Nextool Mini Sailor review. Is this cheap Chinese tool good or garbage?

[@TBEDC]

Very cool

[@accoutrements4469]

It’s really decent for its very cheap price 👍

[@fredfinger7092]

Thanks for this overview. The mini Sailor is not a bad tool at all, but if you always have a SAK, you'll end up using the SAK for everything except the pliers. I think this is why the Knipex is so popular. People like me thinking to themselves "my SAK is so great, if only it had some decent pliers". The pliers are all you really need to add if you have a SAK. I've had the P4 and PS4, and like you I put mine away because you can't get them any more. I can't imagine what they are thinking over at Leatherman to make them discontinue the PS4. I carried a Dime for a long while and never broke it, but a lot of people report breaking theirs. Maybe it depends what factory it came out of or what day of the week it was made. The Dime is so-so for pliers, OK for small knife, great for bottle opener. Sadly the remaining tools are mediocre to awful (especially the "file" which is a joke).

[@accoutrements4469]

Thank you for the great comments! And yes, I think you’re exactly right about the Knipex and SAK combo - that is what I generally carry and will usually continue to do so over the Nextool Sailor. The Nextool is really decent for about £10 but a SAK and Cobra combo is going to beat it every time I think. The Dime was a complete fail for me but I do wish Leatherman still did the PS4: absolutely brilliant tool. I don’t know what these companies are thinking sometimes. Not enough profit in them, obviously, but that’s a real shame for us folks who like that particular tool ☹️ Same with the Leatherman Juice too as far as I’m concerned.

[@fredfinger7092]

@@accoutrements4469 You are absolutely right about the Juice! That filled a niche between mini and full size that no one else seems to be addressing other than the SOG PowerPint.

[@accoutrements4469]

Haven’t got a PowerPoint yet but might pick one up!

[@sst5784]

Absolutely agree about the Dime being crap. Mine has been relegated to a small fishing kit just for the pliers. I recently picked up the Mini Sailor Lite which is one layer thinner so you lose the knife and bottle opener, but it technically should be TSA/airport safe. I always have knives around so it works great as a small edc tool.

[@accoutrements4469]

I did like the look of the Sailor Lite - actually wish I’d bought that instead tbh! Might pick one up. 👍

[@pawesedrowski6743]

Another tool that you might actually be interested in is Knippex Pliers Wrench XS (86 04 100) - it does great great job when it comes to screws and it's much more gentle on them compared to a Cobra.

[@accoutrements4469]

Yes I do keep eyeing up the Pliers Wrench XS - looks great, like all Knipex tools! I’ve held off getting that as it’s more expensive and I figured that for ‘edc’ uses the Cobra is probably more versatile. I’m sure I’ll get round to getting a Pliers Wrench soon though! Thank you for the comments! 👍

[@G0ATHR0B]

SAK Cybertool and Cobra 125 are always on me.

[@accoutrements4469]

Yeah, a SAK and a cobra is still the very best combo imho 👍👍👍

[@ewjish]

When I want to carry a something with a KNipek is the the Roxon K2SE. Otherwise the current best keychain tool I carry in my wallet is the Nextool Flagship Mini. The pliers are OK (not great) but the scissors are better than small Leatherman's, Gerber, and PowerPint.

[@accoutrements4469]

The best combo for me is definitely still a Swiss Army knife and pair of the Knipex Cobra XS. These little Nextool tools are ok as a small keychain tool though. Not tried the Mini Flagship yet.

[@simonh6371]

I haven't got the Mini Sailor, instead I have the Flagship Mini, but I've watched a few reviews of the Mini Sailor. You're right about the market in keychain sized pliers based multitools being a bit limited now, since Leatherman discontinued the Squirt series, all of them are made in China, and the Nextools seem to me to be the best of the lot. I also have a Squirt PS4 but found the scissors very disappointing, the spring broke while not in use and even before it did there was a lot of play between the blades so they were not really useful. I still carry it occasionally, when I'm carrying a Swiss Army knife with scissors, just for the pliers.

[@accoutrements4469]

I really like the Squirt but agree the scissors aren’t great. These little Nextools are fine but the best combo for me is still definitely a Swiss Army knife and pair of Knipex cobra xs pliers 🤞

[@simonh6371]

@@accoutrements4469 I'd have to agree with you on that actually, especially since that's what I'm carrying right now! Vic Farmer, Jetsetter with custom scales (for scissors and small Phillips driver), and the Cobra XS. Yesterday I tried the Farmer and the Nextool Mini but when I compared the weight of the Nextool vs the Cobra/Jetsetter I didn't need scales to immediately feel the Nextool was heavier, so instead put those 2 in my pocket with the Farmer. Also honestly I prefer the toolset on the Jetsetter/Cobra. Could just as well be a Rambler btw but I bought the Jetsetter for flying. I had a hangnail yesterday but the lack of a nailfile on the Jetsetter wasn't a problem....I cut it with the scissors, then used one of the Cobra handles to file it down, worked a treat!

[@accoutrements4469]

That’s great! I’ve just recently got a Jetsetter as planning to fly soon but actually really like it anyway as it’s pretty much allowed absolutely anywhere. And yeah, I carried the Nextool for a while but the SAK & Cobra combo is definitely superior! 👌👌

[@dedsert9653]

I had the nextool mini flagship. broke.

[@accoutrements4469]

I’ve heard a few people says their Flagship broke. Hmmmm, never heard anyone say their Swiss Army Knife broke… 🤷‍♂️😒

[@fredfinger7092]

@@accoutrements4469 I never had one break but I managed to break one. In other words totally my fault for misusing a tool. I sent it to the repair facility in Connecticut for an estimate. "Five dollars". "But *I* broke it by misuse!" "We know. Five dollars". Got it back good as new. I bought one on eBay that arrived broken. Sent for an estimate. Same story. Five dollars. Returned in like new condition. They REALLY stand by their warranty, and ther service is awesome.

[@accoutrements4469]

Well that’s brilliant to hear about their customer service! 👌👌

[@Michael_K_]

Have you tried the leatherman style models at all

[@accoutrements4469]

No, not yet - do you like them?

[@Michael_K_]

@@accoutrements4469 yes, I really like them and the format.They're like a mini skeletool

[@accoutrements4469]

@@Michael_K_ yeah they do look quite nice - I hope to pick one up soon to have a proper look! 👍🙂