Cool tool a bone idol

Now here’s a multi-tool that really stands out from the crowd. Most of the pocket companions on the market look the same, but the Leatherman Skeletool is a real breath of fresh air.

The name is down to the unusual styling, and it certainly catches the eyes with its asymmetrical handles – convex and concave respectively.

What’s more, those handles aren’t just for show. They enable the tool to close up into an impressively small package and, despite appearances, they don’t cut into your palms. As with the rest of Leatherman’s range, the Skeletool is superbly constructed, and opens and closes with perfect precision.

Manufacturers usually like to talk up the number of different tools products such as this incorporate, but again the Skeletool is a departure from the norm, as it’s stripped down to the bare essentials. Leatherman has kept the weight to a minimum (it tips the scales at 142g) not only by designing a plethora of holes, but also by limiting the number of features. All you get are pliers, wire-cutters, a bottle opener and a single blade, plus a holder for the two double-ended screwdriver bits included.

The tools it does have work perfectly: the blade is razor sharp, and as with the driver bits, it locked firmly in place. Overall, the Skeletool is a strong, well made product. But it’s limited – especially as the high price doesn’t even include a storage pouch.