X
Home & Office
Why you can trust ZDNET : ZDNET independently tests and researches products to bring you our best recommendations and advice. When you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Our process

'ZDNET Recommends': What exactly does it mean?

ZDNET's recommendations are based on many hours of testing, research, and comparison shopping. We gather data from the best available sources, including vendor and retailer listings as well as other relevant and independent reviews sites. And we pore over customer reviews to find out what matters to real people who already own and use the products and services we’re assessing.

When you click through from our site to a retailer and buy a product or service, we may earn affiliate commissions. This helps support our work, but does not affect what we cover or how, and it does not affect the price you pay. Neither ZDNET nor the author are compensated for these independent reviews. Indeed, we follow strict guidelines that ensure our editorial content is never influenced by advertisers.

ZDNET's editorial team writes on behalf of you, our reader. Our goal is to deliver the most accurate information and the most knowledgeable advice possible in order to help you make smarter buying decisions on tech gear and a wide array of products and services. Our editors thoroughly review and fact-check every article to ensure that our content meets the highest standards. If we have made an error or published misleading information, we will correct or clarify the article. If you see inaccuracies in our content, please report the mistake via this form.

Close

This replaced my multitool for a fraction of the cost

Multitools are too flashy, expensive, and not really that handy.
Written by Adrian Kingsley-Hughes, Contributing Writer
Knipex Cobra XS Water Pump Pliers on gray, gridded background

Knipex Cobra XS Water Pump Pliers.

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET

I've spent a lot of money on multitools over the years. That's because I like the idea of a single tool that serves many functions, and partly it's down to no one tool being ideal. Furthermore, there's a small bit of me that just loves new, shiny things.

But ultimately, multitools all fall short in one way or another.

Also: This tiny smartphone accessory gives you a fantastic superpower

Too bulky. Too uncomfortable to use. Too big. Too small.

Oh, and there's usually a big, locking blade that's largely unnecessary. This is a no-no here in the UK, and also something that's going to result in the tool being confiscated if I accidentally try taking it on a plane.

So, it got me thinking. What is it that I really want from a multitool?

The answer: A decent pair of pliers that grip really well and can clamp down with strong force. 

Also: This $11 gadget is a must-have for aging eyes

Everything else -- screwdrivers, tin openers, knife, awl, thing for getting stones out of horse's hooves -- I either have as part of my EDC (everyday carry), or I don't really need.

I want a pair of pliers that are compact enough to unobtrusively fit into a pocket, yet strong enough to, well, do what I expect pliers to do.

And I've found what I need.

Knipex Cobra XS Water Pump Pliers

First, these are tiny. Measuring 4.02 x 1.18 x 0.39 inches (10.21 x 2.99 x 0.99 cm), and weighing on at 2.19 oz (62 g), they can slip into a pocket or bag totally unobtrusively. 

These fit into the hand perfectly.

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET

But don't let their small size fool you. 

Also: This is the perfect mini electric screwdriver

These have 11 adjustment positions and can open enough to grip a 1-inch (24 mm) fastener. I've used these to do simple plumbing, change a car battery, and even change an alternator.

They're also great for disconnecting cable connectors in larger electronic devices, such as PCs, washing machines, cars, and so on. They offer better drip than your fingers can ever achieve, but not so much that you end up destroying things.

Also: 3 security gadgets I never leave home without

And they really do grip, with the precision machined teeth really biting in.

Pliers left open on gray gridded background

Huge bite for such a small size.

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET

Initially, I had concerns about the handles. 

They look uncomfortable, especially since they aren't coated in anything rubbery. But having used these extensively, I can say that it's not a problem. The handles are comfortable, even when the pliers are being used hard. I can squeeze these as hard as I can and the grip doesn't impede this at all.

Also: This must-have screwdriver has two cool hidden tricks

The precision-ground jaws can also clamp down on small fasteners or those that are flush to the surface.

Pliers gripping a fastener

Gripping a fastener that's flush to the surface (and look how good those jaws look, even after a lot of use)

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET

Oh, and here's another feature I appreciate. 

I don't know if you've ever pinched your fingers between the handles of a pair of pliers, but I have, and I can tell you that it's up there with stepping on a Lego or banging your shin on a coffee table when it comes to pain. So many multitools let you do this, and because they're something you might only use every so often, it can surprise you (in a bad way).

Well, good news. These Knipex pliers won't do this because they've been designed to be pinch-proof so the handles won't catch the skin on the palm of your hand.

Also: The perfect mini electric screwdriver

They're also very corrosion resistant. This was a surprise to me as they look like they might start to rust quickly. The ones I own have been in my pocket for weeks, used outdoors, and even in water, and they are still almost like new. 

And all this for under $30. These Knipex Cobra XS Water Pump Pliers are just awesome.

Combine these Water Pump Pliers with, say, a Wera screwdriver kit, and it you'll be able to tackle 90% of the jobs that a multitool can do, and do it better and more efficiently. 

Need something bigger? No problem. 

Also: 5 tech gadgets I never leave home without

You can pick up the Cobra water pump pliers in sizes from 4-inch to a whopping 22-inch.

Editorial standards