My take on SOG multitools, please add your opinions please

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Nikkogi

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Jan 19, 2009
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First off, I would like to start off by saying that I do not like SOG multitools one bit. For my uses, I prefer Leatherman Charge and Victorinox SwissTool/Spirit type of multitools

SOG tools are highly outdated in the multitools world (well besides their compound leverage and the first assisted opening multitool). SOG is a knife company, yet their multitool blades are among the worst in the business. They are small pen blades and the partially serrated blade which comes on many of the SOGs are chisel ground (which sucks IMO) and the blade steel is not very good compared to Victorinox steel (soft but easy to sharpen and doesn't chip out) and Leatherman's super steels (154CM and S30v which hold a good edge phenomenally!) or even LM's 420HC steel. I think LM's 420HC steel is by far superior to SOG's blade steel on multitools (which is a mystery as I couldn't find it on their site).

Next, SOG uses those stupid gear covers to hide the highly outdated sheet metal handles (alla PST/1 Gen Supertool). Another point to add is that on the PowerLock all of the tools are on the inside. So, this means that you have to unfold the tool, open up the gear covers, pull out the blade, push all the others back in, make sure the bottle opener isn't pointing downwards (when this happens the implements won't lock on that side of the handle), close the handles, use your blade, open the tool, open the gear cover, and fold your tool inwards. That is a lot of steps compared to a Leatherman Charge/Wave/Surge/Skeletool when the blade is a one hand opening/closing liner locking knife.

SOG multitools clump together and I for one do not like tool clumping. I like the tool to come out one and a time...pushing them back in is just an extra step IMO. \

The SOG can opener is also the worst in the business. It is a Victorinox clone and they didn't come close to copying the effectiveness and ease of use.

One more thing I would like to say is that the gear covers (now covered on the PowerLock 2.0 model) make using the screwdrivers on your multitool a very, very painful experience.

SOG tools are definitely evolving though and they are trying to improve their current products. I am going to be explaining the PowerLock evolution. The first PowerLock had the standard back lock, old style pliers, and exposed gears. The next gen Powerlock had the new style pliers (very reminiscent of the Paladin electrical multitools which is a SOG collaboration) and they include much longer and better wire cutters, a beefier pivot, and a pointer true needlenose tip that is nimble enough to do tedious tasks and it can function as a drywall punch (read that out of my Paladin tool which is no longer in my possession) yet they still had the old back lock which had lock up problems and the exposed palm ripping gears. Then, the SOG PowerLock 2.0 came out and it bears the new and improved pliers (which I already talked about), a piano lock as opposed to the backlock (which eliminated the lockup problems but they still clump together), and it had gear covers (also on Paladin tools) which makes using your drivers a lot easier on the hands.

What SOG needs to do is make an outside opening PowerLock with longer one hand opening knife blades. But who knows, as SOG keeps trying to perfect their current offerings this could happen one day. But until that day, I am a die hard Leatherman and Victorinox multitool fan.

I don't want it to appear as me thrashing SOG Knives but they are behind in the multitool world, again IMO. If all you need are the pliers than a SOG tool would work for you, but for me, I like having a well rounded multitool like a Spirit or a Charge, which aren't perfect, but they come pretty damn close.
 
I've had a PowerAssist with an added pocket clip for a little less than a year. I took off the one handle cover and simply have that side against my palm, and overall I'm very happy.

The pliers are unbeatable, the gear covers are fine by me. I find that the can opener works about as well as a SAK one. The tool clumping doesn't bother me too much, as otherwise I'd be pulling each tool out and putting it back individually when I can't remember which one is the bottle opener and which one is the can opener.

That said...

I agree that externally accessible tools would be a huge bonus.

The lock on the PowerAssist's blades are very weak and I can pop them by hand. I'd probably carry an extra knife anyway (better ergonomics and I have the sickness) but the weak lock makes these really only acceptable as backups and not primary knives. This is sad because the knives are a huge improvement over the PowerLock's one. The new ones are sharp, thin, grounded nicely, and take a very nice edge for a good time.

A standard pocket clip and real scissors would be fantastic. Having the v-cutter built on the outside and a hammering area like on the new Leatherman MUT would also be great.

