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Are Multi-Tools a waste?

Multi-tools in the outdoors, YES... being I love to fish I carry my LM wave for sure. I think a quality name brand Multi tool is not a waste of money.
 
I like a multitool. I carry one in my kit in the truck, my surge got snagged with the rest of the gear, but mymindisamob sent me a used charge, and it has a pocket clip on it.

Its my first full size with a pocket clip. Man, all of them should have one. Ive edcd it for a couple days, and its alot more comfortable. I never carried the surge, it just rode in the pack, cause it was heavy and uncomfortable in the pocket, and I carry enough on my belt at work. Super cool tool though.

However my needs are very fufilled with a SAK in the bush. The farmer works well for me.

That said, I will still pack a multi in the truck, in case. I do like edcin it though with the pocket clip its low ride, and sheeple reindly, just like a SAK.:thumbup:

Another thing to rotate:rolleyes:. However a multi w/o the clip will have no play on me. Too bulky and heavy, and the small ones hurt my hands to use.

My wife always has her purple juice in her purse. She loves that dang thing. I won it from rockywolf, and never got it. She intercepted it, and ever since has held it tight. I saw it the other day. It had makeup all over it. I cleaned it for her an told her bout taking care of your tools so that they can take care of you. She said thats what I was for. How can I argue with that!:)
 
j williams said:
My wife always has her purple juice in her purse. She loves that dang thing. I won it from rockywolf, and never got it. She intercepted it, and ever since has held it tight. I saw it the other day. It had makeup all over it. I cleaned it for her an told her bout taking care of your tools so that they can take care of you. She said thats what I was for. How can I argue with that!:)
Click to expand...

LOL make-up!
10hovtf.gif

get her a Leatherman Squirt, their even smaller (really keychain size).
I've lost many a small knife/MT to them! ;)
 
An absolute yes for me as well. From loosening stubborn knots to taking a pot out of the fire, holding a nail as I flatten it and cutting or prying nails out of trees, they are definitely not a waste in my book. And that is just using the pliers. There are a plethora of other uses depending on what tool set up you have.
 
The Victorinox SwissTools have all the features of their SAKs, that are so popular, but with the added versatility of a real pair of pliers. They are great for cutting and bending wire coat hangers into useful gadgets while you're camping, as well as removing fishhooks. The big SwissTool has two locking full size blades, one plain edge and the other serrated, and they have just about every tool you need to repair your gear.

Oh, and you don't have to open the pliers to get to any of the tools.
 
I use my Surge nearly daily whether in the woods or at work. I don't find that I need it every time, but like ROCK6 said, I really haven't needed a bunch of my survival gear but I ain't gonna stop carrying it.
 
I wouldn't go without a multitool of my own volition. The pliers and wire strippers are especially useful. Most "emergency situations" occur with some semblance of civilization around, a cabin, a broken down ATV, a vehicle, or whatever. Civilization is usually close by, even if it is abandoned or broken down. Things like wire cutters, pliers, and screwdrivers are of great use fixing or improvising with that stuff or even repaining my own gear.

Personally, I don't find scissors to be a necessity. One tool that I wish all multitools had is a leather awl. Great for fixing leather, canvas, and other thick materials.

My second "sharp instrument" is a folding knive usually one of the one handed knives currenlty a 5.11. This is my standard fare at work and it's what I carry after work also. If I carry something else, it is a chopper usually a hatchet but sometimes a machete.

EDIT: Oh yeah, my small folder is always on my keychain microkit and another spare folder, also a 5.11, is in my camelback.
 
Leatherman Wave always goes with me. Pliers are potlifters and can cut down hooks. Diamond file can sharpen knives and tools. Scissors are much better at cutting moleskin for blisters. Knife works as well as anything else. Serrated blade is my dedicated digging, scraping, prying tool. On my last short backpacking trip, I don't think I ever took out my sheath knife, but did use the Wave numerous times.

I considered carrying a Vic Huntsman, but would miss the pliers and the extra blade on the Wave terribly. Going to the PST would not be too bad, I did that for quite a while.
 
I've carried a Leatherman or Swiss Tool (and even a Gerber for a while) for most of my military career; they've come in handy more times than I could count. I've really warmed up to the Swiss Spirit and like it for hikes and camping, but I could probably get along with just my SAK Outrider. As Pit said, the first time you forget it is when you end up wishing you had it:D I like the pliers and wire cutters for playing with tin cups and snare wire and removing fishhooks is always a given with the pliers; they're also a good pot/lid lifter. The saw is always handy for making triggers on traps or even trying to get a flush cut on a walking stick. The file is always quite handy...in fact, I used mine just the other day to get my ferrocerium rod tip flush and cleaned up before I sealed it with fingernail polish. With the Spirit, it has a couple decent screwdrivers and a great little chisel/wire stripping tool...how many times have I seen pocket knives used for similar tasks!

