Whether you’re an EMT with tons of emergency experience or an everyday adventurer who spends the weekends camping in state parks, anyone can run into an emergency situation they aren’t prepared for. While you can’t prep for every potential disaster, owning a multitool designed to fix practical problems is a great start.
For the many emergencies you might face in the car, in nature, or in your daily life, we tried out a versatile survival tool from Leatherman—the Raptor Rescue shears. Capable of breaking windows, unscrewing oxygen tanks, snapping rings, slicing leather and seatbelt straps, and cutting up a range of materials, these shears might be just the thing you need in a moment of crisis.
With six different functions and a portable, foldable design, it was easy to carry around this tool as I spent a few days trying out the entire multitool one function at a time. By the end, I found myself tossing it in my travel bag or keeping it on my person for every adventure.
Pros
- Six different functions
- Comes with utility belt holster
- Foldable design
Cons
- Lacks traditional tool set
Shears
More than anything else, this tool is built to cut. Made of stainless steel, the shears have a thick body yet maintain a sharp edge.
The bottom blade has a ridged edge, so it grabs on and holds to material like cotton fabric, gauze, plant material, and ropes for cleaner cuts. The thick design of each blade improves its ability to cut heavy duty materials without bending or breaking under pressure such as denim, cold-weather jackets, and even small branches or vines.
The bottom blade also comes with a five-centimeter ruler, so you can cut more precisely to size or make measurements in a pinch. I tested out the shears on a few unlucky cotton t-shirts as well as an old jacket made of a rough, thick blend of cotton and polyester. On both accounts, the shears cut through easily.
This function could be especially useful when cutting open a piece of clothing for quick access to a wound or cutting up fabric for emergency medical items like makeshift bandages or tourniquets. Of course, you can also use the shears in non-emergency situations, like clearing vines from a campsite, cutting rope to size, or getting into a backpack with a broken zipper.
The shears were especially impressive to me considering that as a left-handed man, about half the scissors I try don’t cut cleanly at all, regardless of which hand I use them in.
Additional Features
Outside of the shears, this emergency multitool comes with five other functions: a carbide glass breaker, a ring cutter, a strap cutter, an oxygen tank wrench, and the five centimeter ruler.
The carbide glass breaker proved to be incredibly effective, shattering multiple thick glass bottles after just a few sturdy hits. Even without using my full force, I was able to break any glass I tried it on with ease. The breaker is designed to shatter car windows or any other glass barriers. I found it easy to grip and strike to the side or down with the breaker when the entire device is folded up.
In situations where you need to cut a ring off of someone’s finger, you should feel comfortable using the ring cutter on these shears. The smooth bottom edge slid easily between my finger and the ring I was wearing without snagging on my skin. In testing the cutting function, the ring cutter snapped everything from nails to thick screws without issue. The most force I needed to use was a sturdy squeeze from both hands.
For emergencies in a car, a strap cutter is the easiest way to escape from a seat belt if the buckle is jammed. The strap cutter on the Raptor Rescue shears has the sharpness and the hook design to cut through seat belt straps during an emergency. I didn’t have a seatbelt I could cut to try this out, but I tested the device on two thick backpack straps, which sliced off without any struggle.
While I couldn’t put the oxygen tank wrench to the test for obvious reasons, the stainless steel makeup combined with the lock-in-place design seems more than sufficient for unscrewing even a tightly sealed tank.
Portability
Hikers and adventurers know that for emergency tools especially, portability and accessibility make all the difference. The Raptor Rescue shears score well for both. The device itself folds down small enough to fit in most pockets without sticking out the top. The folded design also makes sure to keep all sharp edges away from the outer edges so there is no risk of it poking against your skin.
Each pair of shears also comes with a utility holster that fits comfortably on any belt. The holster grants easy access to them, so there’s no need to rifle through a full backpack to find them in the case of an emergency.
A small but notable feature on the holster is that it fits the multitool whether it’s completely folded up or extended out. The holster has a small opening at the bottom that locks in the extended shears, keeping them in place as you move around, which is handy if you’re snipping something every few minutes.
Even if you don’t use the holster, the Leatherman shears come with both a waistband clip and a small corner hole to clip them on to a lanyard or hook. If you need this device at a moment’s notice, you have three different ways to make sure it’s in your hand within seconds—an excellent trait for an emergency tool.
Drawbacks
While it isn’t surprising considering this tool’s designation as an emergency tool, outside of its purposes, the shears lack versatility. They excel in their intended uses, but if you need a pair of pliers or a screwdriver, you’ll be left wanting a more varied tool.
In short, the device will work well for the described emergency situations, as well as several non-emergency uses, but don’t expect it to replace your current multitool.
Leatherman Raptor Rescue Shears, Reviewed
The Leatherman Raptor Rescue is a multi-functional tool that can be a valuable asset during any level of emergency. For medical professionals, outdoors enthusiasts, or anyone who wants to stay prepared, keeping one on your person or in your car is an easy way to ready yourself no matter the situation.
Each of the six different features on the device are effective and intuitive to use, the holster and clip make it quick to stash nearby, and the foldable design keeps its footprint small if you’re packing light or stowing it in a pocket.
While it won’t replace the traditional multitools in your pack, it may be the one you’ll need when it matters most.
Tom Price is an Associate Editor of Reviews for Popular Mechanics, and also contributes to Runner's World, and Bicycling. He has previously covered product reviews, startup news, and even professional wrestling. In his free time, he enjoys watching pretentious TV, low-brow movies, and exercising for beauty, not health. If you are interested in exploring more of his work, check out his website.
