Looking at buying my first Multi-Tool.

M

Mattlundervold

Joined
Aug 12, 2011
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17
Hey guys im looking at buying my first multi tool. I need some help because Ive never bought one. I want something that is small-ish. Thanks for helping!
 
"Smallish" in size or "Smallish" in weight?

What are you going to be using it for? Work? EDC? Vehicle? Hunting,hiking,camping?
 
Leatherman Juice S2 is probably the smallest "funtional" multi tool I have ever carried. For me it's small enough to edc in my jeans "coin" pocket. When larger job is anticipated then I carry my SOG PowerAssist.
 
It would be nice and could help, getting some specifications. Some questions, that are important, are already aseked.

Which prize-range we are talking about?
Which company would you prefer?
How many tools should be set on that tool?
Have you already favorites to buy?

Would be helpful to know a little bit more.

Kind regards
 
@Varg Lobos: Im meaning small in size. I'm creating a EDC bag, so i was looking for something that wouldn't take up to much room and something I could put on my jeans and it is small enough to not be uncomfortable to have there.

@edlex: Thats a good idea to have one to carry when you think you might need something a little bigger.

@Humppa: Thats very true, its nice to have specs. haha
Im thinking of something about @50 dollars or so.
I've never really bought a multitool, so i dont know which company I like best. Ive heard alot of good stuff about leatherman though for multitools.
It would be nice to have atlease 15 tools.
Thanks for asking great questions.

Thanks all for your 2 cents.

-ML
 
If I were you, I would buy a Leatherman Kick and leave it in the bag, and some SAK (or smaller Leatherman) for pocket carry.
With 50 dollars, you don't get much better than that.
:cool:
 
Hey Matt,

I'm kinda a collector and daily user of multi-tools, and have almost everyone from every company(the major ones, anyway). I tend to like Leatherman best, with Victoriniox being second.

I would recommend the Leatherman Blast to you. Great assortment of tool, with a saw and scissors. Under $50 or at $50.
Small in size, but yet fills up your hand. There is also a new Leatherman coming out called the Sidekick, which looks promising to first time buyers or long-time users too.
 
Well, I own the Blast. Here in Germany the Blast is a little bit more expensive than 50 $. Mine costed about 80 €. A nice multitool. Good for EDC carrying. But nothin for Heavy-Duty-Jobs. The prize normally should be lower in the US.
I think for about 60 or 65 $ you would get that tool. I carried mine a long time. Now It´s in a drawer in the kitchen. For the light jobs in (!) the house. For Heavy-Duty I bought the Swisstool CS. Extremely durable and very heavy. My bulding-lot multitool.

Kind regards
 
Humppa said:
Well, I own the Blast. Here in Germany the Blast is a little bit more expensive than 50 $. Mine costed about 80 €. A nice multitool. Good for EDC carrying. But nothin for Heavy-Duty-Jobs. The prize normally should be lower in the US.
I think for about 60 or 65 $ you would get that tool. I carried mine a long time. Now It´s in a drawer in the kitchen. For the light jobs in (!) the house. For Heavy-Duty I bought the Swisstool CS. Extremely durable and very heavy. My bulding-lot multitool.

Kind regards
Click to expand...

Actually, the Blast is around $40 here in the U.S.A.

Your recommendation, the Swisstool CS is much more than the $50 the OP wants to spend. The cheapest I could find it was $107.

Nothing wrong with the Blast. It can handle many jobs. I use mine in my electrical contracting business. Hasn't failed me yet.
 
Alright! The blast looks like a nice tool! Thinking about getting it, im gonna go to the store tomorrow and see if i can get my hands on one and see how it feels in the hand since im the one thats gonna be using it right? Thanks Varg Lobos and everyone else

-ML
 
ML,

Good luck! It would be great to find a store that let's you try out multi's. It's hard to know how they feel when they are inside the package. Hopefully you can try out an assortment and decide from there.

And if you do get a chance, check out Leatherman's website and look at the new Leatherman Sidekick and Leatherman Wingman that are coming out next month. They may catch your eye too. And the price is right too, around $40 for the Sidekick and around $30 for the Wingman.

I believe Leatherman has said that the Sidekick is going to replace the Blast in the lineup.




VL
 
@Varg Lobos: Thats the difference, I think. ;) We have to pay more for the American stuff. Traditional knives, Leathermans and all that cool trademarks. But here in the EU, Vic and Wenger are pretty cheap. I bought my Vic Swisstool CS for 74,95 € in a hardwarestore here in my hometown.

Kind regards
 
@Humppa

If Vic and Wenger were that cheap here, I think my bank account would be in trouble.:D
 
Super awesome what I call "entry level" multi-tool is the Leatherman wingman it is "small-ish" and the price is very reasonable you will need to get a pouch if you want to belt carry but it has a pocket clip and is fairly lightweight. I have owned Gerber and SOG and then Leatherman Ive been with Leatherman for ten years now and I have never looked back.
 
the only small multi tool i own is a leatherman Micra it has scissors instead of pliers and it works well.
 
Leatherman is a great starting point. Gerbers have the look, but there have been too many reports of poor quality control lately, and some of the designs are really inefficient. SOG is good, but also hit and miss, there is lots of stock still on shelves from a few years ago, when the ownership changed, so you might get a good one, or you might not. if you can handle it in person, then go for it. Victorinox is great, but you'll spend more, so its best to know what you want ahead of time.

My advice would be to get something like the leatherman sidekick, wingman, or juice. carry it for six months or a year and see what tools you use, and which ones you wish you had, then go from there. that way the tool is good enough quality to show you what you'll use it for, but won't break the bank when you decide to replace it. (besides its always good to have a proven backup)
I've only gone through a few multi-tools, but I know the tools that are most important to me. A good file, a thin common screwdriver (fine enough to set pot switches) plain edge blade, and philips head driver. everything else is negotiable, but for my work, those are key. you may find you need a certain size screw driver, maybe a saw and can-opener. or maybe you need scissors and a serrated blade. who knows? once you start living with a multi and finding ways to use it, you'll get a handle on what works for you.
 
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