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Best Leatherman-Style Multitool?
An anonymous reader asks: "I'm in the market for a Leatherman style multitool, but some new players have come to the table in the past few years, and I've heard a couple of anecdotes that Leatherman might have been eclipsed. So, I'm asking Slashdot for lots of anecdotes; what are your experiences with your multitool? What's the best one you've seen or used? Have you ever broken one? Do the tools wiggle around after a lot of use? Those are some general questions, but there are two specific ones. First, does the knife blade lock? The quickest way to hurt fingers is using a folding knife when a fixed blade is the right tool, but you can't carry a fixed blade knife into many places. The second question is, how long is the main knife blade? You can't carry a folding knife with tool long of a blade, either (unfortunately). Thanks for any and all help!"
I have the leatherman Pulse. It comes with a locking mechanism that holds a fully extended tool in place. I have had it for a year so far and the tools aren't loose.
I'm a happy pessimist. I expect and prepare for the worst, when it doesn't happen I am pleasantly surprised.
I've heard good things about Gerber Multi-tools. A friend of mine has one.
We may experience some slight turbulence and then...explode. -Capt. Mal Reynolds
Both the Leatherman Squirt and Juice are great. I would suggest testing the phillips driver on any multitool first as some are different. The Squirt has a flat phillips that actually works, a little strange but it does work. I also keep a Gerber multitool in the back pack. The Gerber is nice and locks closed or open. I don't care for the size but the pliers are a little better because you can spread apart things that the leatherman can't. Overall I would say that with the low prices on most multitools it is worth while to have multiple of them, one in the truck, one in the apparment, etc....
The GPL, for those that truely understand.
The Best version and about half the price is the Victorinox Cybertool 41
http://www.thinkgeek.com/gadgets/tools/3653/
Plus it take full size Hex/Torx heads... And good and solidly mad with lifetime warranty.
Or if you want one to beat a users head-in for disturbing your /. reading, try the Victorinox Swiss Champ XLT
http://www.swissknifeshop.co.uk/swisschampxlt.htmI had a Leatherman for several years and somehow lost it. Shortly afterwards I was in a situation where I needed a multitool *now* and the only one I could find on short notice was a Gerber. I like the Gerber better, mainly because the blades are on the inside of the fold, and that makes the grip more comfortable. The saw blade is nothing more than a standard jigsaw blade, thus you can change it out with any jigsaw blade from any hardware store for any purpose you need it for. The knife blade is a nice combination of smooth and serrated for fine cutting or box ripping, and it has all the quality of Gerber's famous line of knives.
I work as a professional theatre technician. My multi-tool is my life, literally, and it gets used and abused on a daily basis.
I've had a Leatherman Wave since they first came out (I was told by the guy at the store that I was the first person to buy one) and have NEVER had a problem with it. It's not super-heavy-duty. You can't use the knife-blade as a chisel. You can't exert > 40 or 50 lbs of torque pressure on the tool. Having said that, if you need a specialized tool, then you need a specialized tool. Don't try and do it with a multi-tool.
The wave get's my vote, hands down.
I was looking at leatherman-type tools last year and came to the conclusion that the SOG PowerLock (S60) is the one to get. Its not quite as ergonomic as the new Leatherman Waves but its insanely tough. All the tools lock and the main pliars have a nifty gear reduction on them that makes hanging onto things much easier. Mine cost about $60 and hasn't left my belt since.
Make sure you know the knife laws for your locality. You might not think of a Leatherman as a weapon, but the local police may disagree--especially around schools and colleges. Here are some useful links:w s.html
http://www.thehighroad.org/library/blades/knifela
http://pweb.netcom.com/~brlevine/sta-law.htm
California-specific laws:
http://www.equalccw.com/knifelaw.html
Always keep in mind that info on the Internet may be wrong or out of date, so take with appropriate seasonings.
