Best Utility Knife with Driver | Comparison of Klein, Milwaukee, Lenox, Toughbuilt, Hart (2024)

Addendum: The Klein actually DOES lock in the halfway open position. I did not realize that because in normal operation (flipping it out) it flips right past the halfway lock. But upon further usage I discovered that it does actually lock in that position giving it one feature that the other drivers do not have (unless you count the Lenox's strong detent in that position.)

Milwaukee 6in1 Fastback is my favorite. Milwaukee has now replaced the wire retention ring in the 1/4" bit holder with a ball bearing type retainer. Spec ops makes a utility knife that's really thick, 2 blade storage, no driver but has a window/skull crusher point on the butt end that is just an extension of the aluminum body, not carbide or tungsten. I've carried the Spec ops quite a bit along with a small keychain prytool. But i always come back using the Milwaukee. i put a serrated blade in the Milwaukee for cutting cordage. Thank you for the review.

Great run down! I'm a welder/mouldmaker and I daily the fastback. It's not perfect but it's fast and effective. That Toughbuilt looks really, really enticing, though!
The Hart and Milwaukee are owned by the same company, TTI. I would not be surprised if they were made in the same factory.

I bought myself, my father, and my brother in law the toughbuilt scraper utility knife for Christmas this year. It’s a huge hit. I’m getting the 5 in 1 as well, I’m a handyman, and I like compressing my edc kit because my pants pockets are always stuffed.

I carry and use the fastback 6 in 1 daily for probably 2+ years.. i never knew before this video it had the extra blade storage! I also have the same issue you mentioned, i am a large man so unlocking the driver is like threading a needle to me. Great video and great info, thank you!

Good video!!! I had not seen the others! I LOVEEE THE TB 1 AND THE HART 1 HERE!! These 2 r my fav on here!! Def gonna be checking both of those out asap!!!!
HART BTW WENT BACK TO THE DB AND REDESIGNED ALLLLLL THEIR sh*t B4 CMAS OF 23 THIS PAST YR!! AND THEY HAD A LOT OF THEIR TOOLS OUT ON DISPLAY AT CMAS!! AND I TELL U THEY HAVE LIKE MAJOR STEPPED THEIR sh*t UP!!!
LIKE THEIR DRILLS NOW LOOKED GREAT! FELT GREAT!! NICE WEIGHT!! SUPER GREST CONTROL ON THE TIGGER!!!! LIKE SOME OG THE BEST TRIGGER CONTROL OF ANY!!
AND THEIR MEASURING TAPE IS LIKE WOW!!! BEST STOP CONTROL AS U SLIDE OUT....ON THE MARKET!!! I MEAN IT IS TIGHT AND THICK AND TOUGH AND STRONG!!! LIKE U PULL IT STOPS AUTO AND IT HAS 0000 MOVE!!!! AND LT WAR! HAS ALL THE IN BET FRACTION MMs on the tape!! Just the BEST ONE IVE PICKED UP SEEN OR HAD IN MY HAND PERIOD!!!
I AM LIKE MAJOR MAJOR IMPRESSED WITH MOST ALL OF HARTS NEW LINE OF sh*t!!!! AND THIS LITTLE KNIFE LOOKS GREAT AND LIKE IT'S MADE PRETTY DAAMNED GOOD!? AND FOR 10 BUCKS!! IT JUST LOOKS GOOD AND I THINK I WILL BE ADDING IT AND TB TO MY ATIRE!!😮😊😅❤🎉
AND LOWES IS HAVING SOME KICK ASS DEALS ON KOBALT AND SOME ON SKIL ETC... SO I BE CHECKING THEM OUT TO!!
WM ALSO HAS ABOUT 4 GREAT KNIVES 2 FIXED 2 FOLDING IN THEIR CASE TO! GOT MY EYES ON THEM AS WELL!!!!
DAMN!! ALLL THESE TOOLS AND NEW ONES AND SALES R GETTING ME ALLLL EXCITED!!!!😮😮😮😊😊😊😊😅😅😅🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

Thanks for posting, Nick!
The Hart bit storage holders look like copies of Gerbers bit holders on their earlier knives... Gerber chose a brittle plastic that would break readily.
The Klein shorter bit holder looks like it allows for 2" bits to be used with the system, like magnetic nut drivers. That's a nice feature.

The Lennox knife used to be my favorite for a long time. That was until I got a job where I needed one with a screwdriver. So I started my search and ended up with the Toughbuilt one. It is heavy and a little big but functionality wise it's the best. Because of its size and weight and the rectangular shaped handle it works very well as a screwdriver. The Phillips bit is also very good. Because of this you get a lot of torque for driving fastners. Even more than a regular screwdriver.

