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.
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 brands’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.
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 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 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.
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
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