Best Multitool?

[znapschatz]

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

My items get used a lot. I use the magnifier to examine photographic negatives and color slides. It gives 8X magnification, like the loupe usually misplaced or stolen at my lab. Optical quality is not bad, actually better than some cheap magnifying glasses. Occasionally, I examine other small things, like seeds, insects, coins, tiny printing, other micro stuff for which a handy little glass while out and about is better than the nicer one at home.

Although I don't use fish scaler for its designed purpose, it regularly gets to be a probe when I don't want to put my fingers on something icky. The one time I ever scaled a fish with my Swisschamp, the large blade worked better and cleanup was anyway a PIA (note to self; use a fixed blade for scaling, or better yet, someone else's knife). Also, the scaler is a 3 inch/76 mm ruler, very helpful many times.

Over years, I have used all blades and implements on my Swisschamp except for the small screwdriver (the back-spring one), including the notoriously "useless" hook, although not always for their intended purposes.
Lifestyle has a lot to do with it, but I like a full tool kit. Why deprive yourself? You never know when something might come in handy. Go Swisschamp.

 

[simbad]

In my case I've tried most of the multitools in the market, still I own most of them since therteen years ago when I bought my first Leatherman, the last one I bought was a Charge Ti and after two years with me everyday I finally decided to go back to my twelve years old Leatherman Multi-tool . it sounds funny but this model still works fine and it is the only one with no play in any tool. In models like Wave or Charge you have a very high risk of pinch your thumb with the top part of the blades when using the pliers (a very painfull accident), the screwdriver bit holders are short and the bits get stuck in so many screws and I don't find the advantage to change s.steel for titanium if the total weight of the tool does not change at all, just pay more money for an expensive metal.
So, I went to my junkbox decided to go back to my old original STool and after a refurbish session here it is and ready to go.

 

[James Y]

I own a bunch of Leatherman tools, and a have had a Victorinox original Swisstool for a number of years. IMO the Swisstool is a higher-quality product, but the multi I carry daily is the Leatherman Blast. I've had it since '04 and so far it seems effective for my uses and well-designed.

I don't carry the Swisstool very often because for myself, the wirecutters are a little short. I've seen an upgraded Swisstool that had slightly longer wirecutters with a notch in it. Also, some of the tools are almost nail-busters trying to pull open. I can access the other tools on my Blast very easily.

I also liked the original Leatherman PST a lot; it's still a great tool. And the Micra. The Micra's scissors aren't as precise as the scissors on my Vic SAKs, but is bigger and stronger for a bit rougher cutting. Before, I knicked up the edges on the small scissors on one of my Classics, trying to cut wire . Luckily, I was able to pretty much sharpen the flaws out enough to cut like new again.
Jim

 

[loug]

Have a Champ and two Charge, Ti and XTi. The Champ is good for the office but the Charge can't be beat for out of the office EDC. IMHO the Charge is heavy duty and is a larger tool. If I could the Charge would be my EDC.

 

[gmarthur]

I totally agree with simbad. I have been abusing my original SuperTool on a daily basis since 1998. Does everything I need it to and does it simply - without complicated bells and whistles. I liked my wave but none of the inner tools locked open so when I lost it on a fishing trip I was kind of happy.

 

[GarageBoy]

I sell Leathermans all day and they feel..not as nice as I hoped. Implements grind against each other, etc and the bit drivers are proprietary.

SOG and Vnox for me