New Mutli-Tool

zknives1815

zknives1815

Joined
Jul 17, 2011
Messages
196
Hey guys and gals

Im in the market for a new multi-tool, i have a Gerber Diesel and am less than happy with the fit and finish.
My price range is around $100
Thanks for your time and help
 
Victorinox Spirit. Excellent fit and finish, useful array of implements, all the blades are accessible without unfolding the pliers. I have used mine very hard without issues.
 
I like my Victorinox Spirit a lot but for regular carry, I'm happy with my Leatherman Skeletool.
 
Both the Spirit and Wave are excellent tools. I think the Spirit is a little nicer to carry and has a better fit/finish, but you really can't go wrong with either.
 
Depends on what you are after. Mid size for easy of carry, or big honker for harder use? Any particular tools that are more important than others? For example, the Swisstool's scissors are killer (for fine work), and the SOG's are not. But the SOG gives you compound leverage on the pliers for extra gripping power.

As a general rule, anything from Leatherman, Victorinox or SOG will probably do you good. But the narrowing down is the fun part, because it depends on what you are after, and its also very subjective.

Without knowing more, I would lean toward:

medium size/duty: Wave, Swisstool Spirt
big size/heavy duty: Swisstool (not the Spirit), Supertool 300

The Victorinox lineup is put together like a swiss bank vault. Tight tolerances, smooth finish, most tools in the least space. But Leatherman has an aesthetic appeal and utility that is hard to beat.
 
I recommend a Victorinox if you don't already have one. They have the smoothest action and highest level of finish, in my experience.
 
Bob W said:
I recommend a Victorinox if you don't already have one. They have the smoothest action and highest level of finish, in my experience.
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Absolutely, but f&f is only part of the selection criteria. Compared to Vic, Leatherman can be considered good enough, and it has assets of its own. The plier jaws are true needle nose, which I find to be more useful in a multi-tool than the blunt or semi-blunt ones on Swisstools. LT screwdrivers work much better, which I confirmed to my satisfaction by making direct comparisons between those on a Swisstool v. Leatherman Super Tool during the same project, and fit more standard screw heads, at least those I encounter. If you need them, the unique LT flat bits can be carried in a much more compact package than the cumbersome Vic accessory outfit.

In general, I have found most Leatherman tools easier to work with than their same size counterparts in the Vic line. Despite outside opening implements on the Swisstool, you have to remove gloves when deploying them, while Leatherman's inside and outside can be drawn with gloves on. This advantage is even greater when working in the cold and/or wet.

To b e perfectly honest, if Swisstools were the only ones on the market, I would consider myself lucky to have one. But comparing the several choices available, I tilt Leatherman.
 
thanks for all the suggestions guy, as of now im thinking about the Leatherman Supertool 300 and a vic alox Cadet. its not set in stone so please keep the ideas coming
 
I like the dedicated can opener and bottle opener on my Vic Spirit X way better than the combo can/bottle opener on my Leathermans.I find that is almost a must have for me.I also like the corkscrew attachment on my Spirit X.I don't have the corkscrew yet because they were back ordered.Hope the little screwdrivers fit the corkscrew like on other SAKs.Anyway I digress,there's nothing wrong with LMs,I have several.I'm just blown away by the quality of Victorinox Multis,fit and finish is superb.
 
I love my Leatherman Charge AL. The 154cm blade holds an edge reasonably well. Leatherman's FF is very nice. It also comes with a bunch of bits that are interchangable. My fav hands down.
 
I like the dedicated can opener and bottle opener on my Vic Spirit X way better than the combo can/bottle opener on my Leathermans.I find that is almost a must have for me.I also like the corkscrew attachment on my Spirit X.I don't have the corkscrew yet because they were back ordered.Hope the little screwdrivers fit the corkscrew like on other SAKs.Anyway I digress,there's nothing wrong with LMs,I have several.I'm just blown away by the quality of Victorinox Multis,fit and finish is superb
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the bottle opener is the main reason im gonna grab a vic too
 
I just returned from a two week camping and hiking trip in Norway and carried a Victorinox SwissTool RS on my belt. Last year I carried a Leatherman Wave. The advantage of the Wave is that its blades can be opened with one hand and it feels a bit lighter than the SwissTool. The SwissTool on the other hand feels more solid, its fit and finish is better and if you're familiar with SAKs, it has a lot of familiar tools. The scissors, blade and can opener are the tools that I use most and they're just the same as on a SAK. The blades on the SwissTool can't be opened with one hand, but I can live with that, since I carry a fixed blade knife too during such camping trips. So for me that's no issue.

But, it's hard to wrong with a Leatherman though. I own several of them and they're good quality multitools.
 
I've got four of the Swisstools. They are good, but hard to open. I prefer the leatherman multitools over them. I do have a few of the Leatherman. I use a Juice SC2, Blast or Style CS for EDC.

Cheers - Joe
 
i picked up a SAK super tinker in red, saw it in the clearence section at walmart and just couldnt pass up the deal. will be picking up a leatherman wave sometime soom whe the money comes in
 
I'd say for a heavy duty tool the SOG Powelock,Gerber Legend 800 or Leatherman Supertool 300

For medium duty the Leatherman Wave,Leatherman Blast,SOG Powerassist or Gerber Flik

For light duty maybe the Leatherman Fuse/Kick or Gerber 400
 
znapschatz said:
To b e perfectly honest, if Swisstools were the only ones on the market, I would consider myself lucky to have one. But comparing the several choices available, I tilt Leatherman.
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This is similar to choosing between a Ford and a Chevy. Each one has its plus and minus.

I love my Victorinox SwissTool! ;)
 
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