REASONS TO BUY
Fire starter
Hammer surface
Excellent saw
REASONS TO AVOID
Expensive
No file
No sheath included
Leatherman Signal Review
A specialized tool for outdoor adventure and wilderness survival, this is one piece of gear worth its weight in your pack
The Leatherman Signal
Credit: Kyle Hameister
By Kyle Hameister ⋅ Review Editor ⋅ October 6, 2026
RELATED: The Best Multi Tools of 2026
Our Verdict
The Leatherman Signal is a purpose-built multi-tool for the outdoors. It has your standard tools like a knife and pliers, but also more specialty goodies such as a ferro rod for starting fires, an emergency whistle, and its own detachable sharpener. This is the single model we'd most want on hand in a survival situation in the wild. You'll pay for that level of niche — the Signal is among the most expensive in our lineup — but there's a lot of utility packed in this 7.6-ounce package. Its popularity is well deserved; this is one of the most polished-feeling multi-tool designs we've ever laid hands on.
Compare to Similar Products
 This Product
Leatherman Signal | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Awards |  Best for the Outdoors |  Best Customizable Multi-Tool | Best for Most People |  Best Bang for the Buck | Great Value on a Tight Budget |
| Price | $150 List Check Price at REI | $88 List Check Price at Amazon | $130 List Check Price at REI | $50 List Check Price at Amazon | $30 List Check Price at Amazon |
Overall Score  |
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| Star Rating | |||||
| Bottom Line | A specialized tool for outdoor adventure and wilderness survival, this is one piece of gear worth its weight in your pack | This multi-tool is proof that innovation is alive and well, and available today in a quality build | A full-function multi-tool from a great manufacturer at a very reasonable price | A compact budget tool with excellent construction and a reasonable set of features for daily use | An affordable multi-tool in a familiar form that punches way above its weight class |
| Rating Categories | Leatherman Signal | Roxon Flex | Leatherman Wave+ | Leatherman Wingman | Mossy Oak 27-in-1 |
| Everyday Utility (40%) | |||||
| Construction Quality (25%) | |||||
| Ergonomics (20%) | |||||
| Portability (15%) | |||||
| Specifications | Leatherman Signal | Roxon Flex | Leatherman Wave+ | Leatherman Wingman | Mossy Oak 27-in-1 |
| Basic tools included | Pliers, wire cutters, knife, bit driver (no scissors) | Pliers, wire cutters, knife, scissors, bit driver | Pliers, wire cutters, knife, scissors, bit driver | Pliers, wire cutters, knife, scissors, bit driver | Pliers, wire cutters, knife, bit driver (no scissors) |
| Blades and Type | 1 hybrid straight/serrated | 1 straight | 1 straight, 1 serrated | 1 hybrid serrated/straight | 1 straight |
| Number of Functions | 19 | 19 | 18 | 10 | 27 |
| Locking Tools | All but pliers | All but pliers | All but pliers | Scissors and blade | All but pliers and ferro rod/ whistle |
| Carry options | Sheath (sold separately), pocket clip, carabiner clip | Sheath, pocket clip | Sheath (sold separately), lanyard loop | Sheath (sold separately), pocket clip | Sheath, pocket clip, carabiner clip |
| Closed Dimensions (Measured) | 4.5 in (L) x 1.5 in (W) x 0.7 in (D) | 4.2 in (L) x 1.5 in (W) x 0.7 in (D) | 4.0 in (L) x 1.5 in (W) x 0.7 in (D) | 3.9 in (L) x 1.3 in (W) x 0.6 in (D) | 4.8 in (L) x 1.5 in (W) x 0.6 in (D) |
| Weight (Measured) | 7.6 oz | 9.0 oz (10.5 oz w/ sheath | 8.5 oz (9.5 oz w/ case) |
6.8 oz (7.8 oz w/ sheath) |
8.2 oz (10.0 oz w/ sheath & bits) |
| Tools Accessible Without Deploying Pliers | Blade, saw, sharpener, whistle/ferro rod | All | Blades, saw, file | Blade, scissors | Blade, saw |
| Full Length w/ Primary Blade Open (Measured) | 7.3 in | 6.9 in | 6.9 in | 6.4 in | 7.6 in |
| Primary Blade Effective Edge Length (Measured) | 2.7 in | 2.4 in | 2.8 in | 2.4 in | 2.7 in |
| Pliers type | Needlenose and regular, with replaceable wire cutters | Spring-loaded needlenose and regular, with replacable wire cutters | Needlenose and regular, with replaceable wire cutters | Spring-loaded needlenose and regular, with wire cutters | Needlenose and regular, with replacable wire cutters |
| Full Length w/ Pliers Open (Measured) | 6.7 in | 6.4 in | 6.3 in | 6.2 in | 7.0 in |
| Number of screwdrivers | 2 + swappable proprietary squashed bit driver | 3 | 1 included + swappable proprietary squashed bit driver & swappable jewelry/ eyeglasses bit driver | 3 | 2 + additional swappable double-ended bits |
| File | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Saw | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes |
| Openers | Can, bottle | Can, bottle | Can, bottle | Can, bottle, package opener | Can, bottle |
| Other Important Features | Diamond grit knife sharpener, carabiner clip, ferro rod (fire starter), whistle, hammer | Awl, chisel, rope cutter, and swappable tools | Ruler, 2 swappable bit drivers (squashed 1/4" hex, and jewelry) | Ruler, package opener | Whistle, fire starter (ferro rod), awl, carabiner clip, hammer |
Our Analysis and Test Results
One of Leatherman's, and by extension the wider industry's, most popular and iconic models, the Signal is undeniably specialized. What do you need from your multi-tool?
