How the h--- does anyone carry this?

[jackknife]

Leatherman has a pretty good warranty policy. If you send that broken Wave back to them there's a good chance they will replace the worn and broken parts for free or a pretty nominal fee. Give carrying it a try when you are doing chores around the house or working in the yard. You might find you like it.

Na, I just don't see the postage as worth it. I'm never gonna carry this thing, just too big and heavy. I've already stashed it in the glove box of Karen's element in case of dire emergency. I've got a small tool kit in back of the seat of my pickup with real tools, and another small kit in the give box of my Vespa. The Vespa has a pair of real Channel Locks that put the Leatherman to shame.

I tried the Leatherman on some real nuts and bolts, and the needle nose jaws are totally wrong shape for gripping. Really poor design when compared to real pliers. I just can't see ever carrying this thing.

Carl;.

 

[jackknife]

But if I'm doing handyman work around the house, I carry the MT for the same reason I used to carry it as a tech. I find it saves me a lot of time and energy walking back and forth to get the ideal tool for the job.

As a pensioner, you may have forgotten this.

I haven't been retired so one I've forgotten how to work. If I'm at home, I have real tools in a real tool kit. When I was at work, and I had to go over to the far side of the mill section or lathe section, I put my machinist chat on a cart and wheeled it over to where I was working. Right tool for the job, bud. I don't ever see me using a multi tool when I've got good tools by Channel Lock, Vise Grip, Snap On, and Craftsman.

 

[Smaug]

Well, it sounds an awful lot like you were not really asking a question, but posting your opinion and hoping for support. You're probably not going to get it in this particular sub-forum.

It also seems like your mind is already closed to new ideas and ways of thinking.

 

[Doug Add]

I own a Victorinox SwissTool RS and it weighs 11oz. There is no way in hell I'm even carrying that thing on my belt, let alone my pocket. I keep it securely tucked away in my day pack, and it has paid for itself multiple times.

That describes my method. I tried it on the belt when I first got it, but it was just too heavy. No way I'm totin' that RS on my person. The Case Peanut, however, goes everywhere in my pocket. The SwissTool is in my book bag, which also goes just about everywhere I do. It's a handy tool, but honestly I use my Victorinox Fieldmaster (which is in my laptop bag) more often than the SwissTool.

 

[Grateful]

I tried quite a few different multi-tools before I decided they just are not for me . My go to set up includes a sak and a pair of Cee Tee slip-joint pliers . Because I carry them in different locations I really don't notice the weight . Another advantage to this set up is that I can use the pliers and a screwdriver at the same time . Lastly me dedicated pliers are alot stronger than multi-tool and imho work better .
Jim

 

[DougB2]

Na, I just don't see the postage as worth it. I'm never gonna carry this thing, just too big and heavy. I've already stashed it in the glove box of Karen's element in case of dire emergency. I've got a small tool kit in back of the seat of my pickup with real tools, and another small kit in the give box of my Vespa. The Vespa has a pair of real Channel Locks that put the Leatherman to shame.

I tried the Leatherman on some real nuts and bolts, and the needle nose jaws are totally wrong shape for gripping. Really poor design when compared to real pliers. I just can't see ever carrying this thing.

Carl;.

You have certain expectations. Your mind is made up that LM is not worth it because the pliers don't meet your idea of what "real" pliers are. OK, great for you, but keep in mind that the LM on your belt, with its "poor design", is far better in a pinch than the Channel Locks, etc. that you don't have with you. Same as the idea that your best knife is the one you have with you, not the one you left at home.

As for the wrong shape, poor design, etc., the fact that LM has sold milions of such tools shows that there is tremendous utility in them, and they've been copied by many over the years. Keep in mind that the original LM tool was designed by Tim Leatherman after finding that existing knives and tools were not suitable for a traveller. They can do lots of things, but there are other tools better suited for very specific uses.

If the "real" pliers and SAK get the job done for you, great!

 

[Django.cj]

If the "real" pliers and SAK get the job done for you, great!

I have probably 20 sets of real pliers and vice grips in my house. None of them fold into a nice compact shape that I can keep on me. The spirit is for the 90% of the time when im not at my workbench and just need something with a strong grip. I think all the focus on tightening nuts detracts from the real utility a MT provides.

 

[quattromori]

I have one LM (smaller than a Wave: mine is a Kick). I don't carry it around. It stays in my car in its sheath (along with other small tools) and comes out only in case of need. I don't need a MT for work, so there is no reason to carry it around on my person. But, they are solid and useful tools, especially when I'm not home. And my car doesn't complain about its bulk or weight

 

[LX_Emergency]

Na, I just don't see the postage as worth it. I'm never gonna carry this thing, just too big and heavy. I've already stashed it in the glove box of Karen's element in case of dire emergency. I've got a small tool kit in back of the seat of my pickup with real tools, and another small kit in the give box of my Vespa. The Vespa has a pair of real Channel Locks that put the Leatherman to shame.

I tried the Leatherman on some real nuts and bolts, and the needle nose jaws are totally wrong shape for gripping. Really poor design when compared to real pliers. I just can't see ever carrying this thing.

Carl;.

It was never meant to be a fully functioning toolbox. But when you need something to grip tightly with pliers or cut through steel wire or something similar.....it'll work a LOT better than your peanut so you don't have to carry around a full toolbox.

If you're expecting to do a lot of hard work with tools.....bring a toolbox.

If you simply want something with you for a "what if" situation.....bring a multitool.

 

[echoscout]

How the h--- does anyone carry this? In a pocket or on the belt. Its not rocket science.