Eric
The Leatherman Wave tool is very nice. Specs from the Leatherman web site0 4)/default.asp
b oy_s.htm
http://www.leatherman.com/products/tools/wave-(20
Length: 4 in. / 10 cm closed -- 6.3 in / 16 cm open
Weight: 8.5 ounces / 264 grams
Materials: 100% stainless steel (Optimum grade hardness for each tool/blade)
There are two blades, one serrated and one plain. The blade length isn't described, so I measured my Wave. The length of each blade is approximately 3 inches. The sharpened portion of both blades is 2.5 inches.
I've had mine for a while, so far it had been a wonderful tool. Each tool/blade locks open, making it fairly safe to use. My Wave tool rides in the knife pocket of my Maxpedition Versipack
http://www.maxpedition.com/product/product_vp_fat
This sig kills fascists.
The Gerber came with a nifty screwdriver bit collection, has a nifty one-handed opening action for the pliers, but the steel sucks: It's soft and rusts badly. I consider it an "urban survival tool", because it's good for typical city situations.
The Leatherman is much better steel, is a bit more awkward, but you're less likely to pinch your skin when the pliers slip. This is your rural puppy. Water won't bother it so much.
The Toolzall is designed for electrical work. Damn, but it's nice. Excellent steel, all the blades lock, superb wirestrippers, rock solid. It's all I carry for electrical work.
Then there's knives with USB drives in them and computer case drivers, and so on, but I've never tried them. Really, you just have to figure out what you're after and look for that. Just pay attention to the steel: good steel doesn't bend like plastic.
I've carried Gerber blades almost exclusively for 5 years now. I have a Leatherman, one of the originals, and hate it. i *had* a Gerber Sport Multiplier but it has gone missing. Hopefully i will find it by summer when i need it most. I have a full size set to replace it if it doesn't turn up, but the sports are a little more compact, lighter, and just as robust. all the tools lock with the best locking method i've seen on any mutlitool yet, it holds the blade with no worries, yet can be disengaged even if you're wearing gloves (very important since i wear gloves quite a bit at work). the scissors on it are invaluable, they make quick use of zip ties, and the screwdrivers have bailed me out several times. If i don't find the sport by summer i may have to go buy another, the larger version is heavier and more gangly to me, plus it lacks the scissors. Mine got a daily bath and wipe down with lubricant and never jammed, it just became part of my morning routine when i got to the shop, but in a less dirty enviroment you could get away with oiling once a week.
no matter what you end up with, they're just like any other good tool, if you want it to last you have to take care of it. not using it for a crowbar and oiling is a good start. Get a good can of high quality lubricant, youhave to watch WD-40 because it will gum up, and some of those silicon lubricants do the same. once a week just get an old rag, take the tool outside, spray it down with the oil then wipe off excess with the rag, work each tool and the pliers a few times to work the oil in and dirt out, wipe it down again, replace in sheath.
Looking for a mini keyring tool that does just about everything and has locking blades. The SeberTech M4 SeberTool is great.
I own a couple of them and have had them for 3 years so far. The fit in your wallet or coin pocket. I buy one for each of my staff and have been known to give them to friends for christmas.
I buy mine at Fry's http://shop4.outpost.com/product/2522351 but you can find them elsewhere.
--- Who put this sig here? ---
Before buying anything in this arena, you really owe it to yourself to spend some time perusing Doug Ritter's Equipped to Survive site. Honest, objective reviews of all the hardware. I'm not affiliated with him in any way.
I have to go with the classic Leatherman. I have had mine since I was 10 years old, and it still works great. Other than getting the knife blade sharpened here and there, I have not had any problems with it in 13 years, and I have put it through considerable abuse.
I understand your desire to have a locking mechanism for the blade. That being the case, the Leatherman Wave would be a good fit. It's very similar to the classic Leatherman in terms of quality and function, and the blade lock is a nice touch.
Gerber, Victorinox, Leatherman, SOG - whatever floats your boat for the multi-tool.
