Böker’s New Multi-Tool Beats a Swiss Army Knife with Elegant Efficiency
The classy German-engineered outdoor essential hits a Goldilocks-worthy sweet spot of size and capability.
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With literally hundreds
of heritage-laden knives and multi-tools
for every conceivable purpose, Victorinox
sets a gold standard.
While Leatherman's products
generally outperform when it comes to innovation and ruggedness, they are so different aesthetically and (to some extent) functionally, it's tough to compare them.
With its textured forest green G10 scales and grey stonewashed implements, the Naturensöhne MK II NXT looks quite different from a traditional Swiss Army Knife, in a good way. - Credit: Böker
That's what makes Böker's latest release so interesting, as it feels much closer to that of a traditional Swiss Army Knife.
Thanks to its distinctive, heirloom-adjacent style and cool efficiency, the outdoor-focused new Böker Naturensöhne MK II NXT
is arguably even better than one.
Forging its own path
While its implements resemble those you'll find on similarly priced and positioned SAK's, this multi-tool feels less like a dupe and more like its own thing altogether, for a couple of reasons.
First, it's a standout part of the brand's ongoing collaboration with Die Naturensöhne ("The Sons of Nature"), two popular German YouTubers who tackle legitimate outdoor challenges with equal parts competence and irreverence.
Were it merely a pocket knife, it would be like so many Böker blades: better-looking than you'd expect for the price. - Credit: Böker
Second, the MK II NXT doesn't really look like an SAK, and isn't trying to, as its textured forest green G10 handle (complete with Naturensöhne's logo) is both classier and more outdoorsy than shiny SAK red.
While the shade might make it easier to lose in the woods, the grippy scales definitely improve functionality.
The biggest similarity to an SAK is the storing of tweezers and a toothpick in the back of the handle. - Credit: Böker
The rest of the 4.23-ounce tool is similarly understated, as many of the implements take on a complementary grey stonewash finish.
As for the implements themselves, they definitely fall in the "everything you need, nothing you don't" camp.
The glass breaker is a smart little bonus feature you'll forget all about until you're stuck in, say, a sinking car. - Credit: Böker
The most prominent is a 2.8-inch drop-point blade made of respectable Sandvik 12C27 steel, with a classic nail nick and slipjoint mechanism, meaning it is best opened with two hands.
Additional tools include a wood saw, a reamer/awl, tweezers, a toothpick and (my personal favorite) mini combination pliers.
All implements fold neatly into the handle, enabling the multi-tool to retain the clean silhouette for which Böker's pocket knives are known. - Credit: Böker
They've got nothing on the jaws of a Leatherman, but they are adorable and could probably bail you out of small, unexpected jams, such as a stuck zipper.
The multi-tool also boasts a pair of features rarely found on an SAK that are nonetheless quite handy to have: a glass breaker and a tip-down pocket clip.
Availability and pricing
The Böker Naturensöhne MK II NXT is available now for $129.
Böker Naturensöhne MK II NXT
About the Author:
Now managing editor, Steve has served in a variety of roles with GP since 2019. Having previously written and edited for such publications as Men's Health, Men's Journal, Esquire and ESPN, he enjoys covering a range of topics — but mostly those pertaining to cycling, snow sports, pocket knives and motos — and dreams of a utopian world in which everyone's bike seat is at the proper height.
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