Smart Multi-Tools Are the Gift Every Guy Really Needs

Far better than a generic store-bought card. And easier to pick, too.

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This year, do something different. Skip the last-minute Hallmark card hunt. Toss those insufferable whiskey stones into the deepest body of water you can find. Get the dad or the grad something they’ll actually benefit from for years to come: a knife or a multitool. Leatherman has been forging some of the finest American-made multi-tools for decades; the following three multi-tools are among their best-selling models, and will surely be appreciated by any man-of-the-hour — dad, grad or you.

Leatherman Tread

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For Dad: It’s time for a radical change. Dad’s already owned knives and multi-tools. Not that there’s anything wrong with them; he’s just looking for the next big thing. And that’s the Tread. Not only is it the world’s first wearable multi-tool, it also contains the most tools of any Leatherman product in history: 29, to be exact, each of which is made of high-strength stainless steel, and can be swapped in and out with alternative tools. And, best of all, the Tread is built to look great on the wrist, making it not just a capable multi-tool, but an eye-catching EDC piece he’ll actually want to wear, too.

Leatherman Wave

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For a Recent Graduate: For generations, young men and women have received coming-of-age gifts: cars, watches, hunting rifles, knives, multi-tools and so on. The Wave, a modernized version of one of Leatherman’s original designs, remains an excellent gift for any first-time multi-tool owner. With 17 tools, it’s Leatherman’s best-selling multi-tool, and serves as a great introduction to the timeless utility of American-made products.

Leatherman Skeletool KB and KBx

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For You: The Skeletool comes in two different versions. And both are astonishingly light: 1.3 ounces. The regular KB has a straight blade and comes in black while the Skeletool KBx has a combo straight blade, good for opening boxes or taking on larger projects, and comes in three colors. And, naturally, the built-in bottle opener on the clip can help out, too. In your outdoor kit, the Skeletool KB will be a trusty staple; on your garage tool bench, it will be beloved for decades.

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