I'm a Facilities maintenance worker, I EDC a 6 in 1 Fastback 24/7,(Swiss Champ, Knipex 5" Cobra & Pliers wrench, Kline 1/4 -3/16 flip bit & 8' tape measure) keep one in my personal truck and one in my work van. I don't see anything in the others to change that. I take the pocket clips off immediately and use Ti coated blades to prevent rust, especially in the summer when I'm landscaping 3 to 4 days a week at 19 locations around the county. Regular utility blades rust fast when drenched in sweat.

At $10, the Hart is an "impulse buy" for regular people, but the Toughbuilt and Milwaukee would be "no brainers" for folks in the trades. Great review! You style is thorough and easy to listen to.

ABSOLUTELY! I bought one for my wife but I got one too, I had NO idea it would feel so nice in the hand. It is incredible. The only issue that concerns me is the plastic bit holders with spring, it just worries me that they’ll break and I can’t use the one of 4 bits. I thought I was the only one, the weight of the knife, the shape, the fast back action, it’s just perfect. Well done. Also, the magnet on my Hart is actually very strong. I have a hard enough time pulling the bits out that I can’t Imagine the bits getting pulled out so maybe a small quality control issue?

Got the Milwaukee fastback and love it. I use it daily

You’ll break the tip on the Milwaukee before you break the knife itself

Well done, one for the algorithm. I bought the Milwaukee with bit driver that holds one blade, and it came in a 2 pack with a basic model utility knife for $10, so I bought a few packs as a backup. I'm enjoying it. I might try that Toughbuilt at some point too. Great content.

Same impressions about that hart knife, very unique. I saw it, picked it up for a closer look and left it at the store. Would have bought it, if only i didn't already have like 7 other utility knives. Good to see it's functions up close, thanks.

That Hart is like the Kershaw Selectfire pocket knife. I love the bit storage on that thing.

I want to say thank you for this. If I wouldn't have seen this I would have just jumped on this Klein blade. Not because of brand loyalty because it's orange AND a good brand name. However I would have been upset with that quality especially since my daily is the same Fastback you have in the video. I tried a similar style Husky brand without a driver. It was poorly weighted where the handle was too light and upon flipping open you could feel the knife wanting to jump out of your hand. Anyway I appreciate you saving me the money of finding out the Klein is trash as I'm the guy who would go I could use that extension for my drill I use my bit out of my Fastback in my drill all the time.

I was going to mention that Milwaukee and Hart are part of the same company. TTI bought them a few years back and decided to use them for their Wal-Mart exclusive line. I carry a "normal" Fastback daily, but I've considered the bit holder one. After this video, I'll probably consider the Toughbuilt too.

Kershaw makes a standard blade knife obviously the point of this video was to highlight utility razor blade stlyes. But the Kershaw “select fire” has a bit storage mechanism identical to that Hart. But it has a driver like the Klein with a magnet. I really like that Kershaw a lot. I just replace the bits with my most used Milwaukee bits. Anyways great video sir!

Cool comparison! Like you, I use a utility knife constantly at work. Cutting boxes, pallet strapping, plastic wrap, burlap, etc. I edc the fastback, but we’ve got a bunch of random ones laying around at all times. The Lenox gold and a similar husky version, an old fixed blade Stanley, and an assortment of cheap Amazon ones. The Milwaukee is a dream. I’m constantly taking it in and out of my pocket and it’s just super quick and handy. I also use the driver a good bit and it’s perfectly adequate-I actually tend to one hand close it as well. I’ve really strongly considered getting the toughbuilt as I have some other stuff from them I really like. I think it’s just a bit too big for me to enjoy carrying, but seeing your comparison makes me want to go grab one to throw in the home tool bag or just have laying around. Thanks man!

Subscribed. Love my Milwaukee 1901, but considering this Fastback as well. Carrying the 1901 and the Leatherman Wave give me just about everything I need for pocket tools, but would be nice to leave the Wave at home sometimes.

I'm waiting for the Toughbuilt 5 in 1 Electricians Knife to get delivered. I was carrying a Workpro Stainless folding utility knife which was great. I switched to the Milwaukee Fastback 6 in 1 because I wanted a bit driver in addition to the knife. The larger size is not a problem. I'm hoping the Toughbuilt carry's well for EDC, but I'm concerned it may just be a bit too big. The Hart knife looks interesting but not rugged. Thanks for making this vdeo!

I like your commentary style 😊 however my long time favorite is the Lenox for EDC ❤

Great job! I carried the fastback for a couple of years and I love it. I bought the Toughbuilt a couple months ago mainly because of the pry bar feature, it is my favorite now!
I have big hands so I do like the larger frame,it’s definitely more comfortable for extended use. The Fastback fits my various EDC pouches I wear, but the Toughbuilt does not. I may just carry a separate pry bar and the Fastback for EDC and the Toughbuilt for work. Still trying to figure that out.
I agree with your thoughts on the Lenox and Klein, I love both of those tool lines and have spent more money than I care to remember on both of them in the last 40 years. But they need to redesign these knives. Excellent Review please keep it up, Thanks!

