Best Multitool Hands Down...

I traveled to my son's in Denver last weekend. I knew there would be a list of projects to do. I had a choice of taking my Leatherman TTi or SAK Spirit. Either would have served me well but I went with the Spirit for simplicity.
 
I used to own a Leatherman New Wave and didn't like it since it lacks two things that are essential to me: good screwdrivers and an awl.

A Victorinox Tinker + Classic combo is enough for me most of the time. When I need a full size multitool I use a Leatherman Core. If only it had a pair of scissors it would be perfect.
 
Leatherman 200 gets my bet, I've tried several other brands and even other Leatherman models but the 200 is the best overall.
 
Tony8179 said:
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.
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Hi,
Until I got my Leatherman Wave (which is one of the most awesome multitools I've ever had IMO, I carried and used the Gerber Radius. I don't hear much about it, but I loved it. It is a monster, but it served me well. And the grip on it felt really nice. I don't like any of the other Gerber MT but have 3 of them because my dad kept giving them to me. What I loved most about the Radius was that it folded instead of sliding, had locking tools, oversized, rubberized handles and the tools were really easy to get to. The tool access is why I love the wave so much. And the LM is not as beefy as the Radius. Still a good tool though and I keep it in my bag and LM in my pocket or on my belt. Great tools.
Gray
 
+1 for leatherman wave (or its sisters). If I can only take 1 item with me, the wave is my choice. I'm not saying the swisstool is bad, it's just that the wave fits my needs better. YMMV.
 
I don't like my Gerber Legend. I tried to get used to Leatherman, but just can't for some reason (love my Squirt though).

For me, the Swisstool Spirit is the one that comes closest to being perfect. One of these days I'll grind that sheepsfoot blade though :)
 
Leatherman fans galore! I started carrying my Wave and putting it to some hard use. HARD USE!!! It stares that hard use in it's face and then spits in it's eye. The Wave is awesome. I wish Leatherman made a wide nose plier Wave instead of just the needlenose. A man can wish right?
 
Just got a Victorinox SwissTool CS Plus...it's a TANK, and puts all the other multi-tools I've owned to shame (such as LM Original, Wave, Crunch, Gerber Autopliers, etc...). It makes all the others feel like toys, so Im super pleased with it.
 
cynick23 said:
Just got a Victorinox SwissTool CS Plus...it's a TANK, and puts all the other multi-tools I've owned to shame (such as LM Original, Wave, Crunch, Gerber Autopliers, etc...). It makes all the others feel like toys, so Im super pleased with it.
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Glad you are enjoying it buddy !

Nothing else comes close , except the Spirit ! Same build quality , smaller envelope . Personally i rock a Swisstool RS .

Chris
 
Old style Wave for me.I'm not crazy for the bit tools. I've owned Gerbers, a Sog,and a Swisstool and the old style wave is #1. I have a Charge Tii still in the box. My buddy at work got his gummed up and there is a tab that keeps the pliers from going past the screwdrivers in the closed position that broke off.He needs to send it back.Seeing a flaw like that, my Charge will remain in the box. I have a NIB old style Wave for a backup for/if/when the one I carry breaks I have one ready to go. The only problem is when that happens and I send the broken one back, they wont have the old style anymore.I thought about taking his Charge, giving him mine, and send his back for the Wave. Does anyone know if the new Wave has that little tab that keeps the pliers from going past the drivers? Another thing I'm not crazy about the new ones is when you open and close the pliers, the mechanism uses friction to keep it tight. On the old Wave I like how it has springs and snaps closed.
I also have the Juice, which is a nice little piece.

Tim Leatherman, if you are listening, continuous improvement is great, but some things should be left unchanged, as the old Wave.You should bring that one back.

Some people look at the flex on the Wave as a flaw.It isn't. These things can take some torque.

I have returned one Gerber,for a broken plier. (I used gerber before the Wave came out.) I have returned three Waves,one original because it opened up like a balisong. It used to clack in the sheath when I walked, other than that it was still good.The second one I used the phillips bit to torque the clutch on a pneumatic screwdriver and it chewed up the bit. The third one I dropped , and the little blade stop chipped off the blade. All returned with no questions asked.
 
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I can't imagine ever using anything for EDC other than my Vic Spirit. It's reasonably small, but not undersized. All tools lock and are outside accessible. Very comfortable and far more stainless than a Leatherman. And it has a file, scissors and a saw, all of which are a must for me. It's just a tremendously handy all-around multitool.
 
What is the consensus on the older Leatherman Blast?
I have one I have used a lot. Nylon AND leather sheath are both worn.
I am a big guy, so the weight doesn't bother me. I also carry a large folder and a small folder (both auto or assist) and most days throw in a NAA .22 shortie.
If I am going to be away from home, I will put a Buck 110 auto, or my favorite Buck 112 finger groove (ivory handle, red spacer) is a quick release on my belt.
Point is, I have found myself keeping the Blast in my vehicle recently.
 
I've been EDCing a leatherman Pulse for the past 7 years. It's still holding up fine, but its gotten sloppy loose, so I'm retiring it. I'd send it in, but with no guarantee of getting a pulse back, I'll keep it. I'm going for a SOG, so I can configure it to my needs. no wood saw, or awl, as my MT is for urban carry. but with the option, I may find myself swapping to tools out depending on the day.
 
My favorite is the Leatherman Super Tool which has been sadly discontinued.

Can someone explain the difference between the old and new Leatherman Wave and why one might be better than the other?
 
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