I really need a multi-tool

[jd_1138]

I was over at a lady pal's house yesterday helping her out after work. I needed to remove the globe from an outside light fixture to remove the water and dead bugs in it. It still works though.

I was in my wife's car (thus no portable box of tools), and I checked in my friend's shed and garage. There's like a gazillion odds and ends in the shed and garage but NO pliers of any kind. Might've been a pair in the house, but she wasn't home and the place was locked up.

I ordered an el cheapo off brand multi-tool off ebay -- the type with the pliers at the end, some screwdrivers, a knife, bottle opener, scissors. $5 shipped. And it comes with a pouch with a belt loop. I am going to wear it everyday after I get it. Well until it pisses me off, and I buy a better one. This one was only $2.50 from Cripe's ebay store.

I need to put together a small tool kit to keep in her CRV. There's a pocket knife, a screwdriver handle with bits, tape measure in there. I need to add a few odds and ends to it.

 

[Codejack]

I used to carry one when I worked as a process tech in a chemical plant; yea, I can walk back to the office every time I need a screwdriver or pliers, or I could put one of those on my belt and save myself the 1/2-mile walk.

Since then, it hasn't done much, but handy to have around.

 

[rlitman]

While I normally keep a Leatherman Charge on my belt, I have a Leatherman Wingman in my car. The Charge is pretty expensive, and not worth it if you're not going to use it on a regular basis. The Wingman however is a GREAT value in a multitool. Pretty damn good quality, considering the reasonable price.

 

[Richard Cranium]

I too like Leatherman, made in Oregon with a 25 year warrantee.

 

[pelletman]

I'm a Leatherman Wave fan

 

[Gmonkee]

I had a Leatherman when they only had one nodel. Quite nice a tool to keep around.
A good friend thought the same and convinced me to give it to him.

I have the Stanley mini unit now and barely carry it. Its nice but there just isn't that much I did with it how the house, shop and my backpack all have some tools never far away.

My lady has one that has never seen the light of day since getting it. She says she knows where it is.
But the keyring screwdrivers I slipped on her keys are well used years later. It was just a matter of what fits the uses more.

 

[gdocktor3]

I bought a Husky multi tool once and broke it after using it maybe 2-3 times. Since then I've had a Leatherman Surge and beat the **** out of it. I don't think you'll find a better multitool. Most of the components are replaceable too which is nice. Screwdriver tips, blades, files, etc can all be replaced.

 

[larry4406]

I have a Gerber multi tool that I use daily. It was a gift. Several years later it broke. I paid shipping to/from and they fixed it no questions. Very pleased with them and it's function.

 

[jd_1138]

Hmmm, yeah the Leathermans look nice -- especially in black oxide. I prefer using real tools, but when you're away from the tools something like this can come in real handy.

 

[65k10]

I'm a big fan of the SuperTool 300. It along with it's very similar predecessor the Leatherman Core have held up great to daily use by me on the ranch. The plier shape is actually about perfect for putting on fence clips. I also like that the screwdrivers on it are long enough that you might have a chance at getting at recessed screws. I've also carried the Surge and the Wave and those are also very good tools in their own right, but the SuperTool 300 fit my requirements a little bit better.

https://www.leatherman.com/super-tool-300-2.html

 

[ex-x-fire]

What a muiti-tool really needs is a pry bar. That's how I break most blades/file is by prying with them.

 

[Cope]

I'm a big fan of the SuperTool 300. It along with it's very similar predecessor the Leatherman Core have held up great to daily use by me on the ranch. The plier shape is actually about perfect for putting on fence clips. I also like that the screwdrivers on it are long enough that you might have a chance at getting at recessed screws. I've also carried the Surge and the Wave and those are also very good tools in their own right, but the SuperTool 300 fit my requirements a little bit better.

https://www.leatherman.com/super-tool-300-2.html

I have the SuperTool, and it's a great tool. Looking at your link it seems they have discontinued the original model. That's a pity because everybody doesn't need a large tool on their belt.

 

[DetroitDIESEL444]

I have the swiss army multi tool and its great.

 

[65k10]

I have the SuperTool, and it's a great tool. Looking at your link it seems they have discontinued the original model. That's a pity because everybody doesn't need a large tool on their belt.

