A keychain multi-tool is the tool you actually have with you when a package needs opening, a tag needs snipping or a screw on your glasses works loose. They also make some of the best small gifts and stocking stuffers going. This guide compares the most popular keychain tools from Leatherman and Victorinox, using the makers' own specs, so you can choose between pliers and scissors, current and retired models, and pick the right one for yourself or someone on your list.
The short answer
- Want pliers on your keys? The Leatherman Squirt PS4 is the pick: spring-action pliers, wire cutters, scissors and a knife in a 2.25-inch tool.
- Want the best small scissors? The Leatherman Micra, still in production since 1996, or the Victorinox Classic SD if you want something lighter.
- Want to clip it on? The Leatherman Style CS and Style PS have a built-in carabiner. The Style PS has no knife blade.
- Want the most tools in the smallest space? The Victorinox MiniChamp packs 18 functions into a 58 mm knife.
Keychain multi-tools compared
Specs below come from Leatherman's product and retired-products pages and Victorinox's official product pages. Leatherman rounds some figures differently from page to page, so treat lengths and weights as close guides rather than exact measurements.
| Model | Main tool | Closed length | Tools | Weight | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Leatherman Squirt PS4 | Pliers | 2.25 in | 9 | 2 oz | Retired |
| Leatherman Squirt P4 | Pliers | 2.3 in | 9 | 2 oz | Retired |
| Leatherman Squirt S4 | Scissors | 2.3 in | 10 | 2 oz | Retired |
| Leatherman Micra | Scissors | 2.5 in | 10 | 1.8 oz | Current |
| Leatherman Style CS | Scissors | 2.9 in | 6 | 1.4 oz | Retired 2020 |
| Leatherman Style PS | Pliers (no blade) | 2.9 in | 8 | 1.6 oz | Retired 2023 |
| Victorinox Classic SD | Scissors | 2.3 in (58 mm) | 7 | 0.8 oz | Current |
| Victorinox MiniChamp | Scissors | 2.3 in (58 mm) | 18 | 1.6 oz | Current |
Pliers or scissors? Decide this first
Every tool here falls into one of two camps. Pliers-based tools (the Squirt PS4, Squirt P4 and Style PS) fold open like a full-size Leatherman, so you can grip a hot fuse, pull a fish hook, bend a wire or straighten a zipper pull. Scissors-based tools (the Micra, Squirt S4, Style CS and the Swiss Army Knives) put spring-action scissors front and center, which most people end up using far more often for tags, tape, thread, fishing line and nails. If you are not sure which camp you are in, ask yourself when you last needed pliers away from a toolbox. If the answer is "rarely", go with scissors.
Leatherman Squirt PS4: the tiny pliers tool
The Squirt PS4 is just 2.25 inches long and weighs about 2 ounces, yet it opens into spring-action needlenose and regular pliers with wire cutters. Around the outside you get a 420HC knife, spring-action scissors, a flat/Phillips screwdriver, a medium screwdriver with bottle opener and a wood/metal file, for 9 tools in all. The handles are anodized aluminum, which is why so many turn up in bright blue, red and black.
Leatherman now lists the Squirt PS4 on its retired products page, so a pre-owned tool is the main way to get one today. When buying, check that the pliers spring open on their own and that the jaws meet at the tip.
The older Squirts: P4, S4 and ES4
Before the Squirt PS4, Leatherman offered the Squirt in single-purpose versions, all now retired and all close to 2.3 inches long and 2 ounces:
- Squirt P4: pliers with wire cutters, a knife, an awl, a wood/metal file and three screwdrivers. Leatherman called it "the first miniature pliers multi-tool tough enough to be a Leatherman." It has no scissors.
- Squirt S4: no pliers. Instead it is built around spring-action scissors, with a knife, tweezers, ruler, nail file, nail cleaner, bottle opener and three screwdrivers. Think of it as a Squirt-shaped cousin of the Micra.
- Squirt ES4: an electrician's version with wire strippers for 20 to 12 gauge wire, plus needlenose pliers and scissors.
Leatherman Micra: the best-selling scissors tool
Leatherman introduced the Micra in 1996, calls it its most popular mini multi-tool, and says it was the first Leatherman with spring-action scissors as its main feature. The scissors are the reason to buy one: they are strong and springy, and they cut fishing line and plastic packaging cleanly. Around them sit a 420HC knife, tweezers, a nail file, nail cleaner, a bottle opener, a ruler and three screwdrivers, for 10 tools at 1.8 ounces.
