Tacray MT1 Review: A Multi-Tool and Flashlight Combo Worth Pocketing

Introduction

Tacray has spent roughly 13 years making everyday carry gear, and the MT1 is its take on an idea that makes a lot of sense: combine a folding multi-tool and a flashlight in one pocketable body. The result is an eight-tool multi-tool with a three-level LED flashlight, offered in a base model plus Pro and Elite versions.

We spent time with the base model in both anodized gray and anodized desert. Between the two finishes, the desert color is the one that stands out, though that comes down to taste.

Why the MT1 Design Works for Everyday Carry

Combined blade-and-flashlight EDC gadgets exist, but they are usually too big for pockets. The MT1 solves that. It weighs 2.9 oz (84 g) and measures 3.35 inches long, with a flat body style and a reversible stainless steel pocket clip that makes it genuinely practical to carry every day.

The pocket clip has strong tension and does not feel cheap. Because it is reversible, you can carry the tool clipped in your pocket and orient it so the main blade is ready to thumb open the moment you draw it.

Build details back up the premium feel: a liner lock on both sides, ceramic ball bearings in the pivot for a smooth blade action, a removable tungsten steel glass breaker, a built-in 250 mAh battery charged via a USB-C port on the body edge, and a charging indicator that glows red while charging and green when full. The waterproof rating is IPX4, which means splashproof from all directions, and it carries a 1 m impact resistance rating.

The Eight Tools in Detail

The tool selection leans practical rather than exhaustive. Around the body you get a pry bar with an integrated flathead screwdriver, a can opener on the opposite side, a bottle opener at the bottom, a seat belt cutter, a large lanyard hole that comfortably fits 550 paracord, the main blade, the pocket clip, the glass breaker, and the flashlight itself.

The seat belt cutter is a highlight. It is very sharp and sliced cleanly through 2-inch webbing during testing. The lanyard hole is another thoughtful touch; most small multi-tools have tiny openings that will not accept anything substantial, but this one takes real paracord.

Not everything earns its place equally. The can opener is unlikely to see much use, and the reviewer in us wishes the tail end were a simple flat wedge like a traditional EDC pry bar. But nothing here gets in the way, and the blade is the star: a chisel-grind tanto blade around 2.12 inches long with a nail nick for opening. That length keeps it legal in places that require blades under three inches.

The Flashlight: Simple UI, Honest Runtimes

The flashlight is arguably the coolest feature. It outputs up to 260 lumens across three levels, with a 6000 Kelvin cool white color temperature and a well-defined hot spot. The UI is simple: long press to toggle on and off, short press to cycle levels, and it remembers the last brightness you used. It also uses a reverse UI, starting on high and stepping down.

Runtime breakdown:

• High: 260 lumens, about 30 minutes
• Medium: 150 lumens, about 45 minutes
• Low: 25 lumens, about 120 minutes

The runtimes are limited by the 250 mAh battery, and that is the trade-off you accept for the compact body. Medium will not last a full night, but it is enough for minor emergencies, especially when you are already carrying the MT1 for the blade and seat belt cutter. Two things could be better: the IPX4 rating only covers splashes, not heavy downpours or submersion, and the light takes a couple of seconds to switch on and off.

MT1 Pro and MT1 Elite

Beyond the base model, Tacray offers two upgrades. The MT1 Pro moves to a titanium body while keeping the 10CR15OV blade. The MT1 Elite pairs that titanium body with an upgraded M390 blade steel, the option that blade enthusiasts will gravitate toward.

The base 10CR15OV steel is easy to sharpen and perfectly serviceable, but M390 is the meaningful upgrade if edge retention matters to you. Pricing runs from roughly $80 for the base model, around $120 for the Pro, and about $150 for the Elite.

Tacray ran a Kickstarter campaign for the MT1 from October through November 2025, so current units are pre-Kickstarter models. The company is refining blade deployment to make it even smoother and making the flashlight switch more responsive, both of which should be included on new pre-orders.

Buying Advice: Base, Pro or Elite

For most people, the base MT1 at around $80 is the sweet spot. It delivers the full eight-tool set, the 260-lumen flashlight, and the same body hardware as the higher tiers. Choose the Pro if you specifically want titanium, and the Elite if M390 blade steel justifies the jump to about $150.

If you carry a blade daily and want a backup light in the same footprint, the MT1 approach is easy to recommend. If you need a serious flashlight with long runtimes or true waterproofing, this is not a replacement for a dedicated light.

Conclusion

The Tacray MT1 combines a practical eight-tool multi-tool with a genuinely useful 260-lumen flashlight in a 2.9 oz package, and the direction is a strong one. The Pro and Elite variants add titanium and M390 for those who want to upgrade, but even the base model earns its pocket space.