Best multi-tool?

If you carry another knife (particularly one with a plain edge), the Swisstool Spirit makes an excellent multitool for the outdoors. The LM Blast is very nice also.


If you need one hand opening blades (and you are right handed), the new Wave is a very good choice.


If you need something bigger/heavier duty I would suggest the LM Core or Surge.




- Frank
 
I love my Swiss Tool. It's an older version, it's blockier than the new one I looked at recently and it weighs a ton, but it's never let me down and I've gotten used to the weight in the 5 years or so that I've been EDCing it. The only thing that it doesn't have that I've missed is scissors.
 
The Leatherman Charge pretty much has it hands down over the rest. Right now I'm packing a Ti, but I'll probably upgrade soon to the TTI. The new TTI has all of the best features of both the XTi and the Ti plus the main blade has been upgraded from 154CM to S30V. The Ti and XTi with the 154CM blades now sport aluminum handles instead of titanium, and with a lower price.
 
I know things must improve in order to be successful, but here is my opinion on Leatherman tools:
Well, its good to have lots of different tools, but why stop making the PST. Its rough like a soviet tank, but it does the job.
The new tools are also heavier Kick 162g / PST 142g and I know that it might be good with tools that lock, but can someone explain to me why the new Wave is better than the old one. Yes the tools lock, you have a bit holder... but if you loose the bit you are toast. It is more parts that can come loose.

So I think that the best multitools are LM PST, (light enought to be carried around all the time, looks like a tank, and like a T34, it works all the time.)
LM Wave (the old version is better than the new one).
I know Gerbers are to be opened with one hand, but I can do that too with my PST, Wave and Fuse, just shake it like a balisong.
I miss my old 2000 version Wave and my 2000 model black PST. Stupid me sold them to upgrade to a Fuse and a new Wave :(
 
I have the swisstool spirit and the new wave. The swisstool spirit has better fit and finish (much better), but in term of implement, the wave is better IMO. The swisstool spirit has semi-serated blade, which I dont like. The swisstool is more rust resistance but with little maintenance that should not be a problem.
 
frank k said:
If you carry another knife (particularly one with a plain edge), the Swisstool Spirit makes an excellent multitool for the outdoors.

If you need one hand opening blades (and you are right handed), the new Wave is a very good choice.
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I agree on this 100%.
And as I'm always carrying another blade, I tend to prefer the Swisstool Spirit befor any other.

/ Karl
 
If I have not planned any unplanned survival expeditions I only bring my LM Fuse, but if I am going "past the 50 signs" I bring a whole bunch of stuff. F1, SAK, firesteels and the usual stuff.
 
As far as multi's are concerned the SOG powerlock is the best there is. I have listed my reasoning in other posts so I won't go into that debate again. In my opinion though the SAK farmer backed up by a large folder or small fixed blade can't be beat for utility and compactness in the field. I would not hesitate at all to carry this combo in the field. At work I carry a my SOG, the farmer and my model 1 folder or RAT3. At home it is just the farmer and the model 1.
 
I don't know about the "best" but I just got the biggest Leatherman, the Surge, and it is without a doubt the BIGGEST. It is very sturdy and would be useful as a diving weight or as a bludgeoning device as well. By that I mean, it's BIG and HEAVY. However, it does have a fairly long blade and a somewhat useful saw (not my experience with other smaller saw blades) and nice set of scissors.

I actually bought a Gerber Diesel, which is nearly as long, but not nearly as heavy. The blades are also significantly smaller due to the retractible pliers on the Gerber. But I took it back almost immediately and got the LM.

I cannot really explain why. The Gerber probably has better pliers and has that neat tool tip arrangement. It's a better tool, but maybe not as good a knife. The true explanation is probably just a force of habit as my first multitool was a LM. It just feels more familiar in my hand. And did I mention it's big and HEAVY?

