About the usefulness of multitool when camping

B34NS said:
I was in NoLita last week for work
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What is NoLita?

I generally prefer a SAK (Huntsman or Farmer) over a Leatherman. I snapped a Leatherman pliers (Wave) with only hand pressure, but never broke a SAK.
 
I mentioned earlier
I recommend the 4" Irwin Vise-Grip long-nose locking pliers to go with a SAK

I served many years in an army rescue (from fallen building unit-reserve) where we had 30 complex tools to use
I constantly used this little 4" Vice Grip that I carried in my cargo pants

  • very strong holding capabilities
  • very powerful wire cutter
  • long reach
  • can hold very small items and when you choke it quite wide
  • will hold unassisted, locks with one hand
  • very light, even when combined with a SAK, lighter than a multitool
  • Inexpensive to buy
  • easy to use, no butterfly opening
 
sodak said:
What is NoLita?

I generally prefer a SAK (Huntsman or Farmer) over a Leatherman. I snapped a Leatherman pliers (Wave) with only hand pressure, but never broke a SAK.
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Ah! A neighborhood in manhattan ;)
 
When hiking, hunting, fishing or camping, there are many times I need tools. I always take these two, a Swiss Army multitool, and a One Handed Trekker knife.
 
I am ok with a SAK, but Leathermans (I own a PST and a Charge TTI) weight a lot. I only carry the later when I am going to be using a multifuel stove for extended periods of time. Even though it comes with its own maintenance tool, having something sturdier is handy.

However when going for a day hike, or even a whole weekend sleeping at a mountain hut... a SAK is sufficient. Also now most of the climbing gear is adjustable without tools (if you have been stupid enough not to adjust it at home!). I also carry a pair of lined leather gloves, which are double duty for rope management and handling hot pots without ruining expensive climbing gloves.

I find myself carrying my Leathermans more often in a urban environment than in the outdoors.

Mikel
 
neeman said:
I mentioned earlier
I recommend the 4" Irwin Vise-Grip long-nose locking pliers to go with a SAK

I served many years in an army rescue (from fallen building unit-reserve) where we had 30 complex tools to use
I constantly used this little 4" Vice Grip that I carried in my cargo pants

  • very strong holding capabilities
  • very powerful wire cutter
  • long reach
  • can hold very small items and when you choke it quite wide
  • will hold unassisted, locks with one hand
  • very light, even when combined with a SAK, lighter than a multitool
  • Inexpensive to buy
  • easy to use, no butterfly opening
Click to expand...

I’ve been a fan of the Irwin Vice-Grips since they first came out. Great tools. The only downside is the slow jaw opening adjustment. With the Vice Grip’s many advantages, that’s a trivial issue. I always carried one in my carpenter apron. It did everything from cutting wire to changing saw blades to fixing a compressor—helped by a 4 in 1 screwdriver.

For years I’ve paired the same model Vice Grip (4”, long nose) with a SAC. Great combo. Whether I use Vice Grip or multi-tool depends on what work I’m expecting to do.
 
Before the Leatherman came out, I carried a 4" Vise-Grip and an offset screwdriver: flat head bent 90° one way, phillips bent 90° the other.
 
Mikel_24 said:
However when going for a day hike, or even a whole weekend sleeping at a mountain hut... a SAK is sufficient. Also now most of the climbing gear is adjustable without tools (if you have been stupid enough not to adjust it at home!). I also carry a pair of lined leather gloves, which are double duty for rope management and handling hot pots without ruining expensive climbing gloves.

I find myself carrying my Leathermans more often in a urban environment than in the outdoors.
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I carry gloves too in my day pack often. I picked that up from Mykel Hawke as he always had a pair of gloves on in his Man Woman survial show and it made a lot of sense. I also tend to carry my Vic Spirit more in an urban environment where weight doesn't matter much and I generally don't have anything on my belt.
 
22-rimfire said:
I carry gloves too in my day pack often. I picked that up from Mykel Hawke as he always had a pair of gloves on in his Man Woman survial show and it made a lot of sense. I also tend to carry my Vic Spirit more in an urban environment where weight doesn't matter much and I generally don't have anything on my belt.
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Just goes to show you how individual our preferences and gear are. I don't carry/use a Swiss Army knife. I have quite a few U.S. made camp-utility knives and even MIL-K818's. I generally keep one or the other in my canoe camping drybox, but they seldom get used. I have a Leatherman Wave but that thing is a brick to carry. The closest to pliars that I carry in that drybox is a pair of needlenose pliars or a pair of hemostats, mostly for removing fish hooks. Gloves? If I need them for warmth only. My hands are tough from construction work and gloves get in the way more than they help.
 
I started a thread a while back about what would be on a Bushcraft Multitool.

It's sort of odd that nobody has made one.

I agree with Codger that they are a bit too heavy. At least on mine the one thing that is really weak on it is the blade. The design of the blade just isn't that good.

