What's your favorite pliers multi-tool and why?

J

James Y

Joined
Feb 18, 1999
Messages
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I have the Leatherman Supertool, Wave, and PST II. I REALLY like the Supertool and PST II, my Wave has a looseness about it. According to Leatherman the looseness is still within specs, but I have been carrying the PST II daily due to its light weight/size. It does not have all of the features of the Super and Wave, but for urban carry I find it's ideal.

Out of all the pliers/tools out, not only Leatherman, but Kershaw, Buck, Schrade, Gerber, Victorinox, Wenger, SOG, etc., what is your favorite and why?
Jim
 
Mine is the Victorinox SwissTool, 'cause that's the one I have (it was a gift). I don't know how it compares to the others, but it does everything I need, and feels very solid (of course, that means extra weight). I like the dual blades (1 plain, 1 serrated). And just as a disclaimer, I haven't dealt with many other multi-tools, just the older, lower-end Leatherman models, which I haven't been impressed with.

--JB

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e_utopia@hotmail.com
 
Yup, Swiss Tool is my choice as well, very well made. I had heard rumours that they were going to come out with a lighter model?

Reasons why;
don't have to open the pliers to get to all the tools
all the tools lock
when you select a tool, the rest don't clump out with it
and the tools work, a nice feature too!

The leatherman has good points in it's favour, but the best one is it's weight is much less than the Swiss Tool, though I don't mind the weight with the quality they put in it.
G2

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"The Road to Hell is Paved with Good Intentions!"
Take the time to read your Bible Now, don't be left behind...


G2 LeatherWorks

[This message has been edited by Gary W. Graley (edited 04-30-2000).]
 
Hi, my favorite is the Wave. The handles are comfortable & it's easy to use. I had a Gerber, but didn't like it.

Doug
 
My favorite is the Bucktool. I like the handles and the fact that they don't pinch my hand at all while using the pliers. All the tools lock. I use mine every day and wouldn't trade it for any others.


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John Foresman
Lifetime member Buck collectors club
Member NKCA
Member AKTI
 
I'm a Leatherman PST Guy. Got mine on my hip right now. Why: two reasons, you can manipulate it like a balisong (big bonus), but also because it's the one I carry and have for years.

I've often asserted that the best multitool is the one you carry and use everyday. If you carry one, any one, and use it regularly and get to know it, you'll start to think of the world in terms of it. When you see a problem, you'll think, "How can I solve this with my multitool?" And you'll think of new and innovative ways to use whatever tool you have. This is when you realy start to get the most value out of whatever tool you carry.



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Chuck
Balisongs -- because it don't mean a thing if it ain't got that swing!
http://www.balisongcollector.com
 
So far I like the Victorinox Swiss Tool. I also have the SOG Power Lock which is a nice tool, but accessing the tools is slow and cumbersome. The Swiss Tool having all tools on the outside is a nice feature, and selecting your tool is quick and easy, and they all lock and easily unlock. I have played with a WAVE but it does not feel very sturdy, especially the blades, and the internal tools (the ones you have to unfold the Wave to get to) don't lock, and they clump. The Super Tool also has to be opened, and I don't like having to open another tool to unlock the tool you were using. Some people say the Swiss Tool is heavy, I say they shouldn't be such a wuss.
smile.gif
I'm 6'1 or so and 150 pounds, I'm kinda a tooth pick, and I wear my swiss tool (with the extra wrench and bits) all day long and I don't even feel it. The only time it becomes a bother is when I have to use the can, and it tries to pull my belt off. I found looping my belt around itself in a knot type fashion helps with this. Hope this isn't TOO much information for you all, but it is the only thing I can think of that gave me trouble.
smile.gif
However I quickly found a way to deal with it, instead of crying about the weight and leaving it at home.
wink.gif
I want to check out the new Gerber Gator Jaw 800 series. Does anyone know if they are available yet, and if they are who has them?


-Wade in PA
 
Leatherman makes a good tool. And the swiss tol looks pretty nice, I've never held one, just looked at it in the display case. But I like Gerbers the best. I had one of the originals for four years, used(actually abused) it everyday. Its still works, I just felt the need to replace it with one of the new gerbers.
I like everything about them. They're heavy duty and hold up really well under daily use.The new 600 series have a solid reliable bolt action lock on all the tools. And the tools seem to be a little heavier gauge material than what most of the other tools are made with. I haven't broken or bent anything yet. And the slide action pliars beat the fan handle pliars hands down. Not only are they extremely solid, but the pliars don't fold up when you try and pull the jaws open all the way.The jaws are bigger than the swiss tool so you can grip bigger stuff too.The wire cutters really stay sharp too. I work on a farm that bales about 30,000 blaes of hay and straw every summer. So theres a lot of baling wire to be cut, and my gerber has held up really well. They cut harder wire and thicker wire easily too.
The only thing I don't like about the gerber is that the blades suck when it comes to taking an edge. But I carry a good folder along with it, so I only use the blades for abusive stuff where it doesn't really matter if their all that sharp.
And gerbers are alot cheaper than leathermans and swiss tools.
Oh yeah go to www.byo.gerberblades.com and you can design your own.