Maybe I should have looked at the SOG. Your not the first to say they prefer it.
 
danielp said:
. The swisstool spirit has semi-serated blade, which I dont like.
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I didn't like that either, but it was pretty easy to grind the serrations off and then bevel the other side to make a sharp plain edge (and I'm no genius at sharpening skills). I've come to like the blunt tip; I can always use the awl if I need to poke something.

I also have an original Wave that I keep in my briefcase, but I seem to prefer the Spirit; I like the awl and the chisel (although I've never used the chisel), and the Vic-style can opener. The Wave has the better file though.
 
Howdy Dale. I'm tuning in a little late on this one...

Like knives, preferences for multitools will vary from person to person. My buddy has been daily carrying a Gerber Suspension multitool, and he swears by it. I am not too familiar with that tool, but a few weeks ago while he was visiting the belt loop on the sheath broke as he was removing the tool. He emailed Gerber, and today he informed me that Gerber is sending him a replacement sheath. I thought that was nice.

Me, I guess I lean towards Leatherman products.For about 2 years now I have daily carried a Charge XTi. I like it a lot. Every now and then I swap it with a 2nd gen Wave, but I'd say the charge is with me 98% of the time.

Here's how the Charge rides with me every day:
EDCCharge.jpg


Here is my Juice Xe6. It is a nice, solid, smaller tool, but it's girthy and heavy. If this tool accompanies me somewhere, it is usually carried in a bag or pack. I like the scissors on the Juice:
Juice01.jpg

Juice02.jpg


Some of my tools for comparison. From left to right - Juice, Surge, my 1st gen Wave, my EDC Charge, and a Crunch. With the exception of the Crunch, all the tools have a saw, plain edge blade, and a serrated sheeps foot blade. Notice the slimmer profile of the 1st gen Wave:
Multitools01.jpg


The Surge and Charge main blades for comparison:
Multitools02.jpg


I also have a Swiss Tool that rides in my wife's vehicle. The Swiss Tool is very well made. It is tight, but all implements move easily and freely, it is rock solid, and the implemets have decent lock-up. The pliers are a quite beefy. It, too, has a saw, file, plain blade and a serrated blade.
 
hikeeba said:
Howdy Dale. I'm tuning in a little late on this one...

Like knives, preferences for multitools will vary from person to person. My buddy has been daily carrying a Gerber Suspension multitool, and he swears by it. I am not too familiar with that tool, but a few weeks ago while he was visiting the belt loop on the sheath broke as he was removing the tool. He emailed Gerber, and today he informed me that Gerber is sending him a replacement sheath. I thought that was nice......

............
Here is my Juice Xe6. It is a nice, solid, smaller tool, but it's girthy and heavy. If this tool accompanies me somewhere, it is usually carried in a bag or pack. I like the scissors on the Juice:.
Click to expand...

Great info, hikeeba, thanks.

I know Gerber isn't highly regarded for their knives of late, but their customer serivce is top quality. I had a Firestorm that had the blade broken from abuse (loaned it to a complete idiot) and I had ground the blade down fiddling with the left overs. I emailed Gerber asking what it would cost to have the blade replaced, and they said just send it in and they would take care of it, and they did too-- sent me a new one, no questions asked.

Now that Juice has a range of features I want-- saw, file, scissors, and a few tools. Too bad they put all that effort into the corkscrew. I'll have to get my paws on one for a good look-see.
 
Yes, and not just a cork screw, a cork screw with an assist!
Juice03.jpg


The assist does function as the bottle/can opener, too. It does function adequately in all its capacities.
Juice04.jpg


There was a Juice that had the 4 blades of the Xe6, but lacked the cork screw and scissors. I believe it was the Kf4, and it was yellow.

