which multitool?

D

devilboy

Joined
Sep 22, 2001
Messages
94
well, my leatherman is on its last legs. the years of use and occasional abuse have finally caught up, and while i think i'll keep it for sentimental reasons, i need something new for my bag o' tricks... woohoo!

there seem to be about thirty dozen different multi tools out there these days, and i admit that i don't know what from what in this department.

does anyone have any recommendations?
i'm looking in the direction of something that'll be in my pack all the time(EDC, camping, hiking, out on the water), so it doesn't have to be particularly super-light or compact. basically, i'm looking for a good user.

thanks,

steve
 
Devilboy,

If you liked your PST, than consider a Pulse that is just like it with scissors and locking blades.

If you want a heavier unit- consider the new Leatherman Supertool 200. It is a massive unit with locking blades, but with no scissors.

The Leatherman Wave is a great tool- kind of the jack of all trades with one-handed blades on the outside.

I saved the best one for last- the Swiss Tool. I still think that this is the best tool that I have ever owned. The tools lock and do not clump. The only drawbacks are the flat blade screwdrivers don't seat always properly because of the rounded edges. I also think that the steel on it is not as hard as the Supertool 200. But the fit and finish are great and the usability is wonderful.

I have all of them, but I usually use my Micra because that is what I usually always have at the time I need it!

Leatherman or Victorinox make great stuff and you won't go wrong with either. I personally don't care much for the Gerber, Buck, or Schrade tools. I just did not like the way they feel. The Gerbers that I have used pinch the crap out of me when I use the pliers.

Daniel
 
If you're going to carry it camping and hiking, you may want to check if the model you decide on has a file and saw. I had upgraded from the original Leatherman to the Supertool for the saw, so I wouldn't have to carry a SAK along with it.
 
Just do a search on "Multi-Tool" I'm a WAVE guy,
I've had Gerber's first (the one with out locks)
didn't really like it, Playied with Vic. Reg. SwissTool,
I wasn't inpressed with it's use abillity, and the blades
stuck together..Just as much as my WAVE
(Only to blades stuck together, After a year of use my wave was
the same way), Gerbers, and LeatherMan are the only ones
to can open (easily) one-handed, Vic. is to stiff for me to
Bali-open. The WAVE is the only Multi-tool I know of with a
One-hand blade design. Gerber and LeatherMan are the only ones
with a tool with both Scissors and Saw (WAVE + Legend)

I have playied with a Pulse (after I already had my WAVE)
and was very unimpressed, BUT my father who has playied with
my WAVE, and liked the Pulse better, The WAVE is the second
biggest LeatherMan (See SuperTool 200), I didn't like the new
unlocking "switch" and the WAVE is still the only Multi-Tool
I've seen with fully rounded grip, It's never even thought of
biteing me, and the Pulse did same if you got to close to the
Pliers.

I playied with a LM Crunch, seemed hard to open it from fully
closed, If I had one I think I would leave it opened to pliers.

I tryied to make up my mind on this about 1 1/2 years ago,
and got the WAVE. I've kept up on the new ones pretty well
I think, and haven't seen any I thought were better then
my WAVE. The WAVE is the only one (I've seen) with SOME
locking blades, I think the only blades that need to lock
are the "long" ones, if you close the tool it isn't going
very far anyway.

One question tho why not send your LeatherMan in and get it fixed
up again. Is there something you were hopeing to get out of an
upgrade?

My WAVE is my only tool for MANY things, It is with me
everyday, for ever project! Need I say more?

my .04:)
 
I LOVE the Leatherman Juice (the blue one) my girlfriend gave me. It is small, has everything I need, and it feels better built then any Leatherman I have felt before. If you are camping, get the purple one. It is the top of the line Juice and has that file the other guys where talking about.
 
We've been around and around on this subject numerous times. Many people are Leatherman fans but I am not one of them. I find that the pliers are not always easily opened with one hand. On mine the jaws always stick which is a pain in the butt. Also, on the older or more basic models the tools don't lock. Ok, enough complaints. On the plus side there are many innovative designs in the Leatherman stable so I will give them that.

My preference is for the compact Gerber Sport series. I think it is a darn nice tool. The pliers are easy to open with one hand and the jaws never stick together. The jaws are nicely machined and do not mar easily. Also, it carries well in my pocket which is important for me since I don't care for belt sheaths.

