Use of a multi-tool while backpacking

About as silly as hunting Guinifowl with a Dunlop 64 and 3 iron which is the only time I managed to bag one.

I always carry my Victorinox multi tool although it is not often used Murphy dictates that the day I don't have it I need it. The pliers are essential on dailey use but camping or hunting take an Askari.
 
I carry an S4 for sure. Lives in my basic first aid kit. Then I usually drop in a P4 to supply the file, awl, pliers in a small handy and light package.

Together the P4 and S4 have the tool list of large multitools, but are smaller and lighter. And a bit less capable of big work, but oh so handy.

Phil
 
Having followed this for a bit, I cannot possibly imagine what would be objectionable about a multi, carried in a reasonable manner, if that's what floats your boat.
 
The original post does not object to carrying a multi-tool. I carry have been carrying the LM Charge all summer now and before that, I believe it was the LM wave before I lost it. :grumpy:

The question was the use of the pliers. I have never used the pliers on a backpacking - not car camping - trip and I was wondering if any had used their pliers. I am thinking of replacing my pretty heavy LM Charge Ti with a SAK. The SAK is so much lighter and has everything I need except the pliers. Plus, it was tweezers and an awl which I find super useful on backpacking trips - the LM Charge does not have them. I only carry one blade with me since I stay on the trail and bring my own dehyrdated food and shelter - no bush whacking for me! I value going on long trips traveling up to 20 miles per day and packing light. I am not a big guy and pride myself towards working towards beging ultralight. It sets up a sort of MacGyver attitude with getting out of jams while in the back country with only your few items.

Plus, I know the pliers will come in handy one day but I do not know when. I am thinking of getting a SAK with the tiny pliers. I was wondering how useful they were and I did get a good reply from M.
 
I do a lot of my camping from a motorcycle, so a Leatherman-type multitool is useful for minor mechanical chores.

Around camp, the pliers gets a lot of use as a makeshift pot grabber.
 
wildstar said:
I am not a big guy and pride myself towards working towards beging ultralight. It sets up a sort of MacGyver attitude with getting out of jams while in the back country with only your few items.
I made reference to this in a thread I recently posted over in the multi-tool forums. I've come to know a guy in the last few years who has been there and done that in terms of bush survival. He was in the SAS regiment for 5 years as well as other 'activities' in SE Asia and Africa. He also once lived in the bush, with minimal human contact for 2 years. For a long while he never used anything more than a regular SAK and an old divers knife. Lately he's added a green river skinner to his kit.

In the pre-leatherman days, when I had less money but heaps more time for adventures, I got by for years with a large locking SAK that had a saw, awl as well as the bottle opener and cap lifter (the rucksak model I think)

So in answer to your question wildstar - Yes, I reckon you could do without a multi-tool. Go light, go hard and have fun.
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Click to expand...
 
Remember that you can supplement your chosen SAK with a pair of Sebertech / Swiss Tech micro pliers so you always have them. They would be a little tougher than the ones in your SAK and are quite light.

Or just throw in a pair needle nose pliers into your pack - I don't think you'll notice it really.
 
I posted almost exactly the same topic a few years ago on another knife forum when I was thinking if I should get myself LM Wave or SAK SwissChamp.

The conclusion of my thread was it depended on the type of camping/traveling/hiking you would do: if you do not have a lot of tools and travel light for camping without a vehicle, SAK is a good choice - anyway, you have nothing that requires pliers to fix (of course it partially depends on your gear, but it was general conclusion)! If you travel on a vehicle, or stay to live in one place for a long time, for example, a hut in woods, then LM is a good choice. If you have good luggage, you can have SAK for travelling in coaches/planes etc, but LM may give you more confidence -weight is not that critical in such situations.

For me, I carry SwissChamp. I did not have any need for a large plier yet while camping or fishing, but I found some advantages of SAK pliers - they are more convenient for delicate works like holding needles.

Even as a student who studied in two foreign countries for several years (I mention this to stress that I had very limited amount of things to live with), I did not have any need for pliers until I bought my third car. I would say you should look at your gear and decide whether it may need pliers to fix it somehow or not. My gear does not require. What if I need pliers? Well, if I managed several years without them, surely I manage a few days of discomfort if I need them while camping.

Regards,
 
Pulling foxtail out of my dog's paw made pliers on my mulitool invaluable. That, and numerous other times have made them a "must have" for me. YMMV.
 
I have a Leatherman Wave and as an aircraft mechanic and pilot of many years I can tell you that a good multi tool is the best thing to have when you are limited as to what you can carry. Some of the other guys on crews I have worked carried Victorinox or Gerber, but usually they all bought Leathermans eventually. I have used my Leatherman for everything all over the world and it is very durable and well made. For an ounce of weight saving, I'd skip buying something else and keep the Leatherman. You'll never appreciate the pliers until you need them. I have used mine to replace LRU's and make repairs on all sorts of aircraft to get back home from dozens of destinations. The beauty of the multi tool is that it is always with you - whether you need it or not.
 
I've got a use for pliers that I didn't notice in any of the other posts. Sewing. Depending on what your equipment is made out of, and how heavy duty the fabric is, it can be a real bear to get a needle through it. Pliers can make it a LOT easier.

Leo
 
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