NexTool Multi-Tool Roundup: Six Options From Full-Size to Keychain

Introduction

NexTool has quietly built one of the more interesting budget multi-tool lineups around. The range spans full-size plier-based tools, a lighter pocket-friendly option, a well-executed Sailor, two keychain-sized tools, and a new compact model with an adjustable wrench. Across the lineup there is a clear pattern: clever designs and genuinely strong scissors, held back mainly by outdated blade steels and a few design quirks. This guide walks through six models and helps you figure out which one actually fits your needs.

NexTool Flagship Pro

The Flagship Pro is the brand’s full-size flagship and the model most people will recognize. It packs a locking saw, a one-hand-openable blade with a liner lock, and an enormous pair of scissors that performs extremely well in cut tests. The spring-loaded pliers come with replaceable wire cutters, and the whole tool can be disassembled with a screw so each blade can be sharpened independently, which is one of its best traits.

Where it falls short is the small inner implements. The Phillips driver is two-dimensional and struggles with recessed screws, and the pull cutter does not work particularly well either. The tool was one of the first decent-quality budget multi-tools under $50, but competitors have since moved to better steels, and an upgrade away from the 3Cr and 5Cr stainless would make it far more competitive. Available Kydex sheaths are a nice touch, fitting in multiple orientations and locking in place. A word of caution on colored or black oxide versions: black oxide finishing can lower steel hardness by roughly one point and, on saws especially, tumbling rounds off edges and reduces cutting performance. It looks good, but performance suffers.

NexTool Black Knight

The Black Knight is harder to find but easier to pocket than the Flagship Pro, thanks to a significantly lighter build. It shares the same 3Cr and 5Cr stainless construction, so the same steel upgrade argument applies. Its standout trait is the excellent scissors, one of the biggest reasons to consider a NexTool in the first place, alongside a non-locking slip-joint blade with a decent detent.

The locking saw is tapered and can be used almost like a reamer to drill and finish holes, which is a clever touch. Current production models include a three-dimensional Phillips, a clear improvement over the older square design, plus a quarter-inch bit adapter that accepts standard bits. The flathead with an integrated bottle opener does compromise the flathead’s strength somewhat, and the small file is not particularly aggressive. UK buyers should note that the locking saw means it is not UK legal despite the non-locking blade. At $30 or less it is a good value; above that, the dated materials start to show.

NexTool Sailor

The Sailor is a surprisingly well-executed full-size multi-tool, with a tool set that is arguably the best in the lineup because everything locks and most of it works well. The straight blade is outside accessible and comfortable to use, and one side holds three excellent implements: scissors that cut very well, a reamer with a bottle opener that does not compromise it, and a proper flathead with a long reach into recessed areas.

The opposite side brings a serrated blade, a poorly executed file with little aggression in either crosscut or straight cut, an excellent three-dimensional Phillips that also serves as the shape for the included quarter-inch bit adapter, and a large saw. The pliers have fixed, non-replaceable cutters that appear to be heat treated separately from the plier head, which works fine in practice.

The big quirk: to open any tool, you must disengage the lock simultaneously with another finger. It is effectively a two-handed multi-tool for most people, a dexterity check that will be a deal breaker for some. Bought around $25, it is solid value, and anything under $30 is reasonable. With better steel, it would be easy to recommend even at $40.

NexTool Mini Sailor

With the Leatherman Squirt and Style PS discontinued, the keychain space has few serious options, and the Mini Sailor is arguably the closest thing to a Squirt replacement available. It is about an ounce heavier and noticeably bigger than the Squirt, so it is not a direct one-to-one swap, but the tool set is surprisingly good for the size: a two-dimensional Phillips, a flathead, a SIM card extraction tool, a true can opener and bottle opener, and a small blade that is larger than the Squirt’s.

The scissors are the real surprise, performing far better than their size suggests. The modern version brings better colors and moves the lanyard ring to the outside, so a split ring no longer blocks the Phillips, and the thicker steel resists bending. At under $25, it comes highly recommended by every measure.

NexTool Mini Flagship

On paper, the Mini Flagship looks like the better keychain tool: huge scissors for its size, pliers, a long straight flathead, a decent file, a two-dimensional Phillips, and a can opener and bottle opener combo with a slightly larger blade. The weight is reasonable too.

The problem is reliability. The locking springs have a tendency to shear off, and this happens often enough that it shows up repeatedly in buyer feedback. It has even occurred on a brand-new unit fresh out of the box. Combined with a higher price than the Mini Sailor, it is hard to recommend right now. If NexTool fixes the spring issue, this could be an excellent compact tool, but until then the Mini Sailor is the safer buy.

NexTool W2

The W2 is not yet released, but it is the most interesting tool in the lineup. It comes in under 6 oz, substantially lighter than the larger adjustable-wrench model, and pairs a needle-nose plier head with a wide-opening adjustable wrench. The wrench is more than a gimmick: because you do not have to squeeze pliers simultaneously, you can apply far more pressure to a stubborn nut than with standard needlenose pliers, even more than with larger multi-tools.

It also has a three-dimensional Phillips with a liner lock for high-torque use, a non-locking slip-joint blade suited to package opening, and a flathead, though the file is once again mediocre. A bit driver at the end plus slot storage lets a proprietary bit convert into a screwdriver-style grip for extra torque. If it launches under $30, this is a clear winner, and the steel matters less here because the tool is really about the plier head and wrench.

Which NexTool Should You Buy?

For a full-size backup tool, the Sailor has the favorite tool set of the lineup, provided you can live with the two-handed lock quirk and find it under $30. For pocketability, the Black Knight is the lightest full-size option with brilliant scissors, again best under $30. For keychain duty, the Mini Sailor is the clear pick and the closest Squirt replacement on the market. The Flagship Pro remains a solid performer if you find it well under $50 and value its scissors and serviceability, while the Mini Flagship should wait for a spring fix. If the W2 lands at a reasonable price, its adjustable wrench design makes it genuinely worth watching.

Conclusion

NexTool is close to being a real contender in the multi-tool world. The designs are clever, the scissors are consistently excellent, and the keychain tools fill a gap left by discontinued competitors. What the brand needs most is a steel upgrade across the board. As things stand, the Mini Sailor, the Sailor, the Black Knight at the right price, and the upcoming W2 are the models most likely to earn a place in your kit.