The SOG Switch plier is also a cool little item. It isn't as packed with features as the other multitools but it is definitely fun to play with. I was recently up on a bathroom vanity countertop holding a light fixture up with one hand and reaching for my Switchplier with the other. Being in an uncomfortable situation and being able to easily access a tool when you need it is really important in my book. The Switchplier performed flawlessly. The sheath that comes with it is one of the few that I actually don't mind using since it clips over the belt with a heavy duty clip. A thoughtful design worth considering.
 
One of the problems with multitools is that people tend to use them for tasks beyond what they were intended to be used for. Generally speaking, most multitools are intended for lighter duty tasks.

My personal favorites are the various Leatherman Tools and Gerber. I started with an original Leatherman tool but when then Leatherman PST II came out I got that and that is the one I usually carry and use. I got it because of the scissors - which I use mainly for fishing.

I also have an original Gerber mutliplier and I prefer it over the newer ones. But I am eyeing the Gerber Compact Sport Multitool.

I also have three models of Coast Multitools. One with regular pliers, one with needlenose pliers and a fisherman's model with longer curved pliers. I like the Coast Multitools because they have tools with backsprings just like a pocketknivfe build into one handle. I find the Coast multitools sturdy.

I think the best solution to selecting multitools is to determine what you are going to use them for and then select more than one - one for general use and another - perhaps heavier built.



Originally posted by devilboy
well, my leatherman is on its last legs. the years of use and occasional abuse have finally caught up, and while i think i'll keep it for sentimental reasons, i need something new for my bag o' tricks... woohoo!

there seem to be about thirty dozen different multi tools out there these days, and i admit that i don't know what from what in this department.

does anyone have any recommendations?
i'm looking in the direction of something that'll be in my pack all the time(EDC, camping, hiking, out on the water), so it doesn't have to be particularly super-light or compact. basically, i'm looking for a good user.

thanks,

steve
Click to expand...
 
More people need to check out the Schrade "tough tool" It is a bit wide side to side combared to the LMs when carrying but it has excellent steel, and the best pliers of the bunch (imho), and good tools. Frequently overlooked. My favorite tool of them all. Mike Sastre has my newest one for some sheath work right now as we speak. I have had my original for many years since they first came out.

http://www.bladeforums.com/features/faqmultitool-schrade.shtml
 
I'll second that recommendation on the Schrade "Tough Tool". Mine was easily worth the $50 it cost me. It has a nice variety of cutting and scraping blades, great pliers, four blades with excellent locks (and a few slipjoint blades, too). I think it makes a great mechanic's multitool.
 
My favorite after trying more than I can count is the SOG Powerlock. Great tools, and kickass hard construction.
 
While not mentioned here look for a older model Leatherman Super tool. It is
a very robust version of the original PST that so many people love to carry. It
also has the distinct advantage of having a mechaniclly simpler lock mechanism
over the newer Super tool 200. The Pulse also bears a good look for very light
duty. Look for the older Super now as you might save a buck or two as they
are being discontinued in favor of the new 200 model.

The Swiss tool is shiney and pretty ,but, doesn't deliver in the real work a day uses.
Mine failed me once to often and is no longer used. I dis-like it so much I won't
even give it away. Don't have any friends I'm that mad at now.
 
I think either Supertool would meet your needs well. If the new version is up your alley, go to Target. Just saw them there for $54. I've seen them elsewhere for $89.

-Al-
 
The Wave is probably the most vesatile multi-tool out there. The Pulse, is similar in size to the original PST, but with locking blades and more importantly, they rolled the inside edges of the handles to make it much more comfortable to use.
 
I'm a multi tool junkie. I buy em all and rotate carrying different models. Still my favorite "user" is the Leatherman Wave. The only problem is that the Wave doesn't have a pocket clip so I don't always carry it.

Some of you might laugh, but I'm currently carry the Spyderco Multi-tool. Not becuae it's the best, but because it's the most recent one I bought. I like it because it has self-contains hex bits, has an adjustable wrench and single handed opening blade (Did I mention that it also has a pocket clip?) I miss haveing the needle nose pliers though...

S.
 
Hi Steve,

I don't know if I qualify as a tool-junkie...but I do carry a multi-tool darn near everywhere I go (can't carry on commercial flights anymore...) The one I have carried for the last year or so is the Leatherman Wave. Highly recommended!

--gordon
 
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