Best Multi-tool?

Slim to None

Slim to None

Joined
Nov 11, 2004
Messages
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I've got some knife experience but I'm fresh to multi-tools. I'm in EMS and looking for the nicest multi-tool out there and I'm leaning towards a leatherman charge xti. I also want to buy a really nice multi-tool for a buddy of mine shipping out to afghan early next year, any advice?
 
The best multi tool on the market (imho :D ) is Leathermans new Charge......best tool for the money and the industries best warranty by a long shot!

Kap :cool:
 
Loaded question alert: (BEST MULTI TOOL)
Everyone has the best idea of what it should be.
Below are MY OPINIONS!

Here are the best in MY opinion (In MY order):
1. SOG PowerLock (one handed pliers - easily flip open, completely customizable)
My review and others (and links to others Like Frank K's comparison to the LM supertool and ) here:
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=161220
Manufacturers website:
http://www.sogknives.com/pwrlck.htm

2. Leatherman Charge XTi (Ti):
There are many reviews and opinions in this forum.
I checked one out in the store. I like all the features, but THE BITS ARE VERY SHORT. If you need to get into tight spaces with a driver, you may be in trouble. The 154CM blade is worlds better steel than we are used to on a multi tool and makes this the current leader here.
One hand blade is of course nice to have.
http://www.leatherman.com/products/tools/default.asp
The extra bits fit in the sheath (which is LOW quality but passable).
If it had longer bits/drivers I would use this over the SOG.

#1 and #2 cannot be beat IMHO. If you need lots of different drivers, the Charge comes with quite a few and even more are available. I like the compound leverage on the SOG pliers and I have changed and modified many of the SOG tools -- SOG tools are hex bolt construction, you can take them apart to clean/fix/change out tools. They both have all components locking.

3. SwissTool - There are different versions of this and I have heard that they are heavy and built like a tank. Same amazing quality as swiss army knives. Many here call this their favorite. IMHO, it falls behind the top two due to the lack of one hand blade or pliers operation. Excellent choice if that is not required.

These are definitely the top three. The LM Supertool used to be up there but I think the charge has surpassed it, and the BLAST is looking to replace it (see below).

5. Gerber 800 series LEGEND:
Some like this one. I do not particularly. Do a search for it here.

4. Leatherman BLAST - Here we see a basic leatherman with all the tools of the old wave, but in an internal format. If you can live without a one hand blade (old wave, new wave, Charges), this is the best deal for the money. The pliers are identical to the new wave and charge, but with zytel handle inserts where your hand presure is applied. Longer drivers (permanent) than the interchangable bits in the charge/wave. Locks are the same as on the Wave/Charge and much better than the Supertool.
Permanent tools and no need for specific sheath to hold bits. (good for someone who loses stuff? :) )

Small/MED tools
5. LM juice line. For non-heavy use or an office environment, these are perfect. All of them are slipjoints (no locking components) and will easily replace a SAK or similar item, but with the benefit of a med/small LM style pliers.

6. Swisstool Spirit. Some here have these, I have not seen one yet.

7. SOG powerpliers.- same quality and compound leverage as the SOG powerlock, but non-locking components.

Keychain size (might be nice to have in addition to the above - tweezers and an extra driver can be useful):
1. LM squirt: P4 (pliers) or S4 (scissors). Well made, tools access from outside. Upgrade to the LM micra line.
2. SOG crosscut(scissors)/crossgrip(pliers): Same SOG compound leverage.
3. LM Squirt radio shack (only) edition: mix of P4 and S4 features with the addition of wire strippers in the pliers head.

This is off the top of my head, so If I missed something, feel free to comment.

Since you are doing rescue work, it seems that the one handed blade may be the most important feature. The LM charge seems like the best option. However, if you carry a one hand folder anyway (like a spyderco resucue for instance http://www.spyderco.com/catalog/details.php?product=72 ) you could consider others.

P.S. I carry the Powerlock and a one hand folder, so I have one hand pliers and one hand knife.
 
loaded question alert!!! LOL!

I agree with the Leatherman Charge .

hand down the overall winner! ;)
 
kapt kopter said:
The best multi tool on the market (imho :D ) is Leathermans new Charge......best tool for the money and the industries best warranty by a long shot!

Kap :cool:
Click to expand...


Don't Leathermans only have a 25 year warranty? If so it's not the best in the business, the Swisstool comes with a lifetime warranty. Which is just one of many reasons that it gets my vote as the best multitool out there. But realistically which one is really the best depends upon the person using it and what they use it for.
 
Thanks for the advice guys(gals?)! Very helpful, I'll just have to buy TWO charges now, one ti one xti...
 
After you have one, you will know what we are talking about. 154CM Blade is awesome and the tool itself is just so usefull. I will admitt that it is not perfect but it is Damn close. If I could only have one it would be the Charge! I like it so much that I have 2 of them and want a 3rd when I can afford it. I have one on my civies and one on my BDU's.
 
My vote would go to the SwissTool Spirit. I EDC a Spyderco PE Endura so it makes a great combo with my SwissTool. I had a bad experience with the Charge Ti that I bought so hopefully you don't get one of the defected models like I did and many others. I also think that SwissTools are built tougher and are higher quality plus they do have a lifetime warranty unlike Leatherman's 25 year warranty. One thing that the Charge does have going for it is the 154cm blade. Overall I'd say pick the tool based on what your going to use it for not on what other people think is the best because its going to be biased towards the tool that meets their needs the best (just like I'm biased towards the SwissTool :D ). Like if your only planning on carrying a multi-tool and nothing else it might be better to go with the Charge because of the one handed opening blades. Or if your someone who doesn't like to lug around alot of extra bits it might be better to go with the SwissTool especially if you carry along a one handed opening folder along with it. Also all the tools on the SwissTool open from the outside (which I think is very convenient) so that might be another deciding factor. The SwissTool meets 99% of my needs when it comes to the screwdrivers so I don't need the Charge with all its extra bits. So it all boils down to whats best for your needs.
 
