When I first began my foray into everyday carry (EDC) a few years ago, I spent a ton of time looking around at what others had, reading reviews, watching videos on YouTube and just generally overthinking my decisions. I think in my mind, I was trying to create the ultimate EDC that fit every single need I would ever have. One item that I purchased was the Leatherman Micra Keychain Multi-tool. I liked it because of its compact size, relatively low cost, and excellent set of tools. As I’ve used this tool and many others, I’ve formed my own opinion. Let’s get down to the details and see how this Multi-tool performs.
Size:
I refer to the Leatherman Micra as a keychain multi-tool because it’s the perfect size and weight to hang on your keys if you’re into that sort of thing. I prefer to keep my keys lean, so this goes into a 5th pocket of my jeans or into a small pouch with a pen and some bandaids. You really cannot go wrong with this small form factor at 2.5” x 3” and weighing in at a whopping 1.8 oz.
Tools:
Like most multi-tools, the Leatherman Micra features a number of useful and common tools. Here’s a quick rundown of the tools:
- Scissors
- Small knife
- Tweezers
- Bottle opener/cap lifter
- Phillips head screwdriver
- Flat head screwdriver
- Fingernail tool/nail file
Design:
The first thing you’ll notice is that the Leatherman Micra has an absolutely incredible pair of scissors. This is the main tool and it differs from a lot of Leatherman tools that feature pliers up front and center. These scissors are much better and capable than most multi-tools with dinky little scissors. I absolutely love the way these scissors handle and it’s a brilliant feature of the Leatherman Micra. The other tools are accessible from inside the handles, but can only be opened up when the scissors are deployed. So if you need to use tweezers really quickly, you have to open the scissors first, unfold the tweezers, and either use them with the scissors open (a little awkward) or close the scissors again to leave only the tweezers exposed. The same goes for any of the other tools you may need. It takes at minimum 2 steps, but likely 3 steps just to put the tools to good use. I think this is one of the most underlooked or underemphasized downsides of the Micra. Otherwise, the tools are all fine and will fill most needs adequately without really shining either.
Durability:
Like most Leatherman tools (but not all), the Micra is a solidly built tool. It just feels bigger in hand than it looks. The scissor action is just incredible and overall I cannot find any potential durability issues with this multi-tool. I’ve carried it on and off for more than 2 years and have never had an issue. Keep in mind, I also don’t try to use it for tasks it’s not intended for.
Pros:
- Small size and very lightweight
- Great pair of scissors
- Durable
Cons:
- Tools can only be accessed from the inside
Rating: 4/5
I think the Leatherman Micra is a solid EDC tool, but personally, I like to access my tools more quickly. The extra steps needed to get to the handle tools is annoying if you just want to quickly open a drink, tighten a loose screw, or get out a splinter from your kid’s finger. I primarily just use these for the scissors and that’s where they excel! The affiliate links throughout the post point to Amazon, but shop around too. Ordering from Amazon gives us a little kickback at no extra cost to you, but at the end of the day, we want you to trust our reviews and you can purchase wherever you like. As of the writing of this article, the price on Amazon is pretty high compared to other places. You can always buy direct from Leatherman.
Let me know if I missed anything! Do you have any features that you wish the Micra did or did not have? Leave a comment below!
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