Multitool recommendation

[SuzukiGS750EZ]

Hey guys. I currently carry the newest iteration of the leatherman charge tti (not the + version though). I also own a victorinox swisstool and a leatherman 300. I have previously owned a leatherman wave as well as a buck bucktool.

I'm looking to buy either a victorinox swisstool x or the swisstool spirit x. I like having scissors. The swisstool spirit x is in my sights currently. So here are a few questions if you own either or both.

How do the pliers compare? The spirit looks to have a more traditional needlenose. Are the cutters as hard?

What's the size difference between thre Phillips drivers? I know with my swisstool there aren't many recessed holes it can get into for say a toy or appliance.

Are the scissors on one better than the other? The swisstool x looks to have the more traditional looking swiss army knife style scissors.

 

[zachzach]

I know you are asking about the Swisstool but I personally will stick with leatherman. Simply because they are the best multi-tool I have used, I have one pair and at this rate I don’t think I will ever have to buy another pair. But if you like collecting multi-tools then it seems like the spirit x is the only one mentioned that you don’t own so that seems like an easy choice to me.


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[M6erfan]

What are you using it for?

 

[gtae07]

I have a Leatherman Wingman and really like it. The pocket clip is great.

 

[SuzukiGS750EZ]

What are you using it for?

I usually use it for cutting fishing line. Cutting and stripping solid or stranded wire in a pinch. The Phillips i use all around the house. Loosening the occasional nut in a pinch. Adjusting gun scopes. Cutting zip ties. The usual stuff. I need a better Phillips, the leatherman one only does surface stuff. I like thre one hand opening on my tti though. I'm curious how the swisstool compares to the spirit in terms of tool sizes, power design and strength of the plier head. In regards to the plier head strength, swisstool has the leatherman beat by a landslide

 

[Adk Mike]

I wear a PST 11 from 2001. It’s the original with scissors. I spent more than it’s worth for a new handmade case. I have others but I like the original because it’s light weight and i’m Use to it.

 

[Dave455]

Well firstly, good choice!

If you’re buying a serious multitool the only real contenders are the better Leathermans and the Victorinox. Incidentally, choosing between the two, I’ve found both have decent pliers. I love the Leathermans that offer interchangeable bits, and replaceable cutters, but in all other respects the tools on the Victorinox are superior! The knife blades, in particular, are much better ground on the Victorinox, and their tin opener can’t be bettered!

I have a full size Swisstool (the old one with the curved ‘rescue’ blade) and a Spirit, and hardly ever use the full size Swisstool - it’s beautifully made, but too big and heavy for most uses. The spirit, on the other hand, is the only multitool I use now. Little bigger than a decent jack knife, all the functions of a Swiss Army Knife, with pliers as well!

As to the differences, the pliers are basically similar style, and differ only in size. The cutters are just as hard, and in fact all the tools are of comparable quality so have no concerns.

Bear in mind, that things like cutters on these multitools, are never in the same league as a proper tool.

Here’s a ‘wild card’ for you to consider - instead of a multitool buy a decent pocket knife with a tin opener etc (Victorinox Pioneer maybe, or perhaps the new a Pioneer X with scissors) a decent but compact bit driver (Snap On or PB Swiss) and a small but decent pair of snipe nose pliers. Even if you buy really decent quality you will be looking at no more cost than a Swisstool, no more weight, little more bulk, but a lot more useability!

I fly for a living, spent many years flying older aeroplanes, and that was what I did. I got a pair of chrome plated pliers so had no corrosion issues, and a Snap On bit driver. Both lived in a bit of rag in my briefcase and the knife was always on my person.

Don’t need those tools so much now, but I still tend to pick ‘em up in preference to a multitool! If you use the Phillips driver on recessed screws even a proper bit driver won’t fit. Consider an ‘interchangeable blade’ driver. PB Swiss have just introduced a miniature one (can’t remember what they call it) that might be just what you need!

Edit - the miniature PB Swiss driver is the Insider Mini No.169. No bigger than a pen, well, one of my pens anyway!

 

[M6erfan]

I usually use it for cutting fishing line. Cutting and stripping solid or stranded wire in a pinch. The Phillips i use all around the house. Loosening the occasional nut in a pinch. Adjusting gun scopes. Cutting zip ties. The usual stuff. I need a better Phillips, the leatherman one only does surface stuff. I like thre one hand opening on my tti though. I'm curious how the swisstool compares to the spirit in terms of tool sizes, power design and strength of the plier head. In regards to the plier head strength, swisstool has the leatherman beat by a landslide

My input is skip the multitool all together. I mean, when you're around the house, go get a proper screwdriver, pliers, wrench from the drawer...

For fishing I have a pair of either trauma shears or lately I've been using Engineer PH-55 scissors, and a small needle nose with integrated wire cutter in my tackle bag.

Gun scopes; I keep the proper sized Torx driver in my range bag, and one in my tool box.

Look, I know this is about multitools and you obviously are a big fan of them, but I'm not. To me they kinda do a halfway decent job at everything and a great job at nothing. Plus I've found the majority of them uncomfortable to use with any leverage.

