Hi all,
I've always carried a SAK of some kind (currently a vic compact) but never anything bigger. I've been toying for a while with the idea of getting a leatherman juice cs4. The plus points for me are:
- pliers
- better screwdrivers (particularly a real philips)
- just kind of look cool!
The minuses are:
- expensive (£50 plus, whereas as SAK is ~£20)
- bigger and heavier (it would have to go in a pocket; I don't want stuff on my belt)
- I have heard (probably on here) that the bottle opener is not very good.
So, can anyone tell me if carring in the pocket is feasible? And how good the bottle opener is? And anything else I should be aware of? Then I might start trying to find a bargain.....
Cheers,
Ian.
Three years ago, my only reason for buying a CS4 was a post holiday clearance sale at Target. Until then, I had no interest in the Juice line and wasn't looking for one, but at the markdown it was well worth the price, for resale, if nothing else. In time, however, I grew to appreciate the Juice utility/pocketability package, and the CS4 eventually became my usual EDC for casual out-and-about.
What sets the Juice apart from any comparable size SAK is the pliers, which I find so useful that this one implement settled the matter for me. I wish Vic offered something comparable, but they don't. SAKs are made to a high level of fit and finish, but IMHO Leatherman quality is quite good and equally reliable.
Juice screwdrivers are better than those on SAKs, but stubby, sometimes a problem. There is an accessory extension available, a good workaround, but it means carrying something extra (I don't bother).
The saw performs well for its size. I've applied it to small branches and roots inaccessible to larger saws. It works well as any, but not something I use often. However, it doesn't take up much space.
As Umberto observed, the awl needs to be sharpened, but that is easily done. I use an awl often, to bore into wood for screw guide holes, poke holes in leather etc. When sharpened, this one works well enough. Every multool should have an awl.
As a combo tool, the cap lifter/can opener compromises both functions, but works in each. Some posters have recommended sharpening the can opener blade, but that would increase the likelihood of puncturing a bottle cap. I have successfully opened cans and bottles with it in unmodified form, and although not as nicely as with a SAK, it gets the job done. I love thumbing open the implement.
For carrying, the CS4 gets attached with a quick release clip and suspended from my belt by a shoestring dummy cord into my RF pocket, where it lies along the back seam, virtually unfelt until needed. Sometimes I carry it loose in a pocket. That way, it's noticeable, but not bad for the size and weight. Try it out before purchase and find out if it feels right in your pocket.
In all honesty, at its usual selling price, or even at a modest discount, I probably wouldn't have made the purchase. A SAK at less than half the price offers a lot of utility for the money. This is your decision to ponder.
