Let me start off with, you get what you pay for and that I am a fan of Leatherman. I have a lot of their multitools and accessories.

If you have an IFAK (individual first aid kit), you should have a pair of shears. You may need to cut through denim or other tough fabrics if you or a loved one is bleeding badly, and you need to figure out where and how bad.

You can get no name generic shears for $10 that will probably be adequate for a few uses. Personally I like to upgrade from the bare minimum since bad shears can snag you up when seconds count.

Previously I purchased X-Shears. They’re great, lots of good reviews, $40, professionals use them, they’re sturdy, but they’re kinda big. I have a pair in the 2FAK (I just made this up – It’s the kit I carry when K is with me). It’s a little bit bigger bag that I bring on trips or errands.

When I am out and about by myself I want the bare minimum I can carry and still be effective in a bad situation. The Leatherman Raptors are $100 and have 6 or 7 tools on them including an oxygen tank wrench, strap cutter, ring cutter, etc. I don’t care about any of this but the ring cutter could conceivably come in handy I suppose if needing to cut heavy gauge wire or if someone breaks their finger and you need to cut their ring off.

Elegital Emergency Rescue Shears

I think Chinese companies must use the same naming method that prescription drug companies use to come up with barely pronounceable combinations of letters for names. “It’s elegant and digital! We’ll call it Ele git AL” which sounds like the noise you might make after vomiting.

Anyway, the Elegital Emergency Rescue Shears are great. They are a direct ripoff of the Raptors and they look and feel fantastic for 1/3rd of the price.

If you’re a daily shear user, an EMT, emergency room nurse etc, probably spring for the real deal. For me, this tool will sit in a bag and most likely never be used in a critical situation. The big selling point over the x-shears is that that the Elegital shears fold up (but are still not small). If maximizing space isn’t important, and you don’t need extra gizmos, X-Shears are the way to go.

Cons? If I have any, it’s that none of the other tools lock in place. The shears lock open, but that’s it. It’s actually just one tool, the strap cutter. The shears do not lock closed and there is some play in them when closed but it’s not horrible. These shears are a little unrefined but I wouldn’t say they’re cheaply made. They look professional but like they were made in a communist factory.

For casual use the Elegitals will do it all. they have multiple colors including an orangy bronze shear or glow in the dark handles. I went hi-viz green to help me find them quickly in my bag, but since I still require light to see where and what to cut glow in the dark didn’t seem worth $2 more.

And that’s it. If you don’t have an IFAK or proper first aid kit, build one. First aid is everyone’s responsibility.