need help selecting best multitool

Originally posted by Aries59
I also recently acquired a Gerber Legend 800 and it has replaced my Leatherman Wave as my mult-tool of choice.
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The Gerber Legend is also my EDC multi-tool. For some reason it seems to be one of those things that people either love or hate. I have yet to find any area where it does not match or outperform the other multi-tools I have used, and that includes most of them. :)

I think well of the Leatherman Wave, Pulse, and SuperTool 200, I like the SOG PowerLock, and I really love the Victorinox SwissTool X, but the Legend is what stays on my belt.

--Bob Q
 
I bought a SOG Powerlock about five months ago, and I think it is probably one of the smoothest knives I have ever handled. The tolerances are tight and the fit is perfect. The tools are useful and the compound leverage is an undeniable advantage. The metal guards taht cover the tools so your hand doesn't hurt after using the pliers hard are removable if you insist on faster access. I always carry a good pocket-clip folder for fast cutting, but a multitool doean't often need to be deployed quickly. All of the tools ahve solid STEEL locks (my Gerbarer has plastic locks, and I just don't trust them). SOG isn't any more expensive than comparable tools,a dn it is really heavy duty. Look on the multi-tool site at www.knifeworks.com for a good selection.
 
In no particular order of preference, quality, utility, or cost, the following have their place and can substitute for each other readily.

Victorinox Swisstool - In my gearbag next to other tools.
Leatherman Wave - On my belt in a sharkskin pouch if I choose to carry it.
Leatherman Crunch - In my briefcase in a calfskin pouch along with the Wave (when not carrying it on my belt).
SOG Powerlock - In the glove compartment of the "laurel vickie" next to a 6-volt backup lithium light (BULL).

Not one has any advantage over another: that is why I have and use all four.
 
I am very partial to theSOG Powerlock. I have had my TiNi Powerlock for about 1.5 years, and just love it. I use it often and it hasn't let me down.
 
I'm still a Leatherman Super-Tool guy myself. The Wave is certainly a good one too.., but I do like the LST...


"Hunters seek what they [WANT].., Seekers hunt what they [NEED]"
 
IMHO, I am not an American, believe me I am speaking in a more neutral mode.In 2000 when I began to collect multitools, I bought victorinox swiss tool and leatherman wave, and now two years passed, I could honestly say that victorinox swiss tool is much better than leatherman wave, in terms of both workmanship and materials. Although it is a little bit heavier(280g vs 226g), you'll never feel the extra weight once you fix it to the belt.In fact, leatherman wave's metal file is hard to use, the uncoated side is not aggressive as any true file, it slides over most hard surfaces; the small screwdrivers tend to open and close together, which makes one very frustrated during frequent use. If you were me, having two top brand multitools at same time and using them from the start, you would get more and more frustration over leatherman. What the Swiss had done wrong is they did not put that much effort on advertising and their factory is not US based.
 
I've playied with the SwissTool and wasn't inpressed,
So it may just be a personal thing.

I love my WAVE but with a new job I may change to a SuperTool.
The tool "clumping" never troubled me, Just makes it easyier to
get the right tool out, Then just close the others.
What is the problem :confused: :rolleyes:
 
With all of the multitools I’ve purchased over the years, the once that gets the majority of the carry is my first one – the Leatherman PST. No, it doesn’t have 100 special features or terribly ergonomic pliers. But what it does do, it does very well.

1. I personally prefer he PST file over the Wave file. I’ve found the diamond coating on my Wave and Pulse to wear off far too quickly to be of much use, without sending the tool in for a new file every year. I’ve tortured my PST file, and it shows no sign of wear.

2. I wasn’t all that impressed by the Pulse or Wave scissors. I much prefer the scissors on a Juice or SAK. So carry a SAK in addition to my PST.

3. The PST has an awl. Try to find an awl on a Pulse or Wave.

4. I like the long Philips screwdriver on the PST. I have no idea why they shortened the phillips on the Wave and Pulse.

5. I can open the knife blade on my PST without clumping problems. I can’t do this on my Pulse. The blades on my Wave have never opened properly with one hand.

6. Last, but not least, I can butterfly my PST to the open position. If I try this with my Pulse, the knife blade flies out and open – not good. My Wave is far too tight to be able to butterfly.