I collect multitools and have a few original Supertools. I do like that they are still pretty solid while being smaller than the tools that replaced it. That could be said about most of the Leatherman line. The early tools were a great balance of size and features. The newer ones seems a bit tougher and a little more user friendly, but are bigger overall. It's a shame there is little financial incentive for Leatherman to make runs of the original Supertool and PST since they had a lot of features in very compact packages.

 

[ilovevocs]

Put together a nice set of real tools for your daily driver and forget the multi tool.

I carry a knife, pen light, and a sharpie.

The multitool isn't really good at anything.


Unless your backpacking I find it useless. It's like a Swiss Army knife with pliers.

I carry one in my pack when I ride dirt bikes or snowmobile but it isnt a daily carry for me.

Easier ways to be more prepared IMHO.

 

[Brick Axelrod]

I work as a mechanic in a factory. I have all the tools I need and just recently started carrying a Leatherman Charge TTI. It is not a replacement for real tools but its f-ing awesome when your on a rooftop working on something and didn't bring that 1 extra tool. Or in the warehouse a mile away and need a pair of pliers to pull metal band out of a fork truck or do something quick. It saves a ton of time.

 

[tonyciambrone]

I bought that too. I love Cripe distributing but that is the worst thing I've bought from them. I thought it would be a good leave in the car, don't care about it type thing. it's pretty useless IMO. Leatherman Wingman I believe or Wave please. Black Oxide would be my last choice. I can't imagine it holds up over time and probably traps moisture and rust...

 

[Bobcat753]

I recently bought the Leatherman OHT. So far I am very impressed. Seems like a lot better build than the Super Tool 300 I had a few years ago.

 

[SweetD]

I'm a Leatherman Wave fan

Me too. Comes in handy, good quality, and not too expensive (eBay is your friend on these)...

 

[mbshop]

I have a leatherman with an adapter to use bits with it. Used it when I rode my motorcycle. It was used to reattach a fender on another bike and to reattach my
wind screen on my bmw. And many other little things.
I now carry a basic gerber I bought over 20 years ago. I just found an identical one for 12.00. The Leatherman was bought before my gerber. I would never be without one.

 

[Bighead38]

I carry a leatherman charge TTi everyday. I would be lost without it. You don't realize how often you use it until you don't have it one day.

 

[Attackcammel]

I like the sog power assist the pliers are great and it's nice not having to open the tool to get to the knife

 

[Finky198]

I have a Leatherman Squirt PS4 on my shop keys. Very handy little thing. I try to use it lightly the knife is razor sharp and the Scissors are excellent... pliers are ok. Can't go wrong with them as a whole I bought it 7+ years ago I broke the pliers. I can't recall on what, but it was very easy to warranty. I mailed it in waited 7-10 day for repair/replacement. I Received a brand new 1 in return. A quality Made in USA tool with a real guarantee produces repeat customers.

 

[justme-]

I used to have Gerber tools in my backpack and truck for emergency things and swore by them....still in there but unused for ages. I carry a Leatherman wave daily and use it all the time. Power equipment mechanic, and have plenty of tools but as someone else said it has saved me miles of walking back and forth from the lot to my box to get a tool I didn't bring, or handle the i need it now situation.

Wave is awesome to many because it is a good replacement for a pocket knife with the externally accessible blades, saw, file arrangement, and much.more usable than most other companies designs...Gerber,ckt,sog...

 

[dar24601]

I carry a leatherman juice daily and I have a victorinox swisstool in my glovebox. Both see regular use

 

[RedF]

I have a big toolbox at work that is very full, and I still carry and regularly use a leatherman surge.

 

[ewtoutdoors]

I have a Gerber Diesel. Has worked well for me, have a few Leatherman's lower ones and just as satisfied.

 

[T45]

Dont cheap out on a multi-tool, but a leatherman Wave or something similar.

Those tools are only worthwhile if they don't fail on you, and a cheap one will just give youa sens of overconfidence.

On the otherhand, unless you need it to fit in a pack of cigarettes, just get some real tools. A 160mm pliers and cutters and flip-bit screwdriver will fit in a sunglasses case size tool pack and can take alot of abuse.

For the $75 cost of a leatherman wave, you could buy snap-on talon grip 95CF, knipex 74 piano-wire cutters, and a flip bit screwdiver ($20 new)....if you are OK TO poke around the classifieds here or ebay.

