Best Multitool ?

hso

hso

Joined
Dec 16, 1998
Messages
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I know that this will generate as many opinions as there are various multitools out there, but a friend of mine is looking for a multitool that is light, tools access without having to open the handles, tools lock, and it doesn't cost an arm and a leg.

Leatherman, SOG, Gerber, BEAR MGC, etc.; what do ya'll think are the best candidates that meet these criteria and where would you get them the cheapest?
 
What Size ???? What main uses ??? How do ya usually carry the tool .. belt, pocket, bag, waist pouch ???

1. Big, powerful, heavy, expensive = Leathermann Wave !
2. Small, pocket carry (key-chain), relatively cheap = Sebertech / Swisstech

Bob
 
Unfortunatly the tool you've discribed is my least favored
multi-tool. Victornox Swiss tool . This tool is so close and
yet so far from the perfect Multi -tool it isn't funny. The
Swiss tool is firmly on my DO NOT buy list. A shame
too. I just couldn't believe Victoronx missed the mark like
they did with this tool.

The only other tool that fits this bill is the little leatherman
Juice line.

My personal favorites based on daily use goes like this......

Leatherman original Supertool for really heavy work.
(this one is a contant companion)

Light to medium duty would be the Pulse. It
also is a good work tool.

Pure light duty would be one of the Leatherman Juice models.

My basic suggestion is to buy one of the most basic least
expensive name brand tools to see if a multi tool is really for you.
 
Guys, I'm not asking for me. My EDC is the SOG switchplier. I've found it to be very handy. I've got things as varied as the Leatherman Crunch, SOG PowerPlier (the best heavy duty tool I've used), Gerber Multiplier (both the original hand biter and the improved version), SwissTech Microtechnician (I introduced them to the Blade Show a couple of years back), Sebertek, Gerber PST, SOG standard multiplier, and others.

The greatest improvement is the ability to get to the tools easily and have them lock in place.

What I want to find out is what else is out there that I haven't handled with the criteria that I listed.

I've only seen pictures of the Bear MGC, but have no idea how easy it is to work with nor how durable. The same for the Buck. What else is out there that has the original characteristics I gave?
 
Ok, mate. To meet all of the requirments you stated is a
no go in a quality tool. ( who needs cheap junk)

The only tool that is close to your requirement is the
Leatherman Juice. It doesn't lock per se, but the tools
are on a stiff back spring that does very well at holding
the blades open under normal use. Depending on which
one is chosen the Juice can be very light to mildly heavy.
With the broad range of choices available the Juice will
do a very good job for Joe or Jane Average while being
small enough to ride in pocket or purse.

I carry my Kf4 Juice when I'm not working or am dressed
up. (got a thing about having the basics on me at all times)

So have your friend look a the link provided and decide
what is best for them. Also the best place to buy them is
from the the link seller or from (of all places) E-bay.
I got my Kf4 for $29 from E-bay when everbody else
wanted way more money. ( New in package to boot)

http://www.backcountry-equipment.com/knives/leatherman.html

Good hunting mate.
 
Tightwad,
I totally disagree with your opinion of the Swisstool. I find it to be simply excellent, by far the finest fit and finish of any multitool on the market, the best blades and locking system. The tools are east to access, do not clump, and it it built like a tank. There is only one down side, the weight. It is about 9 oz, which is pretty heavy for pocket carry. I carry mine in my briefcase, or in a sheath on the weekends. I carry a LM Pulse in my left front pocket EDC, of the leatherman tools it is the best, IMHO. I carry a Wave on my belt a work, a Supertool200 is in my glovebox.
I have owned and used about every tool on the market. The Victorinox Swisstool is handsdown the best.
I do admit that I am SAK freak!!!
Chad
 
I'm with chad234 on this one. I've carried a Victorinox SwissTool X quite frequently and it has never let me down.

--Bob Q
 
I like the Swisstool myself but you could wait for the smaller one to come out. I was told that there was a smaller, more compact version coming out in the fall. Just what I heard though.
 
