NexTool Mini Flagship F12 Review

NexTool is one of the major recent market disruptors coming for the legacy American multi-tool brands. Though once known for subpar quality, these days that has largely been corrected and their reputation for innovation and affordability clearly show through their Mini Flagship F12.

Everyday Utility

They say the best ability is availability. The F12 is little enough to throw in a pocket each morning without a second thought, whereas a larger multi-tool requires a bit more commitment to carry. But size is only one half of that equation. Does the F12 step up when needed?

Our testing team loves the unique dual feature of scissors and pliers. They're small, sure, but both are spring-loaded and feel more useful than they honestly should. The scissors are more like shears, with distinct ridges ground in the bottom jaw that help prevent them from slipping off thicker material. They're honestly the best scissors we've used on a multi-tool before, of any size.

The pliers are narrow enough to provide some good dexterity and access in tight spaces; we just wish they had teeth cut right up to the needle-nose tips. That's one of the few nitpicks we have; another being the Phillips driver is so slim that it's just not useful for more than a low-torque tighten on a small screw. It cammed out (slipped off) several screws during our testing.

In total, NexTool claims 13 features on the F12: needlenose and regular pliers, wire cutters, bottle opener, file, ruler, knife, Phillips screwdriver, flathead screwdriver, scissors, pocket clip, keyring, and a glow-in-the-dark tip on the scissors handle. We see some fluff in the count there, but for this testing team, the F12 includes all the major functions we want on our multi-tool without the fluff seen on competitors (an awl or can opener, as examples!)

Construction Quality

Bad news first: there is some noticeable play in the pivots, specifically when the pliers or scissors are deployed. That bit of slop seems to disappear when some clamping force is applied, but it's there and is the only real 'concern' on an otherwise well built product.

The F12 has an all-metal chassis, and arrives well oiled but not excessively so. The spring mechanisms are fully hidden, hinting further at some thoughtful and well-executed engineering. The whole tool is assembled with Torx bolts instead of rivets, which means it can be repaired or modified if needed.

Beyond build quality, however, there are a few tools to call attention to. The knife is a short 1.7", but its sheepsfoot shape helps keep strength up to the commonly fragile tip. It's even made from a legitimate stainless knife alloy (8Cr14MoV), which is a noticeable upgrade not usually seen on budget tools.

The dual-sided file has a finer grit, but is wide enough to grip an edge effectively while you work, and it does a lovely job of removing material. It and the blade are both held securely with micro liner locks, but the Phillips driver and bottle opener tool aren't locking for some reason.

One spot we think could limit the useful life of the F12 is the non-replaceable wire cutter jaws. We didn't see any dents or deflection pop up during our testing, but that's a common fail point on more affordable models.

Ergonomics

A mini tool like the F12 admittedly has some inherent limitations in the kinds of jobs they can handle — most directly with reduced leverage and force that can be levied. We found ourselves pleasantly surprised by how well these limitations were mitigated.

To be fair, you can only get about two full fingers wrapped around the handle during use. There are some sharper edges on the bent metal frame, but overall NexTool seems to have largely avoided any problematic hot spots when gripping tightly. The pliers are particularly comfortable to use.

Most tools are easily accessible with well-placed nail nicks, while the scissors and pliers are best deployed with a pinch and pull of the handles. This is fully a 2-handed operation tool, but could move to one-handed deployment on a few things with some practice.

Portability

We love the F12 particularly because of its excellent portability. Due to the dual fold-out scissors and pliers design, it is a little wider than the average mini tool. We still find that it fits well in the 5th pocket of a pair of jeans, and its wider body even helps spread out any hot spots for rubbing and wearing holes in the fabric against the tool.

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The flip side here is the pocket clip is super thin and narrow and already started to cut up the edge of a pocket after just a few test clips. At 2.8 ounces, we found its presence noticeable but not unreasonably heavy on a keychain. Ultimately, we agreed it was best carried loose in the pocket after removing the pocket clip.

While nearly all included functions proved more useful than first impressions suggest, we still agree that it doesn't effectively replace any dedicated version of the tools they emulate. We'll still choose to carry a separate pocket knife 95% of the time when carrying the F12.

Should You Buy the NexTool Mini Flagship F12?

As an EDC (everyday carry) option, the F12 deserves serious consideration from all interested parties. It won't replace the need for a dedicated tool in many cases, especially in blue-collar applications, but if carrying a bulky multi-tool is out of the question for you, this should be your first purchase.

What Other Multi-tools Should You Consider?

Mini multi-tools are largely an overlooked section of the market, but there are a few worthy contenders. The Gerber Dime is probably your best bet; similar cost and size, spring pliers, with a nearly identical knife. Choose the Dime if you don't care about the scissors too much, or want a better bottle opener.