Carried the fastback for years, and never knew it had that spot for another blade

My Milwaukee lock broke, I usually just fidget with it all day opening and closing it all day and ig it finally gave out but got a brand new one and still happy with it

I have the hart one and they learned from gerber because the plastic for the bit holders are a nylon based so thin but won't crack readily they will deform before breaking unlike the more brittle plastic. The spring will be the weak spot but no problems so far.

I’ve owned a fastback for a while now, didn’t even notice the blade storage, and I don’t do anything enough drywall work to notice the tape hooking in there blade groove. Thanks for the tips!

Good to see the Hart has proper metal liners in it like a real knife. Not surprising since it's made by the same ppl who make the Milwaukee.

Toughbuilt is my go to love there products!

Toughbuilt takes this easily that thing looks like a beast

The Milwaukee is fine for light use, but I would not bother with it if I were using a utility knife often, it is a light weight/light use tool. I carry one in my car, decent enough for a backup and the bit driver may come in handy.

weight and size are of the utmost importance to me. if i JUST want a knife, im going to be using the small work-pro that takes up NO space, so the main part of this is the screwdriver. that said, 3 of them loose off the bat. i have been edc-ing the fastback for a few years and have only one minor complaint - ease of removing the spare blade. i have to say, watching the toughbuilt, the whole time i was just thinking "its too big" and then you touched on that at the end, but that pry-bar though.... ill probably end up picking one up and giving it a try. i dont know if the prybar is going to make up for the real estate it takes up, but its worth a go.
one thing about the hart, i like nearly nothing about the design, other than 4 bits. i think 2 flat and 2 philips is a waste, that knife would probably be a hell of a lot better with just 1 #2 phillips, 1/4" flat, and on the other side a t-20 and t-25. they are much more needed in a pinch than a SECOND phillips ever is.

24:24 The Hart is the same tool as Milwaukee it’s just the brand is meant for cheaper pricing and it’s commissioned by Walmart the manufacture is TTI. All HART tools are Milwaukee tools it’s just name differently just for Walmart.

I have an older Lennox gold that I love, it had the extra bit storage, blade storage, and a really nice feel, unfortunately the belt clip was trash.

I wish I could find the Toughbuilt.
Can’t find it anywhere!

Very nice video comparing these. Fastback is my top pick as well. I disagree that its a 2 hand close since i have always been able to close mine with 1 hand. that tough built is a solid tool and i love the little pry bar. its too bad that is so much bulkier though. i dislike having it in my pockets. The klein is such a joke and hard copy. i really dont see anyone using it besides YTubers trying to be edgy.

i have both the toughbuilt and the fast back. both are great tools. I just bring with me one honestly just depending on the pants im wearing lol. the toughbuilt is bigger and a little heavier than the fastback.

Once you break in the toughbuilt, you can consistently and accurately launch the bit

Only of Cresent made a Lufkin version of a Fastback.. Thanks for the video!

The hart reminds me of the older fast backs. Well, they are made by the same company as Milwaukee

I think klein has the removable bit holder, so you could run your own 2" bit in its place. That's the only thing I can come up with as to why. It's hard to tell from the video if a 2" bit would fit. But I'd love to know. Get back to me on that.

There’s a secret spot to stash an extra blade in the fastback too

I love the Husky. That's my favorite.

I carry and use the Milwaukee, and I like everything about it *EXCEPT* it feels like it opens too far. I feel like it should stop when the "blade" part is more in line with the handle, not a few degrees past it.

Milwaukee was the first one i have seen that put the blade release on the opposite side where if your right handed you wouldn't hit it by accident

I carry the fastback

thanks brother. I carry the BOKER KALASHNIKOV AUTO KNIFE

Definitely the Fastback is my favorite. Though I haven't carried the others, I can say I LOVE the fastback. Lost my first and replaced it as soon as HD did their combo pack for black Friday that also comes with the compact fastback. My only "issue" is that there isn't a reversible pocket clip. Truly a tradesman staple that everyone in the trades should have in their pocket.

Thank you for this video!
If you break down boxes, how does it not bother you that you don't get an entirely new blade when you flip it around on the Milwaukee? It ruins the whole knife for me.
I will definitely be getting the toughbuilt for my collection

Some cool options.

I carry the toughbuilt mini, the only one that goes in the pocket tip up.

