Customer Reviews

SE 11 Function Credit Card Size Survival Pocket Tool

5 star:		(52)
4 star:		(21)
3 star:		(11)
2 star:		(6)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

Fair warning: I wrote this review for an out of production item that is essentially this same piece with one more wrench slot and a slightly different Protractor. Either way, my previous review stands for this as well:

I hope nobody is considering this tool for anything other than having an emergency backup to what should already be every day carry tools. It's decent quality, but I certainly wouldn't put it at "top notch" status. And the functions are mostly hard to pull off with any degree of force. The knife is on a short side which makes it difficult to use. The "screwdriver" which is little more than one corner ground to a flat-head shape is only useful in wide-open areas with larger screws, and with the knife on the same edge, one has to be very careful indeed.

The only tools that I found to be decently easy to use are the saw and bottle opener. The saw since it was on the long side and the opposite side (ruler) allows for a decent grip. The Bottle opener is equally easy to operate.

The can opener forces you to use the saw as a finger grip and the wrench slots pretty much require that any bolts are not very tight, and that's if you can get the tool on it in the first place.

This really didn't fit well in my money clip wallet, but it might in a full sized wallet. So, as an emergency backup, it might get you out of a jam and could actually come in handy once in a while. Forget using it as a keychain tool... it's way too dangerous to leave out in the open (and the plastic cover that came with mine was laughably cheap). It won't make it through the TSA unless someone's asleep at the wheel, so traveling with it isn't really an option either.

I'd give it a 2.5 star, but for the money, it's hard to beat, so I'm rounding up. You could always toss one in the glove compartment, toolbox, bookbag, etc. but I strongly recommend a Small Leatherman Micra or Squirt if compact is what you seek. Those are FAR more functional (AND SAFER!!!) in comparison. Get it if your curiosity or gearlust must be sated.

Interesting multi-purpose gadget but it's not as useful as the "11 functions" would have you believe. First, item #11 is the keychain hole but if you attach the device to your keys and throw them in your pocket, you're going to cut your leg since the other side is a cutting blade. At the very least, you're going to have to repair the hole in your pocket. Next, Item #9 is a "Direction Anxillary Wrench". I've googled this and came up empty, with the exception of hits on this device itself. If google doesn't know how to use it, I certainly can't be expected to. So, we're down to 9 useful gadgets from the 11. Next, the "butterfly screw wrench".... I guess it would work but I personally don't see butterfly screws all that often and more importantly, aren't butterfly screws specifically designed to NOT need a tool?

Without actually testing on everything, the other tools seem generally more useable. Can and bottle openers seem ok and the knife seems sharp enough to cut something (hence, don't just attach to your keys and throw in your pocket! OUCH!). Saw seems like it'd cut in a pinch & it's hard to mess up a ruler even though it is in centimeters, not inches like you might expect. Seems like it'd be a bit akward using the 2 wrenches (the 2 multi-sized wrenches count as 2 of your eleven btw whereas it could be argued to be 1 function) but without actual testing I can't be certain.

Anyway, in summary it's an interesting gadget made from a single piece of metal. However, the useful functionality isn't as high as I'd hoped. More impressive in looks than functionality.

Tough, chromelike shiny, ll-tools-in-one comes in a sleeve with a numbered card describing the tools. Fits easily into your wallet and I used it soon after I got it to loosen a screw, and to open a stubborn plastic candy bag. It's light, bright, and handy! ...and everybody wants to look at it and find the 11 tools.

This item should be restricted to the status of a cheap stocking stuffer or joke-type office gift to laugh about, stick in a drawer, and forget. The only function that's even remotely useful is the bottle opener, but even that is literally painful to use unless you're very careful. The others, based on their position on the tool or the required hand placement during use, range from nonsensical to downright dangerous. The knife is dull, and given the cheap stainless this is made of, wouldn't STAY sharp even if you put a good edge on it. The saw is surprisingly sharp, but that basically means it will make a line of punctures in your hand if you try to grip it to use any other tools. Given the placement of the saw, bottle opener, and "knife", it's almost ironic that the word "Survival" is in the product title. It's too wide and too thick to fit well in my wallet, and I sure wouldn't want to carry this thing loose in my pocket.
Even the ruler is poor... How does one mess up a ruler, you may ask? It doesn't start at a corner - there are just a few lines in the middle of one edge of the tool, so if you're trying to measure the distance out from a solid vertical surface, for instance, it's useless.
If you want a USEFUL pocket multi-tool, the Leatherman 64010103K Micra Multitool is as good as they come, in my opinion. If you like pliers more than scissors, one of Leatherman's Squirt P_ models would be a good choice. Granted, any of these are ~5X the price of this card, but you do indeed get what you pay for. If you really want something cheap, at least get one of Swiss Tech's little multi-tools - the Swiss Tech MMCSSS Micro-Max 19-in-1 KeyChain MultiTool is still made of cheap metal, but it's airline-friendly, and pretty thorough as far as screwdrivers go.

