Best Multitool?

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steelscout30

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Aug 1, 2006
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I've been looking at the Victorinox SwissChamp and the Leatherman Charge XTi multitools. I'm a Boy Scout and do chores from opening letters to everything required for a wilderness survival situation---which is a merit badge---to extended (up to 21 day) treks in the back-country. I was wondering what the general opinion was as to what the very best multitool was for a very broad range of tasks. What's the best cutter? What can do the most? Thanks for the help, God bless America.
 
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steelscout30 said:
I've been loo king at the Victorinox SwissChamp and the Leatherman Charge XTi multitools. I'm a Boy Scout and do chores from opening letters to everything required for a wilderness survival situation---which is a merit badge---to extended (up to 21 day) treks in the back-country. I was wondering what the general opinion was as to what the very best multitool was for a very broad range of tasks. What's the best cutter? What can do the most? Thanks for the help, God bless America.
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You are going to get a dozen different answers but let me jump in first. I hve had Multis from every major manufacturer and I unequivocably recommend Victorinox. I am curious as to why you're comparing the Charge to the SwissChamp rather than the SwissTool or Spirit.
 
I'd say the best one is between the Swiss Tool and the Leatherman Wave. I have both. Have been very happy with the Swiss Tool for ten years. Its a tank, has never let me down and will basically last because its precision made and tough.

Benefits on the Swiss Tools are its polished stainless.

Tools can be opened and used without having to open the pliers first.

It has solid reliable locks on each tool that don't have lock release buttons positioned in the worst possible place you could want one so you accidentally release the tool you want open and locked securely when working with it like the SOG S62 did the first time I went to use it.

It is tough enough to cut chain link all day long (I've done it. ) I've never heard of one breaking. Tools can break but the pliers are tough.

The phillips head screw driver is long enough to work well.

It gives you the tool you want and only the tool you want when you use the thumb nick to get one opened and not a clump of several that causes you to cut yourself shoving them back down like the SOG did to me the day I returned it with a bandaid on my index thanks to one of the sharper tools.

Draw backs. It is very stiff and not exactly the easiest one to open of the Multi Tools available.

The pliers are not true needle nose pliers but a combo of both a needle nose and blunt tip plier that meets about half way in between. The tips are thicker on the pliers as a result.

Also, the pliers don't open quite as wide as some of the other M/Ts pliers do.


The Leatherman Wave.

Benefits. It has nice needle nose pliers with wider/longer more efficient wire cutters that open nice and wide.

It has one hand opening and closing serrated and plain edge blades that lock securely.

I open mine one handed with no problems at all when I need the pliers.

It has a very good pair of scissors on it that are better than any I think I've used before.


Draw backs.

The handles have to be opened to get to the tools like scissors, screwdrivers and all but the blades, saw and file.

The screw drivers are too short to be as effective as they could be and due to the way they are made it they can easily be lost.

The handles are shorter and as a result you don't have the leverage you do with bigger M/Ts.

The lock release for the tools, while effectively made so it can't really allow the tool to close on you if you close the pliers back up it is possible to accidentally push them down when using the tool. Its really a very minor concern though unless you don't close the handles back up after pulling a tool out to use it.


I have had the Gerbers, and the SOG S62 and didn't like either. In fact after looking at all I was interested in, these two I've rated seemed to me to be about as good as it gets. The bigger Leatherman and other Swiss Tools with Scissors are also quite nice. I'd say after really looking for my next M/T that these two are the two to compare and decide between personally. What sold me on the Wave was the scissors and one hand opening blades.
 
When deployed I constantly carried and used the sog I dont know the model number but the large one with the black finish. I only used the srewdrivers and the pliers as I always carry a fixed blade and a folder I never used the knife blade. I carried it in a MOLLE pouch now I have a custom kydex sheath. I would recommend it to anyone.
 
I totally recommend Swisstool. My favorite is the Swisstool Spirit. My limited experience with the Leatherman Charges (I have both the TI and the AL) is that their quality is not even in the same league. If Swisstool is the major leagues, the Charges are maybe highschool, IMHO of course.

The only thing the Charge may have as an advantage is the 154 CM knife blade. But the lock is not well done and I wouldn't trust it to prevent the blade from closing. But as a Boy Scout, you probably know to not wrap your fingers around the handle if you are prying with the point.

Get the Spirit and carry a good folder and you're set!

:)
 
I have a Swisstool Spirit and original Swisstool. I also have an old style Leatherman Wave and Leatherman Supertool. The Spirit is my favorite. It is the one that gets used. The others just sit around in glove compartments and tool chests in case I happen to be without my Spirit. For woods use, I'd supplement it with a decent locking folder. If you are going to have just a multitool and no other knife, then I'd recommend one of the larger Swisstool models with conventionally shaped knife blades.
 
Victorinox is my favorite,swisstool if you need large pliers and tough tools.A vic farmer,hiker,ranger etc.covers most needs.
 
Full size SwissTool or for slightly smaller but very capable the Spirit. Also, buy it from the first poster Felinevet. Best service, excellent prices and goes towards a great cause too. Felinevet
 
Thanks I just got one of the Spirits to give it a try and see if I like it better than my other two multi tools I have. I have to admit I had not given that one much more than a passing glance. The smooth slightly curved handles caught my eye and I like Vic scissors. Rarely do I use the blades on a Multi Tool. I've been trying to make myself use the Wave blades but somehow, convenient as they are they just don't bump my folder out of my pocket so its kind of redundant to carry. If I like this Spirit I will probably sell the Wave here before long.