Total weight is about a pound (450g vs 150g).

Good luck either way, I just have no faith using junk multi-tools.

Light? Good? Cheap? Pick 2 !

 

[gdocktor3]

What a muiti-tool really needs is a pry bar. That's how I break most blades/file is by prying with them.

Lets be realistic here. Pry bars are one solid piece. Instead of snapping in half like the blades, it would break at the folding point of the multi tool.

 

[victor252]

Another vote the Leatherman Wave. I have it in black oxide that I carried everyday on my belt for years. It's not the perfect tool for many situations but it is good enough for most situations.

It won't replace a real tool box but a complete set of Snap-On wrenches will never be useful for cutting wires, tightening a wood screw, pulling wires through a junction box, opening a bottle/can or cutting a loose thread. Meanwhile the Leatherman will still tighten many nuts 'good enough' until you can get a 'real' tool. It's also a lot less to carry around.

The worst part about about having it was that everyone always wanted to borrow it.

 

[KnurledNut]

What a muiti-tool really needs is a pry bar. That's how I break most blades/file is by prying with them.

The new Gerber Center-Drive has a mini pry bar.
Made in USA.
And uses standard 1/4 hex screwdriver bits.
I also like the replaceable carbide cutting edge design.

http://www.gerbergear.com/Multi-Tools/One-Hand-Opening/Center-Drive_30-001193

 

[GTO]

I'm a Leatherman Wave fan

 

[buffalobill]

No one has mentioned the Leatherman crunch!!! Locking pliers in a multitool! It's my favorite edc item ever. I carry that, a pair of 5wr vice grips, a lighter, and a space pen. I can fix a lot of stuff, between the 5wr's and the crunch.

 

[MikeF2316]

I've carried a Swiss Army knife since high school. It's handy for all sorts of things, but it would be better with pliers on it. (I know some models have pliers.) Best tool ever, when I was on a school ski trip in high school, the girls had wine but no corkscrew! It's easy to make friends with lots of girls when they have to come see you every time they want more wine!

 

[Gmonkee]

Leatherman is the handy man helped stuff. Gerber sometimes does it a bit better but sometimes not.

SOG seems to appeai to the soldier or soldier wannabe with the almost religious way the believers say which they have, or all they have from memory.

SOG (six numbers and macho name) just seems so ......... wow factor to say more than Wave or Juice.

But they all do the same base functions really. I bought a Stanley (forgettable number) so maybe my commando dreams are not high on the list. The other I gave to my boss was a nice little Mikel's bauble he uses to fix his glasses mostly.

Funny how we relate to those tools. I see them as utilitarian at best.

 

[anurag1990]

I have a leatherman rebar. Its really useful for me.

 

[Two Speed]

I collect multitools and have a few original Supertools. I do like that they are still pretty solid while being smaller than the tools that replaced it. That could be said about most of the Leatherman line. The early tools were a great balance of size and features. The newer ones seems a bit tougher and a little more user friendly, but are bigger overall. It's a shame there is little financial incentive for Leatherman to make runs of the original Supertool and PST since they had a lot of features in very compact packages.

Hear Hear! I have looked at newer multitools, and their ridiculous size turns me off. I carry a PST daily, and have for years, I use it frequently. Just the right size for daily carry.

Alex.

 

[CJM8515]

I like the leatherman wave the best. If you want a prybar https://countycomm.com/collections/...nium-widgy-bar-multi-pack?variant=27435574534

 

[Bighead38]

Hear Hear! I have looked at newer multitools, and their ridiculous size turns me off. I carry a PST daily, and have for years, I use it frequently. Just the right size for daily carry.

Alex.

I have the leatherman charge TTi with a pocket clip. After a day or two you do t even notice it there. Size and weight are not an issue imo. People always bring it up but it's not much bigger or heavier than a knife. Seriously after carrying it for a couple days it just disappears. If your not convinced look at a light weight tool like the leatherman skeletool. I might have the spelling of the name wrong. Leatherman makes enough multi tools that I believe there is an option for everyone.

Don't get a cheap multi tool. It won't work well but more importantly it will just piss you off and turn you away from multi tools. A well engineered multi tool is worth its weight in gold imo.

 

[gregg.austin50]

My only argument for a cheap tool is if it's your first and have no idea what your real needs are. Figure that out, then spend the money ob quality. IMO

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