The Micra is still in Leatherman's current line, so it is easy to match a color, and pre-owned examples are a low-cost way to put one on every keyring in the family.
Leatherman Style CS and Style PS: clip-on tools
The Style tools are longer than a Squirt, at 2.9 inches, with a carabiner/bottle opener built into the end so you can clip them to a belt loop, bag or zipper. The Style CS is the scissors version: spring-action scissors, a 420HC knife, tweezers, nail file and flat/Phillips screwdriver, for 6 tools at just 1.4 ounces. Leatherman retired it in 2020.
The Style PS swaps the knife for spring-action needlenose pliers with wire cutters, and keeps the scissors, tweezers, nail file, screwdriver and carabiner/bottle opener, for 8 tools at 1.6 ounces. Leatherman described it as travel-friendly, since it has no knife blade, and retired it in 2023. You may also come across the original Style, a smaller 2.3-inch, 0.8-ounce tool with a knife and scissors but no carabiner, retired in 2020.
Victorinox Classic SD and MiniChamp: the Swiss Army option
If you do not need pliers, a 58 mm Swiss Army Knife is the lightest way to carry scissors. The Classic SD weighs 0.8 ounces and has 7 functions: a small blade, scissors, a nail file with a 2.5 mm screwdriver, tweezers, a toothpick and a key ring. Its many limited-edition scale designs make it an easy gift to personalize to someone's taste.
The MiniChamp is the same 58 mm length but thicker (0.6 in vs 0.4 in), and Victorinox currently lists 18 functions, including a pressurized ballpoint pen, a magnetic Phillips screwdriver, a ruler, a cuticle pusher and an orange peeler. Older versions were counted differently, so check the photos for the exact tools. In between, the Signature adds a pressurized ballpoint pen to the Classic layout (8 functions), and the Midnite Manager adds a pen, an LED light and a bottle opener with magnetic Phillips screwdriver (10 functions). The whole size class is in our 58mm collection.
Flying with a keychain tool
TSA's rule is simple: multi-tools with knives of any length are not allowed in carry-on bags and must go in checked luggage, while multi-tools with scissors shorter than 4 inches may go in a carry-on. That makes the bladeless Style PS the only tool in this guide that fits the carry-on rule, and even then the final decision rests with the TSA officer. Everything else on this list, including the Swiss Army Knives, should go in a checked bag.
Gift ideas by person
- For someone who fixes things: Squirt PS4 or Squirt P4, for real pliers on a keyring.
- For anglers, crafters and parents: Micra, for the scissors and tweezers.
- For hikers and backpack carriers: Style CS, clipped to a pack strap.
- For a first Swiss Army Knife or a stocking stuffer: Classic SD in a fun design.
- For the office: Signature or Midnite Manager, for the built-in pen.
Buying pre-owned
Most of these tools are retired, so pre-owned is often the only option, and they hold up well. Check that the springs on the pliers and scissors still push open, the blade sits centered when closed and the handle anodizing is intact. Many were given away as company or event gifts, so a logo on the handle is common and does not affect function. Leatherman lists a 25-year warranty and Victorinox a lifetime warranty on their tools; see each maker for the exact terms.
Every tool we sell is photographed individually, so you see the exact item you will receive. US shipping is free, orders typically ship within one business day, and returns are free for 30 days.
Browse all Leatherman multi-tools and Victorinox & Swiss Army knives, or explore every brand we carry on our Shop by Brand page.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best Leatherman keychain tool?
For pliers, the Squirt PS4. For scissors, the Micra, which is also the only current model in this guide. For clip-on carry, the Style CS.
Is the Leatherman Squirt PS4 discontinued?
Yes. Leatherman lists the Squirt PS4 on its retired products page, along with the Squirt P4, Squirt S4 and Squirt ES4.
Squirt PS4 or Micra?
Choose the Squirt PS4 if you want pliers and wire cutters. Choose the Micra if you mostly cut things, since scissors are its main tool and it is slightly lighter (1.8 oz vs about 2 oz).
Can I take a keychain multi-tool on a plane?
Not if it has a knife blade. TSA allows multi-tools with scissors under 4 inches in carry-on bags, which is why the bladeless Style PS is the travel pick. Pack the others in checked luggage.
Are keychain tools strong enough to be useful?
For small jobs, yes. They are made for packages, threads, small screws and light gripping, not for prying or heavy wire. For bigger work, see our Wave+ vs Charge+ vs Surge guide.