Skip to main content

Sog’s newest multitool is the Swiss Army Knife of belt buckles

It’s a question all well-adjusted, serious adults have asked themselves at one point or other: what belt would a real-life Batman use to keep his pants up?

Short of any companies we know of that are producing bright yellow utility belts, the prize may have to go to SOG’s new Sync II belt buckle. It may look like a relatively inoffensive metal buckle, but it’s actually a pretty nifty multitool — comprising a plethora of tools that would rival a Swiss Army Knife.

Recommended Videos

These include (deep breath) a straight blade, bolt/nut gripper, bottle opener, crimpers, 3-sided file, medium and small flat screwdrivers, Phillips screwdriver, pliers, ruler, scissors, and soft wire cutter.

Sure, there’s no Batarang in there, but what do you expect for $80?

“Anybody who’s ever held a multitool knows part of the appeal is how all the components fold up inside of them,” Matt Crawford, a member of the public relations team for manufacturer SOG, told Digital Trends. “From a knife blade to screwdrivers to plier heads, a multitool is this superb, compact little portable toolbox. There a couple of ways to make use of the shape: you can wear it as a belt buckle, you can stuff into a pack or purse, you can clip it on to something. The idea behind the Syncs is to change the shape of multitools without sacrificing their usefulness.”

The Sync II was originally designed by Jameson Ellis, a craftsman who also offers an Etsy store packed with fairly unique items. However, it is being manufactured (along with its stablemate, the Sync I) by SOG Knives & Tools, a company which has been linked to the U.S. military since it was founded 30 years ago.

The Sync buckles fit with the company’s focus on functional design and aesthetic engineering, both of which have been part of its DNA since day one. Can you think of a better way to stop your pants falling down?

Luke Dormehl
I'm a UK-based tech writer covering Cool Tech at Digital Trends. I've also written for Fast Company, Wired, the Guardian…
Many hybrids rank as most reliable of all vehicles, Consumer Reports finds
many hybrids rank as most reliable of all vehicles evs progress consumer reports cr tout cars 0224

For the U.S. auto industry, if not the global one, 2024 kicked off with media headlines celebrating the "renaissance" of hybrid vehicles. This came as many drivers embraced a practical, midway approach rather than completely abandoning gas-powered vehicles in favor of fully electric ones.

Now that the year is about to end, and the future of tax incentives supporting electric vehicle (EV) purchases is highly uncertain, it seems the hybrid renaissance still has many bright days ahead. Automakers have heard consumer demands and worked on improving the quality and reliability of hybrid vehicles, according to the Consumer Reports (CR) year-end survey.

Read more
U.S. EVs will get universal plug and charge access in 2025
u s evs will get universal plug charge access in 2025 ev car to charging station power cable plugged shutterstock 1650839656

And then, it all came together.

Finding an adequate, accessible, and available charging station; charging up; and paying for the service before hitting the road have all been far from a seamless experience for many drivers of electric vehicles (EVs) in the U.S.

Read more
Rivian tops owner satisfaction survey, ahead of BMW and Tesla
The front three-quarter view of a 2022 Rivian against a rocky backdrop.

Can the same vehicle brand sit both at the bottom of owner ratings in terms of reliability and at the top in terms of overall owner satisfaction? When that brand is Rivian, the answer is a resonant yes.

Rivian ranked number one in satisfaction for the second year in a row, with owners especially giving their R1S and R1T electric vehicle (EV) high marks in terms of comfort, speed, drivability, and ease of use, according to the latest Consumer Reports (CR) owner satisfaction survey.

Read more