Ozark Trail multi-tool review
Posted 06-25-2009 at 03:26 AM by 2coastcamper
There are two things Les Stroud of Survivorman never left behind when he went out into the wilderness -- his trusty harmonica and a handy multi-tool.
Almost everyone here will agree, a good multi-tool is a must not only for every camping trip, but for even a day hike or picnic. But for those who are on a budget, the $50-$100 models sold by Leatherman and Gerber might be a tad out of reach.
Personally, I had an incident involving a raging river ... well, let's just say I had to replace all my gear at once before my next trip. In doing so with just my "fun money" from one paycheck, I had to pick out items based more on a tight budget than anything else. The $10 multi-tool made by Ozark Trail and sold at Wal-Mart was just one of those items.
There are only a few things on this $10 model that are in the "less than" range when compared to the more expensive models. In every other way, this inexpensive option more than does the trick, and is still the multi-tool I carry on camping trips. The first thing I was surprised at how much I used was the plier function. The most important thing for me when using the pliers is the strength of the grip and the comfort of the handle. In both instances, the Ozark Trail succeeds. Secondly, the knife is extremely sharp, and it has all the auxiliary tools necessary for almost any job around the campsite. I've used both the bottle opener and can opener with ease. The screwdrivers have come in handy on several occasions, and the saw is strong and sharp enough to cut through branches and sticks about the width of a broom handle with relative ease.
About the only drawbacks are the wire cutters and the smallest flat screwdriver. The cutters simply aren't strong enough to cut through anything other than stereo wires. I've only had the occasion to use them once, so I don't notice this drawback. Without getting into too much detail, I had to cut through a chain-link fence. They did the job. But I'm quite strong, and it took all my strength to cut through, and the damage done to the cutters has rendered them useless for the same job in the future. The smallest screwdriver just isn't thin enough to fit the size screws I think it was meant for.
Aside from those two drawbacks, the Ozark Trail multi-tool sold at Wal-Mart gets a passing grade from me. For $10, it a no-brainer if you're on a budget or perhaps getting the young outdoors enthusiast in your life his or her first multi-tool.
Image from RantRadio.com
Almost everyone here will agree, a good multi-tool is a must not only for every camping trip, but for even a day hike or picnic. But for those who are on a budget, the $50-$100 models sold by Leatherman and Gerber might be a tad out of reach.
Personally, I had an incident involving a raging river ... well, let's just say I had to replace all my gear at once before my next trip. In doing so with just my "fun money" from one paycheck, I had to pick out items based more on a tight budget than anything else. The $10 multi-tool made by Ozark Trail and sold at Wal-Mart was just one of those items.
There are only a few things on this $10 model that are in the "less than" range when compared to the more expensive models. In every other way, this inexpensive option more than does the trick, and is still the multi-tool I carry on camping trips. The first thing I was surprised at how much I used was the plier function. The most important thing for me when using the pliers is the strength of the grip and the comfort of the handle. In both instances, the Ozark Trail succeeds. Secondly, the knife is extremely sharp, and it has all the auxiliary tools necessary for almost any job around the campsite. I've used both the bottle opener and can opener with ease. The screwdrivers have come in handy on several occasions, and the saw is strong and sharp enough to cut through branches and sticks about the width of a broom handle with relative ease.
About the only drawbacks are the wire cutters and the smallest flat screwdriver. The cutters simply aren't strong enough to cut through anything other than stereo wires. I've only had the occasion to use them once, so I don't notice this drawback. Without getting into too much detail, I had to cut through a chain-link fence. They did the job. But I'm quite strong, and it took all my strength to cut through, and the damage done to the cutters has rendered them useless for the same job in the future. The smallest screwdriver just isn't thin enough to fit the size screws I think it was meant for.
Aside from those two drawbacks, the Ozark Trail multi-tool sold at Wal-Mart gets a passing grade from me. For $10, it a no-brainer if you're on a budget or perhaps getting the young outdoors enthusiast in your life his or her first multi-tool.
Total Comments 2
Comments
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Thanks, good to know as I am looking for a multi-tool.Posted 06-25-2009 at 08:17 PM by failghe
- A multi tool is a versatile piece of equipment that has many valuable uses in the field or in a survival scenario. If you were boiling a can of water, you could use the pliers to grab hold of it without burning your hand. The pliers on a multi tool will be used more than you think in the field or on a camping trip. You can take the hook out of a fish. In a survial scenario, the wire cutters can snip the snare wire for you. The screwdriver can be used to repair other gear or equiment. And of course the knives have multiple uses as well.Posted 08-22-2009 at 09:36 PM by renoos08
