How many multitools do you own...and why?

Warriorsociologist

Warriorsociologist

Joined
Dec 12, 2001
Messages
1,670
After some trading and selling a few of my lesser-used tools, I have decided to keep just my Leatherman Wave and Micra.

My wife and I carry Micras on our keyrings, and I carry a Wave in its nylon sheath any time I am "in the field." I have just sent my Wave in for warranty service as its main pivot joint is becoming sloppy. I asked Leatherman if they thought I should move up to a SuperTool 200 since the Wave showed such premature wear after only 2 years of use (premature for a tool with a 25-year warranty anyway). They assured me that they would stand behind the Wave and repair/replace it if needed. I like carrying the wave...and I like the one-hand opening option for its blades.

I am starting this post not to start a shouting match to see which tools are 'better' (though thoughtful comparisons are welcome)...rather, I wanted to see how many tools you feel you need, which ones bet fit your needs, and why you have as many (or as few) as you do.

Thanks in advance...
 
Five. :D The first one i picked up about 10-15 years ago. It was your basic leatherman model. This Xmas Mom gave me the same model that used to be owned by my dad. He died last June. Ihe Xmas before Dad gave me a Leatherman Crunch that he purchased the previous year for himself. At that time I think he knew his time on this earth was numbered due to cancer. I also own an old Leatherman that I found beside my truck while I was stopped at a stop light. I opened the door and grabbed it. Quickly there after I started smelling pot (I smelled it at a concert once!) inside the truck. Upon looking at the Leatherman I noticed the blade was all gummed up with pot goo. My guess is the previous owner tossed it out the window in a panic, when a cop was near, or was too stoned to know they even dropped it. :eek: I also purchased one of the heavy duty locking models when I saw it on sale about 7-8 years ago. That makes five. Oh yea, I dropped a SOG in river once while I was salmon fishing. I don't use them to unhook fish in deep water anymore. Too expensive!

I rarely carry any of my multi-tools directly on my person. I just have them here and there (in drawer, truck, packed on raft, in backpack) ... and grab them when needed .

:eek:
 
Leatherman Supertool.
Have tried other tools, but they feel a bit "wimpy".
The Supertool helped me out many times, bleeding the injectorpump, pulling nails out of tires and opening beerbottles :)
 
Bought a SOG tool a few years ago, but didn't find it very useful. The pliers handle pinched, and it's out in the garage for occasional prying duty. I use a Leatherman Supertool -- the screwdriver blades are excellent. The locking feature is a bit awkward but it does keep the tools from closing. The blade steel is crap but OK for scraping, etc., as long as you don't expect the edge to last. Bought a BuckTool for my son; he uses it from time to time. I note that trappers around here prefer the Gerber pliers/multi-tool; very handy for cutting snares off game.
 


1. Original Leatherman (2)
2. Original Gerber (4)
3. Leatherman Supertool (4)
4. Gerber Needle Nose Multi-Lock with Tool Kit (1)
5. Leatherman mini-Tool (1)
6. Leatherman Micra (4)

Just like my addiction to knives. . .or is that. . .Lay's potatoe chips. . . :rolleyes:

In the wife's van. . ."Original" Gerber and Gerber Needle Nose Multi-Lock with Tool Kit.

In my truck. . .Leatherman Supertool and "Original" Leatherman. Oh, and a Leatherman Micra danglin' from one of numerous carabiners hangin' from the ciggie lighter.

In the leather pouch on my motorscooter. . .Leatherman Supertool, "Original" Gerber and a Leatherman Micra.

Wife keychain. . .Leatherman Micra.

Next to the computer. . .Leatherman mini-tool, Leatherman Micra and a "Original" Gerber.

In my 3-day pack. . .Leatherman Supertool and a Micra

Strapped the right front strap of my Camelback MULE. . .Leatherman Supertool.

The "Original" Gerber's were obtained when they first came out (gave a different/additional option to the Leatherman). Only bad thing about them. . .pinched the hell out of the hand when the handles were closed. :mad:

Of them all. . .the coolest and most used. . .Leatherman Supertool ! :D
 
I own a standard Leatherman, a Micra, a Wave, and a Juice CS4, I also own a Swiss Tool. That comes out to five. There is some redundancy in my collection because the Swiss Tool and Wave have virtually the same tools. There is, however, a logic behind my multitool acquisition. I first bought a standard Leatherman and I really liked it, so I got a Micra for little tasks at work and for plane travel (remember when:( ). I later bought a Swiss Tool before I went overseas for some work. I have since used the Swiss Tool as my main tool around the house and I love it. My old Leatherman is now always in my car for emergencies. I know some people say the Swiss Tool is too slick because it is so highly chromed, but I have never had a problem with Swiss Tool, and I have used it extensively. I later bought a Wave just because the price was right and I light the idea of a multitool with one hand opening blades. I have not used it as much as my Swiss Tool but I think it is a multitool. My Juice is really in a different category from the other multitools because its compact size makes it alot more like carrying an SAK than a standard multitool. Although I still love my Swiss Toolthe Juice may be my new travel tool because it saves space in a suitcase or garment bag.
 
Leatherman Micra
Leatherman Wave
Leatherman Pulse

I always carry the micra on my keychain, and it comes in really useful when I need a tool, but don't have a tool kit nearby. My only complaint is it is attached with all of my keys, but I am getting a Kydex rig from Normark that will take care of this.

