Best Multitool Hands Down...

They don't. There have been numerous reports of the "Exploding Leatherman Bit Holder". The problem with the bit holder is, it defeats the purpose of many of the new fastener heads, which is to allow the fastener to be torqued to greater levels without buggering up the fastener head! You have to weigh that with the ability to actually turn so many different fasteners.
 
I have a LM Charge TTi ..... I never leave home without it !! :)

The One Handed Blade and Pocket Clip sealed the deal for being my EDC ..... however I'm always hoping Leatherman bring about an improved version .....
 
Wow. Alot of answers. It's exactly what I was expecting, but the lean seems to be towards pretty much anything Leatherman. I definitely agree that Leatherman offers the most options and pretty much kicks butt. I do like some Gerbers though and I'm surprised that no one said anything about Gerber multitools. Anyway, I've never even thought about any kind of SAK, but that's only because I use the pliers all the time so I kind of need them there. So I think I'm going to have to drop coin on a TTI Charge. Thanks guys, but don't let the thread die. Keep it going. Tell me why you carry what you carry. What kind of work do you do? Where does your tool come in handy most often. As for me, I'm an electrician and sometimes when you're crawling around a dark attic you may forget something or drop a tool on your way to where you've gotta work and boom out comes the multitool to strip and splice some wire and screw down a box cover. Works like a charm.
 
Gerber , with a couple of narrow exceptions are crap . I used to carry Leathermans , due to the one handed opening blades . Then I realized , that for knife work I always used my dedicated folder . This led me to Victorinox , specifically the Spirit and Swisstool . The quality of the build and implements is simply higher . The Spirit has been the most carried . I had been packing a Leatherman of some sort since 1984 .Sog has strong pliers , but are uncomfortable in the hand , implement quality is nowhere close to Victorinox .

Sog has the advantage that you can take them apart , and customize the implement array , this is offset by the low quality of the implements .

I would say it narrows down to a choice between Leatherman or the Vic's.

As always YMMV ,

Chris
 
Tony8179 said:
WowI do like some Gerbers though and I'm surprised that no one said anything about Gerber multitools.
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I have one of the first Gerber Multi-tools (heck, it must be nearly 20 years old) that has always served me well, but from what I have heard the quality of their current MT line isn't what it used to be. :(

Anyway, I've never even thought about any kind of SAK, but that's only because I use the pliers all the time so I kind of need them there.
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I'm just the opposite. I don't have much use for the pliers, so I like the SAK better in a lot of ways. Be aware that Victorinox (one of the two makers of SAKs) also makes some very nice MTs (the full size SwissTool and the smaller Spirit). I think the build quality on these is at least as good as Leatherman's.

So I think I'm going to have to drop coin on a TTI Charge.
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I don't think you will be sorry. I gave my brother a TTI for Christmas last year, and he still talks about how much he loves it! :thumbup:

Thanks guys, but don't let the thread die. Keep it going. Tell me why you carry what you carry. What kind of work do you do? Where does your tool come in handy most often.
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I used to carry a MT a lot when I did field work in the past (construction and demolition oversight ). The pliers and other tools came in really handy all the time. I still carry one in my car and stass one in the drawer of my desk (much easier to grab that the tool kit in the basement when I need to tighten a screw or losen a bolt), I also have a little LM Juice S2 that I carry in my camera bag.

For personal carry I stick more with the SAKs. I've got the big ol' SwissChamp that has just about everything on it. Too big for a pocket, but not really that hard to carry in a belt sheath and it rides my hip a lot of weekends. I have couple of the smaller SAK that I use for carry in the office, including a new Alox Cadet I just bought that rides really light in the pocket! ;)
 
Around the house fixing, and outdoor hike/camp. I really have no reason for most of the tools on your standard leatherman, but do not like SAK (please do not shoot me) and like more "full sized" tool.

Skeletool gives me the essential tools, is pretty much normal sized, and light weight :) So works for me.
 
Tony8179 said:
Tell me why you carry what you carry. What kind of work do you do? Where does your tool come in handy most often.
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All my life since age 12 (I'm an older guy) I have carried one multitool or another. It never made sense to me to carry a knife blade only when life can present a screw to tighten, bottle needing opened or something else better handled with another implement. It's a lifestyle issue. I like being prepared for Whatever needs fixed, which seems to happen often for us gearheads.

Frankly, then I wasn't much interested in multitools as a subject. At some point I got acquainted with SAKs, of which I became a huge fan, but when I finally got hold of a Swisschamp, it was all I needed or wanted in that line. The extent of my knowledge was "Wenger good, Victorinox better." That all changed in 1996, when first I learned of pliers based multitools. Then and there I knew that was my kind of multitool, and although I still own and occasionally use SAKs, I have been a Leatherman guy ever since (also, I got involved with multitools as a subject of interest, but that's another conversation).

