Help with picking a daily carry MT

Bolt · Sep 17, 2015

I work various facilities jobs and residential construction. I am going to give carrying a small fixed blade (Izula2) and a MT a try. I do not want belt carry. I am shooting for the fixed blade to ride on the belt, the MT in front right pocket and a Olight in the other pocket.
Question is, what MT can I get that has a good pocket clip? I do not want a Leatherman sidekick or wingman, as I have already broken them due to the cheap steel.

Thanks for the help.

ThePeacent · Sep 17, 2015

LM Wave with pocket clip is the way to go, I'd say.
Otherwise, I suggest getting your hands on a LM ST 300 or Rebar and carrying it loose inside the pocket, or inside their sheaths and those inside the pocket.
Other MT that would be worth looking at are the LM SuperTool, Gerber MP600 and MP400, SOG Powerlock and Pocket PowerPlier (this one lends itself to be carried, so comfortable and light in the pocket) and both Victorinox Spirit and Swisstool.
It all depends on the tools you need, if you tell us what your needs are we will be able to recommend better and be more specific!

Good luck!

mg357 · Sep 17, 2015

I highly recommend the Leatherman Super Tool 300

codycash · Sep 17, 2015

The Wave with clip would be about the only way to go, if you must clip it. The Swiss Tool Spirit X is lighter and much trimmer than the Wave and carries nicely loose in a pocket. I myself use belt carry exclusively with Multi Tools and carry a Wave in the leather/nylon sheath with the 42 piece bit kit, a Microstream and a UST ferro rod all in one tighty package on my left side daily. I switch over to a Surge or Super Tool 300 while camping/hunting/fishing and I use an OHT occasionally for working fencing and while doing plumbing or electrical work because of the spring loaded pliers.

Bolt · Sep 17, 2015

Tool wise, I need good strong pliers, screwdrivers, light duty prying edge, awl, and a file. I prefer the pocket clip if possible.

ThePeacent · Sep 18, 2015

For all these tools in a slim, ergonomic and incredibly tough package, get a Spirit. Only con: No clip, no one handed opening

If you can take the awl apart from your selection, but want to have a pocket clip, the Wave is the only way to go. Its file is also the best you can find, as it is a diamond file, as opposed to the classic three sided metal file from Victorinox in the Spirit. You can pry with the Wave's flat screwdriver, but the Spirit excels at the prying tools category.

It has a dedicated prying head! The wave has a finer plier head, the Spirit's jaws are wider and thicker...

You can't go wrong with any of those two, though. They are the most famous, well-reviewed and tested MT on the market today. Tough, versatile, realitvely lightweight and with a really complete and awesome set of tools!

Extra modded wave pics for you:

collim1 · Sep 18, 2015

Are you wanting a plier based tool?

The Wave will pocket clip, but its a serious chunk of steel to carry to clipped. I occasionally carry mine that way, but depending on the pants it can be unpleasant to carry that way.

gadgetgeek · Sep 18, 2015

This would be my solution. get the wave, and a small pocket prybar, like a widgy, or a small cat's paw if you can stand carrying a bigger tool. Nothing beats leverage. My reasoning for going with the wave is that if you find that pocket clipped doesn't work for you, you can always chuck it on your belt. If you find that the Izula is getting most of your blade time, and the multi ends up on your belt, then you can upgrade to the Vic, as you won't have need for one-handed blades on the MT. When it comes to MT use and carry, some things work for some guys, but not for others, so you might find that clipped in the pocket just does what you need. And since it will be the cheaper starting option, it would be my choice, and there is an added benefit of the bit holder, if you need an occasional screwdriver. They are not the best, but if its the one you have with, they make do. Also if it turns out that the izula doesn't work for you, its nice to have the one-handed blades rather than be stuck with the two handed. In general I think the Vic is the better tool all-round but its also a touch less versatile for carry and deployment. hence starting with the wave.

Nap · Sep 19, 2015

The Wave does seem like the only real option, but as others have noted (and much to my frustration) it does lack an awl. The dedicated flat-blade screwdriver is separate from the bit driver for a reason, thoughit's up for a surprising amount of prying.

If you or one of your facilities jobs has a shop with a vise and a grinder, you can repurpose one of the bits from the standard bit kit (which is pretty much a must-buy for the Wave) or the MUT bit kit (which has two long-shaft bits), and grind an awl for yourself. Or, if you're going to be carrying a dedicated pry bar, grind the flat blade to your needs.

gadgetgeek · Sep 20, 2015

Depending on what you use an awl for, you might be better off adding a dedicated tool to fill that one role. If its just a "in-case" sort of thing, it wouldn't be a deal breaker to me.

Bolt · Sep 21, 2015

A good deal popped up on a charge tti with the packet clip, all lightly used. I am going to grab it and let you know how I like it. Thanks for all of the input, it truly helped.