I do own a Leatherman multitool, but it only goes with me if I am traveling somewhere remote. Can't remember the last time I actually used it. I just prefer the full sized proper tool if I have a choice...

 

[Outlander]

Leatherman, spend the next 12 hours of your life comparing configurations and prices.

 

[SuzukiGS750EZ]

My input is skip the multitool all together. I mean, when you're around the house, go get a proper screwdriver, pliers, wrench from the drawer...

For fishing I have a pair of either trauma shears or lately I've been using Engineer PH-55 scissors, and a small needle nose with integrated wire cutter in my tackle bag.

Gun scopes; I keep the proper sized Torx driver in my range bag, and one in my tool box.

Look, I know this is about multitools and you obviously are a big fan of them, but I'm not. To me they kinda do a halfway decent job at everything and a great job at nothing. Plus I've found the majority of them uncomfortable to use with any leverage.

I do own a Leatherman multitool, but it only goes with me if I am traveling somewhere remote. Can't remember the last time I actually used it. I just prefer the full sized proper tool if I have a choice...

I agree on all points. By around the house I more so meant my girlfriends moms house, etc. I have plenty of expensive tools to use lol. I keep a multi tool in hand in case I need to disassemble a reel, cut ounce, remove/ cut a hook. Saltwater fishing I carry a dedicated tool. On a day to day I carry a spyderco military with carbon fiber/ titanium scales. The days I don't have it I'm carrying the tti. I have plenty of SAK's as well. I like the multi tool for a backup. Or a grab and go. It's bout daily carried. They've saved my **** plenty of times. The reason I'm looking elsewhere is because the leatherman pliers when I've needed them leave something to be desired in terms of grip strength, due to short handles and a thinner head. The phillips holder only does surface mount (I have the extension/ bit kit too) and the knife... *****. I also have seen leatherman drivers chip and twist, didn't experience that with my swisstool. I just don't know if the spirit is worth it over the full size. I've never handled one nor seen one around here. If the phillips driver fits into recessed areas better I'm all for it. But the full size does have a nice large flat head.

 

[Professional Tool User]

Based on brand, probably Leatherman. Leatherman multi tools just has a fine tuned feel to it. But one annoying weakness that is common to both my Leatherman PST and Gerber MP600 is that the teeth on the jaws are not properly hardened.

 

[anndel]

Responded to your earlier post that didn't have any text. I have and use the Leatherman Surge, Gerber Center Drive and Victorinox Champ.

 

[WWheeler]

I saw the thread title and was going to recommend the Dewalt DWE315. Bosch Starlock or Fein MultiMaster are also good, but .... this thread is about none of those. Sorry.

I will say I was given a Leatherman ~30 years ago as a gift. It was on my Xmas wish list at the time. I should still have it.... somewhere - I think with our camping gear ... but haven't used it outside of a few times. For me it was handy to have the few times I needed it but overall very underwhelming compared to having any of the actual tools. I carried it on my belt originally but never used it and found it got in the way quite a bit so before long it found its way to the glovebox in the worktruck for the next ~10 yrs and never used it once. I'd forget I even had it until each time we sold a truck and it found it's way into the glovebox of the next. I did take it with me on a couple trips to Central America for Habitat for Humanity (we helped build a handful of homes in Nicaragua and Honduras ~2000-ish) and it did prove useful a few times while we were there making do with none of the proper tools for the job. Then we took it camping with us a few times since as it seemed like it might come in handy for that but not sure any of us used it once on any of those trips.

TLDR: I've relegated it and the like to gimmick-tool status.

 

[SuzukiGS750EZ]

Responded to your earlier post that didn't have any text. I have and use the Leatherman Surge, Gerber Center Drive and Victorinox Champ.

I had a surge, was too big for me. I kept it in the car and someone stole it... hopefully they liked it.

 

[Bottlecapdigger]

For me it was the leatherman, I have the charge my son has the wave. I find I use the knife about 3/4 of the time and leatherman has the knife blades on the outside and easy to flip out with one hand. The Gerber I had one needs to open the pliers first to get at the pliers. Not sure about the swiss models. Also they claim that the leatherman is still made in USA. BCD

 

[anndel]

I had a surge, was too big for me. I kept it in the car and someone stole it... hopefully they liked it.

I had 2 Waves before the Surge. 1. someone stole it from my car, 2. I forgot to take it out of my backpack and TSA took it away from me.

When I was wearing cargo pants at a job I as at for 14 years I had the Champ in the pocket normally for a pistol magazine as it was a magazine pocket. At my new job I have to wear slacks so I don't carry the Champ or my EDC knife.

 

[RedF]

I like my Leatherman Surge, I carry it just about everywhere. Yes, it is not as functional as individual purpose built tools, but the tool you have beats the one you don't.

 

[SuzukiGS750EZ]

I ordered the swisstool spirit x w/ ratchet, extensions, bits, corkscrew, eyeglasses driver and leather sheath for $135!

