Best multi-tool for EDC?

L

Lurp

Joined
Jul 15, 2005
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I'm looking for a multi-tool to EDC and was looking at the multi-tools from SOG and Leatherman. They both seem to have some nice multi-tools but i was wondering which one you guys may suggest and which is most useful for EDC. I will not be using it to hard (well at least until bass season next year :) ) but just for light duties that i come across everyday in an urban neighborhood and for light outdoor uses when the weather gets nicer next year :rolleyes: . I was really comparing the Leatherman Supertool 2000 and the SOG powerlock as they seem to be the most versatile ones. Thank you.
 
That's actually a tough question. I have several and it all depends on the tools/features you will actually use.

Please check out the multitools forum on this site. Should keep you busy for a loooong time ;)
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=786

In the meantime, check out the many, many different leathermans (ST200 is being replaced by the 'core'). Some target stores have been closing out the older leathermans.

http://www.leatherman.com/products/tools/default.asp

Then there's SOG (Powerlock would be my recomendation), Victorinox Swiss tool (Spirit recommended), and Gerber.

Dig around, there's a great deal to choose from, and most from the above makers are very good.
 
Leatherman Charge

154 cm blade steel and titanium handles:thumbup:
 
i have an 7 or 8 year old gerber multitool (before they started putting plastic parts on those) and i havent found any better yet, i really like the one hand opening feature.
 
I have had my Swiss Tool on me from the day I first got it from my wife as a gift. It was the first one they came out with and I absolutely love it. It has outlasted anything else I had before and seen many other brands working beside it fall apart and get tossed out. I understand they have several models to choose from now. I'm sure the new ones are just as nice and of the finest quality as you would expect coming from Victorinox.
 
Agree with STR, I've owned mostl of the multi-tools on the market and IMO the Victorinox are the best finished, best design and most durable of the lot.

I liked the SOG but did not like the fact that you could not open the handles up for extended reach, or set them to a right angle for extended leverage, the gear drive prevents this.

When I owned Leatherman's I was never happy with the heat treat and found the screw drivers were constantly rounding off with use. I sheared probably 5 or 6 of the small flat heads before I stopped using that tool all together. I've also stopped buying from them period because of political reason's that I won't get into here.

I currently own 4 of the Swisstools (one for each of 3 cars and one to carry) in different variations and have never looked back.

Edited to add: I too liked the older Gerber's but was not impressed with the newer ones.
 
I have used a Leatherman PST since 1998 and have had no problems. The PST is out of production, but the Wave looks like a great tool. You can deploy the blades with one hand, and the blades and screwdrivers lock.
 
I also have an all metal Gerber multi tool that I have had for 8 years.It has never failed me,the one-handed opening is great.I also had a Leatherman prior to that,and the first bit if hard use,it failed.I swore I would never buy another one,and I haven't.
 
Before I came to Baghdad, I used my Leatherman Wave for most of my fixit work in telecoms. That included cutting and stripping wire, dressing the ends of various sizes of coaxial cable, helical cable, crimping solderless connectors, crimping molex, dressing CAT5 cable, dressing fiberoptic cable, hogging fish tape through channel, removing stripped screws using the needlenose on the head, adjusting various radio controls (frequency, sensitivity, power etc). Flipping dip switches, prying corroded connectors apart, punching telco wire, and a whole host of other tasks.

That said, I reckon I could've done about the same more or less with just about any other high end multi tool of similar configuration, maybe with a few low end models as well. If it has a couple standard sized screwdriver tips and a blade and a decent combo pliers, you're not gonna find much difference in their use, insofar as my experience has gone. Some that work is pretty darned delicate, some of it taxes the limits of my physical abilities (200+ lb grip last time I got tested).

Oh yeah, I've also used the blade to completely dress out a deer. I saw an Idaho Conservation Officer dress out a big cow elk with a Leatherman knife, in about as much time as it would take with a good hunting knife, including caping and quartering the beast (actually not that hard to do if you know what you're doing).
 
If you don't want to keep it in a sheath, there's no better tool than a Leatherman Charge. Not only does it have the 154CM main blade (soooo much better than 420J), phosphor bronze bushings (sooo smooth), and interchangable bits, but it has what every other multi-tool lacks: a pocket clip.

I gotta say though that the Victoinox Spirits look very nice even without the pocket clip.
 
I've owned a SOG Paratool for many years now and it has served me well. There are times when I need to adjust the angel of the pliers, and the Paratool works well. I've also had a Gerber, my only complaint about it was that the pliers started to rust, but other than that it works great. If I had to choose I'd always pick my Paratool.
 
LM Charge Ti is my EDC. It has the best combination of features *I* want.

Will
 
Thanks for all your replys and I think i may just go with a leatherman wave cause i wont be doing a real hard labor with it and i also like the features. This is the easiest for me since its easily avaliable at Wal-Mart and I dont want to use my credit card right now and i hate money orders haha.
 
Just a caution: You REALLY ought to handle them first if possible. I handled some Leatherman tools today and was taken back by how big the Charge Ti was. It is really quite a bit larger than I imagined it would be. They do, however make tools in smaller sizes as well. For me, the Charge is just to much tool to EDC. The Juice or maybe the Wave (I think that was the one larger than the juice) was a better fit for me.

Something to think about anyhow...
 
kbog said:
Just a caution: You REALLY ought to handle them first if possible. I handled some Leatherman tools today and was taken back by how big the Charge Ti was. It is really quite a bit larger than I imagined it would be. They do, however make tools in smaller sizes as well. For me, the Charge is just to much tool to EDC. The Juice or maybe the Wave (I think that was the one larger than the juice) was a better fit for me.

Something to think about anyhow...
Click to expand...

The Wave is the same size/weight as the Charge.

If you want a more substantial pair of pliars than the Juice, have a look at the Kick. It is a lot lighter and easier to carry than the Charge/Wave. It gives you several good drivers, plus the option of a bit holder for more drivers. No sisscors, file or saw though.

Will
 
Will said:
The Wave is the same size/weight as the Charge.

If you want a more substantial pair of pliars than the Juice, have a look at the Kick. It is a lot lighter and easier to carry than the Charge/Wave. It gives you several good drivers, plus the option of a bit holder for more drivers. No sisscors, file or saw though.

Will
Click to expand...

I think the Kick was what I was thinking of. Thanks for the clarification. I guess my main point was that the big models are BIG.

:)
 
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