Knives and Multitools

Building on the design language it debuted with the new Elko knife, The James Brand packs multiple functions inside the all-new Helton EDC tool. The Helton, then, is a sleek, lightweight piece of EDC that's as easy to carry as it is to use.

When we think of game-changing weapons, it brings to mind hydrogen bombs, ICBMs, nuclear submarines, hypersonic missiles, and lasers. But one of the most significant weapons was a knife. New Atlas looks at the legendary Fairbairn-Sykes fighting knife.

A new titanium multitool from Rixel combines several functions in a compact lightweight body and uses a revolver-inspired design to store screwdriver bits. It’s currently seeking backing on Kickstarter.

A new pocket knife we've spotted promises to give you the best of both worlds: a strong blade that's large enough for demanding cutting tasks, and a compact size. The Z8 features a titanium build and an M390 steel blade in a keychain-ready design.

This new piece of EDC gear we've spotted looks like a handy little screwdriver with bit storage. However, it serves two additional functions beyond fastening that make it practical for more than just DIY projects and repairs.

The white cross with red surround has long been a sacred knife badge, indicating the timeless dependability of the Swiss Army knife. The latest multitool out there isn't a Swiss Army knife, but it wears an equally proud badge of origin and heritage.

We wouldn't call the all-new Invento Geo multitool "revolutionary" in the sense of changing the market forever, but it does blend physical revolution into the multitool formula. The result is what could prove a quicker of switching between tools.

We're so used to seeing folding knives, we're never expecting an entirely different tool in a folding package. But the all-new Norse Foldable from Willumsen is just that, concealing a different style of fold-out blade inside its knife-like handle.

I love a multitool as much as the next person, but some of them really aim to do too much for my liking – especially when I'm within city limits. The Dual packs three tools that'll actually come in handy on the daily, and it looks elegant too.

Rather than encompass the "toolbox in your pocket" nature of the typical multitool, the all-new Leatherman Adapter is designed to serve as a secondary companion, the perfect partner-in-crime for a more fully loaded pocket EDC like the Arc.

We've seen a couple of nifty screwdrivers that have room to hold their own driver bits. Thanks to clever design, this new one packs a whopping 24 bits in a lightweight body that's way more compact than you'd expect.

Most repair tools for the DIYer are functional, but can be cumbersome to carry around. The T.Fix, however – a triangular pocket-sized tool on Kickstarter – is a balance of function, versatility and modern elegant design.

The humble pen offers a very handy, easy-to-carry form factor for writing, so why not use it for other tasks, too? That's the thinking behind the VeroLite, a modular titanium multitool that's currently on Kickstarter.

We're not sure Opinel's new Néo7 Alpine knife qualifies as a full "multitool," but it does carry a few functions. The ultralight pocket knife marries Opinel's timeless simplicity with new features that make it quicker and more useful.

ThreePeters has somehow managed to shrink a toolbox of EDC equipment into a card that you can slip into your pocket for on-the-go fixes, camping, and DIY work. With its titanium build and thoughtful design, it should hold up for years to come.