I personally think that Leatherman's 25 year warranty is good enough. 25 years is a really long time if you think about it. If you do the math, you are only paying 25 cents per year (assuming you got the Charge for $100) for 25 years excellent customer repair/service.
 
oh,everyone think the leatherman type multi-tools are the best...not swiss army knives type.....

well,i think the steel in swiss tool is the best,it is polished like a mirror,but someone said that their file and some cast past is not stainless steel.....duno if it is not all steel or not...but i think the newest spirit should be! :)

btw,i like the new wave too,but the bit driver and eyeglasses driver are all fool!if u need to carry so many bits to go out,i dun think it is a gd multi-tool.....
 
My favorite multi tool is the Victorinox Swiss Tool RS. I liked it so much I bought a second one. I keep one in the car, the other I use around the house. Yes, it is heavy and built like a tank. :cool:

Paul
 
The best multi-tool is the one that works best for you. I carry a less known/used tool for work that sees a tremendous amount of action each day. On my days off I carry a Wave which many, including myself, consider a "nicer/better" tool. Unfortunatly, I fumble with the Wave in comparison to my work tool.
There is some truth to the fact that I use the work tool more often and that I am less comfortable with the Wave,however, if you can be more productive with a given tool, I'd say that one is the best for you :)
 
Matches said:
The best multi-tool is the one that works best for you. I carry a less known/used tool for work that sees a tremendous amount of action each day. On my days off I carry a Wave which many, including myself, consider a "nicer/better" tool. Unfortunatly, I fumble with the Wave in comparison to my work tool.
There is some truth to the fact that I use the work tool more often and that I am less comfortable with the Wave,however, if you can be more productive with a given tool, I'd say that one is the best for you :)
Click to expand...

What is your lesser known work tool?
 
Iwantyourskull said:
Don't Leathermans only have a 25 year warranty? If so it's not the best in the business, the Swisstool comes with a lifetime warranty. Which is just one of many reasons that it gets my vote as the best multitool out there. But realistically which one is really the best depends upon the person using it and what they use it for.
Click to expand...

A note about "Lifetime Warranty": legally, "Lifetime" refers to the "life of the product" and not the person who buys it, unless otherwise stated . In most cases a "Lifetime Warranty" is 5 years as most products are considered, by default, to have a "life" of 5 years unless the manufacturer states otherwise. Unless the manufacture gives a longer stated "life of the product" being sold, "Warranted Forever" is the longest warranty available. In the case of the Leatherman, their warranty implies the useful life of their product is at least 25 years.

When you see the term "Lifetime Warranty" thrown out, look closely at the rest of the warranty description. Its the manufactures definition of "Lifetime" that counts.

(This is in no way intended as a knock towards Swiss Army or Victorinox - I am a big fan of most of their products)
 
Leatherman may only have a 25year :eek: warranty but its how well they deal with warranty....they are the best bar none!
In many cases they will even do over the counter warranty!

Kap :cool:
 
JHouston said:
A note about "Lifetime Warranty": legally, "Lifetime" refers to the "life of the product" and not the person who buys it, unless otherwise stated . In most cases a "Lifetime Warranty" is 5 years as most products are considered, by default, to have a "life" of 5 years unless the manufacturer states otherwise. Unless the manufacture gives a longer stated "life of the product" being sold, "Warranted Forever" is the longest warranty available. In the case of the Leatherman, their warranty implies the useful life of their product is at least 25 years.

When you see the term "Lifetime Warranty" thrown out, look closely at the rest of the warranty description. Its the manufactures definition of "Lifetime" that counts.

(This is in no way intended as a knock towards Swiss Army or Victorinox - I am a big fan of most of their products)
Click to expand...


The warranty that came with my swisstool says that their lifetime warranty=the life of the original owner. I've never heard of victorinox refusing to do warranty work on anything. I've even heard of them servicing knives so old that thay couldn't possibly have been sent in by the original owner. So I have absolute confidence that at least in their case, lifetime doesn't mean 5 years, it means the rest of your life.
 
LongDistance said:
I personally think that Leatherman's 25 year warranty is good enough. 25 years is a really long time if you think about it. If you do the math, you are only paying 25 cents per year (assuming you got the Charge for $100) for 25 years excellent customer repair/service.
Click to expand...

If you do the math, 25 cents a year over 25 years would be $6.25. $100 would work out to $4 a year for 25 years, still really cheap for the service you get though.
 
A LM Supertool or the Gerber 400 would do everything you would want. That with a good pair of shears and a knife you like and you are all set. My neighbor is an EMT and she was using a cheap multitool until I gave her one of my G-400's. And shes carried the same Buck 110 since 1986.
And yes I've tried to trade her out of it.
p.s. the volunteers here dont have much money to work with. I found Spyderco Assist I's for $55 and it was more than they could afford. So some thing like the Charge isnt going to happen here.
 
ckl said:
oh,everyone think the leatherman type multi-tools are the best...not swiss army knives type.....

well,i think the steel in swiss tool is the best,it is polished like a mirror,but someone said that their file and some cast past is not stainless steel.....duno if it is not all steel or not...but i think the newest spirit should be! :)

btw,i like the new wave too,but the bit driver and eyeglasses driver are all fool!if u need to carry so many bits to go out,i dun think it is a gd multi-tool.....
Click to expand...

You don't really want stainless in a file and certain tools. A file should be significantly harder. SAK tools do use a different steel at least for the files, as do most toolmakers.
 
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