SOG PowerPint Review: A Compact Multi-Tool That Punches Above Its Size

Introduction

The SOG PowerPint is a small multi-tool that keeps coming up in requests, and after spending time with a brand-new unit, it is easy to see why. Weighing a verified 4.2 ounces (119 grams) and measuring roughly 3.25 inches long and just over half an inch wide, it lands in a size frame that is genuinely uncommon in the multi-tool market: light and compact enough for a watch pocket or lighter pocket, yet equipped with a full plier head, two blades, and a proper hex bit holder.

It is priced at $49.99, which places it in a bracket where genuinely recommendable tools are rare. Out of the box, the fit is impressive: the plier head has no play, the action is smooth, and everything locks on the inside of the handles.

Who This Product Is For

The PowerPint makes the most sense as a companion tool rather than a primary one. It pairs naturally with a folding knife, since its serrated blade is excellent and its pliers, bit driver, and assorted small implements cover what a knife cannot. The included pocket clip matters here, because the tool is small enough to live in a jeans watch pocket or lighter pocket without notice.

It also suits people who want standard hex bits rather than proprietary ones. The bit storage is built into the plier head itself, so the tool does not dedicate any handle space to a dedicated bit driver, which is part of why so much capability fits into such a small body.

Main Strengths

The headline feature is the compound leverage plier head. On many compound leverage tools, the jaw opening is too narrow to fit around a normal nut without awkward positioning. The PowerPint’s gear ratio is far better: the head opens wide, and because it is a small tool, your hand can apply pressure effectively, multiplying the force you can generate. It is one of the few tools in SOG’s lineup where the compound leverage system genuinely makes sense.

The bit holder is equally clever. You open the plier head slightly, seat the bit on a magnet, and squeeze the handles together to lock it in place. It holds the bit dead center and firmly, using standard implements you can find anywhere.

The cutting implements also delivered surprises. The serrated blade shipped remarkably sharp, with shallow, genuinely useful serrations, and it can be opened one-handed with some dexterity, though the inside lock requires a bit of finagling. The file is the opposite of the flat, texture-free file on the older stainless version: it is aggressively textured, with teeth along the bottom edge as well.

The tool set is surprisingly robust for the size. On one side you get a can opener, a full three-dimensional Phillips driver that sits mostly in line, and a bottle opener. On the other side there is a small flathead, a very sharp reamer, and a pull cutter for packages. Everything locks on the inside, which is a real advantage at this size.

Things to Consider Before Buying

The scissors are the weak point. They are well made, with no movement and a spring that stays put, but they struggle badly with fabric, Kevlar, and seatbelt webbing, binding up on all three. They can be made to work by deliberately pressing the two blades together while cutting, but even then, expect to handle only minor tasks. It is a salvageable scissors, not a good one.

Access is the other annoyance. The implements on one side, particularly the pull cutter, are genuinely awkward to extract. There is no fingernail pull in an easy spot, and getting at the pull cutter for package opening takes unnecessary effort. Accessing the Phillips side is easier since one of the two internals has a usable pull.

Finally, the black finish makes the tool markings hard to see in anything less than good light, and one-handed blade opening is technically possible but clearly not the intended use.

Buying Advice

At $49.99, the PowerPint competes in a price bracket where very few decent quality tools exist. The combination of real pliers, a sharp blade pair, and a proper hex bit driver that accepts standard bits is enough on its own to justify the purchase, and the rest of the tool set adds genuine value rather than filler. It also carries a usable warranty, which adds confidence for a tool at this price.

If you can stretch to around $65, the similarly designed PowerLok is worth considering: it drops the file and serrated blade, adds a corkscrew, and includes a mechanism that locks the bit so you do not have to keep pressure on the handles while driving. For most people, though, the PowerPint’s more general tool set at a lower price is the better fit. Between this and the Snippet, it is one of the few SOG tools that comes genuinely recommended.

Conclusion

The SOG PowerPint solves the small multi-tool problem better than almost anything near its price: real compound leverage pliers, a usable blade set, standard hex bit compatibility, and a pocket clip, all in a 4.2-ounce package. The scissors and one-side tool access keep it from being flawless, but as a light, capable backup to a folding knife, it is easy to recommend.