Monday, 3 June 2019

This key-sized multi tool is a wrench, screwdriver, smoking pipe and more

It shouldn't surprise anyone to learn that there's a species of nerd for everything. Food, film, ragtime nostalgia, astronomy - you name it. Well, if there are any design nerds out there, we have a gadget for you.

As a matter of fact, we know there are design nerds out there because every year they congregate in a number of northwest cities to judge the Hot New Next design competition. And in Seattle, this miniature bit of gear took top honors in 2018 by packing a stunning amount of features into a tiny metal package: The Geekey Multi-Tool.

It looks like a key, and is roughly the size of one - small enough to fit on your keychain and hide its many uses in plain sight. And while it may not unlock any doors in your home, there's not much else this tool won't open.

We're talking a closed wrench that fits a number of metric and imperial sizes, plus a 1/4" open wrench and a bike spoke wrench for good measure. The head is a screwdriver that can fit Phillips, slotted or square heads, while also incorporating a scoring tool and can opener. In the middle, there's a 1/4" hex pocket bit driver, while the serrated edge serves as a file and a 1-inch ruler. As if that weren't enough, there's also a wire stripper, the requisite bottle opener, and the whole thing is just thick enough to serve as a discreet smoking pipe. And don't sell it short for any of these tasks due to its size: It's made of injection molded stainless steel, heat-treated to H900, which means it can work without blunting.

Come to think of it, there's enough functionality here that "design nerds" aren't really the target market. The beauty in the design is that it's made to be used as much as it is appreciated.

Pick up the Geekey Multi-Tool now for $22.99, more than 55% off the MSRP.