I started with Leatherman, briefly owned and used both a Swisstool and Spirit, but eventually returned to Leatherman for the following reasons: true needle nose pliers that open wider than the Vic's, better screwdrivers with longer shanks (stubby Charge drivers excepted, but shank restored with a bit extender), and in the case of Charge and Surge, one-hand blade opening, a huge convenience. Much as I admire Vic design, fit and finish, it lacks those things. This is personal preference, of course, and other people may have different priorities. I have never handled any other makes and have no opinion of them.

Over years, my Leathermen have been used several times for roadside repairs and similar emergencies, including self defense (didn't come to blows), and just about every day for mundane tasks. As a photographer, I seldom have need of a multitool at work, but sometimes one comes in handy to cut off lengths of seamless paper and to repair or adjust equipment, on one occasion saving a job when a tripod leg lock jammed. On my first job of this year, January 2, a flash bracket needed to be modified, done quickly and easily with my Charge Tti ph driver. Good old thing. :)

It's easy to get all mushy about something so helpful with life's little (or not so little) chores. I'll bet others have kind feelings about whatever they are packing, though.
 
I have a bunch of multi-tools.3 leathermans,a swisstool,a gerber and a SOG on the way.I carry a leatherman TTi everyday at work.(love it too BTW).I carry a swisstool when I hike.My gerber was a gift.I keep it in my pack as a back-up.I have not used a SOG but I'm waiting to handle my new one before I press judgment.
Maybe I'll have to do a head to head to head to head review.We'll see.
 
Perfectionist said:
I have a LM Charge TTi ..... I never leave home without it !! :)
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+1:thumbup:

Perfectionist said:
The One Handed Blade and Pocket Clip sealed the deal for being my EDC ..... however I'm always hoping Leatherman bring about an improved version .....
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What I seriously miss on the Tti is an awl. Earlier Leathermen, like the PST and Super Tool, had them, as do the current Core, Surge and some Juice models, not to mention all Swisstools and most other makes, so obviously multitool designers know this is a useful implement. There are enough times I need one for something like a leather punch or wood screw guide hole (just yesterday, in fact... glad my PST was handy :)) that I'm thinking of making one myself to fit the bit holder. I wish Leatherman would supply one, though. Considering my fabricating skills, it would probably be more cleverly designed and better made. :o
 
I like most Leathermans. I really believe it all boils down to what you need to do with it. Some things are better done with one or another, there really is no "best" in my opinion. However, that being said, I usually have a Blast/Wave on me everyday.

I do, however, believe that a Swisstool would be better, as I have heard and saw them around more lately, and they seem like they would be more functional for me.
 
The best multitool ever made was the Leatherman Sideclip. Everything you need and nothing you don't in a compact size with pocketclip. They sold for $20. You can't beat that.

The best multitool currently made is the Swisstool. Top quality and great design.

I wish we could talk Victorinox into making a Sideclip-esqe multitool. Sort of a compact Swisstool with pocketclip.
 
Drummer said:
The best multitool ever made was the Leatherman Sideclip. Everything you need and nothing you don't in a compact size with pocketclip. They sold for $20. You can't beat that.

The best multitool currently made is the Swisstool. Top quality and great design.

I wish we could talk Victorinox into making a Sideclip-esqe multitool. Sort of a compact Swisstool with pocketclip.
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I tend to agree with ya , they were a great unit . Had I known they were about to be discontinued , I would have loaded up on them .
 
Since i do not NEED a multitool in my daily work I carry a small one, the Leatherman Juice S2. It is a great little tool and has come in handy more than i had thought. I do have a Wave for the larger tasks but that is usually in my BOB.
 
my favorites for sheer ease of use aree my gerber Mp400, Leatherman Wave and Leatherman skeletool

the Mp400 opens easier than any other multi ive ever handled and the pliers are Top notch, also the can opener on it is my most used tool on it besides the Pliers and knife

the Wave is a bit heavy for my taste but the one handed blade access is fantastic

But in my realm the Skeletool is King, with a bit of practice i can open it almost as fast as my gerber, the one handed blade access is even easier than the wave and after i had the blade convexed its one hell of a workhorse.
 
Ok, Im gonna change my to be favorite tool. I have to admit, I just love my Leatherman new Wave multitool. I dont leave home with out it and now that I can have a pocket clip on it, that just makes it even better. Dont get me wrong I still have a Sak in my pocket but the Wave just makes life better for me. I would like to add that I wish it came with a Awl, now that would make it perfect.
 
I must say that I have to side with the Wave for my overall fav. It is what I keep in my EDC. I have owned it since it was first introduced back in 98 or 99. Access to the blades with the handles closed was a big innovation back then. The Wave replaced my early generation Gerber Multi which pinched the snot out of my hands in plier mode. I also keep an old and well loved SOG power plier in my car.

As far as the micro tools are concerned, I love my little Leatherman Micra (great for hitting that forgotten toe nail on a long hike) and my swiss tech utili key.
 
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