Ekster Tool Card Review

The Ekster Tool Card is a multitool that fits into your wallet. It has eight functions, so you can do a lot with it at the right time and place. However, do any of those times and places include traveling? Let’s dive in and find out!

The Rundown

The Ekster Tool Card is a credit card-sized multitool with eight functions that will help you on your main journey, side quests, and everything in between. Before we discuss the functions, let’s talk about materials.

It’s crafted from highly durable 304 stainless steel. It’s a bit heavy, but it certainly isn’t going to break, which is a solid trade-off. The weight can make it feel awkward in a minimalist wallet, but we’ll get there.

Let’s run through the functions one by one. First, we’ve got the wrenches. They’re all in the same area, and there are five sizes. There’s a 1/4 inch hex bit, a 5/16 – 1/2 inch hex bit, a 3/16 inch wrench, a 9/16 inch wrench, and a 15mm wrench. Whereas having five sizes with you at all times is handy, we struggled to find a use for most of them. Even the largest size won’t fit standard nuts and bolts, like a cycling wheel. Still, having them with you is handy when you need to tighten or loosen something up.

Next, there’s the phone stand aspect. On its own, this function doesn’t work—it requires the addition of a card from your wallet. There’s a slit on the bottom that the card fits through, and you use that to balance your phone. This is handy, but there are a few caveats. It does best with stronger cards, which are often credit cards. A metal Chase Sapphire Preferred card worked best out of all those we tested; however, you don’t want your credit card sitting out all day while you watch a TV show, do you? It works with flimsier cards, like a plastic one for public transit, but it is more likely to collapse than a sturdier one.

There’s a flathead screwdriver, which is handy. It works well enough and can be used to tighten or loosen some Phillips screws, too. The tool doesn’t have a Phillips head, so that’s your best bet.

There’s a SIM card pin tool here, too. The pin is attached to a strong magnet and won’t pop off without something touching it. It could fall off if it gets caught on something or rubs against your pocket, though, which is a little dangerous. If you know you won’t need it, leaving this accessory at home is best so you don’t lose it.

Next, there’s a box opener. Although you can use most of this tool as a box opener, the dedicated tool is better at ripping open tough tape than the other edges.

The bottle opener is easy to find and works well to open beers and soda pop after a long day exploring a new city. Having a bottle opener handy is also an excellent way to meet new people at a hostel. The sides of the tool can be a bit painful to hang onto while you’re using it, but that’s us being a bit picky.

So far, we’ve reviewed six features, and there’s one left. Wait, isn’t that seven? Your math is correct. The final tool is a ruler, but there are two of them, so Ekster counts them as two separate devices. One is metric, measuring seven millimeters, and the other is imperial, with two inches total. In our experience, these two aren’t the most helpful, as they’re so small and we mostly find ourselves needing to measure larger objects. For micro-measurements, they work well.

The Tool Card is a handy piece of gear to hang onto; however, in testing, even while looking for things to use it for, we rarely used it for anything other than to open drinks and boxes. The additional tools are solid in theory, but we didn’t find them as useful for daily carry or travel. Still, they’re there, which might be the difference on your next trip.

Most importantly, the Ekster Tool Card is compatible with TSA guidelines. Still, it’s best to be courteous to TSA agents when flying, as they have the final call. It should get through, but you shouldn’t give security any reason not to want to let you take it through into the concourse.

Packability

The card measures 0.29 by 4.1 by 2.3 inches (0.75 by 10.5 by 6 cm), roughly the size of a credit card with a bit of extra depth. It weighs 1.25 ounces (35.4 grams), much heavier than a credit card, but its durable materials are commendable.

Depending on your wallet, the thickness of the card might be an issue. If you have a more minimalist wallet with thin pockets, it can stretch out or damage the wallet. This won’t be an issue for most models, especially if you have a billfold. Still, it’s worth considering before you make your purchase.

Quick Comparison

Another multitool with similar capabilities is the Nite Ize DoohicKey Key-Tool. It’s a keychain, not for your wallet, but we feel that it’s worth comparing the two.

They both have bottle openers, though the Ekster is easier to use. They both have rulers, a flathead screwdriver, a box cutter, and wrenches. The Ekster has more sizes, which will be important for some travelers. The Nite Ize has a carabiner-style clip, which is handy for attaching it to things, but the Ekster fits nicely into larger wallets, so they’re both quite portable.

The Ekster has a few things that the Nite Ize doesn’t, including more wrench sizes. You can use it as a phone stand, and it has a SIM pin, which will be important for travelers who like tech.

At the time of writing, the Nite Ize DoohicKey Key-Tool is less than $10, whereas the Ekster Tool Card is around $50. Depending on your budget and needs, there’s room for one or the other in your pack-out!