I bought this tool roughly a year ago and the only real emergency it has served to help with was opening the occasional bottle when the bottle opener went missing. That is until today. I was dropping my wife off at the bus station only to find that the bus was broken down. It was only a belt to the AC for the bus, but it being loose and rattling around could have caused far more serious problems according to the driver.

The bus driver asked if we had a knife or anything sharp and this was what I had. I gave it to him and he tried to cut through with the saw blade, but gave up pretty quickly. I asked him if he minded if I gave it a try and he said sure. I made a pinch point in the belt where the teeth had stripped off and sliced through it rather quickly with the knife edge. With the belt cut free the driver was free to carry his passengers into the city in a timely manner and I got a fun little story to tell. A situation like this may never come up again, but I was glade I had this with me when it did.

To the tool itself I can tell you that the saw blade is good for very light cutting duty, the knife blade will cut through a drive belt for a city bus' AC compressor if you fold the belt into a very tight loop to put stress on it, the screw driver is handy for opening battery covers to toys, and the bottle opener does exactly what it was designed for. The biggest drawback to this tool is the over all design could have been though out a little better. The placement of the saw blade can make using the tool very uncomfortable on the hand as it tends to bite into you when using the other functions of the tool. I think it would have been better served just giving the knife blade serrations and leaving the saw blade off entirely. Aside from that I have to say, for the price, it is definitely worth having in your wallet.

I have tried many wallet multi-tools out there, and this one isnt anything to write home about. The saw blade is where your grip should be, so you cant grip it tight, its a lot smaller than you think and that makes it very hard to handle. I do like the one piece design concept but this wasnt designed well for any sort of actual use. Its not sharp enough to do anything, and the case it comes with ripped in the first 2 days of use. If you want a wallet multi-tool you'll use get a swisscard lite.

Mostly use it as a bottle opener that I can carry in my wallet, but it is useful so I am getting one for a friend.

ZERO STARS if I had the option.

I have bought ten of these all at once hoping it would be fun clever gift but after testing it I found that it was better off in the garbage.

On back of the package it lists the "11" tools.

1. Can Opener (Too Bad the leverage point has a Saw)
2. Knife Edge (Sharp but small)
3. Screw Driver (Too Bad the leverage point has Saw/Knife)
4. Ruler (What Scale? Looks to be CM)
5. Cap/Bottle Opener (Works Best for a Righty)
6. 4 Position Wrench (Metric Only?, you are more likely to cut your hand open)
7. Butterfly Screw Wrench (Would Not fit most Butterfly/Wind Nuts, you are more likely to cut your hand open)
8. Saw Blade (Located mostly in the way.)
9. Direction Anxillary Wrench (What the heck? Could Not find out what it is. Nodirections for it.)
10. 2 Position Wrench (Metric Only?, you are more likely to cut your hand open)
11. Key Chain/Lanyard Hole (Thats a Tool? Too Small to be used by most sturdy materials or any normal key chain.)

It also includes a card with the same info with a carry sleeve.
Not very practical but it is very cheap when I bought them for $2 each.
Most of the tools would not help in an emergency situation & more likely to cause injury.

It is labeled Stainless China.

You are better off getting a:
Leatherman Micra
or
Leatherman Squirt
or
any other name brand small multi tool

I bought six on these things intending to use them as stocking stuffers this Christmas (yes Christmas is looming just over the horizon)...Of course I couldn't pass up the chance to fiddle with one. The "thing" is nothing if not sturdy. I bought one for myself also and keep it in my car just hoping for the right emergency so I can have a chance to use it..i recommend it to my friends who love gadgets as much as I do...

This is one of those tools that you get and keep around for that rare situation when you really need it. If you're big into tools then you may really hope to find a use for this quickly. I look at it as one of those tools that you will rarely need but when you do it is usually at least a stressful situation and you'll be very happy to have it around! Great stocking stuffer. I keep the one I received in my glove box.