Multi-tool for Backpacking...help.

Six String Samurai

Six String Samurai

Joined
Jun 26, 2001
Messages
72
I carry a Leatherman Wave every day but I really don't want to take it backpacking. Its kind of heavy and frankly I don't think that the pliers are that important out on the trail..also thats about the only tool on the Wave I use except for giving the nails a trim with the scissors on occasion.

That being said I would like to have a tool with at least a small set of pliers on it but I'm just not sure about the ones on the SAK type tools.

How well do the pliers on these tools work? They appear to me to be positioned a little awkwardly. Which models of SAK would you recommend? Is there any other product I should take a look at?

The knife blade on this tool isn't that important since I'll be carrying something else as my primary blade.
 
Try the SOG crossgrip. Its about the same size at the LM Micra only it's a pair of pliers instead of scissors.

I'm going on a camping trip tomorrow and I'm taking my Micra and Crossgrip.
 
This is the combo I used on my last backpacking trip. I think it worked very well. Substitute your favorite lightweight fixed blade. The rest of the stuff pretty well covers utility needs for me.

169393-4knives.jpg
 
Just returned from a back country trip, and this is the first time I brought a leatherman type tool with me. The pliers came in very handy because it became the first time my lab tangle with a porcupine and the pliers were indispensible. So the Swiss Buck will stay with my daughter ( her present for her first extended back country trip) and I'll be looking for a SAK with pliers. At work I'll keep the buck tool (replaced the gerber multi) on my duty belt for the zillion things I use it for there. But a SAK and a good camp knife(or two:) )are part of my outdoor experience and are more than enough for any survival situation
 
I think some of the Juices look like a great compromize between a Wave and a slipjoint SAK. Personally, I carry a Victorinox Outrider and haven't missed the pliers yet.

Hoodoo--what is that green handled knife?
 
Yup, a Mora 2000 it 'tis. Try one, you'll like it! :) Get your big ol' fat chopping blade and the Mora 2000 and start slicing some hemp or sisal rope and whittling on a 1" hardwood dowel and see whatcha think.;)
 
Hoodoo- very interesting selection, very lightweight too, shows forethought and much experience- I don't believe I am skilled enough to get by easily with so little. You only carry the Crossgrip- what do you use it for (pliers)? I always carry full size pliers like on Leathermans, I find it's robustness often useful.
Thank you,
Martin
 
Those crossgrip pliers are pretty substantial, much more so than the ones on SAKs. I used to carry the crossgrip for EDC, so I've used the pliers quite a bit. They can handle some pretty tough chores and cut wire too. In fact, their compactness make them a bit more nimble to use than the larger multitool pliers. And because they stand alone, they are also far more nimble to use than SAK pliers. It's a good little tool and a nice compromise of usefullness vs weight for backpacking. I've had good luck with mine. I wonder if anyone here has ever had any problems with one. I've never heard of any but I also think that this is an often overlooked tool.
 
Thnk you for your reply, the Crossgrip certainly appears to be the best made and most functional of the "mini-pliers"- like Buck and Swisstech. Their gear mechanism to multiply its force also seems most useful in the smallest size where the user's strength is compromised, I am not so sure it is important in full size models. thank you again-
Martin
 
I hate to get too obvious but if you want pliers, why not just add a small needlenose pair to the pack? Some light-weight pliers and a SAK and you've got your bases covered. AND you'll save a bunch of money.

I find 'em real handy in the woods. Not an absolute necessity, mind you, but handy nonetheless.
 
The advantage of the Crossgrip over pliers is that you get more tools for the same size and weight. And unless you buy a pos made in who knows where pliers, the cost of a crossgrip is not than much more than a pair of high quality pliers like proto, snap on, channel lock, or mac.

For backpacking, I'd say whenever you can find a tool that fills a niche (pliers, in this instance) but can be used for other tasks as well, go for it. For instance, my poncho is also my cooking tarp, my fleece vest is also my pillow, my hiking stick is also a camera monopod, my magnifying glass/tweezer combo is also a firestarter, my signal mirro is also my vanity mirror, my magnetized needles in my sewing kit can also be used to make a compass, etc. etc. In other words, whenever possible, your kit should consist of multiple-use goods. This can provide redundancy in case something else fails. For instance, I carry the little sak for the scissors but I have other tools as well. If I break the small blade (essentially a scalpel) I have a back up small blade on the SOG. If I only carried small scissors and small pliers, I would lose a lot, and gain nothing, probably not even weight savings.
 
All valid points, Hoodoo.

Just seems to me that, <i>if cost is a factor</i> and one already owns a SAK, adding a pair of decent needlenose pliers may be a better option than adding a mult-tool. Now, I understand that the Crossgrip isn't all that expensive. But if someone out there is planning to augment their SAK Spartan with a much-more-expensive Leatherman Wave or Victorinox multi, then a good old pair of pliers may be a more-cost-efficient way to cover your bases. I shopped for a long time for a multi-tool to keep in my truck. Then I realized, since I already have a large SAK and fixed-blade, why not just buy a pair of pliers from Sears? Again, this is for guys for whom cost is a factor. By reading these forums, sometimes I think I'm the only one here who has to watch his pennies. I make a decent living but most of my extra dough goes towards my other hobby, music.
 
Good points also. I guess I was reacting to my latest shopping excursions looking for good pliers and side cuts. I've been in sticker shock over the price of quality pliers and side cuts. Maybe the Chinese ones are ok I dunno. I was a mechanic for 10 years and accumulated over $10,000 in hand tools so I thought I had a pretty good idea what tools cost. I got out of the business completely, though, back in '87 and of course, with all the tools, I haven't been shopping much since for new ones. So when I see $20 or more for a pair of small channel locks, I figure they ain't all that good of a bargain. My "trained mechanic" impulses are to only buy high quality tools like mac, snap on, proto, sears craftsman, etc. so I'm usually very reluctant to buy cheap tools 'cause I've seen them break under hard use time and time again. But maybe things have improved a lot over the past 15 years or so. I dunno. Maybe you can get a good pair of pliers for 4 or 5 bucks. I dunno. I'm just a little reluctant to spend a few dollars and maybe get junk when I can spend more and save in the long run. Guess I will head over to sears and see what they have in the way of pliers. If they still make sears tools the way they used to, they were pretty reliable and had a lifetime warranty, like all good mechanics tools. I've been looking for some good, small side cuts. :D
 
>"I was a mechanic for 10 years and accumulated over $10,000 in hand tools so I thought I had a pretty good idea what tools cost."

===========================

So I'm guessing a guy like you (and me) <i>already has</i> a pair of quality pliers he could tote along. ;) Added cost? Zero.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top