi-tool allows. There is almost no flex when cutting, and it includes a pocket clip. If cutting performance is the priority and ergonomics are secondary, the Snippet earns its place.

Next Tool Mini Flagship

Next Tool kept coming up in questions, so three of its tools went through the gauntlet. In many ways the brand is more innovative than most multi-tool makers, and the cutting performance is impeccable. Where it falls flat is not design but quality of materials, at least based on this experience.

The Mini Flagship scored 17 out of 20, cutting difficult materials cleanly, and it can even cut paracord at the very tip of the scissor, which is quite impressive. It can also be taken apart, sharpened, and reassembled. If the brand used higher-quality metals, these would be amazing. As it stands, the Mini Flagship is one of the better performers available.

Klein Electrician Scissors

After the first test involving this brand, expectations were high for these scissors, and they did not disappoint. At about three and a half inches long and quite light, this might be the most efficient carry found so far, and it even comes with a small sheath included.

These are not your normal style of scissors: they are designed for copper wire and similar materials. They still scored 17 plus the precision bonus against the gauntlet. You will not get the cutting area of larger electrician shears, but this fits in places those simply will not, which puts it firmly in the running.

Multi-Force

The Multi-Force is interesting for more than its scissors. The outer implements sit on the same side as the small tools, which is not true of the Wave, and in many ways it is better than the Wave overall. The testing finally confirmed with real numbers that its scissors also perform a bit better than the comparable clone.

It scored 11 out of 20, which is quite good, with noticeably less flex than the Byberry multi-tool. It is a sensible pick if you want a full multi-tool whose scissor does not feel like an afterthought.

Dr. Slick

This one was a last-minute addition, and it delivered the shock of the whole test. It looks like a locking forceps with a scissor section, so expectations were low. Then it essentially destroyed the entire gauntlet.

Eighteen points out of twenty, right on the edge of the scale. Without seeing the full run, the score would be hard to believe. It comes in different varieties and lengths, so it clearly deserves further testing in other configurations. For pure cutting performance in a compact tool, nothing else came close.

Buying Advice

If you want the best raw cutting performance in a pocketable tool, the Dr. Slick and the Next Tool Mini Flagship top the list, with the Klein electrician scissors and the SOG Snippet close behind. If you want a genuine multi-tool whose scissor actually cuts well, the Gerber MP600 and the Multi-Force stand out. And if sheer pocketability plus precision matter most, the Leatherman Style PS remains an excellent tiny option.

Whichever you pick, prioritize low flex and good leverage: that is what separated the winners from the pack more than anything else.

Conclusion

Small scissors vary wildly, and brand reputation does not guarantee performance. A ten-dollar-class tool can beat a flagship multi-tool scissor, a fly-fishing tool can dominate a full EDC gauntlet, and a discontinued design can still teach you what to avoid. Match the tool to what you actually cut, check for flex before you buy, and your pocket scissor will finally pull its weight.