Inside, or lashed to your pack, the Signal belongs on your next outdoor adventure. Credit: Kyle Hameister
Everyday Utility
Getting the obvious out of the way early: a niche tool can have a limited utility for the average user. This isn't the multi-tool for the office job, or most of the trades even with their own specialized tool needs. We'd argue the thoughtful engineering efforts here still offer plenty of utility for some jobs in the trades, but first and foremost, this is the tool you reach for when you're headed to the woods.
Honestly, it's great to finally see an appropriate inclusion of an awl and can opener. We feel those are commonly included on multi-tools for their heritage importance, but are ignored in 99% of modern use cases and users. In the backcountry, though, both will be used.
Considering the Signal features LM's proprietary 'squashed' driver bits, it's nice they also included a standard 1/4" driver anchor (though it's not magnetic). Credit: Kyle Hameister
The saw is super thin (in a good way), while the replaceable cutter jaws can be swapped in the future as they dent and dull, adding longevity to an already rock-solid tool.
The thin saw powers through branches, and is thankfully long enough not to slide out or catch a kerf too often. Credit: Kyle Hameister
The blade and pliers are what most users will use regularly, and they're both top-notch. The hammer on the end of the handles is our personal favorite feature. We found ourselves using it to dole out forceful nudges to a variety of pins and posts during our field testing. It would be perfect for burying tent stakes.
We love the replaceable cutter jaws, and overall robustness of the Signal's pliers. Credit: Kyle Hameister
Construction Quality
The Signal is sturdy and precisely built. Minus a couple of plastic housings, its all-metal construction will stand the test of time. We find zero play in the pliers hinge, and no slop in any hinges. Out of the box, it feels well oiled, with smooth open/close action.
Only a few accessory features, like the detachable sharpener seen here, use plastic components. Credit: Kyle Hameister
All features feel more robust than average, a clear indication Leatherman expects this tool to be used and abused. The knife is a good example; it's 1-2mm thicker than many multi-tool blades. Paired with the 420HC stainless alloy it's built from — known for its toughness — it should hold up to all manner of twisting and prying you can levy. We don't love the combination of a straight and serrated edge, however, because they can be a nightmare to sharpen.
The blade is beefy, that's for sure. It also sports a small serrated section, most useful for cutting fibrous materials. Credit: Kyle Hameister
Realistically, barring the wire cutter jaws, the only component that should need replacement over time is the fire starter rod, which Leatherman sells extras of.
Ergonomics
A variety of hidden locks and clever chassis cutouts make this model feel truly premium. The attention paid to the pocket clip, for example, turns one of the most clunky afterthoughts in the multi-tool world into a sleek, integrated feature.
One innovation we love is the subtle lock which can be used to keep the butterfly arms secure in a bag. Jut one example of the detailed engineering and thought put into this tool by the Leatherman team. Credit: Kyle Hameister
The blade can be deployed one-handed (for righties). And though everything else will need two hands to deploy, we find the Signal intuitive and comfortable to use.
For as many metal edges you encounter here, subtle bends and setbacks largely eliminate any pain points. Using the pliers feels premium, though they aren't spring-loaded, which is a disappointment. Their teeth are a little aggressively cut, which isn't appropriate for detail work, but we love it for outdoor use here.
This full-sized tool feels great in the fingers and against the palm. Quite a bit of force can be levied. Credit: Kyle Hameister
Our main gripe is that the smaller fold out tools in the handle (can opener, awl, bit driver) can only be used with the tool 'open'. Specifically, the wide hammer head blocks the handles from closing fully with any of them deployed. This wouldn't be a big deal if the handles locked open, but since they don't, the tool has a bad habit of folding in half when using some force with the bit driver, for instance.
The main driver utilizes Leatherman's infamous squashed bits.
Portability
The Signal isn't dainty to be sure. When every ounce counts backpacking, its a little puzzling that Leatherman didn't choose to incorporate some titanium or aluminum components, even as a 'Signal+' upgrade package. Instead, ask yourself if the rock solid build is worth the added weight in your setup.
The Signal no longer ships with a belt sheath. We feel it's too bulky to swing from a belt loop, but it is sleek enough to sit in a pocket without too much fuss.
We do love the carabiner clip, though it's a bit bulky for comfort hanging from a belt loop. Lashed to a pack, though, it's perfect. In a pocket, utilizing the pocket clip is the best way to carry it on your person. As big as it is, we do find the Signal sleek enough to go unnoticed most of the time there. Notably, it does NOT come with a belt sheath like most multi-tools of this size and cost.
At the end of the day, we think it effectively replaces the need to carry a separate knife, screwdriver, or pair of pliers. In this comparatively compact package, that's a portability win.
Should You Buy the Leatherman Signal?
As a purpose-built outdoor tool supplement, the Signal is unmatched in our experience. But it is not cheap, and we can't shake the feeling that LM skimped out by not including a belt sheath or extra driver bits like their other top-end models. Purely from a cost perspective, the Signal isn't the best value option available, but to the right camper/hiker/backpacker (that's you!) it could be worth its weight in gold.
The included safety whistle is surprisingly loud. Credit: Kyle Hameister
What Other Multi-Tools Should You Consider?
A common comparison is between the Signal and LM brother Skeletool. We tend to agree — it's essentially a more portable Signal… or perhaps the Signal is the Skeletool on steroids. In either case, they score overall very similarly, with the Skeletool retailing about $50 less. However, the Mossy Oak 27-in-1 feels like a cheat code here. Clearly designed directly as a Signal knockoff, it has almost identical features in a nearly identical build. And though it costs 5x less, it scores surprisingly close to the Signal in overall performance. We'd argue the Signal has meaningful improvements over the Mossy Oak, but take a look at both before making your decision.
—Kyle Hameister
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