Multitools and folders

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brentondan47

Joined
May 28, 2022
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35
I've been carrying Leatherman Wave a lot lately and it's got me thinking do I really need to carry a folder clip to my pocket now naturally I love carrying my spydercoat tenacious it's probably my all-time favorite folder but with the outside accessible knives on the wave just seems kind of redundant do you carry a similar setup
 
I have a Leatherman Supertool and have owned it for almost 30 years and it has always come in handy, it's just an amazing piece of equipment.

I'll post a pic of it when i can, house is upside down at the moment.

I carry a folder also and i hardly use the blades in the Leatherman anymore, still to this day they are sharp but could do with a good strop though. :)
 
The Wave was the first multi tool I seriously carried. The first one I didn’t think was a gimick. It was a gift for being in a wedding.

I really tried to convert myself. While it has a lot of advantages and I really liked having the option of a FULL serated and a FULL plain edge blade. Both available from the outside layer, one hand opening was a plus. Clever how they marked the serated blade so you know what blade you are opening.

I found I missed my Buck 110 too much.

I prefer my 110 on my belt a multi bit driver and small channel locks in my pocket.

So while my previous disdain for multi tools was softened I still prefer dedicated tools. If you are going to carry a multitool, Leatherman is the best and the Wave is my favorite model.
 
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brentondan47 said:
I've been carrying Leatherman Wave a lot lately and it's got me thinking do I really need to carry a folder clip to my pocket now naturally I love carrying my spydercoat tenacious it's probably my all-time favorite folder but with the outside accessible knives on the wave just seems kind of redundant do you carry a similar setup
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I could get by most everyday with nothing more than a MT. Having a tool with external blades make it even handier.

While I don't think I can leave the dedicated knife behind, I have toyed with the idea of getting a charge TTi. Having a bit of panache with the titanium and upgraded steel would make for an EDC that I think could hold its own as mynonly carry piece.

Generally I carry a MT and an OTF. That makes for a pretty fast set up.
 
I concur with the crowd so far. The most sensible pair for me these days is my SOG Paratool and a fixed blade (lately a Mora Robust Pro, but sometimes a Malanika puukko or a Dawson). But I don't always do what's sensible.

Zieg
 
eveled said:
The Wave was the first multi tool I seriously carried. The first one I didn’t think was a gimick. It was a gift for being in a wedding.

I really tried to convert myself. While it has a lot of advantages and I really liked having the option of a FULL serated and a FULL plain edge blade. Both available from the outside layer, one hand opening was a plus. Clever how they marked the serated blade so you know what blade you are opening.

I found I missed my Buck 110 too much.

I prefer my 110 on my belt a multi bit driver and small channel locks in my pocket.

So while my previous disdain for multi tools was softened I still prefer dedicated tools. If you are going to carry a multitool, Leatherman is the best and the Wave is my favorite model.
Click to expand...
Wow, I never noticed that they marked the serrated blade on the Wave from the top so you can distinguish it while closed. For those who also didn't know, the full serrated blade has 3 or 4 notches of jimping on the thumb ramp whereas the plain edge does not. You learn something new every day!
 
And as far as the question in this thread goes, I know that I would be just fine carrying just my Leatherman Wave everyday and not need anything else on my person throughout my work week. I know this is the practical answer, however I'll probably never do it because I like folding knives too much. No matter what I'm doing I feel the need to have a folder on me, that's my base layer and then I'll carry whatever else I may need for the occasion from there. On a typical work day you'll find me with a Wave on my belt and whatever folder I have on me in my front right pocket. I like to be able to very quickly cut something and get the knife back in my pocket before anyone's the wiser or with just one hand available. I carry the folder almost just as much though because I love to look at it and play with it throughout the day. On my days off, when I go in the outdoors I'll carry a fixed blade, my folder, and either a Leatherman/Gerber or a SAK.
 
eveled said:
The Wave was the first multi tool I seriously carried. The first one I didn’t think was a gimick. It was a gift for being in a wedding.

I really tried to convert myself. While it has a lot of advantages and I really liked having the option of a FULL serated and a FULL plain edge blade. Both available from the outside layer, one hand opening was a plus. Clever how they marked the serated blade so you know what blade you are opening.

I found I missed my Buck 110 too much.

I prefer my 110 on my belt a multi bit driver and small channel locks in my pocket.

So while my previous disdain for multi tools was softened I still prefer dedicated tools. If you are going to carry a multitool, Leatherman is the best and the Wave is my favorite model.
Click to expand...

