- Replaces: Ye olde trusty Swiss Army Knife.
- Cost differential: 2x. And up, depending on how many tools your SAK has.
- Available: The always-entertaining CountyComm.com sells these small crowbars as well as a host of other useful tools, flashlights and pocket knives
- Why I like it: I have maximalist tendencies. On any given day, I have a bottle opener, multi-head screwdriver, USB flash drive and one of these Widgy Bars (the Micro model) on my keychain. And a flashlight. And that doesn't count the other tools (SAK, another flashlight) that I generally have in my other pocket. Why do I have all this metal on me? Search me. I think I carry them more as talismans against non-specific evil than anything else.
But enough about me.
Of all the stuff I carry, the Widgy Bar gets pulled out the most because it does the most. CountyComm designed these as nail pullers and as mini-prybars. You'd be surprised how often you might need to remove a staple or pry something apart (recently, I needed mine several times to open up some hooks used to secure a party tent; true story).
But wait, folks, there's more. With a sharp-ish edge, these tools will also open most packages. In a pinch, the edge also works as a flathead screwdriver, albeit not the most handy one given the curved end.
Naturally, a Swiss Army Knife does all these things and more. However:
- Most SAKs don't work well with keychains, meaning you have a greater propensity to lose them.
- I've never had a problem getting my Widgy Bar through airport security, and if I did, it would cost me $10 to replace it (I could swear I bought mine a few years ago for $5, but I may be incorrect).
Suffice it to say that if I only had room on my keychain for one tool, this would be it.
As always, what cheap products do you know that are worth buying? Please share!
