one big tool vs several smaller tools

freedoom

freedoom

Joined
Jan 31, 2010
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so i just got leatherman's king daddy supertool 300. In my maxpedition EDC pocket organizer i also have a skeletool, alox electrician plus and a leatherman micra. so i'm trying to figure if one big honkin tool is better than 3 smaller tools. what do you guys think?
 
It depends on a few things.

What do you want? What do you need? Do you need full sized pliers and fancy wire cutters? If not, the Supertool may be overkill. If you do, the Skeletool may be inadequate.

The Supertool has no scissors. Is that a problem?

Multiple smaller tools can also be split up or left behind for easy carry.
 
When the pliers hold the nut and a screwdriver is needed to turn the screw at the same time, 2 tools make pretty good sense.

Happens to me all the time...
 
I think that eventually you would use all of them at one time or another. There will be tasks that require a tool smaller than the 300. Likewise, there will be tasks that require tools larger than the small tools you mentioned. I find it difficult to choose one tool that will do everything I need a tool to do.
I have many tools ranging from the Style to the Charge Tti. I just purchased (and am waiting for delivery on) a Supertool 300 and a MUT. I've also got a Micra and a couple of Squirts, and a Style CS. What can I say - I love collecting them.
 
In daily life I don't need a big tool very often, so I carry a few small tools - Victorinox Pioneer in the pocket and a Midnight Manager on the keyring, have a LM Kick in my jacket if I need pliers and there's a CyberTool 41 in my laptop bag; I'm a computer engineer. I can image that if you're a construction worker or car mechanic, you'll need a tool with strong pliers frequently and carry a ST 300 on your belt.

So it depends on the situation. Try out a few carry systems to find out what you like best.
 
For weekdays I prefer multiple tools because it gives me flexibility. My current setup is a knifeless SOG Pocket Powerplier, a Victorinox Midnight Manager, and a Kershaw Skyline. For most things around the office the Midnight Manager is good enough, and due to its small size it runs virtually no risk of freaking other people out. When I need to enter a school building for PTO meetings or other stuff, I carry only the knifeless MT inside. I might not have a knife, but at least I still have the rest of the MT.

This setup also works great for me because I have a nylon pocket holster with two pouches, one for the MT and the other for the folder. Since they're both relatively thin and light, and the weight is distributed on two tools, I can carry the entire kit in my slacks pocket comfortably without sagging. The holster keeps the knife outline from printing too. I have a lot of capability, yet people can't even tell I'm carrying all these tools.

Weekends are different. I can wear jeans and put on a belt pouch without anyone making a comment, so I just put LM Wave on my belt.
 
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