STR
 
STR said:
Thanks I just got one of the Spirits to give it a try and see if I like it better than my other two multi tools I have. I have to admit I had not given that one much more than a passing glance. The smooth slightly curved handles caught my eye and I like Vic scissors. Rarely do I use the blades on a Multi Tool. I've been trying to make myself use the Wave blades but somehow, convenient as they are they just don't bump my folder out of my pocket so its kind of redundant to carry. If I like this Spirit I will probably sell the Wave here before long.

STR
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Basically, i went through a similar process with a Spirit, and although the jury is still out, there are a couple of things I find off=putting. The blade is serrated and has no point, neither of which I like (or, at least, exclusively). Also, the scissors opens about wide as those on the Classic and I find them almost useless for anything other than cutting string.

OTOH, everything else on the Spirit is sweet, even that the pliers is more of a needlenose on this version than the other Swisstools, it is beautifully made, and has all the implements I want in a multitool. Even so, I haven't warmed to it. Maybe the Spirit S, the one with a regular SAK blade along with the serrated, would suit me better, but then, no scissors.

For now, I'll stay with Leatherman.
 
If the blade needs a better point I'm sure that won't be a problem for me to make all better. The scissors are going to be hard for me to like from the sounds of it and thats the main thing I want. I've never found another scissors as good as those on my old Wenger SAK. Those are over 16 years old and still cut as good as they ever did. They called them the super scissors due to the serrations. I really miss them even with the ones on the Leatherman Wave I have. I know the plain edge ones dull and sharpening scissors on these SAKs and M/Ts to as good as they were when new is about like trying to move a mountain. I have never had much luck with scissor sharpening myself. I really hoped that when Vic bought Wenger that they would incorporate those great serrated super scissors into their own knives but I have not seen that occur. Truthfully when new plain edge scissors cut cleaner. But the little super scissors cut for many many years without worry or change and I like that. Most of the stuff I cut with them is small like face hairs and stuff that doesn't need to be clean cut just nipped or trimmed off. So to me they were the way to go. I wish Vic at least gave the buyer the option for one or the other.

STR
 
dodgeem33 said:
Charge TTI if you can swing it. The blades are as good as the best EDC knives.
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I had a leatherman wave for the last 8 years. I used it for everything. It never lost an iota of functionality, until I lost it. I recently got a Charge TTi to replace it, and I can say that it certainly performs better than the wave did, but I can't say anything about its durability just yet. Either way, my experience with swiss army knives is limited to their small pocket versions, but the one I carry on my keychain belonged to my grandfather (who died more than 20 years ago) and which functions as well now as the brand new ones, despite its constant use. I dont know what people complain about the leathermans for, I love them. The bottom line is that both brands are excellent and multis you're considering will both will do what you want them to. After that, it's just a matter of preference.
 
It is really a personal choice. When I was a scout the vic huntsman did me just fine. I would say that what ever tool you decide on make sure it has a saw as one of its components. The farmer is my personal favorite. I also carry a SOG powerlock in uniform. I would recomend a medium sized locking folder to accompany your multi. I would say a small fixed but if memory serves me right I believe you are not allowed, but times change.
 
Well .... all multi-tools are compromises. Everyone who owns one (or more) can find a different combination tool selection, shape, size, etc, they would rather have. Guess it all comes down to what's important to you. For me, the layout and tool selection of the Spirit-S was what I wanted. One hand blade opening isn't important to me. I also don't mind the steel used by Victorinox for it's blades. They take a nice sharp edge and are easy to sharpen. I didn't want bit holders or stubby bits. These were just some of my preferences that work for me. Of course these aren't for everyone.

Multi-tools just can't replace regular tools. But they are very handy for many things. You just have to figure out what your needs are and what will fit best. I don't think you will go wrong with Swiss Tools, Leatherman, SOG, and maybe even some of the Gerber's. Just figure what's your needs are and go from there.
 
Well for me the best tool is the leatherman surge. It has the largest blade available and it is just a great tool. I highly reccomend the surge. The swisstool is garbage; the pliers suck and it has puny blades and the philips screwdriver stripes. and the screw drivers are nothing like a leatherman. LEATHERMAN ALL THE WAY
 
i think str gave you a great overview-i have a wave, a super tool, and the siwss tool and swiss tool x-im a victorinox guy and the vic tools are heavy duty and great-i use em around the house

personally when outdoors i just dont need a multi tool-not to say it might not be nice sometime somehow-ive never needed pliers while camping-they do make nice pot lid grabbers and if you need em -well then....

as a hiker and camper for many years

i might suggest the vic ranger-this is my ideal outdoor knife-i can cut branches if need be-and dont laugh-the file will cut a padlock-should you inadvertantly be locked in beyond some gate-it has happened to me once -but the file let me get my car out and get home

-to me these tools have been all ive ever needed camping and climbing around the world-and its lighter and almost compact-if you like big go with the larger locking vics-frankly ive never needed much-its all in my pack and theres not much to break-the advantage to the smaller knife imho is that you can keep it in your pocket with little discomfort-

the champ is also nice but has items that you might not really use such as the glass, and scaler and a few others
 
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