I also think the Swiss Tool is the best.
From my Victorinox Agent I heard that it comes a smaller one but he told me no date.
 
Fella's, personal preferances aside. I too liked the
Swiss tool when I first got mine. Then i had to start
using it a lot. Wow! Was a astonished that the pliers
wouldn't fit or grasp like my supertool, the polished tools
caused more than one skinned knuckle slipping out,
and the polished handles are very slick with wet hands.

I really coudn't believe that this was happening for a long
time .........then I tryed to take two screws out of soft pine
2 x4 's at my sons house to take a rack off the wall and the
phillps .........rounded completly of due to soft metal!!!

THAT DID IT for me!! :mad: :mad:

I went back to my Leatheman tools. So buys what ya wants
and enjoys what ya buys. I'll stick with Leatherman........
 
LOOK closely at the tools that you will be useing.Make sure they will actually work. I think many "features" are secondary to tool FUNTION. For instance, I used the leatherman micra screw driver on my mini-30 sight and it was hard to keep it seated in the screw slot. My pulse pliers and diamond file work well. I haven't used the screw drivers on the pulse yet. Patrick
 
I also like the SwissTool, and wanted to mention that the latest one I've just got in has been re-designed a bit. The chisel/scraper has a steeper bevel angle, and the file now incorporates a metal saw. The lanyard and wire cutters also have minor changes.
I just started wearing & using it, so any steel upgrades are not apparent yet, if any. I have had no past difficulties with the quality of steel myself.
I find that the key to comfortable carry with it's weight is in the sheath it's carried in...
Because of the input in these forums, I'm going to have a better look at the SOG tools, being familiar only with the Paratool so far...
 
Hso,
the Gerber Legend has the properties you asked for (easy access and locking tools) and you can get them for $70 at Target.
I still think the best way to go is a good SAK + Vise-Grip nearby.
 
I think a few of you are getting your Swiss Tech micro tools mixed up with Victornox swiss tools, 2 completely different tools. The swiss tech are better than seber tech. I carry the Leatherman wave, but its not perfect, handles are a bit uncomfortable when using the knife but I still like it:D
 
Well on those long winter nights I have considered this very question myself,and because I really don't have much of a life, I now have a collection of multi tools that would make you all proud...
A name that hasn't been mentioned yet is the Kershaw Multi tool. The blade locks, the pliers are a vise grip design, and the toys inside are ( seemingly) good quality. ( I carried it around for a year and never had any real problems.) I don't personally like a needle nose, so a abrasive cutting wheel and 10 minutes of company time resloved that personall preferance.
My coworkers and myself have disscusssed this issue to death. One will swear to his grave on the Leatherman supertool. To his credit, after he had it broke in, he could open and close is tool as fast as the gentleman next to him using his Gerber 600 series got his pliers deployed.He is considering the Wave as his next purchase,because of the access to the blades from outside the tool.
I finally had to make my own. I like the Gerber 600 size and stricly one handed deployment ( a very high priorty on my list) , butI do like the blades being accessable too. Fiscars put out a Gerber style sissors( it was graet for cutting seat belts , but kinda lacked in the battery removal area) called " Excaliber" a few years ago, and it looks like the 600 series with a lockback knife riding on the side. A little file work and I now have a customized multi tool that has yet to let me down...
I have to agree with tight wad that maybe your friend should buy a cheap imitation the first go around and decide what his / her priortys are. K mart has some fair priced knock offs thatcan get them started.
Charles
 
I'm with Tightwad on this one. I got a Kf4 as my 'token' knife present this Christmas and I've been in love with it the whole time. It has everything I think I'll ever reasonably need on it and in a good arrangement. I don't know what other people may have against it, but I love it.
 
Folks,

Well I've looked at nearly everything this weekend and decided to advise my friend to either get the Juice or the Legend Jr., depending on how heavy the going is expected to be. As an aside, I looked at Schrade's new colaboration with the Vise Grip folks and think that it looks like a good tool for the "need more than a pocket multitool and less than a real tool box" folks. It is a needle nosed vise grip with tools in the handle. It is also belt sized instead of pocket or tool box.
 
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