Best Multitool Hands Down...

Tony8179

Tony8179

Joined
Feb 20, 2008
Messages
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I'm sure that this has been discussed, but I'm new the Multitool game and I'm gonna ask it anyway. What is the best (or your favorite) multitool hands down? I'm not asking what's the best for the price, just what's the best. So far I've got a Leatherman Wave, Blast, and Micra w/ scissors, a Gerber Recoil, a Gerber Mutiplier, and an old school SOG Power Plier. I EDC the Recoil because I like that everything can be opened with one hand and it has the basic tools I need when I'm in a jam and don't have my regular hand tools on me. The automatic out the top pliers are pretty sweet as well. But the Leatherman Wave is, what I believe to be, the best Multitool that I own because of the size, one handed opening blades, and the amount of tools they pack into it. I'd really like to get my hands on a Gerber Flik, the Leatherman TTI and the Leatherman Charge. So tell me what you think the best is and why.
 
For MY tasks, Would have to say the SAK explorer. I've had Gerber multi tools, leatherman's, and I never had the need for the pliers, Not needed for my everyday tasks. And the SAK is perfect for me, 2 different blade lengths, scissors, flat head screw driver, Phillips, and magnifying glass if I'm trying to read some fine print, bottle opener... those tools comes in very handy for me edc.
 
+1 On the Wave - although I prefer and EDC the original rather than the new model with interchangeable bits.
 
Best build quality and implements are the Victorinox Spirit and Swisstool . Which is the most usefull for an individual's applications is a bit more subjective .

Chris
 
IMHO Leatherman makes the best multi tools closely followed by SOG. Try a TTI Charge or a Surge you wont be disappointed.
 
My favorite to date is my Victorinox Swisstool. When I thought I lost it, I bought a replacement right away. (Then I found it and now I have two.)
 
I carry a Leatherman XE6 everyday.
I have other multi's, SOG Paratool, Leatherman (old) Wave, Victorinox Swisstool X, but i mostly carry the XE6.
Of all my multis its the only one i can pocket carry with reasonable comfort, it lives in the coin pocket in my jeans.
I really like the XE6 but i admit its not the "best" at anything compared to other multis, its more a "jack of all trades master of none" really.
The main weaknesses are the canopener which works but is not the best,
and the scissors are acceptable but not as good as any (91mm frame) SAK scissors.
Other than that i love the thing.
The number of functions it has in relation to its small size is its main selling point.
I would put it second in line after the Swisschamp regarding best functionality per ounce.
All other multis are bigger and heavier than the XE6 without proportionally more functionality.
However the flip side being that bigger multis will usually be proportionally stronger, and if you need really strong/beefy/big pliers the XE6 is not for you.
But i survived for years using the Swisschamp pliers (which are much smaller than those on the XE6), personally i have never really needed super large strong pliers.


Of course it i wanted to belt carry a multi i'd probably go with the excellent Swisstool X.
The only minor gripe i had with the Swisstool was that i had to grow my fingernails a little longer so i could reach the nail-nicks, lol.

A lot of people here recommend the Victorinox Swisstool Spirit.
As a result i just bought a used one on ebay.
When it gets here i may switch it with the XE6 for a while to test it out!
:)
 
I'm partial to the Victorinox Spirit and Swisstool, but also Leathermans and SOGs. I don't think there is a single best one, since it depends on the application. One thing I don't like about the new Leathermans is the bit holder. It has the advantage of being able to handle almost any potential fastener, but is not nearly as robust as a fixed driver with a solid lock. The SOG Compound Leverage (TM) gear system tends to accumulate debris, so in the end I have to give the nod to Victorinox.
 
First to me is Victorinox because of size and dependability and a close second would be Leatherman. Weight is the reason it is second.
 
My Vic Spirit is my fave. But a close second is my Leatherman PSTII which I've carried the last month.
 
Some things in life are better left as mysteries.


Leatherman for sure. But then again, i'm one of those crazies who carries a skeletool...
 
For me, the absolute best is the OLD Leatherman Wave. I get the feeling that my Vic Spirit may take that spot soon.
 
OP, you're going to get a lot of different answers here :)

I have two that I really like, a Leatherman Charge TTi and Vic Spirit. Both are really handy to have around, and I've used both a fairly good deal. You can't really go wrong with products from these two manufacturers.
 
marcangel said:
I'm partial to the Victorinox Spirit and Swisstool, but also Leathermans and SOGs. I don't think there is a single best one, since it depends on the application. One thing I don't like about the new Leathermans is the bit holder. It has the advantage of being able to handle almost any potential fastener, but is not nearly as robust as a fixed driver with a solid lock. The SOG Compound Leverage (TM) gear system tends to accumulate debris, so in the end I have to give the nod to Victorinox.
Click to expand...

It's funny you mention this -- just this weekend, I was using a Leatherman Charge to install some plastic lock hardware in the kitchen cupboards, and the Phillips-head screwdriver bit in the toolholder did strike me as significantly less strong than, say, the dedicated driver in my Swisstool. I found myself wondering how long those bits will hold up under even moderate use.
 
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