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This Smart New Multi-Tool Has a Crazy High Function-to-Size Ratio

Thanks to ports that can accept a variety of heads, the tiny Ti-One arguably has dozens of micro uses.

ti-one-multi-tool-heroClean One

By Steve Mazzucchi

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“There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies, and statistics.” While this quote, often attributed to Mark Twain (although he credited British prime minister Benjamin Disraeli), has rather murky origins, its truth is pretty inarguable.

One thing we love is the pen-shaped nature of the tool itself, which makes writing comfortably seem realistic — without requiring some clever hack.

In the product world, you’ll often encounter equal truth swapping in “specs” for “stats.” It’s particularly common on Kickstarter, especially with multi-tools, where the drive to juice the number of uses is so strong that even the hole where a keychain ring can be inserted is often counted as a “function.”

Perhaps that’s what’s so refreshing about the Ti-ONE EDC Tool, which promises 6-in-1 multi-functionality, when one could argue it actually delivers much more — and does so with style, no less.

Top tools

The key to the Ti-ONE is a precisely machined titanium/stainless steel body measuring just 3.5 inches by 0.4 inches by 0.4 inches. From here, a number of functions emerge, thanks in large part to a port that can accept multiple heads.

Magnets help hold the heads in place, an additional port on the side also accepts screwdriver heads, and part of the frame folds out to form an “L” shape and provide extra leverage for tightening screws.

ti-one-pen
Unlike what you’ll see in some alternatives, the Ti-ONE’s pen set-up actually resembles a pen.
Clean One

So while the body features a laser-engraved ruler and one end boasts a tungsten alloy mini-hammer for breaking glass, the big four interchangeable head-driven functions are an “eternal pen” (with 10,000 meters of ink), a craft knife, a utility knife and a screwdriver.

We’ve been seeing more and more eternal pens on multi-tools lately. One thing we love about this one, however, is the pen-shaped nature of the tool itself, which makes writing or drawing comfortably seem realistic — without requiring some clever hack. 

Hopeless semantics

We also appreciate the restraint of the brand behind it, Clean One (whose name is explained by its first product, a crowdfunded toothbrush). Because the reality is that while there are six basic functions, the vast variety of available heads multiplies that number significantly.

ti-one-screwdriver
If you add the screwdriver bit case to your EDC, the Ti-ONE’s footprint gets significantly bigger.
Clean One

Yes, the $59 starting pledge gets you just one pen tip, two screwdriver bits (one flat, one Phillips) and three blades. But low-cost add-ons can net you an additional 12 pen tips (in 12 colors), 10 blades and 24 screwdriver bits.

There’s also a small “screwdriver auxiliary kit” with an adapter for yet more heads, plus an extension rod and bendable extension rod for accessing hard-to-reach places.

None of these add-ons costs more than $25, and with them you could make the case that the Ti-ONE has closer to fifty functions. It’s just that many of them are very similar and require you to tote an additional case along with your compact multi-tool.

Bottom line

No matter how you choose to count functions, the Ti-ONE remains an intriguing proposition. A tiny tool that can reliably write, drive screws and cut is a welcome addition to any EDC kit.

Given his association with measuring and writing, we imagine even Twain himself would back this project. Lord knows, it’s gotta work out better than that bath he took on the Paige Compositor.

Availability and pricing

The Ti-ONE is currently raising funds on Kickstarter, with a starting pledge of $59, 40 percent off the expected MSRP of $99. Estimated delivery is December 2024.

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