This Fittingly Named Mini Multi-Tool Is a Monument to Minimalism

Tiny and meticulously machined, the SlashPen doesn’t do it all. But that which it does, it does beautifully.

By Steve Mazzucchi

Published 5 hours ago

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Even in the face of abundance, the concept of minimalism retains its timeless appeal.

That’s true even in the case of EDC, an industry awash in a sea of maxed-out multi-tools.

slashpen carabiner — Attach it to a carabiner or keychain, and the SlashPen will be ready whenever you need it.

There’s just something eternally compelling about a lean loadout that carries easily and gets the job done.

That’s the real selling point of the streamlined SlashPen, a slim reaper that, let’s be honest, can still tackle probably 90 percent of most people’s everyday tasks.

Material knurl

Two years ago, Kickstarter regulars Marlboro & Kane successfully launched what the brand called “the world’s smallest blade,” the Slash.

About a year later, the follow-up came in the form of “the world’s smallest pen,” the MiniPen.

spinning slashpen — The SlashPen stays securely in one piece until you twist one end or the other to unsheathe the tool within.

So perhaps it was only a matter of time until these two products teamed up in a single implement of similar size, but doubly effective.

Measuring just over 2.7 inches, the SlashPen boasts premium materials (your choice of brass or titanium), a knurled mid grip and double key loops for easy attachment.

Meanwhile, internal silicone sloped washers keep two of its four tools safely sheathed until a twist deploys them.

Focused function

Speaking of those tools, let’s take a quick look at them, one by one.

1. Blade

The SlashPen improves upon the Slash’s design with a 15° knife edge that still boasts the power of tungsten but significantly improves the cutting angle.

slashpen box cutting — The truly tiny tungsten blade should be a tape-slicing titan.

You’re probably not chopping up a thick steak with it, but it should make short work of box tape, clothing tags, twine and the like.

2. Pen

On the flip side of the blade, you’ll find a pen point that can write forever thanks to its refillable nature.

slashpen pen reveal — The SlashPen is just wide and long enough to make writing with it realistic.

At nearly 0.4 inches, the SlashPen’s body is just thick enough that while I would not attempt a novella, the scripting of quick notes should be relatively painless.

3. Driver

This might be my favorite function. The cap of the pen is topped with a Phillips cross driver.

slashpen driver — Thanks to this sneaky feature, it’s the kind of tool that has you hoping something out there needs screwing.

While leverage is a bit limited, it should be capable of handling most small-scale screw jobs with ease.

4. Breaker

The driver conveniently doubles as the sort of protrusion that makes a great focal point for dynamic usage — aka stabbing at glass to break it open in an emergency.

slashpen glass break — Nothing to see here, just an obligatory glass-breaking gif.

The overall small size of the SlashPen limits its effectiveness in this realm, but the classic glass-breaking GIF on the Kickstarter page indicates at least a fighting chance.

Availability and pricing

The SlashPen is already over 1,400% funded on Kickstarter with more than three weeks to go. A single brass unit goes for $34 while the titanium version costs $45. The estimated delivery is December.

SlashPen

$34 at Kickstarter

About the Author:

Now managing editor, Steve has served in a variety of roles with GP since 2019. Having previously written and edited for such publications as Men’s Health, Men’s Journal, Esquire and ESPN, he enjoys covering a range of topics — but mostly those pertaining to cycling, snow sports, pocket knives and motos — and dreams of a utopian world in which everyone’s bike seat is at the proper height.