Leatherman Blast or Victorinox Fireman

[Halberdier]

I know it's not exactly apples to apples, but I'm having a hard time picking. I carry a medium fixed blade on my belt, a neck knife on my pack strap and a small folder in the pocket. I also carry a folding saw in the pack. I want one of these in a side pouch for extra utility, but mostly as a backup. Which would you take and why?


Leatherman Blast, 7 oz.
420HC Clip Point Knife
8 in | 19 cm
Bottle Opener
Can Opener
Hard-wire Cutters
Large Screwdriver
Needle nose Pliers
Phillips Screwdriver
Regular Pliers
Saw
Scissors
Small Bit Driver with Phillips and Flat Tip Screwdriver Bits
Small Screwdriver
Wire Cutters
Wire Stripper
Wood/Metal File

Victorinox Fireman, 5.5 oz.
Large lock blade (Mine is plain edge)
Corkscrew (With a mini screwdriver added)
Cap lifter with
-Screwdriver
-Wire stripper
Reamer
Wood saw
Tweezers
Toothpick
One hand belt cutter (The serrated blade)

 

[Halberdier]

More thinking here.

The Leatherman adds some tools the Victorinox lacks: Pliers, scissors, a file. Valuable stuff I don't already carry.
The Victorinox adds an awl, but more importantly, serious blades and a larger saw. It's more of a true backup for my knives and saw.

The weight is similar and I already own both. It's a close call.

 

[neeman]

A medium fixed blade
A neck knife
A small folder
A folding saw

The Leatherman adds Pliers, scissors, a file.
Valuable stuff I don't already carry

 

[Halberdier]

I guess it's not a very interesting topic..

 

[TKM]

I'd choose the Blast. You get the scissors, the pliers, the file and a bunch of screwdrivers, all locking.

I mean, you already carry a good saw and couple blades, right? You might lose the awl, however, should the need arise, you can (carefully) use the point of your blade as one. Now, try improvising a pair of pliers ¿?

 

[Chinpo]

I used to carry a Swiss Spirit (I think it's the Spirit). The pliers got used a lot, but little else. I decided to switch to the One-Handed Trekker (Which is a little similar to the Fireman), and I think it was a good decision. The Spirit is now in my fishing bag.

 

[ROCK6]

How often do you usually use pliers, a file or scissors? With your current load out, I would recommend the Blast.

Another option, since I too like SAKs, is to add your preferred flavor of SAK and maybe the little Leatherman PS4 Squirt…compact pliers with a small file and scissors?

ROCK6

 

[Halberdier]

It's good to see opinions on both sides. Rock6, I've not been out there enough to figure out what I'm going to need often enough to make it worth carrying. And even folks who are out there all the time are tweaking occasionally. The three main uses I see for the pliers are repairs, pot grabber and fishing. I had no need for repairs so far, I can use a branch to lift a pot off the fire and I've yet to fish on a hike. But this is also about what we might need out there and I end up agreeing that the Leatherman adds extra capabilities I might need. So it's the Leatherman.

The Fireman is my favorite large SAK. The razor sharp serrated blade is a great addition over the Trekker. It's going in my daypack now where it'll be the only tool I carry beyond my pocket knife. I'm sure it'll see plenty of good use.

 

[OwenM]

It's good to see opinions on both sides. Rock6, I've not been out there enough to figure out what I'm going to need often enough to make it worth carrying. And even folks who are out there all the time are tweaking occasionally. The three main uses I see for the pliers are repairs, pot grabber and fishing. I had no need for repairs so far, I can use a branch to lift a pot off the fire and I've yet to fish on a hike. But this is also about what we might need out there and I end up agreeing that the Leatherman adds extra capabilities I might need. So it's the Leatherman.

If you have to talk yourself into carrying a tool by making a list of imaginary purposes for it to fill, you don't need it at all, and it's doubtful that anyone is tweaking to increase the amount of stuff they carry that serves no use. It's best to convince yourself of that on your own, though.

I'd encourage you to take the stuff already on your list out and use it. A few ounces isn't going to kill you, take the SAK and Leatherman, too. After a few trips without needing something/s, leave it/them at home next time, and so on. It's perfectly normal to feel anxious about not having things you'll need, and the best way to get over that is to get out there and find out for yourself. Ideally, you'll start with a bunch of stuff you think you've just got to have(I think everybody does), and end up with a minimum of items that cover a maximum amount of actual uses, and most importantly, feel comfortable about it, having made those choices based on your own experience rather than from listening to someone else.

When you discover that you only need the SAK for the tweezers, and the LM for the scissors, a Victorinox Classic has both, and weighs a little over half an ounce

 

[Halberdier]

If you have to talk yourself into carrying a tool by making a list of imaginary purposes for it to fill, you don't need it at all, and it's doubtful that anyone is tweaking to increase the amount of stuff they carry that serves no use. It's best to convince yourself of that on your own, though.

I'd encourage you to take the stuff already on your list out and use it. A few ounces isn't going to kill you, take the SAK and Leatherman, too. After a few trips without needing something/s, leave it/them at home next time, and so on. It's perfectly normal to feel anxious about not having things you'll need, and the best way to get over that is to get out there and find out for yourself. Ideally, you'll start with a bunch of stuff you think you've just got to have(I think everybody does), and end up with a minimum of items that cover a maximum amount of actual uses, and most importantly, feel comfortable about it, having made those choices based on your own experience rather than from listening to someone else.

When you discover that you only need the SAK for the tweezers, and the LM for the scissors, a Victorinox Classic has both, and weighs a little over half an ounce

That's a thoughtful response. I appreciate it!

I left out an important detail. I'm not merely planning backpacking trips. My goal is to go out there with the tools and knowledge to sustain myself for longer periods of time. The problem is that I don't have weeks to spend outdoors to put my gear to a true long-term test, so I have to theorize and use short excursions to test specific gear and skills. With that in mind, I have a 'two is one and one is none' mentality, hence the need for backup of all critical tools. However the pack is already at 35 lbs with gear and water, but no food. I have to be careful about adding to that.

I made myself a daypack for day hikes, it has exactly what I need and a few 'just in case' items. In that pack, the Fireman is the only general tool I'll have. Tweezers and small scissors are already included in my first aid kits and a knife is always present in my pocket, so there is a bit of redundancy, but it's only a few ounces worth.

 

[cb4life_30]

Have you thought about carrying the Blast for the aformentioned reasons and adding a smaller SAK like the farmer for the awl and saw. I use this the farmer in this regard for EDC. I find it to be the perfect complient to my other EDC items. To make up for its lack of tweezers I attached a set of sliver grippers. For light hiking I use OHT and freestyle in addition to a larger folder or fixed blade.

 

[Halberdier]

Have you thought about carrying the Blast for the aformentioned reasons and adding a smaller SAK like the farmer for the awl and saw. I use this the farmer in this regard for EDC. I find it to be the perfect complient to my other EDC items. To make up for its lack of tweezers I attached a set of sliver grippers. For light hiking I use OHT and freestyle in addition to a larger folder or fixed blade.

I already carry a larger folding saw, so the Leatherman is the backup to that. I did consider replacing my pocket knife with a SAK, but I'm so used to it that it just wouldn't fee right.