But the glasses screwdriver is great, one time I used only the saw to gather wood, and only rarely missed having the hatchet with me. The wood file is great for bushcrafty things and if you DO bring an axe the diamond file is great for that. The scissors are great although the pair on mine are a little too small. The pliars great to lift pots and pans that are hot.

I think I would re do the knife blade and dump the serrated blade for something else though.
 
I find it interesting that things I find incredibly useful (scissors) others have never used and have no use for. It would be nice to have a bushcraft multitool that you could easily build to your own specs, and change around as needed.
 
Personally I love a leatherman. I agree they are heavy but it has also saved the day a couple times with a tool that wouldn't have been on my SAK. I do tend to have things in my pack I don't need though :rolleyes:
 
I've carried a leatherman surge everyday for the past 6/7 years and have a supertool packed in my camping bag. My old man has had various SAKs for well over 30.
Leathermans are heavy but they're like bringing a good knife. Sure its more weight, but when you really need one, its usually has what you need (sans duct tape).
If you're more concerned about wight, I'd suggest getting a SAK
 
Esav Benyamin said:
Before the Leatherman came out, I carried a 4" Vise-Grip and an offset screwdriver: flat head bent 90° one way, phillips bent 90° the other.
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The 4" vice grip with the needle nose is my most used pair of vice grips. It gets used nearly every day in my house namely because the knob came off on my washing machine and I use the vice grip to grip the screw/nut to turn the thing on. I also keep one in my tool box, actually one in a couple tool boxes. The Robo-grip pliers are my most used pliers. Wonderful design. Never tried bending a screw driver intentionally. Guess it depends on the kinds of things you need to use it on.
 
22-rimfire said:
The 4" vice grip with the needle nose is my most used pair of vice grips. It gets used nearly every day in my house namely because the knob came off on my washing machine and I use the vice grip to grip the screw/nut to turn the thing on. I also keep one in my tool box, actually one in a couple tool boxes. The Robo-grip pliers are my most used pliers. Wonderful design. Never tried bending a screw driver intentionally. Guess it depends on the kinds of things you need to use it on.
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No need to bend a screwdriver yourself. They come pre-bent. Google Offset Screwdriver.
 
The flathead end of the offset screwdriver is good for popping off those monster staples we got on pallet loads.
 
Raymond1000 said:
No need to bend a screwdriver yourself. They come pre-bent. Google Offset Screwdriver.
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Come to think of it, I probably have one of those flying around the house. It is quite amazing what I find when I am doing a major junk cleanup. My wife calls me a hoarder, but I don't think she understands the term.
 
sodak said:
I find it interesting that things I find incredibly useful (scissors) others have never used and have no use for. It would be nice to have a bushcraft multitool that you could easily build to your own specs, and change around as needed.
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Yeah I wish they could put on a thicker blade out of better steel.

I'd keep the diamond/wood file
I'd keep the glasses screwdriver
Mine has a bit driver with a flat and Phillips screw head. I wish leatherman would offer a bit with a carving chisel like on this carving jack.

http://www.japanwoodworker.com/Prod...Handed).aspx?gclid=CNvevqik88MCFUlk7AodE1UAMg

I'd keep the saw.

I'd ditch the can opener because I don't carry cans backpacking.

I'd add some sort of very small pointed blade to bore holes and stuff.
 
sodak said:
I find it interesting that things I find incredibly useful (scissors) others have never used and have no use for. It would be nice to have a bushcraft multitool that you could easily build to your own specs, and change around as needed.
Click to expand...

Never had a use for scissors or the cork screw on any pocket tool and I try to avoid them. I have mental categories that roughly view SAKs as a knife with tools, and Leatherman multis as tools with a knife. I pretty much like most all of these tools on either side. I do however tend to prefer a Leatherman multi when metal detecting in the bush. It can double as my bean can opener and needle nose lifter off the fire. And or remove a snug battery pack / tighten screws on the detector. A multi has performed most of this and more for me out there.
 
hollowdweller said:
Yeah I wish they could put on a thicker blade out of better steel.

I'd keep the diamond/wood file
I'd keep the glasses screwdriver
Mine has a bit driver with a flat and Phillips screw head. I wish leatherman would offer a bit with a carving chisel like on this carving jack.

http://www.japanwoodworker.com/Prod...Handed).aspx?gclid=CNvevqik88MCFUlk7AodE1UAMg

I'd keep the saw.

I'd ditch the can opener because I don't carry cans backpacking.

I'd add some sort of very small pointed blade to bore holes and stuff.
Click to expand...

upnorth said:
Never had a use for scissors or the cork screw on any pocket tool and I try to avoid them. I have mental categories that roughly view SAKs as a knife with tools, and Leatherman multis as tools with a knife. I pretty much like most all of these tools on either side. I do however tend to prefer a Leatherman multi when metal detecting in the bush. It can double as my bean can opener and needle nose lifter off the fire. And or remove a snug battery pack / tighten screws on the detector. A multi has performed most of this and more for me out there.
Click to expand...

Interesting. I wish more people would chime in with their point of view, I really like hearing different opinions and why. Differing opinions have influenced me over the years more than people that agreed with me.
 
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