I do think that the Wave has merit, but I hate the file. Also, the fit and finish on all of the Waves I’ve handled has been pretty bad. Nothing like the fit and finish of a Pulse or PST. It is a darned handy tool though, and one of the few that has a decent saw.

I wish I had hands big enough to comfortably use a Supertool. The same goes for the Swisstool and SOG. All of these tools are too big and heavy for me to ever think about carrying them on a full time basis. I’d rather carry two smaller tools to disperse the weight and bulk.

The Gerber ProScout is a darned good tool. The downside is the pliers. They pinch and aren’t nearly as strong as the pliers of a normal sized Leatherman. I do like the easy to access and fully locking tools though. I have a ProScout that I’ll be testing during fishing trips this summer.

The Pulse has fully locking screwdrivers. This is a huge deal to some people. The Pulse actually came very close to replacing my PST. Ultimately, I just had some clumping issues that I couldn’t live with. I also found the diamond coated file to be unacceptable for anything other than filing my fingernails.

I’ve never tried a PST2. The diamond coated file turned me off.

The Juice series is excellent. I have no big complaints other than the fact that the riveted construction probably doesn’t allow for as much abuse as I’d give to a larger tool. I don’t carry my Juice as EDC because I need larger pliers while I’m at work.

So in the end, I wind up back where I started. I carry a PST on my belt in the very good nylon sheath it came with. I supplement the PST with a Victorinox Huntsman, which dangles into the front left pocket, hanging from a Victorinox belt clip hanger. I get the great SAK blade, scissors and saw this way, along with the awesome Leatherman pliers, phillips and file.
 
SOG Powerlock is my favorite.

My father in law uses his on his apple/rasberry/mustard-seed/cabbage-seed/dairy farm daily. If he can't kill it NOBODY can!!

I use mine quite a bit also, but not as hard as he does.
SOG also can help you customize your tool. A nice option.
 
The Swisstool gets on a bigger bolt head than the SuperTool(which doesn't get on any bigger bolt head than the pocket tool) and has a lot more tools plus a decent knife blade(which most of the other tools don't,not just the Leathermans) all for just a little more weight than the Supertool.
 
1. I personally prefer he PST file over the Wave file. I’ve found the diamond coating on my Wave and Pulse to wear off far too quickly to be of much use, without sending the tool in for a new file every year. I’ve tortured my PST file, and it shows no sign of wear.
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What do you use the file for? I really like the diamond coating on the PSTII and Wave for sharpening hooks and mine doesn't show any signs of wear after about 5 years of use.

I like the PSTII (haven't tried the PST) because it is much smaller and lighter than the Wave/Swisstool. A SAK with saw and awl rides in my pocket but the PSTII is a little too heavy and long for EDC.
 
How about a Leatherman SideClip for convenience and casual carry? It has most of the tools you need and can be clipped to the pocket or IWB without the need of a sheath. Do you really need all of the bells and whistles on the larger multi-tools--especially around the house?
 
I think the "best" multitool is as personal as the "best" knife. You have to examine your uses, and decide which tool fits them the best.
I really like the Wave, but recently broke the pliers at work. I use the pliers constantly, and the screwdrivers see alot of use, too. Away from work, the other tools come in handy, but I really needed sturdy pliers that still had a reasonably fine tip (which eliminated the SwissTool). I have a pair of 9" Kleins for my real heavy use. Also needed locking tools, since the screwdrivers on my Wave, PST, and SAKs have folded up on me many times in use. I got a SuperTool 200, and it is perfect for what I need at work.
Away from work, I prefer the Wave for its wider variety of tools, and will probably go back to carrying it as soon as Leatherman sends me a new one (finally got around to sending in my Wave about 10 days ago). It's hard to use the smaller Leathermans after getting used to the ST200, though. They feel like toys in comparison...
 
I recommend the SOG PowerLock.

It is big, heavy duty, and all the blades lock. I have carried my Powerlock for almost 2 years, and it has held up to heavy duty use.

If I had to replace my Powerlock, and I couldn't get another one, I'd buy a Gerber 800, followed by a Leatherman Supertool.

I know a lot of people here like the LM Wave, and while it is a great tool, it just isn't heavy duty enough.

Good luck with your choice.
 
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