Oddly, the SwissTool does not have a corkscrew:
SwissTool001.jpg


SwissTool alongside the 2nd gen Wave:
Multitools003.jpg

Multitools004.jpg


1st gen Wave, SwissTool, and 2nd gen Wave. You can see that the pliers have been significantly beefed up on the 2nd gen Wave as compared to the 1st gen version:
Multitools005.jpg
 
nodh said:
So I think that the best multitools are LM PST, (light enought to be carried around all the time, looks like a tank, and like a T34, it works all the time.)
(
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I agree. This is the reason I carry my PST around most of the time and save my Wave for wilderness use.
 
The PST was a great multi-tool but it was not without its faults...
I hated the way the handles dug in to my palms when using the pliars.
And the non-locking tools were sometimes a pain in the butt to use. :mad:

I much prefer the Blast.:thumbup:
 
Unlike some folks who have tried many multi-tools, I started with one of the original Leatherman tools quite a few years ago. Leatherman had the market cornered for a long time before others got into it. I still have my old Leatherman, and it's still in fine condition, too. Since then I've had the good fortune to come into two or three Gerber multi-tools, though none of mine are the latest models. I prefer the Gerbers, and I can't decide for sure between the shorter-nosed ones and the longer-nosed ones, but I think I like the shorter square-nosed ones better.

Here's a suggestion for you to consider, though. Get a Victorinox Farmer and pair it up with a 5WR Vise-Grip and you'll have a great combination for not a lot of money. I've also carried a 4WR Vise-Grip, but found it a little too small for my purposes. The model number refers to the length in inches, while the WR refers to the jaw configuration. W means it has a wire cutter, and R means the inside jaw surface is rounded for a better grip on most objects. Add a short file and a piece of hacksaw blade to your tool kit if you want to. But don't waste you money on some POS imitation of the genuine Vise-Grip!
 
I have a genuine visegrip multitool. Only has a knife, a scaper, and flat/philips reversable bit. I picked it up because it looked interesting. I don't edc it but I do keep it in the truck because its size is really useful. I think the blades are made by schrade. I think it was called the tool box.
 
Dr. Mudd said:
Here's a suggestion for you to consider, though. Get a Victorinox Farmer and pair it up with a 5WR Vise-Grip and you'll have a great combination for not a lot of money..... Add a short file and a piece of hacksaw blade to your tool kit if you want to. But don't waste you money on some POS imitation of the genuine Vise-Grip!
Click to expand...

Y'know, I'd had a pair of the mini long-nosed Vise Grips in my technicians tool kit for years and never thought about including them for survival use. I have "standard" models in my tool boxes and hanging on the shop wall too.

Your reply does bring up an idea that crossed my mind as far as getting just the tools I wanted in a survival kit rather than a multi-tool. I got some Fiskars embroidery scissors at a flea market the other day. I had been wanting scissors on my SAK Trekker (they make such a model), but I saw the scissors and put them on my digital scale to find out that they only weigh an ounce. I got a good lesson from that. They are as good or better than any scissors that come on a multi-tool and a heckuva lot easier to use. For an ounce and the tiny bit of room they take up, they can sure go in my pack (first aid kit got the donation). That and getting them for a buck made it sweet.

So you may be able to put together a little tool kit for the same or less weight as a multi-tool and get just what you want, and even save a couple bucks. A Victorinox paring knife or Buck Harsook, the scissors, a small file and an emory board, hemostats, a set of tick/splinter tweezers, and a small screwdriver or two, a diamind sharpener or crock stick, and the micro widgy prybar could make a sweet little survival repair kit. I have a tiny set of slipjoint pliers and a folding hacksaw from County Comm that would work well too. It would demand sewing up a tiny tool roll to match, with room for a firesteel and a small flashight. :cool:
 
I have had several MTs, currently I like the Swistol x with scissors. I have had good results with Leatherman but I don't care for their poilitics so would never buy another.
 
I have the new Wave and it's an awesome tool but I never carry it. Too big and heavy for my liking. So I went out and got a Squirt P4 and now I'm never without a multitool.:D The only thing I miss is a saw but then with the Wave sitting at home I never had a saw anyway.
 
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