What's the best Leatherman multitool?

F

Franciscomv

Joined
Feb 7, 2005
Messages
2,892
I've been using a Swisstool for a few years, and I really love it. However, I keep hearing good things about Leathermans and I want to get one to rotate with my Swisstool.
Which one do think is the best?
I'm not looking for the small ones like the Micra or Squirt, I'm interested in the standard size ones (like the Wave or Charge).
Weight isn't that big of an issue, I don't carry the multitools on my belt or pockets, I carry them in my backpack or fannypack.
The least important feature for me are the knife blades, because I always carry two good quality knives for serious cutting.
Scissors would be nice. A wood saw would be very good, too.
 
If you don't need a premium steel knife blade, then you probably don't need to spring for the Charge. I would suggest either the new Wave or the old Wave. The old Wave doesn't use bits (although you can get a bit adapter) with lots of flat screwdriver blades. The new Wave uses bits and also uses (wastes?) a slot for a mini flat/philips bit holder. I've been EDC'ing an original Wave for several years now and I'm still ambivalent about moving to the new Wave or Charge. The SuperTool is beefier (either the original or the 200) but it doesn't have scissors.

Personally the original Wave seems to fit my current needs the best.
 
If you want a heavy duty wait for the new Core or the new Surge by Leatherman, but at this time I would go with either the New Wave for 2004 or the Charge Ti or Xti. I have the Charge Ti and I love it but am going to buy the Core and Surge as they come out.

Rickj
 
RickJ said:
If you want a heavy duty wait for the new Core or the new Surge by Leatherman, but at this time I would go with either the New Wave for 2004 or the Charge Ti or Xti. I have the Charge Ti and I love it but am going to buy the Core and Surge as they come out.

Rickj
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Rickj,
Do you have any more information on these new tools coming out?...as in pics or marketing info?

Thanks,
Randy
 
Go to www.equipped.org and they have a great reveiw on the Leatherman charge and you can look in the Shot show 2005 and see the new Leathermans coming out. You will see it when you go to the site and this is a great site for types of cool stuff!
 
allenC said:
My favorite Leatherman is definitely the Super Tool 200.
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I like the big ones, too. Any multi-tool is a convenient substitute for a real tool, but the Supertool comes closer to providing the real thing than any of the others while still at a reasonable size and weight. The mix of tools is, for me, just right, except for the small screwdriver, the only one I never use. However, I prefer my 8 year old original.

Recently I picked up an ST 200 mostly because I couldn't pass up a good price on it. After working/playing with it a few weeks, I find:

The 200 lock release mechanim is nice, but the old "swing out another tool" method is easy and safe enough, if you pay attention to what you're doing (always a good habit anyway when handling sharp things).

The 200's rounded edges on the pliers gripping surfaces are much more comfortable when cranking down hard on something. With the original, I have got the job done by using a work glove or folded kerchief for a pad when in death grip mode, but clearly the 200 has better pliering comfort.

As for the serrated blade, frankly I have never used a sheep's foot blade before. I might like it. But I often use the pointy serrated blade on the original and like it fine.

The 200 has a better lanyard ring. I don't use a lanyard.

It seems to me that a release mechanism compromises the bulletproof simplicity of the original, and the 200's levers dig into my hand when using blades and screwdrivers. Also, the extra thickness of the handles doesn't fit my hand as well as the original, although well enough. The tradeoff, for me, is better plier comfort in the 200 v. better handling for everything else in the original.

Could be nothing more than what I'm used to, but I tilt toward the original. IMHO, Leatherman got the Supertool right first time out.
 
Let me ask a quick question if I can. I have a Wave I purchased back in 1998, that has not been used much at all. I have througly enjoyed using this guy, but I was wondering about a slight 'wobble' I've had since it was purchased. All of my buddies that have this model also have this same 'wobble' that I have. I'll try as best I can to explain it. When the Wave it completely closed, as in closed to the point it can be sheathed, I can take the two ends opposite of the plier end, and push and pull them in opposing directions...not in the direction to open the tool, but in an up/down direction...against the main hinge I guess. I looked for some sort of screw I could tighten near the plier end, but I can't seem to find the source of this looseness. I'm very interested in upgrading to the new Surge, but was currious if anyone else has experienced what I've tried to explain and knows of a fix, if a fix is actually needed. This might just be inherent to the tool and not a flaw, but more of an an anoyance.