If you are looking to carry only one pocket tool and have it do everything, this is not the best tool. But if you do have a dedicated pocket knife and maybe a keychain SAK, then this is a seriously powerful addition to those. I'd probably recommend Leatherman and Victorinox to most people but I don't think I'd trade my PowerAssist.
 
I respect that! :) That's why SOG doesn't make sense to me. They should be making an outside accessible, one hand opening bladed PowerLock instead of dicking around with putting assisted opening blades on an entirely new model. Another thing that irks me is the plastic they use on the assisted opening blade handle. I am sure with enough drops, it will crack and eventually break.
 
I like my Vic swisstools better, but carry my powerassist due to the better plierhead, better wire cutters and the crimper. I seem to use those a lot at work. I agree that tools accessible without opening tool should take precedence over assisted blades on a tool. I gotta look into that leatherman with the hammer spot. Haven't seen that one yet.
 
I like SOG but they are not perfect.

Good write/rant Nikkogi and I respect your views ;)
why Sog sticks with inside tools and tool covers, even the improved ones is beyond many. cost? something different?
Outside accessible tools without covers would be nice.

I have no problem with their steel and heat treat, works for me and I've never had any problems with my SOG the past few years. I also have the blade "sickness" and always have another, main blade on me anyway so my MT blade is only for backup, so I don't need or want a bigger blade in my MT but I agree the grind is not for me, I think the chisel grind is easy to do/manufacture and easy to resharpen but :barf:

Many other MTs clump, some even do it on purpose (LM) I believe so people with gloves or no nails can pull out one tool and get a clump and pick the tool they want and push the rest back fast, not a bad idea and some really like that.

I don't like SOG scissor design and switched mine out for the V-cutter. I couldn't even cut paper with mine! They did "look" nice :rolleyes:

Three things really stick out for SOG and make them one of my favs:

1. compound leverage works and I like that added strength in my MT.
2. that they allow us to switch out the tools "easy" and they sell the tools is major for me!
3. Lifetime warranty always shows a companies commitment and their faith in their products.

Yes they can be better (they all can) but like you have done we need to let them know what we like and don't like! :thumbup:
 
I agree that the designs are simplistic and outdated, but my first generation SOG Powerlock is one of the beefiest, toughest multi tools I've ever used. The fact that I can change out the bits if I want, and I can abuse the hell out of the tool, is worth the simpler, less sophisticated design, IMO.

I broke a new Wave within the first month of owning. I've owned the powerlock for probably a decade, and beat the crap out of it, and it's still going strong. All the fancy design in the world doesn't do one bit of good if the tool is broken. Give me simple and tough any day.
 
I have found their stuff to be crude , and implement quality to be low .Not ready for Prime Time .

Chris
 
I find their tools to be well-made, and the implement quality top notch. Ready to take on any job.:thumbup::thumbup:
 
I have lots of MT's, from leatherman's to Gerbers, to SOGs. As of right now I think I have 4 or 5 of the Powerlocks (granted I am trying to sell some of them), but they are good IMO. I like my Charge/Waves more, but the Powerlocks are still capable. The pliers rock, and for the weight I feel that the pliers offer more leaverage and reach than others in its weight class.
 
I agree with that, the pliers do rock. But, the gearing system isn't perfect as the handles open twice as wide. That's my major gripe.. The implements are not heavy duty at all though. They are thin and cheap IMO.
 
I never saw the point in compound leverage with the limiting factor being cast pliers .

Chris
 
A few years ago I was looking for a new multitool. I needed one that had scissors, wood saw and reamer. Everything else comes on most multitools so I picked up the SOG.

I hate alot of things about this tool including all the previous complaints. I have a few more.

The scissors were way dull and they got stuck in the closed position all the time. The saw does work really well but since it opens from the inside it's limited to cutting thinner branches (compared to a Swiss Tool whos blades open from the outside putting the teeth inline with the bottom of the handle when open). But the thing that made me nuts was the reamer. It's made to work in a counter clockwise fashion instead of clockwise like everyone elses. Why?!?

I put it in my wifes car and I hope I never have to use it!
 
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