I really like the Klein, i gave 9.99 for it. I gotta laugh at you saying the gimping is too aggressive. They sell a model with blade storage. I like the removeable 1/4" driver. That bit driver is geared towards electritians because we use the sh*t out of ¼" drivers at odd times. 😆

Nice

I carry the Milwaukee 6 and 1 fastback for quite some time and the only gripe ever had with it was when you would shut it. The utility knife blade would slam into the bit holder in the back because there is a gap where the blade can go through and the very back of the knife and then you would have a dull spot on your blade. So then I went to the Milwaukee compact fastback

Fun fact if you use the bit extension from the Klein on the ToughBuilt, the ToughBuilt's magnet comes out with it, it is not glued in, just a knit pick I noticed.

Have the fastback like it also have the toughbuilt use it more !! Love alot ofbthe toughbuilt stuff

Thorough review.

You can “easily” close the Milwaukee driver one-handed if you thumb the lock and use pointer and center fingers to close. Just the way I do it.

TTI Makes milwaukee and Hart

I bought the Klein because the pocket clip on the Milwaukee Fastback is wire and I've bent them out of shape several times. The Klein is solid metal. I'll let you know if I break it

I was thinking about buying the Bow River but decided on the Fixed Civivi Elementum. Looks less like a steak knife.

I really want the TOUGHBUILT for the pry bar. I wish the Fastback had a pry bar. I’m going to get a HART for the price,.

Just bought this hart utility knife.

lanyard would be for tieing to wrist or body so not to drop at height

16:34 the Klein tools blade is supposed to lock at 45°.

My favorite one is Craftsman utility knife. Unfortunately you missed that brand.

milwaukee fast back for sure the best utility knife to me

Please provide links to all the items you reviewed.

Milwaukee was over $35 on Amazon last weekend

I like Milwaukee but their bits suck. I use wiha best bits ive ever found. Ive tried most brand names even snap-on, matco,dewalt an many more i can't remember (or more likely can't spell) lol.
what bits do you find very useful. I highly recommend wiha. I changed to them on a 3 level deck build. I was using other brand bits like 5 a day.
Bought wiha used 3 bits for the rest of the job and that was because i lost 2 bits on a extention with a broken magnet.

I am a milwaukee fanboy but the only thing I like about the klein is how you can lock the blade at 45 degrees I guess you would say.

Very nice review

Toughbuilt knives are the best, i have the one that takes a magazine and the one that flips the blade to become a scraper.

Ima tell you rn, dewalt had the best one I've ever had. It was a folding and a push out blade, its a lil bulky but at the same time I also held 3 blades with the one you're using. I miss it. I have no clue what happened to it I hope that itll pop back up but it looks like the only way to get one is Amazon

"I pull this thing in and out of my pants all the time, I wouldn't like to destroy my pants."

Klein now makes a lot of stuff in China.
It is likely marketed toward electricians.
The impact rated stuff is likely because everything is becoming impact rated. Why make 2 kinds?
Also, it is replaceable if you can grab it off the shelf if you lose or break it.
The Hart one is the same no name design that you can get at Tractor Supply every now and again in the bargain bin.

Agree walmart did good

Hart is made by the same parent company that makes Milwaukee so there's that.

the Lenox mechanism is just like my Irwin and I do not like it. The Fiskars Pro is amazing piece but has no screw driver, still i use a no name knife which is a twin blade too. But, hey. The Milwaukee is on my bucket list.

I carry the Milwaukee Fastback but I find it interesting mine doesn’t have the bit detent like yours. They must have changed it at some point.

Where did you purchase the toughbuilt knife?

The hart is also made by tti

MILWAUKEE #1!!

The Klein uses a bit holder extension for longer reach. No brainer.

The Lenox model #LXHT10601 is a much better tool for this comparison than the 10771FLK1G you featured in your video, IMO.

Question what kind of impact driver or even bit holder do you think that that toughbuilt two-sided bit is it going to fit in. I don't think that that was something that they marketed it as being able to do like the klien which clearly that was a poor design. The toughbuilt products are awesome

Where did you find the toughbuilt one?

Which one works best, with the Leatherman ratcheting bit insert?

I just got the fast back, the newer model with the metal ball and I can't get the blade storage to work, the liner lock seems kinda loose and won't keep the blade in, just falls out, am I doing something wrong or the quality control on the newer models just aren't that good?

You forgot the legendary Fiskars pro utility knife

Kershaw has a pocket knife designed just like the hart box cutter. So more than likely hart wallmart copied the kershaw knife for the idea.

The klein has a middle lock position that you missed.

hart is made by the same company that makes Milwaukie ryobi and rigid so that hart is a cheep Milwaukie

Where did you find the milwaukee with the bearing detent for the bit bolder?!!

Hello. Can you give the référence of the toughtbuilt, impossible to find it anywhere. Thanks.

I carry the milwaukee i have 2.. 1 for work and another for when i dress up lol. I want to get toughbuilt looks cool but i can see it being to heavy

Fiskars has the best flipper.

Hart tools are the way to go

Get the work pro. Theyre better than all of these especially the fastback