Which multi-tool for the bush

Sharp Eye

Sharp Eye

Joined
Feb 21, 2008
Messages
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After reading John McCann's book on building a survival kit, I am thinking about adding a multi-tool to my pack.

Do you carry a multi-tool in the bush? Which one do you choose and why?

Once again thanks:thumbup: to all the great people who share their experience and wisdom on this forum.
 
Leatherman Wave. Older model. Has everything I need. Also use a Gerber Recoil.Both have held up well.
 
If you're going to carry one, the Wave is great. I've got one and it's a good tool. However, if you're going into the woods and unless you've got something mechanical (ATV, bike, whatever), you may be better served by a good SAK with a couple of choice parts.

I bought the Wave to serve as a good woods tool, but quickly found that for the massive weight (comparatively) I wasn't getting that much use out of it. I replaced it with a Vic Farmer and couldn't be happier.
 
i either carry a victorinox swisstool spirit or a leatherman surge.

depends on the place i'll be in.

also have a lm wave which rides in my day hiking pack
 
SpookyPistolero said:
If you're going to carry one, the Wave is great. I've got one and it's a good tool. However, if you're going into the woods and unless you've got something mechanical (ATV, bike, whatever), you may be better served by a good SAK with a couple of choice parts.

I bought the Wave to serve as a good woods tool, but quickly found that for the massive weight (comparatively) I wasn't getting that much use out of it. I replaced it with a Vic Farmer and couldn't be happier.
Click to expand...

SP,
Do you miss the pliers? I have heard that for things like making snares or holding hot pots, etc the pliers can be helpful.
 
I think the scissors are handy for cutting moleskin. If you already have scissors, it may not matter. You probably are carrying a knife anyway. I believe the best reason is if you are taking along anything mechanical, reel, gun, atv, mtn. bike, etc. They also leave you with some nice prying/digging tools to save your main blade. I always have the Wave with me.

ETA: I use the pliers for takeing the pot off my stove, unless I have a bandanna handy.
 
SOG powerplier. I prefer its file and the blades are ok. The awl is nice and pointy( works better for sewing). Pliers do come in right handy for too many tsks to i magine. Usualy carried inside the pack..most sheaths will not hold the tool securely if I take a tumble down a hill. Which I am not too embarassed to say has happened, but I would hate to lose equipment because of it.
 
Victorinox outrider and LM crunch. I *never* rely on pliers (multitool) having things I can't duplicate the function of. You need two hands and two tools for many jobs.

There are days when I just carry a smallish pair of Vise Grips instead of the crunch, but the crunch folds down smaller.
 
Sharp Eye said:
SP,
Do you miss the pliers? I have heard that for things like making snares or holding hot pots, etc the pliers can be helpful.
Click to expand...

I thought I might at first, but most all my cooking pots have folding handles that don't get too hot (and that's all I'd really use them for). Anyway, a bandanna has about 1000 uses and works great for picking hot stuff out of the coals.

And if you found you used the pliers often enough anyway, a pair of good needlenosed pliers is a lightweight addition to your pack.
 
I use a Victorinox Spirit right now. I have also used an original Leatherman Supertool and an original pattern Gerber. I found the Gerber's tools and bits to be too short, the Leatherman has sharp edges that bite when using the pliers, and both won't allow you to easily push the knife blade all the down so as to be completely flat to a working surface (I realize that probably does not make much sense - the edge of the knife is on the side closest to the tool, not facing away).

Think about the tools you will need and buy accordingly. I like the pliers to assist in repairs (pulling thread, needles, focusing pressure on metal or plastic, twisting loops, etc.), pliers to handle hot objects (particularly to adjust a simmer ring on an alcohol stove), I've magnetized the ends of the pliers to pick up items as well as more easily magnetize pieces of metal to use as a make shift compass, I like to have a knife, saw, file, awl, and can opener on my tool. The screwdrivers don't seem as important, unless you have items with you that (obviously) have screws.

My thoughts.
 
I carry the Victorinox Swisstool, or a Victorinox Rucksack and a Sog Crossgrip. Actually, the latter two is being carried more and more....
 
Leatherman Charge

I bought it to save some weight in my backpack for work.

Unbelievable.... The blade is 154CM. The saw is scary sharp... The exchangeable tools are sweet as I am a tech - this thing even comes with torx bits...

Man, they have come a long way since my first leatherman back when I was in the guard in 92.



I will keep this thing with me all the time now! :D
 
I have a leatherman surge...it is not a good "woods" tool. Sure, it is rugged and has everything you might need...but it is way too heavy. I always have a buck 110 on a leather belt pouch (edc), the surge dwarfs this in weight and size (and $) and is really uncomfortable when carried this way. I like to spread smaller stuff out in my pockets for comfort and redundancy. I have a swiss army knife that weighs nothing when compared to the surge and is way more comfortable to carry. The leatherman is great for a "stash" tool in my glovebox. I am slowly moving away from heavy gear. I would much rather have a sturdy fixed blade knife in the woods (for the weight + added comfort of a hanging belt sheath) than a bulky leatherman.

I guess it's personal preference, but I don't take it into the woods or hunting with me...
 
I like my Swiss Spirit !
SaanichInlet115.jpg


Some people complain about the sheeps foot knife but I had to cut an old carpet up the other day and after struggling with my Stanley knife I thought I'd try the Spirit, within minutes I had the carpet all cut into managable sized pieces !!!
 
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