Need a edc multi-tool

W

WalkaboutOZ

Joined
May 4, 2012
Messages
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Im looking to buy my first multi tool for edc. I was recommended a buck x-tract by a friend. Has anyone got 1st hand experience with the x-tract, if so what are your feelings on it. Im also open to other suggestions.
 
There is a xtract going cheap on ebay. auction ends in 4 hours, please someone let me know if its no good before i pull the trigger:eek:
 
For EDC and all around pocket carry I like the medium sized Leatherman Juice S2.

It caries nice int he pocket and has enough of the right tools for me.

Good Luck.
 
It depends on what you expect from a multitool. If you want pocketable pliers, a few screw drivers, scissors and blade, then the already mentioned Leatherman Juice S2 is an excellent choice. If you want something bigger, but still not too big, then take a look at the Leatherman Wave. If you can spend a bit more on a multitool, then take a look at the Leatherman Charge series or the Victorinox SwissTool series.
 
Well, you didn't really give us an idea of what you'll be using it for. Even for all-around use, it varies from one person to another. Someone who lives out in the country may have more use for a saw, and less use for scissors, for example.

Nevertheless, I'll make a stab at it:

The Leatherman Juice S2 is good. The bottle opener, scissors, and knife are outside accessible. The pliers must be opened to get to the screwdrivers. (3 sizes of flat head, and a #2 phillips) But it IS heavy in dress pants pocket.

The Victorinox Spartan Lite is a great all around MT also. It features two blades, can and bottle openers, two flat screwdrivers, a #2 phillips, and LED flashlight, a corkscrew with eyeglass screwdriver, and a reamer. Much lighter than the S2.

If you need pliers, but could make do with small ones, I recommend the Victorinox CyberTool 34. It has the best bit driver in the business, with a nice long shaft and it has stops at 90 and 180 degrees. Large and small blades, can and bottle openers with small and large flat head screwdrivers, pliers, scissors, pressurized ballpoint pen, tweezers, toothpick, straight pin, corkscrew with eyeglass screwdriver, hook, and reamer. Then, the CyberTool driver layer adds #s 0, 1, and 2 phillips, medium flat head, 3 sizes of Torx, 4mm allen, and two sizes of metric nut drivers. All self-contained. This probably weighs about the same as the Juice S2, and has a lot more tools, but the pliers are not as heavy duty.

Regarding the Buck Xtract, if that is the one with the tools that slide out, it looks pretty good. I've handled one in Bass Pro, and it is pretty well thought out. They didn't just try to copy a Swiss Army Knife. I don't think you would go wrong with that, it's just that you can get more in a similar size package if you look a little harder. It's nice that many of the tools are one-handed opening.

Something along this line that I also like quite a lot is my Leatherman Crater 33. It has a one handed opening blade, large flat head, #2 phillips, and a folding carabiner/bottle opener. It doesn't pack as much functionality as a Swiss Army Knife (SAK) but the screwdrivers are better, and the carabiner on a belt loop is a great way to carry it without fear of losing it and without chewing up your pockets with a pocket clip.
 
I faced this question recently and decided that I couldn't make a decision without handling some models, plus I decided that I had different carry scenarios so I could justify buying multiple tools. I already owned a Leatherman PST II and a Leatherman Supertool. The shortcoming of those for EDC is that the blades are difficult to access. More contemporary Leatherman tools have blades accessible from the outside, and some have pocket clips too. For me an outside opening knife and a pocket tool would allow a multitool to substitute for my typical EDC folder. I ended up buying a Juice S2, Skeletool, and Charge ALX.

DSC_6644b.jpg


The skeletool has a good assortment of basic tools, and is small enough to substitute for most folding knives that a person would EDC.

The Juice S2 has more tools but is smaller. I carry it in my pants pocket and still carry my EDC folding knife. The size/weight of the Juice is not an issue in my jeans pockets.

If I think I will need more tools then I carry the Charge ALX. It is pretty big and you know you are carrying it if you just drop it in your pocket, but using the pocket clip it carries very easily.

I have a lot of folding knives so I can't bring myself to forsake all of them for EDC so I mostly carry the Juice.

DSC_6626b.jpg
 
Smaug said:
Something along this line that I also like quite a lot is my Leatherman Crater 33. It has a one handed opening blade, large flat head, #2 phillips, and a folding carabiner/bottle opener. It doesn't pack as much functionality as a Swiss Army Knife (SAK) but the screwdrivers are better, and the carabiner on a belt loop is a great way to carry it without fear of losing it and without chewing up your pockets with a pocket clip.
Click to expand...

+1 :thumbup: . In addition to the above mentioned, Leatherman's accessory removable bit extender for Juice, Super Tool 300 etc. also fits on the Crater's ph head. It takes both their proprietary and regular bits, greatly extending the knife's tool capability.

My C33 has proven to be tough, cuts well, easy to clean because of the pillared construction, and the flipper has provided me with a whole bunch of serious fun. Highly recommended.
 
facing same question right now, I think the Juice s2, as mentioned above, is a great edc from what i can tell, I also like the juice c2, no scissors, but a slier profile and corkscrew if you're after that. But I'm no use, can't make my own mind up right ow,it was just fresh in my head so thought I'd throw it out there.
 
I've owned many of multis but I finally found one I loved about 2-3 months ago and I carry it everyday. Not the easiest to find but the sideclip is superb!
 
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