- Joined
- Dec 22, 2006
- Messages
- 2,194
I've been through a bunch of multi-tools, looking for the best combination of tools with the lightest weight. Here's a breakdown of what I've found.
Tools wanted for wildnerness use:
Locking plain blade
Saw
scissors
tweezers
awl
can opener
pliers
file
Weight aside, the Leatherman Wave was the best all-round model I found. And the weight was the problem-- 8 ounces. If you told me I could only have one tool, I would choose the Wave, but carrying it along with other tools like a mid-sized knife (a Fallkniven F1 and sheath are 8.8oz), it was just too much. If you go out with something that has wheels and/or motor, this is a no-brainer choice. Great selection of tools and good locks.
Leatherman Juice CS4. This is my current multi-tool for wilderness use and I EDC at work sometimes too. Weight is 5.3oz and about 2/3 the size of the Wave-- maybe less. The tool selection is good, but I would chuck the corkscrew and beef up the saw. The saw is my major misgiving with this tool-- it is razor sharp, but it is thin and seems fragile compared to the saws on the Victorinox 111mm knives and the Leatherman Wave. The tools don't lock either. Great scissors.
Gerber Crux. I didn't like the size or the weight-- more than the Wave, IIRC. It was too big in my hand too. Decent price if you like the rest.
Gerber 400. 6.6oz. No saw. If they could lighten this design up and add a saw, it would be a winner. Good locks.
Victorinox Trekker. Nice knife, great saw. Needs scissors and a plain blade one-hand blade option. Victorinox makes the Outrider with a saw and scissors, but it has the sliding lock on the side. The blade is a great slicer, but so long and thin that it won't tolerate any abuse. Properly used, it's probably one of the best all-in-one wilderness tools for the money. You can get them on Ebay for $25 or so. Normark of On/Scene Tactical makes a great Kydex sheath for this one (many of the others too).
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Small tools:
Tools wanted:
Pliers
Scissors
File
Knife
Can opener
Tweezers
Gerber Clutch. 2.5oz, plier-oriented tool. No scissors, no can opener. Nice fat little knife blade. Okay screwdrivers, so-so Phillips, bottle opener.
If they could just build this size tool with scissors AND pilers. The Leatherman Squirts come either/or but not both.
Leatherman Micra. 1.8oz. Great scissors, tweezers suck. Has a small knife blade, bottle opener, nail file, and a selection of screwdrivers.
Victorinox Classic. 0.7oz, small knife, tweezers, toothpick, great small scissors, nail file. I have one on my key ring all the time. Cheap light, great for personal grooming and backup/PSK. Get a Stayglow scale model for your PSK.
Buck 350 Minibuck tool. No longer made
. 1.1oz. Has scissors and pliers, knife blade a little larger than the SAK Classic. Tweezers suck about the same as the Micra. Has bottle opener, small screwdrivers, nail file. I'd like to see this tool back in production and scaled up to the size of the Gerber Clutch and add a can opener. Comes with a textured slip-case sheath that makes it nice for EDC.
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Work-arounds:
Saws: Opinel makes a folder, as does Stanley. The Gerber Sportsman's Saw is the best for the money, weight and effectiveness-- about $12 and 3.5oz and bigger than any multi-tool saw.
Can openers: P-38 military K-ration can openers are cheap and light.
Scissors: if you have the perfect tool that lacks scissors, get a pair of Fiskar's #5 or #4 scissors. I got a pair of #5's on Ebay cheap and they weigh 0.4oz. Can run upwards of $15 in a sewing store.
Pliers: Swiss+Tech 6-in-1. A little heavy at 1.8oz, but you can add a pair of small pliers, wire cutters and two nice #2 size screwdrivers in a space the size of a matchbook. I've bought tiny slip joint pliers that are about the same weight, but longer.
Tweezers: the tick style tweezers that come with a metal clip to cover the tips are far better than the Victorinox or Weger tweezers anyway. I use them mostly for pulling out thorns and splinters and you want a super fine point and be able to apply good pressure. I have some in my first aid kit anyway.
*********************************************
Bottom line, it ain't a perfect world-- no free lunch!
