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leatherman wingman thoughts
- Thread starter bladeboss
- Start date
I just recently got a wingman for work. I run a high volume college bar, and the little $#@%" break everything on busy nights. It's been great.
A little heavier than I would like, given the two other knives and a flashlight that's in constant use in my pocket. The hinge on one side is a little wobbly, but doesn't feel like it's in danger of failing (take the wobble with a grain of salt. I bought this thing to ABUSE and half-ass fix things in the bar on the fly). It's been well worth the money.
A little heavier than I would like, given the two other knives and a flashlight that's in constant use in my pocket. The hinge on one side is a little wobbly, but doesn't feel like it's in danger of failing (take the wobble with a grain of salt. I bought this thing to ABUSE and half-ass fix things in the bar on the fly). It's been well worth the money.
It's a good value.
As a multitool, it serves two purposes. One, it's competition for the Gerber Crucial and other such multitools, which it is significantly better than.
Two, it's a starter multitool that basically serves as an advertisement for the Leatherman Wave. Although the Wave is about twice as expensive, it's significantly more capable and not much bigger or heavier. It would be a good idea if you could compare them side by side in person at a sporting goods store.
As a multitool, it serves two purposes. One, it's competition for the Gerber Crucial and other such multitools, which it is significantly better than.
Two, it's a starter multitool that basically serves as an advertisement for the Leatherman Wave. Although the Wave is about twice as expensive, it's significantly more capable and not much bigger or heavier. It would be a good idea if you could compare them side by side in person at a sporting goods store.
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- Dec 14, 2006
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I like mine. Easy to carry and I don't even know it's there.
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For the price cant be beat. But that lil booger will pinche the bejesus out of u if u let it.
Did the blade partially opened on you while you were using other tool???
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- Jan 24, 2005
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This is a good recommendation for someone who wants a reliable multi-tool and doesn't want to spend more money. It is better made than any of its offshore competition, does most of the chores pretty well and has some charm, like the pocket clip. Of the guys I know who use multi-tools, most would be satisfied with this one, some because they don't care much about tools so long as they function when needed, and others because they keep breaking or losing them.
Sturdy and cheap is what the Wingman offers, and Leatherman should sell well in that market. Not for me, though. I prefer my "boutique" Leathermen because they are better made and more versatile.
Sturdy and cheap is what the Wingman offers, and Leatherman should sell well in that market. Not for me, though. I prefer my "boutique" Leathermen because they are better made and more versatile.
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- May 9, 2002
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I like it for what it is
On heavier work days I always opt lug along the Surge. It's a brick, but it have everything I need.
However, most days the Wingman does just fine It offers a nice selection of tools for the day to day, it's lightweight, and it's inexpensive so I don't worry about buggering it up much. I like that it can be clipped to pretty much any pant. It carries equally well in the waist band of my gym shorts when I mow the lawn as it does in my jean pocket at work.
It's not a premium tool, and it shouldn't be held up to such standards. It's simply a very well made tool for the price that offers you a good enough selection of tools to get you through a Saturday of changing out a light switch face plate, opening a clam shell toy for your kid (that package cutter is awesome), and finally cracking open a brew for yourself
On heavier work days I always opt lug along the Surge. It's a brick, but it have everything I need.However, most days the Wingman does just fine
It offers a nice selection of tools for the day to day, it's lightweight, and it's inexpensive so I don't worry about buggering it up much. I like that it can be clipped to pretty much any pant. It carries equally well in the waist band of my gym shorts when I mow the lawn as it does in my jean pocket at work.It's not a premium tool, and it shouldn't be held up to such standards. It's simply a very well made tool for the price that offers you a good enough selection of tools to get you through a Saturday of changing out a light switch face plate, opening a clam shell toy for your kid (that package cutter is awesome), and finally cracking open a brew for yourself
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- Jun 30, 2003
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- 1,797
I don't think I'd get one. I always notice the cost-cutting with great disappointment on the cheaper MTs I have. Like the chisel ground blades, and scissor springs that don't stay in alignment. It bugs the heck out of me, once I'm out of the honeymoon period.
The Wingman seems to be (from the YouTube reviews) one of these tools that is built to a price point, rather than built to be the best it can be.
The Wingman seems to be (from the YouTube reviews) one of these tools that is built to a price point, rather than built to be the best it can be.
powernoodle
Power Member
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- Jul 21, 2004
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Here is a re-post of my Oct 2011 quick look at the Wingman: (Link to original thread)
I received a Wingman yesterday from a well-known online retailer. Home Depot has 23 per store, but they aren't on the shelves yet.
The Wingman, which retails in the $29.95 - $34.95 range, is definitely a step down the food chain from its more expensive siblings. The thumb pad for the scissors, for example, is tiny and not comfy. I would go so far as to say its poorly designed. And the rolled edges of the handles just seem a little cheapish. The wire cutters do not overlap slightly to provide a cutting action as with other MTs. On the Wingman, the wire "cutting" surface - actually more of a crushing surface - is not machined and simply butts up against each other when closed. It has a 2-dimensional phillips like the Wave (though not removable like that of the Wave), but I knew this going in. 3D is always preferable. Has a pocket clip, but no sheath. The clip is good, and may be removable, though it hard to tell. With the clip removed, that pivot/torx may be too long.
