Best Multi-tool?

[JohnJ80]

I'm a ski patroller and use multitools both for the medical aspects and for the equipment aspects. I own a Wave, a Charge XTI and a Charge TI (will probably sell the TI), and a new Wave.

The only two that make sense for EMS are the Charge XTI and the SwissTool. Of the two, for pure EMS, the best is clearly the SwissTool.

The *ONLY* beef I have with the SwissTool RS is that the blades are not one handed opening. The serrated blade is awesome for using around a patient as a seam ripper, for cutting rope, seatbelts, etc... The XTI's gut hook, would be, in my opinion something I would need to be very careful of in a rescue situation since it could conceiveably hook a patient. The Serrated blade on the SwissTool will not.

In an EMS situation, you don't have time to be selecting bits. While the having the extra bit kit and then picking one full holders worth of bits gives a lot more utility to a tool, in EMS situations you don't want to be fiddling with all these little bit thingies - especially if you are gloved up. On top of that, if you drop one of these in the field - especially at night - you will never find it. In an EMS situation, you won't have time to look. The Swisstool has most of the bits easily accessible from the knife. It has a much more complete ala SAK, selection of blades making it selection easy.

Also, the XTI blades with the bits cannot be used for prying unless you really want to lose the bit. The Swisstool blades can be used for this and will take the punishment (like opening a stuck container with important supplies, a stuck latch on defig or AED, or a stuck equipment locker) no problem.

I think the Swisstool would be easier to clean if it got blood or other body fluids on it. The Charge TI has an exterior surface that might make this difficult. It is textured and has a lot of raised letter and other places that can entrap this material. Since these tools are so expensive, I don't think you want to be disposing them in the sharps container... ;-)

The XTI also does not have scissors. While I tend to use a knife blade for most tasks like this anyhow, scissors can be incredibly useful in all sorts of EMS situations. So, I include this as a necessary part of my EMS kit. If you decide that you can use the XT instead, then you get these really inadequate scissors.

Leatherman reduced the size of the scissors from the Old Wave in both the XT and the new Wave so that they are about 2/3 the size of the old scissors. The blade size doesn't seem to be the issue, but the part that you squeeze is smaller and you (a) can't get the leverage, (b) have a smaller target for your finger - easier to slip off.

So, the Leatherman XT and XTI are, I think, deficient compared to the SwissTool for EMS and rescue purposes. The big advantage that the Leatherman XT, XTI and new and old Wave have is that the they offer one handed blade opening - a nice feature in gloves.

(edited this in later)

The case for the Swisstool is, IMO, better. It completely encloses the tool protecting it from dust and dirt. It is also easy to insert the tool into the case/sheath with one hand. The new style Leatherman sheaths are open on about 1/3 to 1/2 of each side. The sides are made from elastic attached to the front and back that are ballistic nylon. If you are in dirty areas, the tool gets little protection. Also because of the elastic sides, it is not as easy to insert the tool into the sheath. You have to kind of dig it around until it goes in - not as easy, one handed or without having to look at it as the Swisstool's sheath.

If, for either tool, you choose a third party sheath (highly recommended) you will be much happier. However, out of the box, the Leatherman sheaths just suck and are, in my opinon, worthless.

Overall, the recommendation is for the Swisstool RS - and by a fair margin. That all being said, I use my XTI as my EDC for fixing things.

J.

 

[klattman]

...The XTI's gut hook, would be, in my opinion something I would need to be very careful of in a rescue situation since it could conceiveably hook a patient. The Serrated blade on the SwissTool will not.

Well I agree that using the serrated blade would cause the gut hook to be in a dangerous position. What about using the gut hook?

Also the Charge Ti does not have the hook, so that would solve that.

In an EMS situation, you don't have time to be selecting bits. While the having the extra bit kit and then picking one full holders worth of bits gives a lot more utility to a tool, in EMS situations you don't want to be fiddling with all these little bit thingies - especially if you are gloved up. On top of that, if you drop one of these in the field - especially at night - you will never find it. In an EMS situation, you won't have time to look. The Swisstool has most of the bits easily accessible from the knife. It has a much more complete ala SAK, selection of blades making it selection easy.

