Wilderness Multi-tool Shootout

[bulgron]

I really like my Leatherman Wave XTi, but I agree that these are too heavy for serious backpacking. But for daily use or a casual walk in the woods, I just grab the XTi and, if going deep into the woods, a fixed blade and I'm good to go.

I should mention that I'm becoming something of a Leatherman junkie. I seem to keep picking them up. At this point I have one in each vehicle, one in the garage, one in the tool drawer in the kitchen and one here in my man cave. This happened completely by accident, but they keep coming out with new models so what's a guy to do!

I still need to get a swiss army knife, though. For backpacking I think I can give up the pliers in order to save weight and so a SAK seems ideal in that situation.

 

[LittleHairyApe]

Pairs of tools seem to work best for me.

I completely agree. Multitools take a leap in utility by an order of magnitude when you go from one to two. In addition to the crunch-pliers on the nut and SAK screwdriver on the screw scenario, a single multitool can't sharpen itself, but two multi's can sharpen each other.

 

[mrostov]

I really like my Leatherman Wave XTi, but I agree that these are too heavy for serious backpacking.

Huh? THAT is too much weight?

I bring a modern Nessmuk style combo (Leatherman Charge Ti, a hatchet or a machete, a primary small knife) and usually a firearm.

Before I carried the Leatherman Charge Ti, I packed a Victorinox Swiss Champ and a pair of slipjoint pliers.

 

[texastonydobbs]

Huh? THAT is too much weight?

I bring a modern Nessmuk style combo (Leatherman Charge Ti, a hatchet or a machete, a primary small knife) and usually a firearm.

Before I carried the Leatherman Charge Ti, I packed a Victorinox Swiss Champ and a pair of slipjoint pliers.

swiss champ and slip joint pliers ? i am not familiar with the LM charge I have a wave , and going from the wave , the swiss champ is a heavy mofo & then add the weight of the slip joints..yikes !

 

[powernoodle]

When bulgron refers to serious backpacking, he is likely referring to serious backpacking, as in those folks who take on the Appalachian Trail. The ones who take the cardboard out of the toilet paper to save weight. They aren't carrying a hatchet and a firearm for 2175 miles. :thumbup:

 

[mrostov]

When bulgron refers to serious backpacking, he is likely referring to serious backpacking, as in those folks who take on the Appalachian Trail. The ones who take the cardboard out of the toilet paper to save weight. They aren't carrying a hatchet and a firearm for 2175 miles. :thumbup:

Why not? I've done it over the Sierras. It's only like 5 to 6 pounds of gear, ammo included - halve that if you leave the pistol and ammo behind.

The Appalachian trail is practically horizontal by comparison to the Sierras. Daniel Boone did that trail in the wild and woolly days when he was an old man with a muzzleloader, a tomahawk, and a serious knife.

Each to their own, but I prefer to take with me what I consider to be the basic survival gear for prolonged living out in the boonies, just to be accustomed to carrying it if anything else.

 

[koyote]

I was gonna say- the AT is *easy* going. And I'd definitely pack a firearm on that barrio trek- it's gotten a bit nasty in parts of late.

I think what was meant by "serious" backpacking is what Colin calls "new wave" or ultralight hiking as opposed to classic sierra wilderness 35 pounds of gear packing.

I swing both ways, but the basic toolkit (LM crunch, minimag, SAK outrider, small fixed blade and 'hawk) always go. I'll save weight by ditching an extra pair of pants or something before I give up whyat is, after all, a very basic armageddon kit.

 

[bulgron]

What I meant was, any time I start to care about weight because I'm already carrying everything I need to get along.

Maybe I'm just getting old, but those Sierra trails are beginning to bug my knees. I shave weight everywhere I can.

I've never found a use for a pair of pliers when backpacking. Or, more to the point, I've never a found a use for a pair of pliers that I couldn't improvise a replacement for.

A small SAK, a fixed blade, even a pistol, sure, those are worth their weight. But I'll save weight were I can, and leaving the Wave at home is one of those places, IMO.

 

[tholiver]

swiss champ and slip joint pliers ? i am not familiar with the LM charge I have a wave , and going from the wave , the swiss champ is a heavy mofo & then add the weight of the slip joints..yikes !

The Swisschamp is an ounce lighter than the (old) Wave, i have both and just checked them on my scale. IMO i'd take the more versatile Swisschamp over the Wave. Not that i don't like Leathermans as i do, i have one Wave and 6 Micras (ebay lot find). Actually lately i'm really tempted by the Leatherman XE6.

 

[David E]

Leatherman Wave (and) weight was the problem-- 8 ounces..... carrying it along with other tools....(a Fallkniven F1 and sheath are 8.8oz), it was just too much.

I bet you're packing around 10-20 or more POUNDS of pure fat everyday, and you're whining about 8 oz ????

My suggestion is simple: GET STRONGER !

 

[DaleW]

I bet you're packing around 10-20 or more POUNDS of pure fat everyday, and you're whining about 8 oz ????

My suggestion is simple: GET STRONGER !

