The Ultimate Leatherman?

numbski asks: "I have long been a fan of the Leatherman tool and its act-a-likes. I have never bought one, however. I keep looking for just the right one with the tools that I would actually use on a daily basis. Sure, the pliers, knives, phillips and standard screwdrivers are nice, but there's always been a few things lacking. A t-10 and t-15 torx (security torx preferred) for the Compaq systems that torment me, or how about a USB2 Flash Drive? Hex wrenches, or a socket tool that fits machine screws (in case the phillips has been stripped out)? What would you put on a Leatherman? Even better, seen anything that matches what I'm looking for?"

Comments

Re:If it were up to me...

[jnik]

I'd make a Leatherman without a knife, so I could have it behind the "secure" areas of an airport.

Tools aren't permitted through security--the list specifically states screwdrivers, wrenches, and pliers, but "not limited to."

Thinkgeek to the rescue.

[ComputerSlicer23]

Here is a leatherman adaptor kit with most of what you want.

Think Geek's Tool page has most of the things you want on a swiss army knife, or a leatherman tool. You just have to go look for it.

Kirby

The ultimate Leatherman has been discontinued

[Spock the Baptist]

The Mini-Tool is the ultimate Leatherman:

http://www.leatherman.com/products/tools/retired-t ools/mini-tool/default.asp

Very compact when completely closed, yet you get a full sized pair of needlenose pliers when open. The size of the needlenose is perfect for most electronic applications.

I've been raiding various local independent tackle stores, bait houses, and gun shops and buying all that the have in stock.

So far I've got a dozen pair of Mini-Tools.

Now when you combine the Mini-Tool with a VICTORINOX WorkChamp you've got a lot of 'firepower' in just a couple of tools. I don't leave home without them.

Re:My Leatherman would have:

[platypus]

Well, besides the travel-by-plane thingy, look at victorinox knifes:

http://www.thinkgeek.com/gadgets/tools/3653/

http://www.victorinox.com/newsite/en/index.htm

Useful web page..

[biglig2]

http://www.equipped.org/ has lots of detailed reviews of thiss sort of tool.

Re:Get a Micra

[PurpleFloyd]

Not too hard - they're on sale almost anywhere if you know where to look: inside a 9 volt battery. Most name-brand alkaline 9V batteries consist of 6 AAAA cells in series; there are a few off-brands which aren't in that configuration, but IIRC Energizer and Duracell both use the 6xAAAA configuration. It's a fairly simple matter of levering the outer case of a 9 volt battery open and simply popping the AAAAs out.

One caveat: they can be a bit shorter than "true" AAAA cells. This site details the trials and tribulations of finding a decent set of AAAAs in a review of a penlight using the same; it contains some nice pictures of opening a 9 volt battery case, too.

Re:Gerber

[NRP128]

I use the Sport 400 Multi-Plier daily. It's smaller and lighter than the original tool. I'm working outside during the summers between school and its invaluable for day to day work, i couldn't go without mine. I have the full-size version on my bunker gear (i'm a volunteer firefighter) and its easy enough to operate even with gloves on. Just my $0.02.

ChargeXTI

[SamHill]

Leatherman's ChargeXTi includes many of the OP's wants. There's also a bit kit available that adds a bunch of additional screwdriver bits, including more Torx drivers.

I spent a long time looking at all the options that were available (looking especially hard at the Gerber and Swisstool), and ended up with the ChargeXTi. It does what I need it to do, and is great for quick fixes where I don't want to bother getting my real tools.

That said, real tools are a must -- removing or installing more than a half-dozen screws with the Leatherman gets annoying pretty quickly, not to mention its bulk being a issue with any screws that are accessed via a tunnel or with bits of bracing in the way.