18 thoughts on “”

  1. My take on it is probably a minority one. In my opinion, multitools are like any other multi-purpose items – they don’t do anything very well. And since I typically have several small tool sets handy, I haven’t found multitools all that useful.

    So rather than spend a lot of money on one super good one, I get many cheap Leatherman clones of different sizes, from the keychain size up, and have them around within reach and in my bugout bags in the vehicles.

    I think in all the years I’ve had them around, though, I’ve needed one exactly once, and that was just to save a short walk.

    They’ve probably been most useful on hikes when I’m away from a vehicle with its stock of tools and supplies, so along with my knife, a wire saw, wire and tape, I usually carry a small no-brand one. But on hikes and for camping, I’ve gotten more use out of the extra wire, tape, etc, than I have a Leatherman.

    My keychain, which I almost always have with me, has a laser flashlight, a flat disk screwdriver with 4 tips (that I’ve used a lot), and except when I’m flying, I carry the smallest Swiss Army knife, which has proved very useful. But never a Leatherman.

  2. On my BOB (which is a Tactical Tailor, thank you for the recommendation), I have a triple mag pouch. In it are a flashlight, a Leatherman Crunch, and a Leatherman Wave. They introduced one called the Charge Ti that looks to be pretty much the same as the Wave, but with titanium for extra cost pretty.

    I like the Crunch for being the only neatly-folding locking pliers I’ve seen. I like the Wave because it deploys blades quickly and it’s what I’m used to. I carry both to work pretty much everywhere, since I’m not sold on there being just one that will do. Plus, then I get 2 sets of pliers, which can be useful.

  3. I haven’t used any from Buck.

    The following info is probably dated since I haven’t had massive exposure to any multi tool since the AF which I left in 98. We used multi tools daily since our course was set in field conditions and we could carry them on our belt.

    Leatherman variants always had open edges on the outside of the handles that cut our fingers during heavy use. Their blades back then were straight only, no serrations, which gave us problems cutting rope. The metal was tempered well, and I don’t think we ever broke one.

    Gerber was, in our opinions, the way to go. Closed outside edges, straight and serrated blades, one handed opening, great steel. We were issued the Leathermans, but all of us went out and bought the Gerbers to use.

    Both of those brands have come a long way since then and made many changes. I think IIRC Gerber has more variations, including an EOD model. Either are good tools, and I’d have to look at the Leatherman again to see how much they changed, but I would recommend the Gerber anyway from what I’ve seen ( haven’t been able to use) in the stores recently. I think the Gerbers are cheaper overall as well.

  4. I have an older (bought in 2000) Leatherman Super Tool, and it’s worked out ok for me. I will definately agree on the open edges on the outsides, although I have yet to cut my hands on that. (The blades, however…)

    The Super tool does have the serrated blade.

    The hinges have loosened up quite a bit from use though. and if one snaps it open like a butterfly knife, the blades have a very disturbing tendancy to pop out as well.

  5. Problem I have with that question is that the selection is so broad, and there are eight million options for which tools you want on it.

    I have a Schrade, given to me by my company for my ten-year anniversary, which is a very nice one. I have yet to find a task I can’t make it work for. Only complaint is that the knife blade wasn’t quite as sharp as I would have liked – easily solved.

    SO I got my multi by default, but have been quite satisfied. Beyond that, any of the three brands you mentioned, and with the addition of Schrade, will probably be very acceptable.

  7. I knew I liked you. You forgot to mention that all 4 of the large blades/files are liner lock, which is a requirement for any serious knife. And the Wave is serious. In fact, all of the tools on it are serious. With the exception of the scissors (which is limited only because of its necessarily smaller size) I’ve taken to using my Wave instead of the individual tools in my toolbox. I always know where it is, and they work.

  9. Hrm, I have to stand by the recommendation for a Gerber. I’ve got one of their Legend series multi-tools. It is big, yes. It resides in my work bag most days. It has done everything from computer assembly/disassembly to cutting wires to wrangling car components. The inner blades ALL lock. The handles don’t bite into your fingers when you’re plying with the pliers. The pliers also have a carbide wire cutter with swappable edges, for REAL wire cutting. (None of those other pussies comes close.) It does require two hands to open or some wrangling against pants legs with one hand. (Not too difficult to do, but I’m just sayin’…) I found mine at Galyan’s, you can dig them up for reasonable money, IMHO.

  10. I like the basic Leatherman—not a whole lot of frills but has always gotten the job done. I had a Gerber tool (model unknown) and the slide broke. Allot of soldiers in a previous unit were issued the Gerber tool and I noticed the slides failed or the one of the jaws would break. I never had any problems with the basic leatherman—although the handles are a bit small and painfully angular.