However, if your primary concern is one that has a locking knife blade just get a knife to compliment the package. I find knives on pocket tools clumsy and of dubious quality/utility. I don't like fumbling around with my Victorinox when I just want to quick cut something, so I carry a CRKT M16-14M. I've had a few CRKT knives in my posession and have found that they take a nice edge, keep that edge, are ambidexterous, and of fairly good quality for what you're paying.
A good folder with a thumb-stud for easy opening and a locking blade means that you're knife can be out and ready in just a couple seconds, vs however long it takes you to unfold a Leatherman. You can deploy, use, unlock, and clip them back onto your belt with a single hand and that's handy if you ask me. Comes in handy at work, and makes it easier and cleaner to open packages, snipping a cable tie, or stirring my tea.
While not of concern in your post, this also makes them a last-ditch self defense weapon. Not a very good one... but if you don't have a gun on ya, it's better than nothing!
Personally I wish somebody made a multi-tool that didn't waste space with knives in them.
Oh, and don't discount the idea of a neck knife! That would be a knife you hang around your neck with a sheath, the handle pointing toward your abodomen. Depending on your attire they can be very comfortable to wear and nobody knows its there... less stuff hanging off your belt too. However, I've found producing a fixed blade knife from under your shirt at a moment's notice tends to freak people out. Some also come with a sheath that could alternatively be mounted to your belt for extra flexibility (ie: You're out in the woods, you can keep your every day knife with you but in a bit more accessible manner).
Most importantly, if you're using it for a knife most of the time, a real knife is more comfortable than a multi-tool -- which means better control overall.
I'd recomment Knife Country USA if you want to buy online. No special reason, but the prices are competitive and the owner knows the subject matter if you have any questions about this or that. Also, a very friendly guy. I found his booth at the local gun show and use him for my online purchases.
Me, I don't know what all the fuss is about. I just carry a standard cheap-ass pocket knife, got it for two dollars at a dollar store. It's got scissors, a saw blade, a very useful hole punch, and a whole lot of things I rarely need. Once in a while, I break the blade, usually doing something I shouldn't have been doing with a knife blade, and I go buy another one for two dollars. I have it as a keychain, along with a triple A powered flashlight.
Plyers, you ask? I carry a pair of actual plyers in my car instead of the crappy things in a multitool.
If corporations are people, aren't stockholders guilty of slavery?
I got myself the New Model Leatherman Wave at the moment it came out, and can't be happier. It has 2 large knives, saw, file, 2 bits-holders(which includes two two-sided bits, additional bits are available from Leatherman), scissors, Large flat screwdriver(phillips-screwdrivers in two sizes in the included bits), can opener, better ruler, etc.
:)
You can also get a 21 piece bit-kit for it, which is great for technicians(check the link, and scroll down.). It also appears that it's has a lower price than the titanium Leatherman models, while having the same amount of tools. The reason, ofcourse, is that it's steel, and therefore somewhat heavier.
I have used mine extensivly, both at work, and at canoe-trips into the wildernes, and just love it. All the tools and knives are locking, and the whole thong is just dandy.
I've had an original Leatherman (stolen by a hippie) and a Leatherman II for the past 10 years. The L-2 has two blades, many screwdrivers and all that, and mine came in anodized BLACK. It's the only one i've ever seen like that. Only problem after a decade of use is that I snapped the smallest flat-head driver. It mostly gets used for computer and bike repair, and all the tools lock and have no wiggle after intense use. The L-2 at least is heavy enough to open the pliers one-hand, but the little tools require both hands.
They don't make that model any more, but the new Wave models are the follow-on. Some of them come with replacable screwdriver bits. Not sure about the new ones, but the original Leatherman is milspec, which is part of why they are so sturdy.
I agree with one of the above posts, too, consider a completely separate knife for your toolkit. Nothing beats a good one-hand, thumbstudded, locking knife. I recommend Benchmade (I've got an Elishowitz StrikerII), CRKT and surprisingly the new Buck knives are pretty nice.
Josh
gigantino.tv - Heavy but weighs nothing.
So, you need a multitool that doesn't have a blade. I've never seen one that I'd consider useful, but that's because I consider a knife to be essential. 8^(