Lightweight multitool

M

MarineAir

Joined
Aug 6, 2010
Messages
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I'm trying to shed some weight from my backpacking/hiking setup. At the moment I'm carrying the Wave and a small fixed blade (ESEE HEST).

I want a multitool with wirecutters/pliers and a small wood saw. Not sure if I'd be better off buying something like the smallest leatherman that still has a saw (juice something or other?) or just picking up a cheap small folding saw and packing my skeletool along with that.

Pictures of what I've got, cus who doesn't like pictures.

P9080096.jpg


P9080095.jpg


Any recommendations would be appreciated.
 
Unless there's a compelling reason for you not to carry your Skeletool, I'd say that your best bet would be the Skeletool + cheap folding saw. Leatherman has the CS4 but I don't think it's worth it simply because you already have the Skeletool! Save yourself some money!
 
ICSK said:
Save yourself some money!
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That's good advice.

Also probably the best route for me to go.

As a side note, I just found out (from this forum) that the CX now comes with a plane edge blade? Man I wish I would have known that was going to happen. Love the Skeletool, but I'm really not a serrations fan.
 
The Skeletool weighs 5oz and the Wave 8.5oz. Do you think you can find a decent lightweight saw that weighs less than 3.5oz? My Laplander saw is 6.5oz. I guess it depends upon how important the saw is. The Leatherman Blast is just a tad heavier than the Skeletool at 6.5oz and gives you the saw and additional features. You could probably sell one of the others to help fund it. If you want to save money I'd just keep on trucking with the Wave ;)
 
Check out Nutnfancy's youtube video on the "multitool continuum". Good stuff. Maybe it will point you in the right direction.
 
I made the compromise to not have a saw. I can see a saw being a useful tool, but in order to save weight, somethings gotta give. You can see my lightweigt setup here. 4.8 oz for a Mora, a firesteel, and the kydex sheath. 1.9 oz for a small multitool (Ps4) that has pliers and scissors (and a backup small blade). Total 6.7 oz. I feel I can accomplish everything I need to do while backpacking with this setup. YMMV, of course.
 
The Gerber sliding saw is 3.5oz. I like the Skeletool also as a backup knife too.
 
Thanks for the responses guys, I probably wouldnt get a hell of a lot of use out of the saw anyway, I just like the idea of having one. Theres probably not much I could cut with a saw that couldnt be accomplished with a little small scale batoning from the Hest. I just ordered a little Tops Knives folding survival saw, comes in at like half an ounce or something like that. Although less capable as a wood saw, its a saw, and that makes me feel better. Gives me reason to carry the skeletool too. Love that skeletool, the backup knife is definitely a plus.

Default I had checked out your post not too long ago, I actually have a Mora on the way now from the same place I ordered that little saw.

Also I can't believe nutnfancy has a 40 minute video about nothing but multitools. I might feel like a bit of a tool myself if I sat through that whole thing haha. No offense of course, I appreciate the help.
 
MarineAir said:
Default I had checked out your post not too long ago, I actually have a Mora on the way now from the same place I ordered that little saw.
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Mora really shines for wood working and because they're light. I have no doubt your HEST could handle main blade duty :thumbup:
 
I too carry a Mora in my outdoor setup, they are very light and can do most of the things that I need a fixed blade knife for. This year I swapped the Mora Classic for a Mora 2000, which has a better grip IMO. A Mora could probably also be used for batoning too, but I prefer using the small saw on my Victorinox Farmer for that purpose. My style of hiking/camping doesn't require cutting big pieces of wood, so that saw is fine.

Though I rarely need pliers/wirecutter during camping or hiking, I currently have a Juice S2 in the rucksack, but I think a dedicated pliers/wirecutter tool with hollow plastic handles would be lighter and more practical for me, since I don't need all the other things on the Juice S2, the Farmer does most things for me.

Since you already have the Skeletool, I think adding a small foldable saw is a good choice.
 
I was in the same predicament as you but decided to carry both a folding saw and a multitool as well. I got the folding saw from Kershaw and honestly, it is one of the best investements I've ever made at a mere $20!! This things saws extremely well and is very compact and light compared to other hand saws.

Nutnfancy swears by the Sawvivor and from watching him use it I must agree it looks like it kicks @ss as well as being light and super compact. I may end up getting a Sawvivor too but for now, the Kershaw is far exceeding my expectations for a backpacking saw.

Kershaw folding saw:
kerspic2550.jpg



Sawvivor:
Trail-Blazer-Sawvivor-Saw.jpg
 
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