  11. I don’t carry a multitool as I don’t like bulky and heavy things on my belt or in my pocket, but I should throw one in my bag. Most of my friends like and carry a Leatherman Wave. I’ve borrowed one on several occasions and do like them. A friend of mine recently got a Leatherman Juice, which is much smaller and lighter than a wave, but still has scissors and pliers. The pliers would be the only reason that I would carry a multi-tool over a Victorinox Super Tinker, which is my preferred pocket knife. I lost my last one so I’ve been carrying a Kershaw/Ken Onion Chive until I get something else.

    • I just traded for a leatherman wave. I dont know its age but i cannot finfd a bit driver on it? Is it too old? Can it be added? Will the clip acces kit fit. Want lanyard loop. Thank you

      • Im not a Leatherman repairman, why would you ask me? Ask the folks at Leatherman. AFAIK, the Wave doesn’t use a bit driver, but it does have a lanyard loop.

  12. I have been wearing a Leatherman Juice Pro on my belt for the past 3 years since bought it for me for Christmas.

    I hate wearing a cellphone (my latest model goes in my pocket) and would frequently forget to take it in the morning. But I have never forgotten the Juice.

    Can and bottle opener, scissors, 2 blades (one serrated) saw, awl, corkscrew, tweezers, file, pliers, wirecutters, philips and three sizes of flat screwdriver. I use it at least once every day, even if it is only to open a bottle of beer!

    Not like the old types, no external sharp edges on it.

  13. I seem to have gathered a few of these things over the years, but most stay in the safe.

    I have a Swiss-Tech Micro-Plus on my keychain (now in stainless steel, after carrying the carbon steel one for almost a decade– retired for esthetics, not for lack of functionality.) I also have a Swiss-Tech Utili-Key on my keychain (always stainless). The combination of the two gives me 7 screwdrivers, 1 small pair of pliers that will grip a 1/2″ nut, wire cutters/wire strippers, bottle/can opener and a 1/2 serrated knife blade. With the Photon Micro-light also on my keychain, I find these three tools handle the large majority of my daily needs. The best part is that they are low cost, the Micro-Plus does not have a blade so airport security doesn’t worry about it and they Utili-key is so non-descript that it gets through security checks and x-rays without issue, and they are small enough and lightweight enough to be put on my keychain so they are with me *ALWAYS*. They also are small enough to be on my keychain in my pocket, so nobody ever asks what the pouch is on my belt, and I can carry them in formal wear at important social functions. The down side, is that they are small, so they are not up to serious work tasks such as assembling a home entertainment wall unit with over 100 screws. (It could be done, the tools are up to the job, but your hands would be pretty beat up by the time you were done.) The knife blade is very thin and the “handle” is a thin stick so cutting chores would be tedious or even difficult, but I carry a Spyderco Walker for day-to-day cutting chores.

    In my winter jacket pocket, my truck, my BOB, and my desk at work, I have stashed Leatherman Waves. If my everyday carry is not appropriate, that is my tool of choice. The rounded handles are comfortable, the one handed opening blades are always immediately available, the Leathermans have never failed me by breaking and they have a good mix of useful tools. The Wave also has a hex bit driver and bit kit for more capability, but I only have one of those as it is more of a luxery item than a requirement. It is a bit bulky and heavy so it would probably have to stay in a jacket pocket or on your belt, but I consider it to be the best compromise for weight and size versus capabilities.

    I also have several basic Leatherman tools, a Super, a Crunch, and a Mini-tool. They are all decent, but the ergonomics on them leave more to be desired than the Wave. The Crunch as points out, has Vice-grip capabilities which can be handy, but they are a two hand operation to manipulate to open for use and the pliers aren’t as useful for everyday projects.

    I had an early Buck tool and traded it within a week for a Leatherman Super. It was strong, but heavy and bulky and all the tools had been polished to the point of rounding off all the edges of the tools. Screw drivers slipped out of the screwheads and were practically useless. It might be bulletproof, but it sure wasn’t very useful.

    I have a Gerber Legend that broke a jaw– Gerber replaced it, but it now gathers dust because I like the Leatherman series better.

    I also have the Spyder-Tool. Seriously heavy duty with an emphasis on heavy. Of all the utility tools it has the most serious knife blade, but the overall package is clumsy for assembling the tool for real world use. However, it also has one-hand knife blade opening capabilities that works as well as their knives. It also has a lot of unusual tools such as the Crescent wrench, but I find the regular pliers to be more useful most of the time.

  14. Shoot… forgot SOG

    SOG also has some great tools… but they are bulky and big and the geared teeth always seem to be digging into something (mostly me.) They also don’t have a blade that opens one handed and thus gets passed up for my Wave. They would be my second choice after the Leatherman.

  15. I used to carry a Leatherman Wave until my wife stole it. LOL 🙂 Right now my daily carry is an old Gerber MPT (Military Provisional Tool) which looks like a classic Leatherman, but is black and has more rounded handles. I recently examined a Gerber “Sportsman” Multi-Plier that was on clearance at Wal-Mart, but didn’t like the way it felt. When I buy the next multi-tool it’ll probably be another Leatherman Wave, or one of the other newer Leatherman models (The titanium one is kind of cool despite the price).

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