Wilderness Multi-tool Shootout

DaleW said:
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 :mad:. 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. :cool:

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. :eek:

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.

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Bottom line, it ain't a perfect world-- no free lunch!
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You stole my idea (kidding)! I have a more modest list of things I rate multitools by. It's my basic six list:
1) knife
2) saw
3) file
4) pliers
5) hard wire cutters
6) scissors

When I compare two or more knives that meet my basic six criteria, then I award extra points for more knives, files, saws, etc.. I don't give any points for screwdrivers, awls, etc.. I don't care about that. I care about what will most directly and powerfully contribute to my survival at my skill level in a 72 hour scenario, and those six make the most sense for me.:cool:
 
LittleHairyApe said:
You stole my idea (kidding)! I have a more modest list of things I rate multitools by. It's my basic six list:
1) knife
2) saw
3) file
4) pliers
5) hard wire cutters
6) scissors

When I compare two or more knives that meet my basic six criteria, then I award extra points for more knives, files, saws, etc.. I don't give any points for screwdrivers, awls, etc.. I don't care about that. I care about what will most directly and powerfully contribute to my survival at my skill level in a 72 hour scenario, and those six make the most sense for me.:cool:
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An awl can be really useful when making repairs and improvising, and they don't add a lot of weight. The awl on the Leatherman CS4 has a sewing hole in it, as it should. Screwdrivers and CORKSCREWS are useless on foot.

They could get the perfect wilderness tool designs if they would just ask me! :D
 
I am getting a Leatherman Charge in titanium. 8.2oz

The Surge looks great but 12.5oz is too much.
 
I prefer the Victorinox Outrider. I *use* the corkscrew, and the phillips. So I need both. The saw is big enough to be useful and the blade is great for what it is. Since I EDC one of my own fixed blades, too, I'm not so worried about one handed opening and such.

For non SAK multityools I vote heavily for the leatherman Crunch. I also use this every day.
 
I respect the views of those of you who question the need for certain tools in the wilderness, like screwdrivers and whatnot, but within reason, I don't mind the extra weight of such implements on either a plier-based multi or a SAK because if I come across human junk, I might need a "city tool" to make the junk work for me.

As has been illustrated on a few of Les Stroud's shows, even the most remote, uninhabited places have had humans at least pass through if not put down roots. Les has made use of all kinds of detritus, like tin cans, plastic bottles, and other stuff that I put in the garbage every day but that might make a big difference to my survival, or at least my comfort, if I was stuck in the bush.

A screwdriver or pliers might help me take apart 'big' junk. An awl or corkscrew might help make a hole in a metal can so I can fashion a stove, lantern, cooking pot, etc. etc...
 
I carried a LM Wave EDC for years. Then I found the Swisstool Spirit, whcih I think is the bombest tool on the market. I just wish it had a serious file.
 
I respect the views of those of you who question the need for certain tools in the wilderness, like screwdrivers and whatnot, but within reason, I don't mind the extra weight of such implements. As has been illustrated on a few of Les Stroud's shows, even the most remote, uninhabited places have had humans at least pass through... made use of all kinds of detritus, like tin cans, plastic bottles, and other stuff that I put in the garbage every day but that might make a big difference to my survival,
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+1. Plus, I often riding in or on or am carrying man-made objects that need occasional fixeration. Additionally, having "city tools" means that I am more likely to carry it when I am not in ye olde wilderness.

These dueling multitool threads are confusing me. I'm a very simple bear.
 
MG_Saldivar said:
I respect the views of those of you who question the need for certain tools in the wilderness, like screwdrivers and whatnot, but within reason, I don't mind the extra weight of such implements on either a plier-based multi or a SAK because if I come across human junk, I might need a "city tool" to make the junk work for me.

As has been illustrated on a few of Les Stroud's shows, even the most remote, uninhabited places have had humans at least pass through if not put down roots. Les has made use of all kinds of detritus, like tin cans, plastic bottles, and other stuff that I put in the garbage every day but that might make a big difference to my survival, or at least my comfort, if I was stuck in the bush.

A screwdriver or pliers might help me take apart 'big' junk. An awl or corkscrew might help make a hole in a metal can so I can fashion a stove, lantern, cooking pot, etc. etc...
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As I've said before, my PSK gear is designed for use- often daily use. I think it helps me know what I'm working with, and keep things 'fresh'. Who wants to open an altoids tin that's been sealed for 2 years and find a mass of water damage? or even a leak of fire goop?

