Leatherman juice

M

MadBaxter

Joined
Sep 11, 2010
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Anyone have anything good to say about the leatherman juice models, im looking to buy one but for £55 inc p&p will it really be worth it for the cheapest one? i really really like the xe6 aswell. but its just too expensive :'(
 
I had an XE6 for a while, but it was a little heavy for EDC. Sold it and kept a CS4, which I carry some. I also prefer a SAK along with a quality folder. I use the SAK scissors quite often, and the LM scissors just don't do it for me. I also am not too fond of the blade on the Juice, but that's just a preference thing vs. the SAK blade.
 
I think the Juice line has some nice models, but the thicker models tend to be a bit heavy. I also don't like the blade very much, if you're used to the blade of a SAK, then you'll miss it when switching to a Juice model. But as an addition to a good knife, I think they are good tools.
 
Very solid, decent tools, but some are a bit small. I mean, that's the whole idea: a compact, full-function multitool. Carried in a belt pouch, the weight is meaningless. Don't use the plastic holder. It will eventually crack and you don't want to lose the tool.

I have the xe6 as a home multitool for the corkscrew and for adjusting gadgets around here. I like the grip I get on it. But I prefer a larger one for outdoor carry.
 
MadBaxter said:
Anyone have anything good to say about the leatherman juice models, im looking to buy one but for £55 inc p&p will it really be worth it for the cheapest one? i really really like the xe6 aswell. but its just too expensive :'(
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The following comments are based on my experience with a CS4:

Not that Leatherman is bad, but In most respects, I believe Victorinox does implements better than Leatherman, except for screwdrivers. Those on Leatherman models are both sized better for most common screw heads and cut square. Vic drivers are too polished and slightly rounded, making them more likely to slip than those on the Juice. Other than that, the other LT blades and tools are just okay. Some forumites have posted problems with the combo bottle/can opener, but I have used it successfully many times for both. The awl, however, is all but useless unless sharpened, the work of a few minutes.

There are other multitools more or less the same size, but if you need pliers, there is no other choice. Only the Leatherman Juice line offers useable pliers in that size, a factor simplifying matters for me. Sometimes lack of choice is not a bad thing, saving a lot of time mulling over which of several options is best ;) .

Although £55 seems like a lot of money for a Juice, you probably pay much less for health care than we do in the US. There are plusses and minuses in daily life on both sides of the ocean, I guess. :)
 
I've carried a Juice CS4 for the better part of a year now and I like it a lot. I think if I were to do it again I'd go with the S2 because the CS4 is a little heavy in my pocket and I don't need the saw or the corkscrew, but otherwise I have no complaints.

Strong pliers with a good wire cutter, good scissors, bottle opener/can opener works just as it should, the screw drivers are well sized(especially the phillips), and the knife is just fine as a supplement to a separate EDC knife. The awl could definitely stand to be sharpened, but it works.
I can't really comment on the saw or the corkscrew because I don't use them although the saw seems a little on the thin side and has a bit of flex to it.
 
I have a Juice S2, and its a favorite of mine. I always carry it on bike rides. I has a nice weight to it, its not too heavy or too light.

Andrew
 
Go with the thinner Juice models. It not supposed to be as big as a full size leatherman and more handy in the pocket. The big wide thick models like the XE6 are way too wide and you be better off with a different tool. The S2 is probably my favourite of the line and the C2 is nice and thin too. Makes a nice mid weight multitool.
 
Love the juice S2. Highly recommended. Awesome scissors, never had a problem with any of the tools.
 
I have an XE6, but if i had it to do over again i might have gotten a smaller one. lol the thing's a little brick at the bottom of your pocket.
The Cs4 is 1.3 ounces lighter, and the only thing i might miss is the file.

I like my Juice overall, but i have some comments about the tool that are unfavorable. For the sake of brevity just take it as read that it is for the most part a capable tool that i like and carry pretty often. But there are just a few things i think are fairly important to know:

They make a dandy EDC tool for around the house or town when you might need a variety of things for small jobs. However, they seem made for only that light duty.

I've seen the frame on mine flex in a slightly alarming manor when i was using the pliers to twist some some fencing wire. Be careful about rotational torq, keep the forces in line with the jaws.

And once after an extended session using the can opener it overextended...somehow slipped to the side of it's back-spring. I considered sending it in for warranty work, but a little work on the rivet with a hammer put things right enough.

(also I sharpened the can opener, it being dull as a doorknob from the factory probably didn't help)

Oh also, you're supposed to be able to use the can opener as a lever to extract a wine cork. This feature does not work at all. The cork screw itself isn't really all that stout either.
 
FunctionMode said:
I've carried a Juice CS4 for the better part of a year now and I like it a lot. I think if I were to do it again I'd go with the S2 because the CS4 is a little heavy in my pocket and I don't need the saw or the corkscrew, but otherwise I have no complaints.

Strong pliers with a good wire cutter, good scissors, bottle opener/can opener works just as it should, the screw drivers are well sized(especially the phillips), and the knife is just fine as a supplement to a separate EDC knife. The awl could definitely stand to be sharpened, but it works.
I can't really comment on the saw or the corkscrew because I don't use them although the saw seems a little on the thin side and has a bit of flex to it.
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Actually, I wasn't interested in a CS4 at all at the time I got mine, but came across one at a clearance price I couldn't refuse :o . Usually, I preferred heftier multitools and mostly carried a Leatherman Super Tool. My thought was to play with the Juice, then sell it off for likely more than I paid. Instead, I found it filling a niche for me and also just quirky enough to be entertaining, so I ended up keeping it.

About the saw; during my get acquainted period with the Juice I did try it on several different materials, wood and otherwise. It worked quite well, despite the flex and probably helped by the thin profile, although a bit short. Although I never use it for serious purposes, it is good to know that the saw is at least functional. You never know when something might someday be just the very implement you need.
 
I like the Juice S2 model a lot. One thing that was an issue for me is that the first few times I opened up the flat bladed screwdrivers they kept catching the skin on my thumb and shredded it a little bit. After getting used to opening all of the tools it's not a problem anymore.

Also, the plastic sheath sucks. I did find that the Juice S2 does fit (barely) into a small Victorinox pouch, luckily for me. Also, be aware that the little keyring is too small to squeeze paracord through. Not a big deal, but it's one of those little quirks that could bother you.
 
If you need the pliers, then IMHO LM Juice has the smallest usable pliers. It's roughly the same size as the pliers on LM Skeletool. I had the S2 and carried it as my only EDC for a while, and it didn't disappoint. I stopped carrying it only because I needed full size pliers and got the Wave.
 
Another vote for the S2.

Good scissors, good pliers. The blade is O.K. but hard for me to get really sharp.

Overall the best compromise for the features I want in a multitool that will fit in my pocket for EDC.
 
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