Between the Wave and Pulse I prefer the wave for two reasons, 1)I can open the knives without opening the tool, and 2) it just feels better in my hand. I carry them interchangibly and use them most often when working in the field(I work part time as a landscaper when I am in school). Whenever a machine is giving us problems, and the boss isn't onsite with the truck, and tool box, I use these tools to make quick repairs on machines. I have never had problems with any of them, they work well for what they are.
 
Ok, Here's my 2 cents.......

1.) Swisstool ..
Bought it after much thought to be the only tool I'd need.
Sadly turned out the the only tool I could be without.
Lot's of promise ....little delivery.

2.) Wave..
Liked it but it wasn't lefty friendly. Gave it to a nice
young fella in need for helping me with yardwork.

3.) PST.....
Liked it but just wasn't quite right for me. Returned
to wally world.

4.) Original Supertool....
We have a homerun with this tool for me.
Everything about this tool is spot on for my
uses. Everything. I like this tool so much I now
have three of the original model after looking at the
new 200 version. Nothing wrong with the 200 just
not my cup of tea.

5) Pulse....
What I carry for light duty when not at work.
It fixes all the problem of the PST & PST II.

6.) Micra......
On my Keyring. The sissors are great.

These tools and a pocket knife and I'm good to go.
 
I own and use three:
-Leatherman Supertool
-Gerber Legend Multiplier
-Leatherman Micra

I use all three, but the one that getsthe most use is the Supertool. It is one of my constant companions at work. The micra is in right behind it, used for cutting fingernails and tape.

I sure love those Leathermans:D
 
I've had a few of the Leatherman original tools over the years, and I just got another, also to give away. Family and friends seem to like them better than the bigger, more complicated versions.

I carry a Supertool and Micra pretty regularly, at least one of the two every day. Before I retired, I carried that Supertool every day on the job.

I got a Schrade Tough Tool, which I really liked, and gave it to my brother. He wasn't getting my Supertool!

I just got a Wave, and haven't figured out when and where to carry it. It's nice to have the one-hand opening knife, but I don't trust the knife the way I trust my Sebenzas.
 
Well, I only have 4 1/2 of them.

Gerber (model 400 I think)
Wave
original PST
Micra
1/2 a Micra

Somebody gave me the Gerber after snapping the knife blade off. It's handy as a second set of pliers.

The Wave is on my belt every day, unless I'm dressed up, when I carry the Micra. The PST is in my glovebox just in case.

The 1/2 Micra? Somebody broke the scissors on theirs and threw it away. I glommed it, took it apart, and put the tweezers, knife blade, nail file, small flat screwdriver and that goofy faux phillips screwdriver thing in the tweezer half. It's attached to my badge lanyard for those times when it's just the only thing I can carry that's sharp & handy.
 
Somehow I've ended up with a bunch of them.

Leatherman Supertool (original). My first one. Excellent, but unlocking is awkward and handles sometimes bite because not rounded.

Leatherman PST II. Comfortable to carry, even though tools non-locking. Unrounded handles, though.

Micra (2 of them). I now carry one in my watch pocket or left pocket every day. I feel attaching to keys would make it inconvenient.

Wave. Excellent concept. The main pliers pivot on mine has a bit of play, it now sits in my glove compartment. Otherwise would be my fave.

Pulse. Vast improvement over PST II.

Supertool 200. Just sent it in because one of the unlocking spring levers was broken out of the package. Time will tell how I feel about it when it comes back.

SOG Crosscut. Excellent compound leverage scissors. I went back to my Micra because more comfortable in pocket and does not need to be in pouch.

Victorinox Swisstool. Great quality, but for some reason I carry the Leathermans far more.

Jim
 
I notice that 2 posts in this thread have mentioned the main pliers pivot in the Wave becoming sloppy. Is this a common problem with the Wave?
 
I don't think the main pivot is a common problem (I've had, and
used mine for 2+ years now without a problem) BUT the WAVE has
the four main blades on that same pivot, so it's more likely.
You can always send it to LM for service, I've never heard a bad
word on there service.

Now for the question, WAVE + Micra (In case you hadn't guessed :) )
 
My first was a LM PST, wonderfull little for work. Then wanted a locking version when it came out. LM Super Tool. Had to have a Wave a couple of years ago. Then downsized to a micra for a key ring. Attached a larger split ring to it and put it on a mini caribiner w/keys. Then a SOG cross cut, nice little tool except for the gears which catch on pockets. Last X-mas a orange juice from my wife. Nice tool with spring tension to old blades open better. Good size to (replace?) my saks. Still dont know if it can! So that makes what, Six? Still like the Pulse, maybe that one is next.
:D
 
I carry a total of five. When I go out I wear a waist pouch. It includes a Gerber Legend on the belt and a Victorinox SwissChamp XLT inside. Because I don't always have my big tools with me I also carry a SOG CrossGrip in one pocket and a Victorinox Manager II in another. Finally, I keep a Swiss-Tech Utilikey on my keychain as an option of last resort.

When I want to travel lighter I sometimes substitute a Victorinox SwissTool X or Adventurer for the Legend and the SwissChamp. Despite the negative comments above, I have been uniformly pleased with the performance of my SwissTool.

--Bob Q
 
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