When space is a luxury when you’re deep outdoors, you need a tool that performs multiple tasks within a tough-as-nails, compact footprint. Well, your search is over, as the AM-V3 Mega Multitool from Adventure Mate (AdventureMate.com) fits the bill. This amalgamation of an axe, saw, shovel, E-tool, hammer, and hook takes versatility far and above what other tools even attempt to offer. Normally, do-everything tools have an Achillis heel, something that has to be sacrificed to be able to accomplish a myriad of jobs. However, after using this battle-hardened beast in the field, it had no such crutch or limitation. Just hardcore performance that didn’t yield to anything thrown at it.
Initial Thoughts
My first impressions of the AM-V3 Mega Multitool can be described in two words, hefty and hearty. The weight of the unit caught me by surprise when I lifted it out of the shipping box. It was substantial, as was the size of the product itself once I shed its outer packaging. With a total weight of nearly six pounds, this was no novelty. The length of the tool was close to a foot-and-a-half from the base of the handle to the tip of the hook. The shovel accessory itself was over a foot in length. Within my hands, the handle felt durable and every mechanism (more on this later) exuded professional-grade precision and construction. The main tool and its shovel accessory were packed securely within a waterproof storage case.
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Examining its Ingenious Design
The AM-V3 Mega Multitool’s primary form is that of a traditional ax. It features an extremely top-heavy design (which I love for splitting wood and hammering) with a prominent cam lock that allows quick changing of the tools. The lock slides up and down (naturally, to lock it in place), and once I unlatched it, the ax head was removed. Inside the handle and attached to the bottom of the ax head was an 8-inch wood saw. Finally, at the top of the unit was a hook constructed of thick metal. I also loved the safety feature on the unit. Whenever the lock was properly engaged, a green dot would appear at the base of the lock. If it wasn’t visible, then the tool was not in properly and shouldn’t be used.
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I was next ready to configure all the tools of the AM-V3 Mega Multitool. First, the ax, as-is, was ready to go. The rear hammer was also ready. I only had to turn the handle within my grip and hammer away. The first main transition came when I wanted to set the saw in-place. I unlatched the lock, lifted the ax up and out and turned it upside down and into the handle. The saw was ready to be used, and the ax head was now out of the way. In addition, the shovel head could be placed into two configurations. First, as a traditional digging shovel and second, as an entrenching tool. Once the ax tool was removed from the handle, the shovel slid in and locked securely. With a quick reconfiguring of the shovel blade, the entrenching tool was ready to assist.
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Standing Up to Challenges
Though the ax was stout, it was both top-heavy and solid, and chopped like a full-sized version. It cut through a fallen log in seconds. Small saplings fell with one swing, and hacking through a palm tree felt as if nothing was there at all. The saw was equally tough with one pass eating through a large part of the 6-inch diameter log. Soil in South Florida isn’t dense and more sand-like. Both the shovel and E-tool had no issues rapidly digging downward and carving out a trench. The back-end hammer pounded a tree-support spike deep into the ground with little effort. The rubber impact area kept the strikes on target without noticeable slipping. With no pot over a fire to test the reinforced hook, I used it similarly as seen on the Adventure Mate website and popped the cap off a bottle and enjoyed my beverage.
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No Weak Links
Simply put, The AM-V3 Mega Multitool is the real deal when it comes to outdoor tool versatility. What could have been a poor-quality novelty, I discovered is truly a tough-as-nails tool that wears many hats. All features stand tall on their own with none being the weak link of the unit. At $299.00, this price is excellent for what you get. Remember, you’ll have six quality tools at your fingertips, all without excess bulkiness or monopolizing your storage space. This Mega Multitool is a must-have for your next outdoor adventure.
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