The problem is 8 ounces here and 8 ounces there becoming 20 pounds too much. It's a game to see how light too. I'm not 19 and in the military-- more like 53 with sore feet and not into proving my manhood by suffering too much gear to the top of a hill. No whining, just good science. If I pack lighter I can go farther, faster, and enjoy it more. IMHO, 8 ounces is too much to dedicate for a tool that isn't fully used every day. My base pack weight is 12 pounds (no fuel, food, or water). Some ultralighters are under 5 pounds!

 

[Crocodilo]

My own minimalistic choice consists of a Vic Farmer coupled with a good sized fixed blade (Cold Steel SRK). If planning to stay away for some time, than a small ceramic or stone sharpener will be included.

Just for the record, here are the Farmer's tools:
-Blade - non-locking, flat ground.
-Awl - L-profile, usable as needle
-Saw - works great
-Can opener / small screwdriver
-Bottle opener / large screwdriver / wire stripper - very usable to pry with
-Keyring - to attach a fob or lanyard

 

[tholiver]

My own minimalistic choice consists of a Vic Farmer coupled with a good sized fixed blade (Cold Steel SRK). If planning to stay away for some time, than a small ceramic or stone sharpener will be included.

Just for the record, here are the Farmer's tools:
-Blade - non-locking, flat ground.
-Awl - L-profile, usable as needle
-Saw - works great
-Can opener / small screwdriver
-Bottle opener / large screwdriver / wire stripper - very usable to pry with
-Keyring - to attach a fob or lanyard

I have the Farmer its a great knife! However my new Alox Lumberjack has displaced my Farmer in my EDC. The Lumberjack has all the functions of the Farmer (except for the awl) at a little more than half the weight.

 

[David E]

The problem is 8 ounces here and 8 ounces there becoming 20 pounds too much. It's a game to see how light too.

I understand packing smart, but never at the expense of taking a crappy item over the slightly heavier quality item.

I realize that wasn't part of his initial post, but I see it a lot.

I want item "X" to do what I need done using item "X." I don't want to take cheaper item "Y" that might do what I need item "X" to do, but not as well.

I'd rather carry the necessary weight to get an item to do the intended function I need done.

.

 

[SpookyPistolero]

I've really been thinking about picking up a Farmer model to make my multi-tool for the woods. That, or the soldier model (which I understand to be similar but lacking the saw). Either way, some very neat knives.

 

[tholiver]

I understand packing smart, but never at the expense of taking a crappy item over the slightly heavier quality item.

I realize that wasn't part of his initial post, but I see it a lot.

I want item "X" to do what I need done using item "X." I don't want to take cheaper item "Y" that might do what I need item "X" to do, but not as well.

I'd rather carry the necessary weight to get an item to do the intended function I need done.

.

More weight does not always mean better quality, higher efficiency or even higher durability.

And a higher price does not always mean higher quality.

Sometimes cheap knives are rightly labeled as "cheap" (=poor quality) but also sometimes cheap knives are actually high quality, better labeled as "inexpensive".

 

[DaleW]

I understand packing smart, but never at the expense of taking a crappy item over the slightly heavier quality item.

I realize that wasn't part of his initial post, but I see it a lot.

I want item "X" to do what I need done using item "X." I don't want to take cheaper item "Y" that might do what I need item "X" to do, but not as well.

I'd rather carry the necessary weight to get an item to do the intended function I need done.

.

Hehehe--- you need to look at some of the UL gear available. They are turning out some high quality stuff that is incredibly light. I have a Lightspeed windshirt made by Montane that uses Pertex fabric with more breathable fabric under the arms that weight just 6 oz. team that up with a 10oz Patagonia Micropuff vest and you're good to freezing at least. The windshirt is water repellent too, so you can avoid putting on your rain parka until it really starts to pour. Lightweight rain parkas come in under 12oz. My summer sleeping bag made by MontBell is just a pound. My pack is just a pound too. My whole kichen kit is about 12oz-- stove, fuel, pot, cup, and utensils. With the lighter load, my shoes are lighter too, so I'm not picking up a brick and putting it down thousands of times. I have better traction and they dry faster too. My shelter is my rain gear too and weighs just 11oz. My sleeping pad is a hybrid foam that weighs just 10oz and has a higher R value than pads that weight three times more.

So where's the crappy stuff? We're about talking the highest performing gear on the planet-- titanium, Pertex, Primaloft, 1oz hand-crafted alcohol stoves (not pop cans)--- and everything deisgned and selected exactly for it's function and weight.

 

[DaleW]

After taking a close look at the Victorinox Spirit I bought one. IMHO, it has the best selection of tools for the weight.

The Spirit arrived today. The weight is 7.4oz without a sheath. It is a finely made tool and I'll keep it, but the Wave has more features for just an ounce more-- a better knife with easier access and a diamond file. The Vic is polished and fit is as you would expect of a Swiss tool. The kit I got came with a nice leather sheath and an SAK Rally too. Either the Vic Spirit or the LM Wave would support you in the woods.

 

[Shotgun]

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?

It's the over all weight that people try and trim. Few ounces here, a few there. Eventually you go from a 50 pound pack to a 20 pound pack. For instance in this case if I can get the tools I need for 2.5 ounces then I can shave 6 ounces off of my total pack weight. If you can do that for all your stuff than you're going super light.

 

[tholiver]

Within sensible limits Less weight = more comfortable hiking+being able to range farther+being able to carry more food so you can stay out longer.