Carrying a folder vs a multi tool

I've started carrying a leatherman skeletool cx at work. I'm really liking it so far. I would prefer an edc folder, but im trying not to rock the boat at the new job. I keep a folder in my car though, and as soon as I clock out, it goes in my pocket as well.
 
I like multitools but I have trouble frequently carrying them. No matter how you compare them to normal tools, they are great when you need something and don't have your normal tools. I do use them occasionally but I find that among my EDC gear I use a flashlight the most, a normal folder next, and a multitool less than that. But a multitool can be a lifesaver- on 2 separate occasions when I've been out in the middle of nowhere with my cousin and a group of people in his converted schoolbus, we used my Leatherman to fix his headlights so we could drive back to town in the dark.

I've owned an older Leatherman for a long time but a few years ago I got interested again and ended up buying 3 more of them. My plan was to use the little Juice when carrying one of my normal folders, to try EDC carrying the Skeletool in place of a normal folder, and to carry the Charge with or without another folder on occasions such as weekends when I'm more likely to need to the tools. I've found that normal days I don't have enough room in my pockets to carry the Juice, although if I changed my CR123 light for a AAA light I might be able to manage it. On weekends when I carry the Charge I do manage to use it occasionally.

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craytab said:
I'm not your "buddy". Nor am I "picking" on you. Having less money is no excuse for the things you are saying. You can buy less expensive but higher quality knives than your S&W. What it takes is learning. Reading more. I think I mentioned something like this before? Your first post in this thread is you singling me out and calling me a mall ninja. You did so completely inaccurately. You admittedly don't know what you are talking about. Sit back and read. Learn. You seriously need to look at what you're doing and try not to contradict yourself or make statements that everyone here knows aren't true. How is anyone supposed to take you seriously when you do that? That is unless you are doing it on purpose. It's up to you.
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all i said was that i never cared much for the mall ninja thing, that's why i never carried more stuff. never said you were one. the only place where i called you one was after you started picking on me and putting me down as being stupid and then calling my smith and wesson that was given to me by my friend before he passed that ive carried for years almost daily as being cheap pot metal. i like that knife, and its served me well and it has a lot of value to me. sorry its not up to your standard
 
Don Joe and Craytab: enough.
Any further wrangling between you two will be moved to a separate thread in Whine and Cheese, and you can have at it there.
 
For those of you that mentioned the Skeletool, what version/blade steel are using and how well is it keeping its edge over time? Curious if CX (154CM) is worth it over the cheaper 440c version.
 
I carry a folder. I have multitools stashed in convenient places: bag, truck, living room.


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rich s said:
to me most multi-tools like leatherman and others like it are a pain in the arse to use. Have to unfold them 6 ways from sunday to get a blade. I much prefer a good sak; tinker or deluxe tinker - best of both, a folder and tools.
Rich
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this!
 
Deinos said:
For those of you that mentioned the Skeletool, what version/blade steel are using and how well is it keeping its edge over time? Curious if CX (154CM) is worth it over the cheaper 440c version.
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Hey Deinos
My skeletool cx has a 154cm blade. Its pretty easily opened and closed one handed. I havent used it to the point that it's needed sharpening yet. So far it's a decent enough substitute for my normal carry that I don't get anxiety about being "underknifed".
 
Deinos said:
For those of you that mentioned the Skeletool, what version/blade steel are using and how well is it keeping its edge over time? Curious if CX (154CM) is worth it over the cheaper 440c version.
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Deinos, for me personally, I'm not sure the upgrade was really worth it since I always have a folding knife that I go for first. I've honestly never sharpened my MT blades except for my wave which is now 15 years old (can't remember what steel that even is). I guess if you were using your MT blade a lot it might be worth it. Again, for me personally, my MT blade is something I use in a pinch, but 99% of the time I'll go for my actual knife.

While we're talking about the skeletool, I've just now realized that for the size, it doesn't actually have as many features as some others. Don't get me wrong, I like it. It's got the pocket clip. I like the size of the pliers/wire cutters and the bit adapter is useful to me, but that's pretty much it. I guess I occasionally use the bottle opener too.
 
