Which Multi-tool for All Around Use?

Super Tool. All the blades lock and, IMHO, it's about the toughest of the breed. Swisstool is excellent, has more tools and an attractive and clever design. Overall, I prefer the tool mix and simplicity of the Leatherman, the square cut screwdriver blades, and the true needle nose pliers. But maybe the Swisstool is more attractive as a present. Seems as if your man might be a candidate for either.
 
The Leatherman Crunch looks pretty cool. Gotta put a lot of credence in Mike Turber's opinion of the tool.
 
Will, you can do a search in this forum to get the specifics, but the inexpensive Wave is thru MERCATA.COM. This site is kind of a reverse auction where the more people that bid on a particular item it makes the price go lower.

By signing up, you get to pick a 1/2 price item (or something to that effect) which is where the $27 Wave came to life.
 
If you want the best conventional multi-tool, get the Wave, for me it seems to have all the features I use the most. Now, if you want to blow him away with one of the coolest new gadgets around get the SpydeRench. I've been carrying one for about a month and I love it. It's not really replacing my Wave but I do find that it works better for some jobs and with its pocket clip it carries easily. To top it all off it has the absolute best knife blade of any multi-tool.

Martin
 
Thanks everyone for your great feedback. I just joined Mercata and got my $27 Wave, although since Mercata is based in Washington, I had to pay the 8.6% sales tax.

I think when I go home to Hawaii, I'll check out a Sypderco dealer and handle the spyderench. I'll probably get one of those for the sheer engineering genius of it.

Thanks,
Mitch
 
I have owned many multi-tools: two fo the original Gerbers, the Gerber Multi-Lock, the Swisstool, the SuperTool and the Wave.

The Wave is great. I think alot of people think it is flimsy simply based on feel. I have never had a problem and I have really abused mine. I think it feels flimsy because of the hollow areas that house the external blades and provide those wonderful rounded handles (the tool's most awesome feature, IMHO). I think those hollow areas make the tool seem light for it's size,and, well, cheap. But I have never had any problems with mine and the only problem I can foresee with the Wave would be if one of the sides bent in and prevented or hampered deployment of the blade.

The Wave's shortcomings are the non-locking screwdrivers, as many others have noted. The other problem with the screwdrivers is that they are ground only on one side.

I have never used the Wave's saw, but the file is amazing.

I just recently order a "BYO" Multi-Plier from Gerber. I like the customizeable aspect, primarily so I can get a non-half-serrated blade! I chose red, a nice high visibility colour. With the hexbit adapter, you can really add alot of versatility. As a professional geek, I need to use torx drivers as much as flathead and phillips bits and this allows me to do just that.

That's just my random grouping of opinions. YMMV, of course. I really thing that the quality of tools is so high, that if you get one from any of the quality makers (Gerber, Leatherman, Victorinox, Spyderco, etc) you will own an excellent tool.

Clay

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Clay Fleischer
clay_fleischer@yahoo.com
AKTI Member A000847
Currently: Indianapolis, IN
Hometown: Kingsport, TN

On the internet, no one knows you're a dog...
 
A Gerber Multiplier with added Toolkit in my pack and a SOG CrossGrip in my pocket.

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Walk in the Light,
Hugh Fuller
Arlington, Virginia

 
The Victorinox Swiss Tool is always on my belt when I go out. The two hand opening of the blades does not bother me, as I also always carry a one hand opening knife that has better blade steel and a better lock. I compared both the Wave and the Swiss
Tool before buying and didn't get the Wave because:

1) The one hand opening only worked in my right hand and I am left handed.
2) My other knife also negates the need of a one hand opening multi-tool.
3) Blade hole (just didn't like the how it looked)
4) Only the blades locked.
5) It was lighter than the Victorinox and didn't seem as sturdy.

Well that's about it and of course is only my opinion. In the end it comes down to personal preference so buy what you like.

[This message has been edited by Maskwa (edited 13 December 1999).]
 
I have been carrying a leatherman of one sort or another for years. First an Original, then a SideClip, now generally a Wave. I like them all. I have never had a problem with non locking tool blades, but you have to pay attention to what you are doing.

I have two Buck Tools, large and mini. The mini is cute, and lives on my backup key ring. The large feels a little cheap and weak to me. The locking tools are sort of nice, but being left handed the handles fold up on me when I try to use it.
frown.gif


Diver John,

The Leatherman Gripper looks nice, I have a Kershaw which is very similar, so the Gripper is not on the top of my want list.

The Kershaw has good and bad points. On the plus side the locking pliers are nice, the blade is easy to get at (much like the Wave), the file and hack saw blade can be replaced when worn or damaged. The sheath is an open pouch style with no flap or snap, but the tool fits deep in the pouch and is tight, seems secure enough. It also attaches with a belt clip rather than a loop. This means that you don't have to get undressed to put it on or take it off. On the negative side, the plier jaws do not have a lot of lateral rigidity out near the tips. If you twist the jaws, the tips will spread fairly easily (deeper in the jaws are very secure). The belt clip is especially nice because you will not want to carry this thing all the time. It is a big tool, heavy, and not particularly compact. Mine lives in the glove compartment.


Mike
 
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