I would have liked to have seen the SIM card remover swapped out for a micro-screwdriver (suitable for glasses), or even an awl with sewing eye. The inclusion of both Phillips and flat screwdrivers are always welcome and these are far better tools than those found on the Mini Flagship. There isn’t much else that will get you inside to the contents. The inclusion of a tin opener in this keychain multi-tool is especially appreciated as not every tin can has a ring pull, and even if they do they can sometimes snap off. The NexTool Mini Sailor offers us an interesting ‘new’ combination of tools and the small pliers are frequently a welcome tool on longer camping trips and for EDC. Having a small pair of pliers is frequently useful and a myriad of little fiddly tasks, such as repairing zipper pulls, extracting thorns and stings, to plucking unwanted hairs can be carried out. Folding them away is the reverse of opening however I sometimes find this a little awkward as they want to swing open unless pinched while closing.
It is good see that they have a sprung opening in use, this is via a thin wire under tension. But that is not what these are intended for, more aimed at the very occasional snippy type scissor tasks that arise in every other day use. The thumb is pressing on a 1mm wide bar so could prove painful with any sort of extended use. This is hardly surprising considering their extremely modest dimensions. They will handle paper and dehydrated camping meal packaging but struggle with card and will barely dent leather or cordura. Despite this, they are surprisingly effective and will snip cotton, thin cordage, even paracord. The jaws have a cutting edge of just 14mm. The pivoting arm is then unfolded to use. A thumbnail can hook under them to unfold from the body of the tool. The scissors on the Mini Sailor are very small, a little clunky and a little odd. None of the tools are locking and there are no half stops on the screwdrivers. All tools open easily under a thumb nail and there is a good snap as they open fully. The Mini Sailor is mostly held together with T7 torx screws so could be dismantled if wished. My example is a smooth eggshell finish, with no obvious flaws.
The grey blue aluminium scales are HAIII anodised for a harder, denser, thicker, and more abrasion resistant coating. NexTool state that the hardness of principal function parts on the Mini Sailor is higher than HRC 50. After quenching, 420J2 stainless steel is harder than 420J1 steel but it would have been good if better quality steel were used, even if that had raised the price point a little. Main materials are 420J1 and 420J2 steels. There are six small slots on each side of the tool that go some way to improve the aesthetics and probably remove a gram or two. The requirement of keeping the frame fairly stiff for the pliers to work efficiently is probably behind the lack of internalised skeletonising. If just the blade were wanted to quickly open a package or cut a piece of cordage, then it is but a moment to unfold the blade, carry out the task, then fold it away. If then pocket carried, outside tools can gather a bit of pocket fluff and debris, but where slipped into a ditty bag this would not be an issue.
Three Points of the Compass is a fan of multi-tools that have their frame tools on the outside as they are so much easier to access that way without having to unfold the entire tool. I am more interested in how the small multi-tools in general, and the Mini Sailor in particular, suits backpacking or Every Day Carry (EDC).
though I don’t think this little tool would suit a pocket clip as it is so small and light that it could easily be lost if carried that way. This is a little heavy to be hanging with a set of keys but it is certainly small enough to be carried that way if that is your wish. Bottom row- Squirt ES4: 54.3g, Squirt PS4: 56.9g, Style PS: 44.9g Second row- Dime: 66.4g, Dime Travel: 68g. Weights, top row- Mini Sailor: 83.6g, Mini Flagship: 79.4g, Vise: 68g. Toolsets of ten pliers based keychain multi-tools compared.
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