Minimalist Multi Tool?

B

bigox

Joined
Nov 22, 2005
Messages
201
Does anyone make a quality minimalist multi tool?? Something like a Vic Farmer with pliers.
 
The smallest (ie that is not just a key chain tool) decent plier based multitool I know of is the Leatherman Juice S2 or C2. These are the smallest of the Juice line, if you also require the wood saw then you would need either the CS4 or the KF4 . The KF4 is a retired tool now, but still widely available - and for only $20 if you can find it at Cosco.

I regard the Juice line as Leatherman's version of the pocket SAK, although I don't regard them to of quite the same quality as a SAK.

If you want to go keychain size plier based then there is the Leatherman Squirt or the Gerber Clutch, but neither has a saw.
 
gatch said:
The smallest (ie that is not just a key chain tool) decent plier based multitool I know of is the Leatherman Juice S2 or C2. These are the smallest of the Juice line, if you also require the wood saw then you would need either the CS4 or the KF4 . The KF4 is a retired tool now, but still widely available - and for only $20 if you can find it at Cosco.

I regard the Juice line as Leatherman's version of the pocket SAK, although I don't regard them to of quite the same quality as a SAK.

If you want to go keychain size plier based then there is the Leatherman Squirt or the Gerber Clutch, but neither has a saw.
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My opinion exactly on every point. I find the CS4 okay but kind of quirky, which can be annoying or charming, depending on mood. It functions and rides well enough, but I hope someday Vic puts out a competitor, just to see how the Swiss can do it.
 
znapschatz said:
My opinion exactly on every point. I find the CS4 okay but kind of quirky, which can be annoying or charming, depending on mood. It functions and rides well enough, but I hope someday Vic puts out a competitor, just to see how the Swiss can do it.
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Yes, the Juice series is the only thing of it's kind on the market and I like the basic product idea, but in my opinion Leatherman is not the best of quality and the Juice line is no exception to this. There have been a couple of niggling issues I have with Juice's (I have the S2,KF4,CS4 and the Pro); for example I find the small flat head screwdriver deforms very easily - I have never had a SAK screwdriver of any size become damage in such a way.

I too would like to see Victorinox put out a similar line.
 
Leatherman PST. The original pliers in your pocket multi tool. The older ones are very high quality. The PST was right from the start; a perfect design. These are pretty small and will fit in your pocket comfortably yet still allow you to repair your gear.

Those Juice tools are for Barbie, and Ken. The alum. handles, and overall build quality are garbage. Get a PST, or PST2.
 
KTMGUY said:
Leatherman PST. The original pliers in your pocket multi tool. The older ones are very high quality. The PST was right from the start; a perfect design. These are pretty small and will fit in your pocket comfortably yet still allow you to repair your gear.

Those Juice tools are for Barbie, and Ken. The alum. handles, and overall build quality are garbage. Get a PST, or PST2.
Click to expand...


I purchased a PST in 1993 or 1994. Anyway, it's been a trooper and has never let me down. No matter what newer, bigger, fancier model I compare it to, the PST always seems to be of better construction and material. The knife blade seems to function like a real knife blade and I actually used to carry it in lieu of another pocket knife for quite some time to really test it out. The only change I would make if I could would be to somehow add a saw to the configuration without making the overall tool any larger. And yes, I do have a couple of Juices - they're nice enough, but I still feel that they don't match the quality and innovation of that original PST.
 
My vote also goes for the PSTish tools. I used to have a PST, but sadly it was lost on the job. I replaced it with the Fuse, which I have been very happy with. While not as polished as the PST, the fuse has been a trooper. Also, I have no idea if it is lighter than the Juice series, but the CS4 FEELS chunkier and clunkier than my Fuse. YMMV.
If the fuse hadn't been such a great bang for my buck, I don't think I would pack anything leatherman besides my crunch. If they go back to the high polish with topnotch fit and finish, I'll be back in a heartbeat. Until then, gimme a swisstool or SOG for my heavy duty stuff.

jake
 
KTMGUY said:
Leatherman PST. The original pliers in your pocket multi tool. The older ones are very high quality. The PST was right from the start; a perfect design. These are pretty small and will fit in your pocket comfortably yet still allow you to repair your gear.

Those Juice tools are for Barbie, and Ken. The alum. handles, and overall build quality are garbage. Get a PST, or PST2.
Click to expand...

I agree that the Juice are not the best quality, but are very pocketable. They are only for fairly light use, not heavy duty.

Well if we are talking about something more sizable I would advise the SwissTool Spirit or Spirit S. Excellent quality, can take a lot of abuse, all tools lock and can be accessed without opening the pliers.
 
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