This Innovative Camp Multi-Tool Is the Antithesis of Small, Light and Cheap (in a Good Way)

Look, I love a compact multi-tool as much as any other EDC enthusiast.

I’ve written about dozens of them for Gear Patrol and almost always have one on me, with the Leatherman Two-Toned Bond and Gerber Armbar Trade seeing a lot of action lately.

Adventure Mate

However, there are times when the tools you need are of a bigger and beefier variety: think axes, saws and shovels.

While these implements typically appear individually, a new Kickstarter project is blowing up by combining them into an integrated solution that looks just about perfect for your next camping trip.

Executing the concept of a multi-tool on a much larger scale, it’s called the Adventure Mate V3, and it happens to look pretty badass too.

Multi-headed monster

Unlike your typical pocket multi-tool, the Adventure Mate does things a bit differently, employing a couple of interchangeable heads to deliver its various functions.

However, it succeeds by retaining a key tenet of its smaller brethren, which is making the most of every element. 

Adventure Mate

Toward that end, it ultimately requires just two 1.8-pound headpieces: one is super versatile, featuring an axe blade, hammer and multi-use hook, with a saw body that slides into the 1.2-pound 16-inch fiber composite handle. 

The full-size axe can handle serious jobs like chopping firewood, the hammer can drive stakes and help with various repairs and the 1.5-inch steel hook can be used for pulling stakes, lifting hot pots off a fire and even popping beers.

Meanwhile, you can simply insert it into the handle the opposite way to access the 8-inch high-carbon steel blade for chewing through logs and branches.

Adventure Mate

The other headpiece is a heavy-duty shovel designed for such tasks as digging holes and clearing snow.

However, it can also be rotated 90 degrees into a military-style entrenching tool, ideal for digging out stuck vehicles or biting into really tough ground surfaces.

Engineered tough

Of course, it’s easy to be skeptical of such an ambitious product on a couple of levels — durability and actual functionality. Can this thing hold up over time, and can it do all these jobs competently?

Standing up to these doubts is the fact that the Adventure Mate is made of rugged materials like tool steel and aerospace-grade aluminum.

Adventure Mate

Additionally, the interchangeable head mechanism is both well-designed and robust.

Sydney, Australia-based creator Conrad Sayer ginned up a patented CAM lever locking mechanism that locks each tool head firmly in place, eliminating any rattle that would compromise performance and longevity.

Adventure Mate

I also like the fact that he is by no means pushing this thing as some sort of ultralight solution.

The two heads, handle and waterproof holster add up in weight to 5.9 pounds — a heavy-duty kit you can keep in your car or pickup bed for years to come. 

Adventure Mate

Plus, Sayer has been at this game for a while: this particular tool is the new-and-improved edition, a further iteration of the Adventure Mate V2 that successfully launched on Kickstarter a few years ago. 

Throw in the fact that it’s already nearly 800 percent funded with 25 days to go, and this mega multi-tool is worthy of serious consideration. Just don’t try stuffing it into your pocket.

Availability and pricing

The Adventure Mate V3 can be procured via Kickstarter for $199 plus shipping. Estimated delivery is November 2025.

Adventure Mate

Adventure Mate V3

• $199 at Kickstarter

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