Geekey Review

The growing sub-market of one-piece multi-tools has started to mature in recent years, getting to the point where really everyone should consider popping one on their keychain for that little extra bit of convenience in their everyday life at an inconsequential price. The Geekey is a particularly well-designed version of the “key-shaped” one-piece multi-tools available. To be fair, though, trying to stuff as many functions as possible in a form this small will result in some of them overshooting their usefulness and some falling short. Then again, the Geekey absolutely nails other functions, so it's worth considering overall.

Performance Comparison

Functions

The claimed “16+” functions included in the Geekey Multi-tool ostensibly places it among the top of our fully tested lineup. In reality, at least a few of those claimed are effectively useless and included, we believe, to artificially bump that number up. We can't blame the designer of Geekey for that; he's trying to compete with an ever-growing list of competitors and knock-offs, and the more tools the Geekey can include, the more likely it is to garner some award attention in the design community. And it has won some awards (such as the HOT NEW NEXT Championship at the Interior Design Show, Vancouver), we believe deservingly so.

Let's get the bad/ mundane out of the way first. The protractor is a joke. 12(!) hex wrench sizes are jammed in the large opening in the main space of the body. In our experience, not only is their depth (just 0.1 inch) too shallow, but the contact area (sometimes capturing just one corner of the head) is too little for real, effective engagement of your bolt head. The wrench frequently slips right off, leaving the user more frustrated than accomplished. The file is both somehow too coarse (it maddeningly catches on any metal or hardwood edge without a crosscut to even it out) yet too slick to file a fingernail.

A prominent “Serrated Edge” sits in the throat of the long end, next to the bottle opener. The angle of the edge bevel there is far too wide and blunt to cut anything more than the thinnest of twine. We doubt it could break skin if you tried, and it's so wide that even punching through the tape on an Amazon package is a weirdly difficult task. Instead, there is a “Scoring Tip” included in the crowded multi-fit driver meant for package opening, which also doesn't work all that well. That multi-fit end also claims to have six(!) individual driver types on it, which is ludicrous. It kinda works as a #2 Phillips head or a small flat head (though not eyeglasses screw small). This is absolutely a case of “less is more”, and we hope the Gen. 2 Geekey will address this.

On the other hand, there is a lot to like here. Even given the shortcomings of the functions above, the Geekey body itself is able to generate some good leverage as a wrench and screwdriver. It effectively has a long lever with the multi-tip end, and the body is rounded enough that it won't dig into your knuckle as you crank on your task. The bike spoke tool is surprisingly effective at bending/ twisting light gauge wire. The bottle opener is simple but easy and reliably doesn't slip off on the first try. The smoking bowl is a unique inclusion, to say the least, and this feature alone could make the tool worth it for many users (we find it works well enough, without any wind). We only wish that there was a brass or copper tip inlaid on the pipe end, as copper is naturally anti-microbial.

Our favorite feature/ tool inclusions, though, are the 2 standard 1/4 inch drivers - one open (doubling as the bottle opener), one closed. In the US at least, many (most?) bits are made to work in a standard 1/4 inch chuck of a drill or similar. The Geekey here allows you to have access to that huge variety of specialty bits, something that even the top-end multi-tool offerings out there often fail to do. These are simple but effective inclusions that we find very useful.

Construction Quality

The Geekey, and its other one-piece multi-tool cousins, tend to be inherently “bomb-proof”, given that no hinges, bearings, or other moving parts will fail or gum up over time. We feel that it is very well made, not only in terms of its sturdiness, but in the clear precision of its machining. We can find absolutely no defects, such as prominent parting or weld lines from the mold. It is thoughtfully designed to pass Quality Control straight off the tooling line.

The real question here is the steel used and its inherent durability. The manufacturer's page claims the Geekey is made from “420 Stainless Steel”, a very common Stainless alloy. We find this choice just ok but apt given its diminutive price tag. 420 SST is known for its good corrosion resistance but is a relatively soft alloy - As a blade steel on a knife, it would be suspect, but it does cast well, making it appropriate for an application like this. We might be concerned with corners stripping and rounding overtime if you use this tool for anything more than light-duty tasks.

Ergonomics

We touched on it earlier, but the ergonomics of multi-tool use really come down to how it feels in the hand during use, challenges, problem spots, etc. There are some points we usually explore, such as the action of the opening and closing, tool locks, etc., that just don't apply to one-piece multi-tools like the Geekey. This can be a good thing in that there is nothing to open or prep to use anything on here. It's always ready to go straight away.

The main thing to keep in mind is the sheer (limited) size of tools like this will keep their effective usefulness and ergonomic scores low compared to larger multi-tool options. With one-piece and keychain-sized tools, you are confined to simple and small tasks, for the most part. The available leverage and grip strength you can handle pale in comparison to a larger, folding multi-tool. That said, The Geekey does do surprisingly well in giving some reliable leverage, and anyway, you don't buy a Geekey to replace a full tool box of dedicated tools.

Portability

Portability is obviously where a smaller tool like this shines. It's not the thinnest (0.2 inch, just over 5mm) one piece multi-tool we've tested by a long shot, but it's by no means obtrusively large. It'll nest nice and cozy among its new neighbors on your key ring, or on a short lanyard.

And we do recommend that you keep the Geekey tied to something. This is the kind of cool nick-nack that everyone will want to check out, and if left out on the table during a party, could well find its way mysteriously walking off.

Should You Buy the Geekey Multi-tool?

A one-piece multi-tool like the Geekey will appeal to a unique user base that won't likely overlap much with the certified tinkerer in your life who has a Leatherman clipped to their pocket every day. But ultimately, for what it is, the Geekey Multi-tool is justified in its hype and deserves its multiple design award pedigree. Review the unique tool set it contains and decide for yourself if its very affordable price tag can be justified in your (or your friend's!) life.

What Other Multi-tool Should You Consider?