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So if it ain't on your mind to have a good time
Y'all come back and see us again.- Chris LeDoux
 
I like the regular PST and the PST II. The Super Tool is probably a better choice for hard use but I like the lighter weight of the PST. I'm looking forward to the new model that's loke a PST II with locking blades.
 
go to www.tool-shop.com/compare/multi.html for a listing of pros/ cons and features of everry multi-tool around.

I like the SOG paratool because it is light, has the essential tools, and opens in a way that you can use the pliers withouthurting your hands.

As far as vise-grip types, I go with the kershaw. It is just darn nice.

Check out the site, very Kewl.
 
I really wanted a multi-tool, but could not find one that I liked until I met the Swiss Tool.

Some of this is a reapeat, but it bears repeating.

The tools don't clump together when you try to get one out, aka one tool comes out at a time.

The tools are accessible without getting to he pliers.

Each tool locks.

One does not have to partially deploy one tool to get the other tool unlocked.

When deploying the tools you need not worry about the other handle intercepting it.

I like the Swiss Tool

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Thank you,
Marion David Poff aka Eye, Cd'A ID, USA mdpoff@hotmail.com

My Talonite Resource Page, nearly exhaustive!!
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"Many are blinded by name and reputation, few see the truth" Lao Tzu
 
One more for the Swiss Tool! I got it two years ago as a self-selected gift. I looked at and handled plenty of others that were available then, and the Swiss Tool had the tools and access that I wanted, with the aforementioned desireables (no clumping, easy to unlock, etc.). Sure, it's got a bit more heft. But to me that only spells durability.

One of the most used tools for me is the 'metal saw'. You wouldn't believe how many folks have asked me to saw through their padlocks, because they've locked themselves out ...

They could improve it if they made the blades in a 'one-hand open' configuration, like the Wave. Otherwise, it's great just the way it is! A clear winner!

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Champions make improvements as fast as losers make excuses.
 
Mine was the LeatherMan SuperTool until the Wave came out. I liked the Supertool for overall performance and the tools themselves as well as the nice construction of the whole dog gone thing. But, the Wave I like for it's uniqueness and one hand opening blades.

Mark
 
Leatherman Wave. It is comfortable, easy to use, and has met the challenges I ask of it.

Erik
 
Leatherman Crunch.

Swisstool was my usual carry until I bought the Crunch a few months back. I was amazed at how often the locking pliers came in handy. Plus I use the hex driver quite a bit as well. Haven't carried any other tool since

Walter
 
Looks like the Swisstool has it so far
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I need something to replace the Made in China Leatherman copy I was given.

I really like every Victorinox SAK I've ever owned so why not go for the Swisstool? It handles nicely from the times I've played with one in a shop, I've just groaned at the prices over here.

Roger
 
I have the Gerber's and the Leatherman PST II as well as the Wave. I like the Wave but wish it would open as easily as the Gerber's I have had. Used it a lot last weekend while out saltwater fishing. Took off more than one trash hardhead catfish without incident. Had catfish slime all over it and when I returned home just tossed it into the dishwasher. No problem, no rust spots.

John
 
Like my Gerber because it does what I need it to do.[with all the extra bits]
Still carry a back up of my old Leatherman,but it's getting kind of beat.

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have a"knife"day
 
I carried a Gerber for about five years, and got rather attached to that thing. It was fast on the draw, and I knew where everything was. When it walked away, I wanted to get another one, but the knifeshop I used then wouldn't cut me a deal on the gerbers, they would on the Swisstool. I still would call the gerber my 'favorite', but I feel the swisstool is a better tool.

The Swisstool is more solid feeling, all the toold lock, and it is larger. I removed the studs from my tires (all four wheels) yesterday, with my swisstool. I tried another pair of needlenose pliers I have, but they didn't offer the grip I needed, the swisstool did. The swisstool is more comfortable to use than the old leathermen, and doesn't pinch as readily as the old gerbers. It is big, and bulky, and slower than the gerber, I don't know if it will loosen up like the leatehrmen I've seen.

The sole downside I see to the Swisstool is the type of lock. Them itty-bitty buttons are not easy to access in anything other than an office environment. I have, with difficulty, operated my swisstool in environments ranging from -40 to +100, and rain to mud to snow. With bare hands, it works well, but with glvoes on, it becomes difficult. At -40 it is nearly impossible to use, because you have to remove so many layers of glove to operate it that it becomes hazardous.

That said, I still like it, and don't know of a multi tool that would be easy to use at -40. Come to think of it, I don't know of anything easy to use at -40. I would simply prefer an easier lock-release device.


Stryver


 
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