Tools wanted for wildnerness use:
Locking plain blade
Saw
scissors
tweezers
awl
can opener
pliers
file
Weight aside, the Leatherman Wave was the best all-round model I found. And the weight was the problem-- 8 ounces. If you told me I could only have one tool, I would choose the Wave, but carrying it along with other tools like a mid-sized knife (a Fallkniven F1 and sheath are 8.8oz), it was just too much. If you go out with something that has wheels and/or motor, this is a no-brainer choice. Great selection of tools and good locks.
Leatherman Juice CS4. This is my current multi-tool for wilderness use and I EDC at work sometimes too. Weight is 5.3oz and about 2/3 the size of the Wave-- maybe less. The tool selection is good, but I would chuck the corkscrew and beef up the saw. The saw is my major misgiving with this tool-- it is razor sharp, but it is thin and seems fragile compared to the saws on the Victorinox 111mm knives and the Leatherman Wave. The tools don't lock either. Great scissors.
Gerber Crux. I didn't like the size or the weight-- more than the Wave, IIRC. It was too big in my hand too. Decent price if you like the rest.
Gerber 400. 6.6oz. No saw. If they could lighten this design up and add a saw, it would be a winner. Good locks.
Victorinox Trekker. Nice knife, great saw. Needs scissors and a plain blade one-hand blade option. Victorinox makes the Outrider with a saw and scissors, but it has the sliding lock on the side. The blade is a great slicer, but so long and thin that it won't tolerate any abuse. Properly used, it's probably one of the best all-in-one wilderness tools for the money. You can get them on Ebay for $25 or so. Normark of On/Scene Tactical makes a great Kydex sheath for this one (many of the others too).
****************************************
Small tools:
Tools wanted:
Pliers
Scissors
File
Knife
Can opener
Tweezers
Gerber Clutch. 2.5oz, plier-oriented tool. No scissors, no can opener. Nice fat little knife blade. Okay screwdrivers, so-so Phillips, bottle opener.
If they could just build this size tool with scissors AND pilers. The Leatherman Squirts come either/or but not both.
Leatherman Micra. 1.8oz. Great scissors, tweezers suck. Has a small knife blade, bottle opener, nail file, and a selection of screwdrivers.
Victorinox Classic. 0.7oz, small knife, tweezers, toothpick, great small scissors, nail file. I have one on my key ring all the time. Cheap light, great for personal grooming and backup/PSK. Get a Stayglow scale model for your PSK.
Buck 350 Minibuck tool. No longer made
. 1.1oz. Has scissors and pliers, knife blade a little larger than the SAK Classic. Tweezers suck about the same as the Micra. Has bottle opener, small screwdrivers, nail file. I'd like to see this tool back in production and scaled up to the size of the Gerber Clutch and add a can opener. Comes with a textured slip-case sheath that makes it nice for EDC. ******************************************
Work-arounds:
Saws: Opinel makes a folder, as does Stanley. The Gerber Sportsman's Saw is the best for the money, weight and effectiveness-- about $12 and 3.5oz and bigger than any multi-tool saw.
Can openers: P-38 military K-ration can openers are cheap and light.
Scissors: if you have the perfect tool that lacks scissors, get a pair of Fiskar's #5 or #4 scissors. I got a pair of #5's on Ebay cheap and they weigh 0.4oz. Can run upwards of $15 in a sewing store.
Pliers: Swiss+Tech 6-in-1. A little heavy at 1.8oz, but you can add a pair of small pliers, wire cutters and two nice #2 size screwdrivers in a space the size of a matchbook. I've bought tiny slip joint pliers that are about the same weight, but longer.
Tweezers: the tick style tweezers that come with a metal clip to cover the tips are far better than the Victorinox or Weger tweezers anyway. I use them mostly for pulling out thorns and splinters and you want a super fine point and be able to apply good pressure. I have some in my first aid kit anyway.
*********************************************
Bottom line, it ain't a perfect world-- no free lunch!
I do hate the sheath of the juice. Tool fell right out of while sitting down many times. When I pack the juice for wilderness it goes in my pack not on belt (where I keep my knife).
