Cabela's $8 Multi-Tool: A First Look at a Surprisingly Competent Budget Pick

Introduction

Sometimes the most interesting gear questions come from the cheapest products. An $8 multi-tool from Cabela’s is exactly that kind of question: at under 4 ounces and under $10, expectations should be low. What makes this one worth a closer look is that the implements themselves appear surprisingly well formed. If it even has a decent screwdriver or a workable blade, it tells us something about how far budget multi-tools have come.

First Impressions: Form Factor and Access

Out of the clamshell packaging, the tool comes with a small pouch, though many users will skip it entirely. One clever detail stands out immediately: because the tools sit on the inside of the frame, they are outside-accessible when the tool is closed, meaning you can reach certain implements without unfolding the whole thing.

The form factor is admittedly unusual. The frame dips inward, which creates generous exposure for each implement so you can press them down with your thumb rather than digging them out with your fingernails. That makes one-handed opening genuinely possible, and one-handed closing works too. It looks a little odd, but the access it provides is legitimately useful.

The Blade and Drivers: Better Than the Price Suggests

The main blade has a box-cutter-like shape that works well. Steel quality is likely generic stainless steel, so temper expectations there, but the grind is better than many budget multi-tools in the $25 range. Cheaper competitors often show obvious flaws like flexible metal; this one does not. The lockup is not great, but it is plenty good enough for light tasks.

The Phillips driver may be the most impressive part of the whole tool. It is properly cut and feels hefty in use, and the flathead is similarly solid. Whether the heat treatment holds up over time would take more testing, but at this price the initial build quality is a good sign.

The Scissors: The Weak Point

The scissors are where the value story stumbles. Put against tougher materials like Kevlar or even jersey knit fabric, they simply fail. They only manage ribbon and thread with consistent lateral pressure applied toward the blade, and even then the cuts are not clean.

That said, the scissors feel relatively sharp and have little play in the pivot, so they may be salvageable with some reprofiling of the edge. For close-to-skin trimming tasks they are serviceable in a pinch. It is worth noting that if the scissors had been genuinely good, this would read as a very different review.

The Pliers and Overall Design

The pliers are spring-loaded with the spring at the back of the frame, which is the preferred arrangement since it can be replaced without weakening the tool. They feel a bit more substantial than you might expect, though there is noticeable flex under load. They also spring back into position, which suggests the tool can take normal hand strength without failing. For everyday light tasks, they are good enough.

Two design compromises are worth mentioning. First, a large number of spacers inside the frame waste space. Removing them and narrowing one side could have cut weight from 3.8 ounces toward 3.5 and made the tool more compact. Second, the combo tool is shaped like a can and bottle opener but lacks the hook cut needed to latch onto a can, so it cannot actually open cans. That seems like an easy fix, and a small modification could turn it into a proper can opener.

Buying Advice

This size range of multi-tool is more practical than people realize. Small compact tools get used for what they were designed for, rather than being pushed into tasks that really call for a proper pair of pliers. At around $8, this makes sense as something to throw in a bag, an introduction to multi-tools for a kid, or a stocking stuffer. The one real caution: the main blade does not lock, so supervise younger users accordingly.

Conclusion

At $8, this Cabela’s multi-tool is surprisingly reasonable. The Phillips driver, the nail-free implement access, and the one-handed opening all impress for the price, while the scissors and the missing can-opener hook hold it back. It is hard to imagine getting much more multi-tool for this money, and as a low-stakes everyday carry or gift option, it earns its spot.