Victorinox vs Gerber vs Leatherman
Which multi-tool actually earns its keep — and which one is a waste of pocket space.
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Last checked and updated: September 2026
Every one of these gets carried by thousands of campers, so "which is best" isn't really the right question — it's which one suits how you use it. Below is our honest breakdown of all four, plus the full range of camping tools over on our Camping Tools guide if you want to see everything else we've tested.
Best Overall: Victorinox Hiker (13-function, 4.8★) · Best Value Pliers: Gerber Multi-Tool · Best If You'll Use It Daily: Leatherman · Best Budget/Backup: Amazon Basics
1. Victorinox Hiker — Best Overall
4.8★ · 10,700 ReviewsNo pliers, so it's not the right pick if you're doing repairs — but for the actual day-to-day of camping (cutting cord, food prep, opening things, the odd bit of whittling by the fire) this is the one that gets used the most and complained about the least. 130 years of refinement shows in how cleanly every tool deploys.
2. Gerber Multi-Tool — Best Value Pliers
4.4★ · 15,000+ ReviewsThis is where the Victorinox runs out of road — awning fittings, gas connections, anything that needs gripping and twisting. The Gerber does all of that at a genuinely accessible price. It's not built to Leatherman tolerances, but for most people it never needs to be.
3. Leatherman — Best If You'll Use It Daily
4.5★ · 2,600 ReviewsThe honest answer to "is it worth the extra money" is: only if you'll actually feel the difference. Tighter tolerances, stronger steel, smoother action on every tool — genuinely justified if this lives in your pocket or your van every single trip. If it's an occasional-use item, you're paying for quality you won't notice.
4. Amazon Basics — Best Budget / Backup
Budget OptionIt won't hold up to daily use — softer steel, looser tolerances than the others here — but not everyone needs it to. As a first multi-tool, or a spare kept in the van glovebox for the one time a year you actually need one, it does the job without the spend.
Want to see the rest of what we carry — headtorches, camp knives, and other everyday tools? Head over to the full Camping Tools guide.
Multi-Tool FAQs
Common QuestionsDo I actually need pliers on a multi-tool, or is a pocket knife enough?
Depends what you're doing at camp. If you're mostly cutting cord, prepping food, or whittling, a pocket knife like the Victorinox covers it and is more comfortable to use one-handed. If you're doing awning repairs, gas fitting, or anything involving gripping and twisting, the pliers on a Gerber or Leatherman genuinely earn their keep in a way a knife alone can't.
Is the Leatherman actually worth the extra money over a Gerber?
If you'll use it a handful of times a year, no — a Gerber does the job. If you're going to reach for it every trip, or you're kitting out a permanent campervan build, the tighter tolerances and stronger steel on a Leatherman make a real difference over years of use, not just on day one.
Is a budget multi-tool worth buying at all?
For occasional use or as a backup kept in the van, yes — an Amazon Basics multi-tool is a perfectly functional tool for light jobs. Just don't expect it to hold up to the daily, heavy use a Leatherman or Gerber is built for.
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