Also, the XTI blades with the bits cannot be used for prying unless you really want to lose the bit. The Swisstool blades can be used for this and will take the punishment (like opening a stuck container with important supplies, a stuck latch on defig or AED, or a stuck equipment locker) no problem.
....
J.

The short, not so useful bits, is the main reason why I do not like the charge and favor the SOG PowerLock.

I would still go with the one handed pliers ala SOG, and an additional (seperate) one handed rescue blade. BTW, the SOG has adjustable tension for the tools, so you can make them loose enough to open even with gloves on, and you don't need the nail nicks to extract tools. (Yes, they do clump a bit, but it helps you get them out and you can easily put the others back.)

That said, the LM Blast is a good choice (all bits are onboard) as well as the Swisstool.

I say try them out in a store and decide.

 

[JohnJ80]

Well I agree that using the serrated blade would cause the gut hook to be in a dangerous position. What about using the gut hook?

Also the Charge Ti does not have the hook, so that would solve that.

The short, not so useful bits, is the main reason why I do not like the charge and favor the SOG PowerLock.

The gut hook works great for cutting sheet material. I have sharpened mine up so that it easily cuts paper. Also works great in cutting tape and things like that, but I would not use it as a seam ripper as I would the serrated blade on the Swisstool. If you did, you would be exposing the patient to either the serrated blade if the gut hook were aimed up or the gut hook itself if the thing were used the other way. With the Swisstool, you can get the blade safely inside the garment and blow it open fast with the serrated blade and its very nicely rounded tip.

With the 154CM blade sharpened properly and the gut hook sharpened, you really don't need the scissors - you can cut anything you need to just using different methods.

The Charge TI scissors are not that great for EMS. The Swisstools are better.

However, the changeable bits work great on the Charge XTI (you get two that way) if you buy the extra bit kit and carry one full carrier of your favorite bits. This is my choice of carry for pretty much all non - EMS applications. EMS requires the ability (in a generally urgent fashion) to use the blades as a pry bar and the replaceable bit scheme does not lend itself way to that.

J

 

[klattman]

The gut hook works great for cutting sheet material. I have sharpened mine up so that it easily cuts paper. Also works great in cutting tape and things like that, but I would not use it as a seam ripper as I would the serrated blade on the Swisstool. If you did, you would be exposing the patient to either the serrated blade if the gut hook were aimed up or the gut hook itself if the thing were used the other way. With the Swisstool, you can get the blade safely inside the garment and blow it open fast with the serrated blade and its very nicely rounded tip.

True, The Ti serrated blade would be sufficient (without the gut hook), you could even round the tip if desired.

With the 154CM blade sharpened properly and the gut hook sharpened, you really don't need the scissors - you can cut anything you need to just using different methods.

The Charge TI scissors are not that great for EMS. The Swisstools are better.

I too am dissapointed in the new LM scissors.

However, the changeable bits work great on the Charge XTI (you get two that way) if you buy the extra bit kit and carry one full carrier of your favorite bits. This is my choice of carry for pretty much all non - EMS applications. EMS requires the ability (in a generally urgent fashion) to use the blades as a pry bar and the replaceable bit scheme does not lend itself way to that.
J

The above is a good argument for the swiss tool. OTOH, I think the one handed pliers of the SOG PowerLock which has basically the same tools (or you can get different tools) would be better, but that's just me. As, you can gather, I really want to be a fan of the Charge, but I'm just not there yet.

In either case, I think a seperate, one-hand serrated blade would be good.

 

[yam]

I own an old orginal Leatherman and an older Gerber multi-tool. Both work fine for me in a pinch, whenever possible I try to get a full size tool to do the job.

I have read many, many posts about the new Leatherman Charge multi-tool. The one thing that would prevent me from getting it would be the stubby phillips head. For that alone I would favor the new Wave because the phillips bit appears longer. I do not want to have to carry extra bits just to make up for the shorthcoming of a multi-tool.

Now, I have also read many, many posts about the SOG Powerlock. I like that this multi-tool is designed to be taken apart by it's owner and you can customize it a little bit by swapping the various tools to suite you personal needs. For me, I would get rid of the saw in favor of another regular knife blade. Or, if you break something you can replace it yourself.

