Mossy Oak 22-in-1 Multi-Tool Pliers Review: A Solid Budget Backup Tool

Introduction

The Mossy Oak 22-in-1 multi-tool pliers with sheath, model M-2528, sits firmly in the budget category at around $20. That matters because the multi-tool market is full of choices, from $100-plus premium options to cheap impulse buys, and it can be hard to know which price point actually fits your needs.

The honest answer is that price does not always track usefulness. Higher-end multi-tools get better steel, better metal, and generally better construction, but a more expensive tool is not automatically more useful. For many buyers, the real question is simpler: do you need a reliable backup tool that lives in a truck, a bag, or a drawer until the day it saves you a trip?

Who This Multi-Tool Is For

If you treat a multi-tool as an emergency tool, something you pull out when your real pliers or knife are not on you, this one is aimed squarely at you. It is a solid hunk of metal with a decent weight to it, and it feels pretty solid in the hand.

The recent real-world example says a lot. While removing a fridge for a client, a water line turned out to be attached, and the main tool bag was on another job. The pliers and cutters on a multi-tool got a 10-second job done without driving off to fetch another tool. The entire tool paid for itself in that moment, since the trip for a spare tool would have cost far more than the roughly $20 the tool costs.

If you plan to use it as a heavy-duty everyday tool, day in and day out, this is probably not the right pick. For that, something in the style of the higher-end Leatherman options, designed for constant heavy use, makes more sense.

The Tool Selection: Redundancy Done Right

There are 22 tools packed in, and multi-tool makers do get a little creative with counting. The pliers and the cutter are counted as separate tools even though plenty of pliers include both, and there is a small opening tool that pads the number further. That said, the genuinely useful selection is strong.

The highlight is the trio of cutting edges: a regular straight knife, a serrated knife, and a saw. Three different types of knives might seem redundant, but redundancy is exactly the point for an emergency tool. If you break one blade on accident, you still have backups ready to go. The same logic applies to the two bottle openers and the two flathead screwdrivers of different sizes, plus a bottle opener-plus-screwdriver combo piece and a file with a small measure built in.

One unusual inclusion is an older-style sewing tool, sometimes called an awl or stitching tool. It is handy if you know what it is for, useful for sewing, repairs, fixing a tent, or working leather while camping. It does require a little learning to use, but it is a genuinely multi-tool kind of tool.

All of the tools lock in place with a nice locking mechanism, which is a real quality-of-life feature at this price, and the steel quality is described as pretty decent.

The Sheath and Bits: A Nice Extra Touch

The included sheath holds eight standard screwdriver bits. All the standard stuff you are likely to need is included, though no security bits. Storing the bits in the sheath keeps them out of the way and prevents them from falling out, which is a thoughtful touch at this price.

The sheath itself looks almost smaller than the tool, but it keeps everything nice and compact. One polarizing detail is the camouflage finish. Camo on a tool that is easy to lose means if you drop it while working in the forest, good luck finding it. That is worth considering depending on where you expect to use it.

Buying Advice

At around $20, this tool is easy to justify. Keeping one in the truck at all times covers the situations where a small job appears unexpectedly and the full toolkit is elsewhere. The Mossy Oak 22-in-1 handles that role well: solid build, a locking tool set, three cutting options, eight stored bits, and a compact sheath.

For the price point, it is a pretty solid little tool and worth checking out as a backup. Just be clear about your use case: emergency and occasional use, yes; heavy-duty daily use, look higher up the price ladder.

Conclusion

The Mossy Oak 22-in-1 multi-tool pliers does the job a budget multi-tool should do. It is a well-built, locking, 22-in-1 backup that costs about $20 and can pay for itself the first time it saves you a trip. The camo finish is a judgment call, and heavy everyday users should spend more, but as an emergency tool for truck or bag, it earns its spot.