I've read several reports on here of people who had survival situations that involved vehicles or man made elements. All of them needed to mess with something more than carving wood and making fire. I can't say as I'd consider myself prepared if I didn't have the tools to take apart a stove or pack frame, file a nicked frame edge, adjust my sights, or even open up my gps (which, admitytedly, I've only ever used on a boat)....

It certainly doesn't take anything AWAY from me to have the screwdrivers and such with me, and I can't count the number of times I've made good use of the vise grips on my lm crunch out on the woods doing no trace packing.

Hell, for that matter, the old original gerber multi plier and aircrew knife tyhe navy issued me back in the day were issued for a reason- and EVERYONE carried an SAK. We used them, in kuwait and the balkans, and no one in Lejeune argued with us, either. (Well, not about the tools. The navy survival knife came under some flack (and I got a better knife).)
 
Leatherman tool usage:

1. The file can sharpen an ax, regrind a broken tip on a knife or hone a wooden or bone or antler spear tip.
2. Needle nose pliers can make a hook out of a found bobbypin, pull out ticks and splinters, hold hot pots or cans.
3. The saw can be used for all sorts of wood craft.
4. an Extra knife is good.
5. Awl drilling holes in wood, bone and hides.
6. pry thingy can break things apart like bark for grubs. I have actually used it to shuck oysters.
7. screw driver can tighten screws on knife clips or gun parts.
8. can opener.
9. wire cutter can cut fence wire for usage in snares.

also, you never know where a survival situation can occur. A broken ship, kayak or even an urban breakdown. Here tools can be handy.
 
After taking a close look at the Victorinox Spirit I bought one. IMHO, it has the best selection of tools for the weight.
 
I love my Vic Spirit! It has a very useful variety of tools for woods or town. Many multitools seem like they do, but at second glance, it's often just a bunch of different screwdrivers. It is also a very convenient size without sacrificing much robustness.

I do wish it had a regular knife blade, although I ground the serrations off mine and beveled both sides of the edge to improve it for my tastes.
 
DaleW said:
After taking a close look at the Victorinox Spirit I bought one. IMHO, it has the best selection of tools for the weight.
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How much does it weigh? I'm seeing conflicting information on the net. Sometimes the weight is listed at roughly 7 ounces and at other times a little over 5 ounces.
 
theonew said:
How much does it weigh? I'm seeing conflicting information on the net. Sometimes the weight is listed at roughly 7 ounces and at other times a little over 5 ounces.
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I went on a published weight of 5.75 ounces and now that you bring it up, the Victorinox web page lists it at 205 grams, which is 7.23 ounces :mad: To confuse the issue, the older Spirit model was 285g/10oz. Hopefully the 205g includes the sheath.

Ultralight hikers go through this all the time, with conversion errors on metric/US standard, variations in production weights, size variations on weight with clothing, and some outright fraud. You have to have it right in front of you on a decent scale to get the truth! I bought a sleeping bag advertized at "under a pound" that was 1 pound 6 ounces and it went back and I got a refund on my shipping too. I won't stand still for it with hiking gear. Make that mistake a few times and you have a pack that is 25% heavier-- not the game we play :)
 
I find it really maddening that the Victorinox website doesn't list weight among the specifications. I guess the idea is that you are more likely to buy the bigger more expensive knives if the weight isn't immediately apparent. I hate merchandising like that.
 
The Gerber 600 fits all my criteria for multitools.

Just out of curiosity, what else are you guys carrying that a few ounces makes such a difference?
 
Cpl Punishment said:
The Gerber 600 fits all my criteria for multitools.

Just out of curiosity, what else are you guys carrying that a few ounces makes such a difference?
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I know I like having a good pair of siscors, a diamond grit file and a working serrated edge on my wave.
 
The Vic. Spirit would be my first pick, has everything but the tweezers but does have a nice wood chisel that only available on Vic multitools. My Spirit weighed in at 7.4 oz. or 8.9 oz. in the brown leather sheath it came with (about 1 oz. less than the new Wave).


Another option is the LM Blast, which has everything on your list except the awl and the tweezers. The Blast weighed in at 6.9 oz. and 8.3 oz. in the standard LM black leather sheath.
 
See, I don't find the single tool thing to be optimum, myself. I pay a penalty of a few ounces, but I've needed two phillips heads at once, and I've also needed the vise grips on the LM crunch and a slot head on the SAK at the same time.

That's the reason I don't go for megatools- and why I'm not concerned about having everything in my leatherman. I'm a complete fanatic about the vise grips on the crunch, the file comes in handy, and it has the phillips and a slot. The second slot and the knife blade are pretty much useless- or at least unused.

Pairs of tools seem to work best for me.
 
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