Sincerely appreciate any information,
Randy
 
jrk said:
Let me ask a quick question if I can. I have a Wave I purchased back in 1998, that has not been used much at all. I have througly enjoyed using this guy, but I was wondering about a slight 'wobble' I've had since it was purchased. All of my buddies that have this model also have this same 'wobble' that I have. I'll try as best I can to explain it. When the Wave it completely closed, as in closed to the point it can be sheathed, I can take the two ends opposite of the plier end, and push and pull them in opposing directions...not in the direction to open the tool, but in an up/down direction...against the main hinge I guess. I looked for some sort of screw I could tighten near the plier end, but I can't seem to find the source of this looseness. I'm very interested in upgrading to the new Surge, but was currious if anyone else has experienced what I've tried to explain and knows of a fix, if a fix is actually needed. This might just be inherent to the tool and not a flaw, but more of an an anoyance.

Sincerely appreciate any information,
Randy
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My wave had the same wobble, but it never failed. I think it was fairly common. I do not know if this has been remedied in the new wave or charge.
 
The new Wave and Charge are much stronger than the old Wave and do not wobble like the old wave. This was one of the problems I had with the old wave but leatherman fixed it with the new Wave and Charge!
 
Myne does exactly the same mine was made on 2000 an it does it too, I have the 20 anniversary edition and does it too, I have an other one thas was made on 2003 in it does too. This is the best of the Leatherman tools for me!
 
Tango44 said:
Myne does exactly the same mine was made on 2000 an it does it too, I have the 20 anniversary edition and does it too, I have an other one thas was made on 2003 in it does too. This is the best of the Leatherman tools for me!
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There are two very different incarnations of the LM wave.

One is the "old" wave, which includes the anniveersary one. The inner tools do not lock. (My 'old' wave has the wobble.)

The other is the 'New' wave, which has bit-holders like the charge and larger pliers/wirecutters. (I don't have one of these). Was new in 2004.

Just to be clear.
 
The LM Fuse I`ve been edc(ing) has been a pleasure to carry. Relatively light weight, but strong tools. It has the best selection of tools that I use on a daily basis.
 
I'd vote for teh Charge Ti. I have an older WAVE and much prefer my Charge. Now I just need some metric bits for it.

FYI, I was at Costco a couple days ago and they had a Supertool 200 bundled with a set of Barska 8x20 binoculars and some other widget for $59.95. I also notice with a quick peek at tehir site that they have a Sog Powerlock for about $48.00 and a Powerplier bundled with a Flash 2 knife for $69.00.

John
 
I ended up buying the Wave, it has worked very well for me in the past few weeks. It's one of the older models, but I got a very sweet deal!
Although my Swisstool seems to be a bit better built, the Wave is a lot lighter and with a horizontal carry sheath I forget it's on my belt.
I got a Micra, too, for my keychain.
 
dig-it said:
The LM Fuse I`ve been edc(ing) has been a pleasure to carry. Relatively light weight, but strong tools. It has the best selection of tools that I use on a daily basis.
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Same here, been EDC'n a Fuse for sometime now.
 
In my own personal experiences, I've owned/used;

PST
Wave
Charge XTi
SuperTool(original, now in truck)
SuperTool 200

Out of all of these, I exclusively carry the ST200 now for my EDC. Mainly because it is the beefiest of the three, and also because I find the tools and locking mechanism much more reliable than on the Wave and Charge.

I've thought about switching over to the Victorinox SwissTool, but "if something ain't broke, why fix it." ;)
 
i have the new swisstool spirit and its great....for a lighter tool to wear w/ "dressier clothes", i really like the LM juice. nice and light and unobtrusive.

mine is the S2 model.....i actually carry it more than the swiss.
 
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