SOG POWERLOCK
Price: $70
The SOG Powerlock’s calling card is that it can be opened with one hand and is very comfortable to hold. The 18 tools include five for fastening: three flat-head screwdriver sizes, one Phillips, and a quarter-inch square drive to accept sockets. True needle-nose pliers are machined down to a nice point, and the jaws meet very tightly and accurately, which made it easy to grip small things. The wire cutter and stripper also worked very well, earning a 4.75 for the pliers. Most of the other tools performed up to snuff. The partially serrated knife blade was very sharp and cut easily. And the saw blade was a nice surprise— the aggressive teeth made quick work of maple tree branches. We liked the simple locking system, yet fishing the tools out from under the frame cover occasionally proved awkward.