If I had to choose between the Wave and Powerlock, it would depend on one thing. Would I also be carrying a knife in conjunction with the multi-tool? Since I probably would be carrying a knife, the one handed blade of the Wave would be less significant to me. However, if I could only carry the multi-tool, I would choose the Wave for the one handed blade opening feature.

 

[JohnJ80]

I have the new Wave, the old Wave, Charge XT and a Charge Xti (don't ask but one or more of these will get sold). I also have a Swisstool RS, a Gerber 800 Legend, and a Gerber 600.

The new Wave and the Charge XT basically the same except the Wave is SS and no titanium and the straight blade is not 154CM. The bit holders are identical and qual in length.

The bit holders look stubby but they are deeper than they look.

The old Wave phillip bit is about 3/16" to 1/4" longer than the Charge/new Wave. However, they are closer in length than they would appear. In my experience, i haven't found the phillips bit to be too short.

The Charge XTI has an extra bit driver so you have the four bit driver blades at hand as you would expect on any multitool. If you have the extra carrier the utility increases dramatically. If you don't carry the bit carrier you can still load the tool with your favorite bits and have the utility that makes sense for you.

The New Wave comes without a bit carrier but just the bit that comes in the tool. This is major shortcoming in the same way that I think the XT is handicapped. There are too few available blades. Without the bit carrier, then you are stuck with the one bit you get. I don't think the new Wave is all that great by itself unless you get the extra bit kit. The new Wave also has the same dinky (IMHO, useless) scissors that the XT has. However, having locking blades is an enormous improvement over the old Wave (a MAJOR annoyance when they flip shut on you). So, the new Wave is a cheaper version of the XT in all aspects and costs about the same if you have to buy the bit kit.

If you are buying one of the new Leatherman tools, I would recommend the XTI.

J

 

[Hotrod]

I've got a supertool...

My next one will be a SOG. I like the compound... just have to find a dealer around that has one to fondle... err try out.

 

[Tsquare]

If Leatherman would turn the handles around like the Swisstool it would be about perfect. I agree with the opinion on the SOG tools. I have all of them except the Powerlock and they are wonderful. May break down and get a Powerlock one of these days

 

[Will]

With the 154CM blade sharpened properly and the gut hook sharpened, you really don't need the scissors - you can cut anything you need to just using different methods.
J

How would you cut little donuts out of moleskin without scissors?

 

[shpshooter]

How would you cut little donuts out of moleskin without scissors?

I'd use the knife blade, just like I always have when hiking. I don't think I have ever used scissors.

 

[Will]

I'd use the knife blade, just like I always have when hiking. I don't think I have ever used scissors.

I find with SAK scissors excellent for this sort of task, but unfortunalty the LM ones are garbage. They don't cut well through gause or elastoplast tape or moleskin. Too bad, I origionally thought by getting the Weve, I could remove the scissors in my first kit to save weight. Instead, since the LM ones were useless, and the first aid scissors too heavy, I stuck a Victorinox Classic in the kit instead. Not a bad comprimise, but I still wish the LM tools were built to the same quility as the SAKs. (I still use the LM sissors for many other things though.)

Will

 

[JohnJ80]

How would you cut little donuts out of moleskin without scissors?

I would do this with a knife anyhow. Put the moleskin down on a wood cutting board surface and trace the shape out with my (now) very sharp 154Cm blade. Works great.

But, this isn't something I would consider an EMS task ("Emergency Medical"). In my multiple decades of being a patroller, I don't think I have ever had to do this when I wasn't in the aid room (and then we have the little pre-cut ones anyhow).

In point of fact, over the years I have cut my kit contents down, removing pretty much everything that isn't required to deal with major lacerations/bleeding and airway management. The rest doesn't really qualify as an emergency and is available when the transport shows up (SAM splints etc...).

J.

 

[dplaskett]

Hi
New to the forum and have been reading some of your very interesting stuff but
one thing I dont understand is what is EDC mean?
Thanks
Doug

 

[cognitivefun]

EDC = Every Day Carry, an item you carry around with you every day like your wallet, carkeys, etc. Welcome to Bladeforums!

 

[Matches]

EDC is every day carry...or that which one normally carries on them...Welcome by the way