I Found A 36-in-1 Multitool That Absolutely Belongs In Your Kitchen Drawer - Here's Why

14 hours ago

Kelvin Tools 36-in-1 Multitool

ZDNET's cardinal takeaways

A strange-looking multitool that looks alternatively Fisher-Price but is really very good.
It has everything from screwdriver bits to a hammer and portion measure!
Looks bulky, but it is really alternatively ergonomic successful use!

I have... wait, fto maine conscionable person a look astir me... countless multitools. They're thing I've been buying and utilizing since I sewage my first clone Swiss Army Knife astatine astir 7 aliases 8 years old. Then, influenced by 7 seasons of MacGyver successful my teens, I graduated to little crappy pouch knives, multitools, and different EDC gear.

Also: The TSA-approved multitool myth: I tested it connected a level truthful you don't person to

So my emotion of multitools goes a agelong way. But erstwhile I was fixed nan opportunity to reappraisal a caller multitool, I was a small hesitant because, well, to maine it didn't look for illustration a multitool.

It looks a bit... Fisher-Price

On nan look of it, nan Kelvin 36 municipality multitool looks a bit... really do I put this... strange. A spot Fisher-Price (yes, they made one). But aft being asked a fewer times to return a look astatine it, I caved, and I'm gladsome I did.

From screwdrivers to a convenient 6ft measuring tape, this multi-tool has everything needed for regular family tasks

I've already said this once, but I'm going to opportunity it again. The Kelvin 36 looks a spot odd. It's alternatively bulky, there's a batch of plastic, and what metallic location is is shiny, and there's what looks for illustration -- and really turns retired to beryllium -- a hammer connected 1 end.

It's besides big. It measures a hefty 5.5 by 2.2 by 1.5 inches and weighs a stout 12 oz. Too large to comfortably transportation successful a pocket. In fact, it looks excessively large to clasp (and I person hands that return L to XL gloves), but erstwhile I started utilizing it, it oddly felt rather ergonomic. I moreover asked a fewer different group to effort it, pinch hands ranging from S to XXL, and each agreed that nan creation worked.

Also: Stop buying inexpensive multitools - here's nan 1 I urge instead

All successful all, it's alternatively a unusual spot of kit. It moreover comes supplied successful a tin alternatively than a box, and there's nary loop pouch. And earlier I started testing this, I could perceive my encephalon saying, "You're going to dislike this," and, "This is dumb."

I'm not nan target audience

But nan much I utilized nan Kelvin 36, nan much I realized that I'm not nan target assemblage for this tool. The target assemblage is group who didn't turn up connected MacGyver and don't recognize that they request a multitool successful their lives.

Also: I recovered a high-quality pouch multitool for little than $30 that isn't a joke

As nan sanction suggests, 36 devices dress up nan Kelvin 36.

There's nan accustomed worldly you expect to spot connected a multitool, specified arsenic a vessel opener, a corkscrew, and an adapter that takes a assortment of screwdriver bits. The spot adapter is outpouring loaded and locks into nan 90- and 180-degree positions, and is really very good.

The screwdriver spot adapter is alternatively cool and highly functional.

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET

Then there's much exotic worldly for illustration a magnet, LED torch, hammer (yes, I cognize that immoderate instrumentality tin beryllium a hammer if you effort difficult enough, but this has an existent hammer built into 1 end), a tone level, and moreover a 6-foot portion measure.

A bully portion measurement is nan unsung leader of galore a DIY job.

Also: My caller favourite keychain holder tin transportation up to 14 keys (and is trackable by phone)

That's a bizarre operation of items, but past it deed maine -- this isn't a multitool that you transportation astir pinch you, it's a multitool that goes into a room drawer and is pulled retired erstwhile you want to combine immoderate flat-pack furnishings aliases put up a picture.

This is little a multitool and much a very compact toolbox for handling nan astir basal of DIY tasks. And for nan benignant of basal things group want to do astir nan home, it's great. The hammer is OK for image hooks but isn't going to beryllium smashing down immoderate walls, and nan portion measurement is good for measuring model frames aliases spots for furniture, but it's not up to location building.

It's still useful

You get my drift? It's a basal group of tools. As pinch immoderate multitool, location are loads of compromises, but it's still a useful spot of kit.

The built-in spot holder does a bully occupation of keeping everything tidy!

For those who want an moreover much compact municipality multitool, there's a Kelvin 23 and Kelvin 17, pinch 23 and 17 tools, respectively.

ZDNET's buying proposal

At $80, nan Kelvin 36 isn't cheap, but neither is putting together a mini toolbox. By nan clip you've sewage a portion measure, a hammer, immoderate screwdrivers, and a container to put them in, you're a bully chunk of nan measurement toward that $80 mark.

Also: 10 mini devices I transportation pinch maine everyplace - really they work

And a bunch of abstracted devices isn't going to beryllium anyplace adjacent arsenic compact arsenic this either, truthful if you're pushed for abstraction -- for illustration a dorm room, a mini apartment, aliases moreover a vessel aliases RV -- this is nan perfect choice.