I collect many types of multi-tools, but prefer to keep it to pliers based models and SAKs. I definitely stay away from the whole bicycle multi-tool industry if I can. Those models don't hold much interest for me as a collector. However, I came across a reference of a bicycle type multi-tool that was more of a survival tool which peaked my interest greatly. It also helped that the name was an easy one to remember, but I have had great difficulty in procuring an example until recently. So either the tool is now discontinued, not very popular, or who knows?
Well the item came in the mail today, and I almost fell over laughing so hard...yes
that didn't last long as my ribs informed me that there will be no snorting large quantities of air through the nose and subsequent painful bouts of laughter. I was bowled over due to its size, or lack thereof. Got to love online photos. I was led to believe this was a good sized tool, something along the size of a Schrade Navitool Alas, it is more akin to my nail clippers in size. On the up side, portability is huge with this tool.
The tool in question is called a Topeak McGuyver XT (Guess they couldnt spell it the same as the TV show character). It follows the common lines of many bicycle multi-tools. That of two halves that come apart, each containing an assortment of tools.
The tool, about the size of 3 Leatherman Micras stacked, is an interesting concept in survival tools. There is enough variety to make it useful, but for Topeaks usual customer, might prove to be a cold fish as you cant really use it much for repairing bicycles.
The back of the box has some useful instructions. I of course took the tool out right away and commenced the fondling sequence. I quickly figured out how to take the halves apart. There is a latch located on one end of the tool that allows this. What I didnt figure out right away was the locking mechanism. Only one half locks, the other does not. With both halves locked together, you have to pull open the non locking tools on the other side to get to the locking mechanism lever. I had locked a blade open, but couldnt figure out right away how to unlock it without unlocking the two halves first. So maybe there is something to reading the instructions.
The nylon sheath is very well made and fits the tool perfectly.
Looking at the inside surface of each half as seen in the above photo, you can clearly see the locking lever for the locking tool half, and the plastic lever that allows you access to the locking lever on the other half, once both halves are locked together.
The non locking half is on the right, and contains only 3 tools; the locking half on the left has 7 tools.
The tool selection for such a small tool is impressive. On the non locking tool section, you have a good sized flathead screwdriver, a Phillips driver, and a bottle opener/fork combo too.
On the locking tool section, you have a combo can opener/small flathead screwdriver, scissors, an awl with a sewing eye, fish scaler and hook disgorger, saw, a modified half serrated sheepsfoot blade, and tweezers very much like those found on the Leatherman Micra.
I will admit, this tool has me a bit puzzled. The size is on the small side, meaning the tools you get are a tad small. The formfactor is a bit odd for a survival type tool. This is no bicycle repair kit. The Topeak McGuyver XT gets my nod of odd tool. That means I like it quite a bit for its strangeness.
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