Sosa said:
Need more tools than this I'll bring them with me.
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Sosa, that's pretty rad! What brand is it? I had an old swisstool, or something like that, that looked similar. My first car had a gummy rear door lock that was practically impossible to get with just my finger tips, lol! That little tool was a must :)
 
I guess it all comes down to the individual. I couldn't live without my leatherman as I use it for something literally every day "I tinker with something all the time lol" and some people would hardly ever have a need to use it. So you just gotta decide if its worth the trouble. One thing we all seem to agree in tho its not a replacement for a good folding knife :-D You really need both imo.

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jackknife said:
I'm not a mulitool person as far as Leathermans go. The plier tool doesn't appeal to me as I have not needed a pliers on a daily basis in my life.
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I've found that a set of pliers sometimes comes in handy. :)
The pliers in my Swisschamp have been handy for pulling knots tight while doing woodsy things, and a few other things I cannot remember at the moment.
I wouldn't have thought to bring pliers, and often have no need of them, but sometimes having them there was useful. :thumbup:
 
Deinos said:
For those of you that mentioned the Skeletool, what version/blade steel are using and how well is it keeping its edge over time? Curious if CX (154CM) is worth it over the cheaper 440c version.
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Mine is the standard version and I have not used it enough to have any opinions on the blade although I thought I remembered the standard blade as 420C. I bought mine as an experiment, if I was going to buy one to use all the time I would go for the 154CM model.
 
TyTEK said:
Sosa, that's pretty rad! What brand is it? I had an old swisstool, or something like that, that looked similar. My first car had a gummy rear door lock that was practically impossible to get with just my finger tips, lol! That little tool was a must :)
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I forget the brand. I bought it on big river like 5 years ago. I broke the small Phillips head doing something stupid and searched for a replacement online. I don't think it's made anymore. They make a Chinese clone but it lacks the small fold out bits. If anyone knows what the things name is I'd like to know. It will make it easier to find a replacement.
 
For me the plyers are what get used 90% of the time when I'm pulling the multi tool. The Vic has a nice edged scraping tool too that has come in handy. When it comes to regular knife use I pull the Southard. The small midnight manager Victorinox has a nice pen and flashlight that I use frequently. The AG Russell sunfish... Well some folks on the traditional forum were asking about it so I decided to put it on the belt today. The Smith and Wesson… Well that's life insurance. (Insurance is my business).

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I would separate SAK from multitools as well unless you're talking about those giant SAKs. I love the combination of a Leatherman, a smaller SAK and a nice folder. Usually for me at work it's the Leatherman Wave and a SAK Pioneer. My Wave gets used more than any of my knives do, plenty of tasks throughout the day that can require the quick use of pliers. As for the SAK, I still have never purchased a cork screw for wine opening, just grab a SAK and twist away, ;).
image by Danny Nystrom, on Flickr
 
I like pliers based multi tools, BUT.... the reality is that for the most part when I carried my SOG and Vic Spirit, I used the pliers and wire cutter more than anything else. I also find it a pain in the butt to get some of the tools out of the handles to use. I keep a multi-tool (the Vic these days) in my bag that I keep with me in the pickup. I find carrying one of these to be just a bit too heavy. I know that I am probably going against the grain here on larger multi-tools, but I think of it as a handy pliers that has other tools for emergencies. I use my sak tools far more.

That said, Pinnah turned me onto the Leatherman Squirt (PS4) and I keep in on my work vehicle key chain. I use it a fair amount, but dominantly use the pliers. So, I also got the blade-less Leatherman Style PS5 which i keep in one of my work bags for use on jobs.... it handles some of the little things I do on a fairly regular basis. But again, it's mostly the pliers for me... it's all about the pliers and the more needlenose like the better.

If you want to experiment get yourself one of the little Leatherman Squirts and play with it. See if you see any utility in your daily life. If so, bounce up to something larger, perhaps the Sketetool or the Vic Spirit. The Spirit is very good by the way. Just because you own it, doesn't mean you have to carry it on your person like an edc knife.

In general, I prefer a fairly simple, usually two layer Vic SAK and I have grown to appreciate the larger 111 mm size.
 
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