Thank you for sharing. That’s impressive. Makes me think that the extra $15 (and inaccessible blade when closed) is worth it.
The balance is shifting again towards the Rebar.
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Leatherman: Super Tool (1996) -VS- Rebar/Sidekick (2021)
- Thread starter TakaBKK
- Start date
The balance is shifting again towards the Rebar.
I had the ST for many years until it was stolen. I also had(I think I still have them somewhere) the attachment and all the hex bits as well that fit into the neck of the pliers. I then found a Wave that was discounted (it was the latest and greatest at the time)and have had it ever since. I remember when I got the Wave thinking how they had really improved the design over the years....
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- Jan 1, 2019
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Between those two I do not know, but my Rebar has a blade thickness of about 0.07 inches and my Wave+ is 0.1 inches. Though the Sidekick specs it slightly smaller than the Wave and even the Rebar, it weighs more than the Rebar. So I'd assume the blade thickness falls somewhere between the two.
hsherzfeld
Gold Member
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- Mar 10, 2016
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- 550
The Sidekick was my first Leatherman. I loved it, but it has its drawbacks.
For one thing, the Sidekick's handles angle more widely apart from each other (compared to most Leatherman multitools, probably including your Super Tool) when the pliers are deployed. That makes using the Sidekick's pliers less comfortable than, say, using a Leatherman Wave's pliers. The handles are also contoured in such a way that my hand always feels like it's about to slip up (or down) towards the pliers.
I don't have a Rebar, but I have a Bond, which has handles that are similar to the Rebar's handles but thinner. They are less rounded than the Sidekick's handles, but the Bond (and Rebar) doesn't have spring-loaded pliers to press the handles outward against your grip like the Sidekick does.
I think for me, the wider stance of the Sidekick's plier handles make it less comfortable when I'm gripping something in the plier jaws compared to the Bond (and Rebar), just because the handles are farther apart and my fingers have to stretch out more to grip the handles. I think this is more uncomfortable than the Bond's less-rounded edges, because I don't have to grip the Bond as hard as I do the Sidekick (just to overcome the spring).
The Rebar will definitely give you a better tool selection than the Sidekick: full size serrated blade and file, better Phillips and flathead screwdrivers, and an awl. In my opinion, the only trade-off is the lack of outside-opening blades. But in many parts of the world, that's actually an advantage due to local knife laws.
I hope all of this helps you with your decision!
For one thing, the Sidekick's handles angle more widely apart from each other (compared to most Leatherman multitools, probably including your Super Tool) when the pliers are deployed. That makes using the Sidekick's pliers less comfortable than, say, using a Leatherman Wave's pliers. The handles are also contoured in such a way that my hand always feels like it's about to slip up (or down) towards the pliers.
I don't have a Rebar, but I have a Bond, which has handles that are similar to the Rebar's handles but thinner. They are less rounded than the Sidekick's handles, but the Bond (and Rebar) doesn't have spring-loaded pliers to press the handles outward against your grip like the Sidekick does.
I think for me, the wider stance of the Sidekick's plier handles make it less comfortable when I'm gripping something in the plier jaws compared to the Bond (and Rebar), just because the handles are farther apart and my fingers have to stretch out more to grip the handles. I think this is more uncomfortable than the Bond's less-rounded edges, because I don't have to grip the Bond as hard as I do the Sidekick (just to overcome the spring).
The Rebar will definitely give you a better tool selection than the Sidekick: full size serrated blade and file, better Phillips and flathead screwdrivers, and an awl. In my opinion, the only trade-off is the lack of outside-opening blades. But in many parts of the world, that's actually an advantage due to local knife laws.
I hope all of this helps you with your decision!
Thank you. Much appreciated.
I hadn’t even thought about the handles/opening; come to think about it now, I remember seeing the wide open handles on a video (but it didn’t register at that time). Speing loaded pliers would be neat, but not a necessity. I’m pretty much decided on the Rebar, it does have a bigger/better tool set; and the full size Philips screwdriver is great. (I also saw in a video yesterday that the tools on the Sidekick could close up during use as they’re not locked. That would bring back too many painful memories of the screwdrivers, esp Philips, on my SAK closing on my fingers.)
Our local laws are so restrictive that any carrying of a knife is prohibited, regardless of length, opening mechanism, or locking mechanism. Even a small SAK is illegal, but if the multitool is in a backpack, I can’t imagine it would cause any problems.
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- Apr 12, 2020
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I've never heard of rust on a Leatherman from humid air alone. I've only heard of rusty Weatherman's after submersion in salt water, which has happened to me. Just a few spots of rust, nothing serious and barely noticeable. Leatherman makes good steel! For a Leatherman less than $100, you can't go wrong, so I definitely buy it if I was you.
Thanks for sharing. I’m very happy to hear that. There’s also not a spot of rust on my old S.Tool, which has been exposed to humidity for quite a while now. I’ve always wondered why people had issues with rust, then. Salt water, like you mentioned, makes sense.
I’ve more or less made up my mind, after so many helpful comments, including yours, to get the Rebar. (I’m not a person who would buy both; I need to make a decison and be happy with it. “Two is one too many.”)
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I have an old SuperTool 200 that is still going strong after about 20 years. I'm an MT junkie, so my Leatherman collection is in the double digits.
My current rotation is:
P4 for EDC. Spendy, but it offers all the tools I need with one hand.
Rebar for weekend warrior/light on jobsite work. Great little robust tool with everything I need.
SuperTool 300 for heavy duty on site work. This tool have been used, abused, and literally stuffed back in my pocket full of mud.
I dont think you can go wrong. I'm thinking about asking for a Curl for my birthday just because I want to try out something new.
My current rotation is:
P4 for EDC. Spendy, but it offers all the tools I need with one hand.
Rebar for weekend warrior/light on jobsite work. Great little robust tool with everything I need.
SuperTool 300 for heavy duty on site work. This tool have been used, abused, and literally stuffed back in my pocket full of mud.
I dont think you can go wrong. I'm thinking about asking for a Curl for my birthday just because I want to try out something new.
Thanks for sharing. I like your description of the Rebar - you summed it up perfectly how I would likely use it. (The Super Tool is too big/expensive for me.)
My double digit knife collection has been whittled down to low single digits.
As for MTs, my aim is one that can do it all, maybe not perfectly but well enough. I think the Rebar fits that niche.