Doesn't matter if it's an urban or rural environment or you're even camping...if you use a little imagination and creativity, a multi-tool can be a handy addition to your kit.

ROCK6
 
I will absolutely not do anything outdoors without one. I have been known to not take a knife. I think the multi tool is THE most useful tool outdoors.

I have a Leatherman Charge Ti and use every tool on it.

Pliers for fish hooks, first aid, building shelter
Knife Obvious
Serrated knife for cutting rope or vines
Saw for collecting fire wood and building shelters
File for sharpening my hatchet
File for throwing mean sparks from my ferro rod
Scissors for cutting my fingernails, food packets, etc
File again for rounding my nails after they're cut. (Dont laugh, the scissors don't do a very good job so a file is needed).
Bottle/can opening for opening food
Flathead for prying
Eye glasses screw driver has been sharpened into an awl. Used for fixing gear, making leather items, etc.

I love mine.
 
Unfortunately, the darn things are pretty heavy. But there have been a few times when having a pair of pliers from a multi-tool came in very handy when out in the woods. I've got one of the later model Leathermans (don't have it with me now and don't recall the model name - but it has all the tools and was over $70 IIRC). This thing is heavy & I never carry it. More often I carry my original model Leatherman. Much lighter, but still quite a bit of steel. - - Maybe I'll stick to carrying my Swiss Army knife (Fieldmaster) and a pair of needle nose pliers with diagonal wire cutter blades since these are the only functions that I recall using from the Leatherman that weren't covered by another knife or piece of gear that I was carrying. I wonder if that combo would be lighter than the Leatherman. Will have to check it out. - - - In addition, the Leatherman is all steel and not the easiest to open in cold weather with cold hands when shivering, and with one functioning hand because of an injury. (Been there, done that.) - -
So I guess my take is - - if you got the room & can spare the weight, why not ? (But I'm not going to use one for my only tool if in a wilderness situation.) If carrying a pack, & weight is an issue I think I'll look to see if there are lighter weight options. YMMV. Regards, - -
 
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I almost always bring my Leatherman Wave on camping trips. Mostly because my camping trips are usually for bow or rifle hunting, fishing, or bicyling. Gear sometimes breaks. You can fix it or go home... it's nice to have some tools around!

Stay sharp,
desmobob
 
I am usually over-prepared: I carry 2 edc's plus my Surge and Vic Farmer. Also have a Vic Classic on the keychain and a Buck 373 in the pocket as well. I get more use from the Surge as all tools lock and i guess I could get by w/o the Farmer, but I am a master of redundancy!
 
There's a lot of man-made crap in the woods around here, like wire fencing, junked farm machinery, vehicles, etc. A multitool would be a big help in harvesting those things if need be.
 
Good point Foilist. Improvise! Anybody here carry some small wire in their BOB? I do, I think it's florist wire. Anyway , I have used the pliers for twisting the wire tight to hold stuff together. And the cutters as well. The saw is great, I do carry a folding saw in the bob too. But I think redundant tools save lives. Not many of us hit the woods with only one blade right?
 
Quite impressed so many people find their usefulness.
Looks like I'd better rethink my way of doing things.
 
My Gerber Diesel and Leatherman Wave see lots of use, I handed over the diesel to the wife after long years of abuse and still looks mint aside from a lil rust on the file.

The wave I keep in my backback at all times, as mentioned above its a handy tool for fishing, cutting snare wire.... reaching for a snapped gas door cable in the floor of my car, repairing some 550 rigs, blade makes awesome feather sticks and the list keeps on going.

Yes I sure bet I could find many uses for them in the wilderness, hell anywhere.

But I'd have to agree with you on the good ones don't come cheap..
Have you tried looking around for 2nd hand models with light abuse, maybe a surplus or something similar?

Someone also mentioned some time ago that sometimes the best survival tool you have is the one that's always conveniently on you and available to be deployed... I don't ever see myself carrying a fixed blade 24/7 because well... I'd get arrested.

Something like a combo of endura and the wave fits my needs perfectly.

multi-tools A+
 
I carry a Leatherman Charge Ti EDC for work. It's a rare day I don't need to call on it and if by chance I drop it in the harbour I'll be getting a new one right quick. Work for me also includes wilderness applications.
 
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