 

[pyro777]

Ive had to use my lm sideclip to bend and cut a closehange to get into my truck quite a few times when keys get locked in, it would be alot easier with linemen pliers, but they were in the locked truck. Having a mt is quite handy when other tools, that are better designed for the job, are out of reach. A wave or st 300 may be to heavy for some, but now they have the wingman and sidekick, and im sure you can find up a sideclipe on the net.

 

[GRIM 62]

I carry my Spirit X or my LM Blast in my work bag.

 

[Humppa]

I use to carry my Vic SwissTool on my building-lot-working-belt, pretty heavy but up to theese couple of ounzes more don´t mind next to the nailbag an a heavy hammer. A LM Blast is fitted in my rucksack. I don´t carry it on the belt, though it would be lighter. But using them can be helpful everytime.

Kind regards

 

[Rumbrave]

I have a surge and i wear it on my belt and have done this for 6 or 7 years now after awhile it just becomes a part of you and you forget its there until you need it. I never go anywhere with out my Multi-tool at best i'll take it off my belt if i have too.

 

[DougB2]

If you simply want something with you for a "what if" situation.....bring a multitool.

"What if" is a great way to put it. Several years ago, when my then-fiancee and I were prepping her house for sale, there was a framework of 2x4s in the basement as part of the previous owner's old, failed finishing project. My wife's zip saw failed after three boards, so while she fiddled with the power tool, I used the saw on my Supertool to finish the job. Took half an hour, but the job got done. The zip saw still doesn't work but my Supertool is still ready to work 24/7.

Another great aspect of LM ownership is the customer service. Another part of prepping the house was having to cut cement board (like drywall but much harder) for the bathroom. Dummy me, I used the Supertool saw. I got about 6" into it and it quit. It's great for bone, wood, and similar stuff, but not cement board. I sent it back to the company and they replaced the saw blade, no charge, no questions asked.

 

[bdmicarta]

"What if" is a great way to put it.

A few years ago we were out at a friends farm for a cookout and left after dark. The floor-mounted headlight dimmer switch in his truck failed and we had no headlights. I was carrying my Leatherman PST II and a LED flashlight. We used my tool to pull the prong out of one of the dimmer switch wires so we could plug 2 wires together and have headlights to drive us back into town. We were out in the middle of nowhere with no headlights, and nobody had any tools except for me. A year later, same place, the new dimmer switch failed and we used the screwdriver in my tool to remove the old dimmer switch and install a new one.

 

[justsomedude]

I carry a Swisstool Spirit X every day in my pocket. I find it to be that perfect mix of size, weight, and utility.

 

[Gadgetaholic]

I have 2 tools on my belt every day - Victorinox Cybertool 34 & Victorinox SwissTool X. I barely notice they are there, maybe I'm just used to the weight.
I used to carry a Leatherman Wave (for about 10 years) but recently changed to the SwissTool for a better selection of tools and a better design - I never really noticed the weight increase.
Over a decade of carrying the Wave taught me that it is very handy having a pair of pliers right there on my belt, I also made use of the excellent file (my Cybertool doesn't have one) more than once.

I do have other load-outs to choose from, my minimal one is a paracord lanyard with the following: front door key, 1 x AAA flashlight & Victorinox mini-champ - this one is good when going out for a walk for exercise (1 hour at fast pace) where I don't want a lot of weight banging about in my pocket.
I have other useful tools available like the Victorinox Bantam (that was generously given to me by a certain forum member on SOSAK, possibly with a real name of Carl) which is very light and slim and yet gives a lot of utility for all sorts of tasks. This can slide into a pocket and be barely noticed until needed.
But when I go out on my 400cc scooter I wear heavy pants (Dragon Jeans) with a good belt and my 2 pouches containing my SAK & MT - there aren't many jobs I can't handle with these!

 

[mnblade]

With all due respect to my curmudgeonly pal Carl ...

How the hell does anyone carry this thing?

The short answer is, on a belt. In my case, my Wave spends a lot of time in the kitchen drawer and gets used for little household jobs. Anything bigger and of course I go to the tool box. When I head out on a road trip or vacation with the family, I generally travel with it on my belt during the drive, and then leave it in the hotel once we've arrived. I do have a pair of regular pliers in the car as well, btw.

After looking it over, I can't see where it does anything more than a sak like a farmer or hiker, with the exception of the pliers. The pliers seem to take up the bulk of the weight by virtue of their function, with the rest of the tools being not any more useful than a sak.

Good point. And with this in mind, I've often written -- in all seriousness -- that a "poor man's Leatherman" is to simply buy a decent pair of pliers and pair it with a SAK.

If I thought I was going to need a pliers, I'd rather stick a small channel lock or vise grip in my back pocket and have a sak in my side pocket.

Come on, Carl. Obviously the point of a multi-tool (which is an imperfect substitution for a tool box) -- or a SAK (which is an imperfect substitution for a tool box and/or fixed blade) or pocketknife (which is an imperfect substitution for a fixed blade), or a keychain light (which is an imperfect substitution for a full-size flash-light), or a Sears 4-way screwdriver (which is an imperfect substitution for a screwdriver) -- is that you can have them at hand even when you didn't think you might need one.

Is a Wave too big to tote around on a day-to-day basis? For you, yes. For me, yes. For a lot of guys? Obviously, no.

I wonder if Karen found a Micra or Juice C2, would you have written the same post?

 

[timberweasel]

I wonder if Karen found a Micra or Juice C2, would you have written the same post?

I really dig my Juice S2... it's the only Leatherman I've taken a real shining to since my ol' PST.