Upon using the Wingman, it became apparent that the lock on the scissor would disengage spontaneously, which rendered the scissor inoperable because the scissor spring tension is dependent on the lock engagement. Additionally, the scissor can be very difficult to deploy as there is no nail nick or other means of extracting it. If it resides too far down in the body of the MT, there is no easy way to get it out. Honestly, this design and implementation is like a Chinese piece of cr@p. When using the scissor, its very easy to push the thumb pad down past the opposite scissor arm, which it clearly is not intended to do. This is due to the tiny, curved profile of the thumb pad and the play in the scissor pivot.
Teeny thumb pad on scissor.
Now, I understand why the Wingman is the way it is - more labor means more cost. Even the Leatherman stamp is missing from the plier pivot.
I love the spring loaded plier. Every MT should have that. The blade and scissor each lock, but the drivers, file, clam shell opener and can opener do not.
But overall, I would advise against purchasing a Wingman because of its design and assembly issues - at least on my Wingman. Poor thumb pad on the scissor that hurt the thumb. Crappy lock which won't stay engaged and makes the scissor unusable. A wire cutter which, while it may function, does not incorporate the design of the PS4, Wave and other models with cutters that have a machined cutting surface.
The Leatherman Rebar, which has not been released, is on some websites (not in stock) for $49.95. Its basically going to be a 2/3 size version of the excellent Supertool 300. If the Rebar is anything like the ST300 in terms of construction, which it almost surely is, its going to be a much better MT for not much more coinage. Vastly, immeasurably better. Just something to consider.
As the owner of probably 20 Leatherman multitools, this is the first that has not hit the mark. Leatherman gets credit for exploring the low end of the multitool market. They just missed the mark on this one. Better to save up a little more and get a Juice or Wave, or hold out for the Rebar. Used PST and PST II's can be found on ebay, with a decent leather sheath, for about the same money as the Wingman.
I take no joy in dissing this one, but it is what it is.
I received a Wingman yesterday from a well-known online retailer. Home Depot has 23 per store, but they aren't on the shelves yet.
The Wingman, which retails in the $29.95 - $34.95 range, is definitely a step down the food chain from its more expensive siblings. The thumb pad for the scissors, for example, is tiny and not comfy. I would go so far as to say its poorly designed. And the rolled edges of the handles just seem a little cheapish. The wire cutters do not overlap slightly to provide a cutting action as with other MTs. On the Wingman, the wire "cutting" surface - actually more of a crushing surface - is not machined and simply butts up against each other when closed. It has a 2-dimensional phillips like the Wave (though not removable like that of the Wave), but I knew this going in. 3D is always preferable. Has a pocket clip, but no sheath. The clip is good, and may be removable, though it hard to tell. With the clip removed, that pivot/torx may be too long.
Upon using the Wingman, it became apparent that the lock on the scissor would disengage spontaneously, which rendered the scissor inoperable because the scissor spring tension is dependent on the lock engagement. Additionally, the scissor can be very difficult to deploy as there is no nail nick or other means of extracting it. If it resides too far down in the body of the MT, there is no easy way to get it out. Honestly, this design and implementation is like a Chinese piece of cr@p. When using the scissor, its very easy to push the thumb pad down past the opposite scissor arm, which it clearly is not intended to do. This is due to the tiny, curved profile of the thumb pad and the play in the scissor pivot.
Teeny thumb pad on scissor.
Now, I understand why the Wingman is the way it is - more labor means more cost. Even the Leatherman stamp is missing from the plier pivot.
I love the spring loaded plier. Every MT should have that. The blade and scissor each lock, but the drivers, file, clam shell opener and can opener do not.
But overall, I would advise against purchasing a Wingman because of its design and assembly issues - at least on my Wingman. Poor thumb pad on the scissor that hurt the thumb. Crappy lock which won't stay engaged and makes the scissor unusable. A wire cutter which, while it may function, does not incorporate the design of the PS4, Wave and other models with cutters that have a machined cutting surface.
The Leatherman Rebar, which has not been released, is on some websites (not in stock) for $49.95. Its basically going to be a 2/3 size version of the excellent Supertool 300. If the Rebar is anything like the ST300 in terms of construction, which it almost surely is, its going to be a much better MT for not much more coinage. Vastly, immeasurably better. Just something to consider.
As the owner of probably 20 Leatherman multitools, this is the first that has not hit the mark. Leatherman gets credit for exploring the low end of the multitool market. They just missed the mark on this one. Better to save up a little more and get a Juice or Wave, or hold out for the Rebar. Used PST and PST II's can be found on ebay, with a decent leather sheath, for about the same money as the Wingman.
I take no joy in dissing this one, but it is what it is.
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- Jun 30, 2003
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powernoodle's review was one I was thinking about when I made my earlier post.
The scissor pad thing was kind of nitpicky to me; it would only matter when cutting something pretty thick. I don't even have any other scissors on other MTs that have a thumb pad at all.
The scissor pad thing was kind of nitpicky to me; it would only matter when cutting something pretty thick. I don't even have any other scissors on other MTs that have a thumb pad at all.