 

[6PTsocket]

I have two versions of the Leatherman 200 that I used for over 20 years at work. One even has a home made sheath that I made when the original wore out. They now live in the kitchen drawer. I have more purpose built tools for all the Leatherman functions but in many cases the Leatherman is adequate for the job and saves a trip to the garage or basement shop. I also have a couple of the little keychain Leatherman Micra that are on my and my wife's keychains. The scissors in that tool are excellent and knife is great for opening packages and the impenetrable blister packs.

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[Zapp Branigan]

I've been pretty happy with Gerber multi tools. The handles are revered to keep the tools inside so they aren't digging into your hand, the pliers open with one hand and all the blades lock.

 

[rossomania]

I carried a Leatherman for work for many years, but my personal EDC tools have always been Victorinox. That Swisstool spirit sounds like a solid choice!

On a side note: This thread got me to go check out the victorinox website. And while there, I noticed the Swisstool CS Plus uses a "clés à pipes" for it's hex driver. I know they are common in europe, but man, it's funky looking!

 

[HFlashman]

A couple of observations:

One, having owned and used a Wave for many years, the quality is very good and the tool versatile. It is a great general purpose all around tool especially with the assorted optional “half bits”—not as good as real bits but good enough for most applications. However, the overall tool fit is tight and for anything other than occasional use (which is its intended purpose), it can be tiresome. The first time I used the Wave extensively was last year in four wildlife/riparian projects in Eastern Oregon. The Wave gummed up easily with fine sand/dust and virtually locked up when wet after it was dirty. The tolerances were just too fine. It was also impossible to deploy the pliers one handed which made it cumbersome. The lack of spring action – automatically reopening the pliers when the grip was loosened – made it difficult when cutting multiple strands of panel fence, sometimes 20 to 25 cuts at a time. It wasn’t the best or primary tool on the projects but the most convenient when sharing tools limited by trekking off road for a couple of miles to the job site.

Two, I recently acquired one of new Gerber (600’s?) that is definitely less tight fitting which may help when clogged with sand but also to clean. It is one hand deployable. It has a swing arm for full sized bits that deploys to the direct center of the tool for better leverage and easier use. There is an optional bit holder and bits (I had to find M4 to M6 hex bits since the Gerber was all SAE). The pliers are spring tensioned so it is not necessary to open after cutting wire, they just spring open. I like the shape of the needle nose pliers and the cutting surface is replaceable but also has three sides which can be rotated in the field as they become dull. It is heavy, a bit too big and cumbersome. It has a lot of upsides but it remains to be seen how it will fare in the conditions noted above in last year’s wildlife projects.

Three, a retired SOF SgtMaj had written how much he liked the Wave and it was with him on multiple overseas assignments. After several years of civilian life, he discovered the Leatherman Skeletool, which he indicates he now carries full time. It is essentially foldable needle nose pliers/wire cutters, an easy deployable knife blade and bits for phillips and standard screwdriver bits. It is flat, light and clips to a pocket. I wasn’t very interested but acquired one through my former employer who had an incentive program with “rewards” most of which did not interest me but had to get something or loose it since I was leaving. The one I was sent has the 154cm knife blade. It took awhile for me to use to it, or even carry it, but now that I have for nearly one year, I am absolute sold on it. Although I still carry and will carry a pocket knife, the Skeletool as supplemented most of its use. The blade is very sharp and touchs up very easily on a leather stroup.

 

[mr.lemons]

In my experience leatherman multi tools are fun but snap when you really need them. Functionally they are more delicate than even the cheapest chinese tools. I know it's sad to admit because they are so nice but it's true.

 

[SuzukiGS750EZ]

Got this today

 

[Bighead38]

In my experience leatherman multi tools are fun but snap when you really need them. Functionally they are more delicate than even the cheapest chinese tools. I know it's sad to admit because they are so nice but it's true.

10+ years for me carrying one and 20+ for my old man. Definitely not true on higher models. Maybe the cheaper ones but even that I doubt with the warranty they provide.

 

[mr.lemons]

10+ years for me carrying one and 20+ for my old man. Definitely not true on higher models. Maybe the cheaper ones but even that I doubt with the warranty they provide.

I used to buy/sell them so tried them all apart from some of the more rare collectable ones. Got sick of sending them for warranty repairs. Sorry that's my experience with them.

 

[Bighead38]

I used to buy/sell them so tried them all apart from some of the more rare collectable ones. Got sick of sending them for warranty repairs. Sorry that's my experience with them.

WTH were you doing to them?

 

[mr.lemons]

Nothing out of the ordinary. The large slotted driver that is on the charge, fuse, wave, blast was the worst culprit. If it slips a little off a screw they just snap and they cannot be used for any prying which is the second most important function of a slotted driver The warranty service is very good though.

 

[SuzukiGS750EZ]

Nothing out of the ordinary. The large slotted driver that is on the charge, fuse, wave, blast was the worst culprit. If it slips a little off a screw they just snap and they cannot be used for any prying which is the second most important function of a slotted driver The warranty service is very good though.

Yes, you can feel those drivers twist as you use them.

 

[SuzukiGS750EZ]

Well, for anybody interested I can say the spirit is worth the purchase. Same length as the charge tti, more tools, stronger pliers, lighter and overall better built. The ratchet kit I got with it I've used many times already and makes the kit just that much better