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The uses for a Swiss Army Knife or multi-tool in the wilderness are many; we would not go bush without one. However, it is easy to go overboard.
There seem to be two schools of thought; the traditional Swiss Army Knife, and the Leatherman-style multitool which folds out to become a pair of pliers, retaining the tools inside the handle. We use a fairly basic-model Swiss Army Knife which has the following tools: large blade, small blade, tin opener, flathead screwdriver/bottle opener, Phillips head screwdriver, leather punch, small pliers. Anything more than this would probably be overkill; you're carrying a small chunk of stainless steel around with you, so you want to use it.
The model we have weighs about 60 grams but unfortunately seems to be not currently available in Australia. In the wild it is hung from a belt loop with a piece of curly rubber cord and an eyelet, kept safely in the pocket but ready for use. Both Wenger and Victorinox brands are reputable.
For repair of packs, snowshoes, stoves and other 'heavy' equipment, we can probably see scope to carry a small Leatherman-style multitool. The Leatherman Wave, Victorinox Swiss Tool and similar full-size multitools are probably too heavy for any expedition where weight is an issue; some weigh 200 grams. However, the Leatherman Juice KF4 seems to strike a balance between weight and functionality.
More information
www.leatherman.com
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