REVIEW – I love multitools. The utility and portability make them a great EDC item. Over the years I’ve owned a number of different Leatherman multitools as well as a generic knockoff or two. The Roxon Phantom multitool came up for review and brings some interesting features to the mix, so let’s see how it holds up!
What is it?
The Roxon Phantom multitool, in addition to the normal multitool features you would expect, also has the ability to interchange the main blade with a variety of different blade options.
What’s included?
- Roxon Phantom Multitool
- Extra wire cutter blades
- Bit and bit holder
- Allen wrench
- Carry case
- User Manual
Tech specs
- Closed Size: 104x43x22 mm
- Open Length: 159 mm
- Weight: 310g
- Knife Blade Steel Type: 8Cr13MoV
- Scissors/Cutter Steel Type: 5Cr15MoV
Design and features
The Roxon Phantom multitool has quite a few features built into it. I was surprised at the number of different functions it has. One of the biggest selling points of the tool is the blade interchangeability. There are several Roxon products that have interchangeable blades, along with a pack of different blades that you can buy, so that you can customize your tools to best suit your preferences.
The Phantom comes with an American Tanto blade out of the box, as you can see above. All of the other options are sold separately as seen below.
The can opener, awl, Phillips screwdriver, and chisel are pretty standard options for most multitools. Note that the Philips head also has a square body. That comes in use with the bit set I’ll cover further down.
The bit holder fits over the Phillips head. There is a magnet in the bit holder, but it’s a loose fit.
There are a bunch of small bits, but again, the magnet in the holder is a bit weak, so it’s not a tight hold.
There is a separate pocket inside the multitool case for the bits, so those are held snugly inside.
In comparison to the other Roxon pocketknife I’ve been reviewing, the Phantom multitool has a good one-handed open. I was able to easily and quickly open and close the blade with one hand.
The included scissors in this tool are fantastic. They are large, sharp, and have a good grip.
The pliers on this tool have an interesting feature in that they come with replaceable wire cutters. In the picture below you can see the little screws that can be removed to replace the wire cutting blades.
The pliers themselves are a bit loose. You can see in the alignment that they don’t quite line up straight. That’s not a huge deal, but I don’t like much play in my pliers. Makes it difficult when you’re trying to hold on to small items and it shifts on you.
Performance
While you’re not going to be felling trees or sawing through logs, the saw is sharp and handled dry wood well. It should handle small branches with ease.
The included knife blade is extremely sharp and has held up well in use. The steel has held up and kept the edge well.
What I like about the Roxon Phantom Multitool
- Super sharp blade – you could literally shave with it
- Scissors have a great handle and sharpness
- Locks on all tools
What needs to be improved?
- Quality/alignment of pliers
- Weight/bulkiness overall of the tool
- Magnetic fasteners on bits are too loose
Final thoughts
In short, the Roxon Phantom multitool has a lot going for it. It has a lot of functionality and at the price point, it’s pretty hard to knock. All of the tools have locks on them and are very sturdy. It is fairly bulky and I would like to see it slimmed down, but with all the features that are included, that’s pretty hard to do. The one-handed functions work well and overall it’s a good multitool. My one quibble is that there is a bit of play in the pliers. At the price point and with the functionality I recommend it. There is room for improvement, but overall it’s a decent tool.
Price: $59.99
Where to buy: Roxon and Amazon
Source: The sample of this product was provided for free by Roxon. Roxon did not have a final say on the review and did not preview the review before it was published.