This response really hit home with me! I have a love / hate relationship with multitools. I cycle through them and am never really happy with them.

My main carry has been a Buck 110 of some variety for several years. They are not light though! So, I figure if I am going to carry that amount of weight, I'd be better of carrying a more versatile sharp. I dedicated myself to carrying a Wave+/Charge/Surge and sold off all but two of my Buck 110's.

I miss my 110's! I had a few nice ones! I'm thinking of kicking the multitools to the curb and getting a custom 110 built!

But then I'll miss my multitools.........and the cycle will continue!
 
A multi tool or SAK is all I "need." I can't let needs get in the way of wants though. When I'm working I carry a MT, an SAK, a box cutter, and an automatic just because I can and want to. I don't carry the MT or box cutter when I'm not working though.
 
Mr. Tettnanger said:
My main carry has been a Buck 110 of some variety for several years. They are not light though! So, I figure if I am going to carry that amount of weight, I'd be better of carrying a more versatile sharp.
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I wasn’t going down that road, but since you brought it up. The weight is a big reason I missed my 110.

I like the heft of the 110 as an emergency striking instrument or tool.
 
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brentondan47 said:
I've been carrying Leatherman Wave a lot lately and it's got me thinking do I really need to carry a folder clip to my pocket now naturally I love carrying my spydercoat tenacious it's probably my all-time favorite folder but with the outside accessible knives on the wave just seems kind of redundant do you carry a similar setup
Click to expand...
While I can appreciate the versatility of a multi or SAK , I really much prefer using a dedicated knife (or other tool) for actual work . ;)
 
Used to have my Leatherman Wingman clipped to my pocket for months after I got it. Carried a lot, then. SD knife, pocket knife, loaner/LM, sometimes a small gentleman knife. Still do that last one now. But, the thing is, I saw how useful the SAK was after getting my first few 91mms, and kind of fell in love. It is not that I stopped carrying the LM, I just carry it clipped in with my flashlight, 4" prybar, pens, lighter, notebook, Opinel etc, in my messenger bag, where I carry things that I like to have about, but do not want to burden my person with. It's a great way to carry things, or great to have in the car. I rec one for everybody. I prefer it to a backpack in the sub/urban enviros I live in.

I then tried to consolidate my needs into less knives. All I feel like I really need anymore, on most average days when I go out, is a SAK, model varies, 91mms for going out, 71mms for leisure. Also, about 4" of blade on, usually, a Spyderco, favoring a Police 4, Native Chief. They are great cutters, and these knives, as opposed to say, Cold Steel, or even smaller ones like my blacked-out PM2 or, re-ground Janich Endura, look less intimidating due to the color and shape. They give me probably 80% of the defensive potential as a Matriarch 2 (my former SD EDC) or any of those knives.

I will sometimes change to a more change to a smaller cutter like the Dodo (which I think is also a sleeper SD knife) or the Dragonfly if I am going out and expect a specific task. Sometimes I pick particular knives because they are nicer/fancy. Sometimes i change to a bigger/more SD oriented blade if I do not like where I have to go to complete a task, if I know there will be no cutting tasks, if I walk late at night, as I did recently due to being blessed with rain at last. Carried my Espada XL, people are crazy in the rain for some reason and we have coyotes, lost two cats to them.
 
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This Charge Ti has been by my side for work and play for the past several years. Use the thing all the time for various tasks. I carry a regular folder or two as well but find that I use the blades on the Charge, for the more gnarly tasks.

Here it is after a fresh weekly cleaning:

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Indeed, it is true that the blade on a multi-tool would suffice for most cutting needs, and that is certainly an option for anyone trying to keep their carry minimal. As it stands, however, I typically carry a number of knives that I enjoy using for cutting things, and in fact I find the blade to be one of the least used tools on my multi-tools and SAK's.
 
I tried to carry a MT plus a folder and decided against it for more than one reason.

First, I was in a medical office and the MT seemed out of place.

Second, the MT does not work well with the clothing I normally wear.

Third, the weight was an issue. I don’t like feeling like I have a brick in my pocket or on my belt.

Fourth, I found that I preferred the ergonomics of my folder when I needed to cut something.

However, I decided that a MT is a great piece of kit to have nearby.
My wife has one in her car and I have one for the Cherokee. Both are made by Gerber. I have another in the house if needed. I also have a LM Wave in the Bugout Bag.

I have found that when I am cold, wet, and tired a Gerber 600 is easier for me to use than the Wave but, the Wave is made with better materials.

I can see why LM tools are so popular.
 
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