# Leatherman Skeletool CX

- Source: https://stierproducts.com/products/leatherman-skeletool-cx
- Category board: https://stierproducts.com/categories/multitools
- Placement: #3 of 16 in Multitools, S tier
- Brand: Leatherman
- LP on this board: 980
- Last researched: 2026-09-23T17:30:25.503Z
- Method: https://stierproducts.com/methodology
- Dataset: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.22062813 - every board at once, one dated snapshot per release, same licence, prices and photographs left out
- Reuse: Text, rankings, tier assignments, LP values and verdicts are free to quote and reuse with attribution to stierproducts and a link to the source URL (CC BY 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Product photographs are not covered: they belong to their respective owners and are reproduced to illustrate the product being reviewed. Do not redistribute them under this licence.

## Verdict

Wirecutter's long-running champion after years of testing roughly three dozen multi-tools. Its simplicity is a durability feature, since fewer tools means fewer things to loosen, snap or wear out.

## For

- Stripped-down, simple design with fewer parts to fail
- Backed by a 25-year warranty
- Wirecutter's clear best after years of testing
- Carries only the tools most people actually use: pliers, blade and bit driver
- Light, one-hand-open package

## Against

- Trades tool count for reduced weight

## Evidence

Consolidated from 8 independent outlets

| Outlet | Said by | Stance | Link | Link status |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Knife Informer | Matt Davidson | B | https://knifeinformer.com/leatherman-skeletool-cx-review/ | fetched and confirmed |
| Johnny Z Reviews | Johnny Z Reviews | B | https://www.youtube.com/shorts/WSGJdcum1DM | fetched and confirmed |
| Nytimes | nytimes.com | B | https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/reviews/best-multitool/ | fetched and confirmed |
| Outdoor Life | Tyler Freel | C | https://www.outdoorlife.com/gear/best-multi-tools-2026/ | fetched and confirmed |
| Urban Knife Guy | Urban Knife Guy | B | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZSYuvkW_Cks | fetched and confirmed |
| Jay Lagare | Jay Lagare | B | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hVEFNrtLX6U | fetched and confirmed |
| knifeknowledge.com | Chris Turner | B | https://knifeknowledge.com/leatherman-skeletool-cx/ | fetched and confirmed |
| CleverHiker | Taylor Passofaro | B | https://www.cleverhiker.com/more-gear/best-multitools/ | fetched and confirmed |

## Nearest alternatives on this board

| Rank | Product | Tier | Page |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | Leatherman Wave+ | S | https://stierproducts.com/products/leatherman-wave |
| 2 | Victorinox Swiss Tool Spirit X | S | https://stierproducts.com/products/victorinox-swiss-tool-spirit-x |
| 4 | Leatherman Arc | A | https://stierproducts.com/products/leatherman-arc |
| 5 | Leatherman Rebar | A | https://stierproducts.com/products/leatherman-rebar |
| 6 | Victorinox SwissTool X | B | https://stierproducts.com/products/victorinox-swisstool-x |
| 7 | Nextool F12 | C | https://stierproducts.com/products/nextool-f12 |
| 8 | SOG Power Access Deluxe | C | https://stierproducts.com/products/sog-power-access-deluxe |
| 14 | SOG Tellus MT | F | https://stierproducts.com/products/sog-tellus-mt |
| 15 | Leatherman Free P2 | F | https://stierproducts.com/products/leatherman-free-p2 |
| 16 | RoverTac 12-in-1 Multitool | F | https://stierproducts.com/products/rovertac-12-in-1-multitool |

The full board is at https://stierproducts.com/categories/multitools.

## What this tier means

- S: Exceptional. Finishes top run after run; capped at 3 slots per category.

## How to read this

- Each category is researched in four independent runs, one per lens (expert consensus, value, reliability, community pulse). Every run ranks a board of candidates that deliberately includes products buyers cross-shop but should avoid. Placements score on a ranked ladder (LP), and tiers are derived from LP, so no tier is ever assigned by hand.
- LP is this product's points on its own category ladder. It is comparable within a category and not across categories.
- Link status reports what our pre-publication link check found when it fetched the cited URL. It says nothing about the quality of the review.
- A citation with no usable link is listed rather than dropped, and is excluded from the counted total above.

## Image

https://stspimgdevmfyk46r5vwkay.blob.core.windows.net/images/products/leatherman-skeletool-cx.webp

Product photographs are not covered: they belong to their respective owners and are reproduced to illustrate the product being reviewed. Do not redistribute them under this licence.