Multitool ... need a new one ...

[brad9798]

What say ye about the best brand/style? I am talking multitool, as in pliers, knife, drivers, etc., etc ...

[coelacanth2]

I' e had Leathermen, Gerber, victorinox and vicegrip. All have been good. The SOG with the gear drive force multiplier (pun intended) looks interesting. I sseem to keep collecting Leathermen though and one is almost 20 years old.

[Paul Pless]

I've tried Leathermen, Gerber, victorinox and vicegrip. They all suck. . .

[Peter Malcolm Jardine]

Just hang around the bilge, there are several here who fit that description.

[Meli]

I've tried Leathermen, Gerber, victorinox and vicegrip. They all suck. . .

What he said.
Get proper tools or don't bother.

[Hwyl]

My top of the line Gerber is horrible, thinking of going with Leatherman next Tempted by one of those leather pouches with a rigging knife, vice grip and spike, except I'd replace the knife with a ceramic one. Not sure how homeland security would like it.

I've had three multitools go missing from checked luggage.

[Waddie]

Leatherman will fix a broken one for you no questions asked. I carry one on my motorcycle and one on my boat. Small and handy.

regards,
Waddie

[Meli]

I take it that by multi tool, you mean like the swiss army knife type of thing?
Whereas It's handy to have a couple of small knives on one handle, I find that the little pliers and screwdrivers and things are pretty useless. Not because the quality is bad but the weight of the "handle" with all those other bits in it, puts it all out of balance and one inevitably drops it in the drink if it's a "fishing" model, or barks ones knuckles whatever you're trying to unscrew or break your nails trying to get the tool out.

OTOH the little ones with scissors and tweezers and a nail file are handy to keep in your handbag

[David G]

I' e had Leathermen, Gerber, victorinox and vicegrip. All have been good. The SOG with the gear drive force multiplier (pun intended) looks interesting. I sseem to keep collecting Leathermen though and one is almost 20 years old.

I owned several early varieties. Lost, stolen, or given away. The one I kept was that SOG. It's a bulky thing, and I carry it in the leather belt pouch - whenever I'm camping or boating. It's a lot of utility in a smallish package. Impressive build quality. Rugged, yet precise.

Otherwise, I make do with a pocketknife... and the toolkit I carry in the truck. Or... I'm in the shop with a full complement of tools, and the multi-tool is a poor replacement.

[Bob Cleek]

I do well enough with a Leatherman Wave.

[brad9798]

Okay, thanks, Bob Cleek!

Others do not need to worry about 'other' tools ... I have just about everything ... including those specialty tools that others wish they had ...

THIS is NOT a thread about tools I SHOULD have ... it is about a handy, pocket tool that can sometimes save a BIT of time when one does NOT have of one's tools ...

So RELAX!!!

[James River Rat]

I do well enough with a Leatherman Wave.

Agreed. Daily on my right hip in a leather pouch. Feel naked without it.

Sent from my Kindle Fire

[seanz]

Leatherman Skeletool. I bought one a few months ago and it lives in my coat pocket with a LED torch on a lanyard. I've used it more in a few months than I've used my Leatherman Wave in 10 years.
Very light......I'm expecting to break it eventually.....but while it lasts, I'm very happy with it. Pliers, serrated knife, screwdriver, bottle opener. What more does a bloke need?

[skuthorp]

I have a Leatherman wrapped in oilskin in my boat(s) kit. Has been handy several times with steering wires on the kayak and a loose rudder bolt on the Mac. etc. Also for retrieving oysters from the rocks around the bay

[Stiletto]

I have what is jokingly referred to as a Taiwanese Army Knife.

[Bill R]

Leatherman Wave, hands down. Possibly its bigger brother the Surge. I have both, love both.

[brad9798]

Thanks, folks!

B

[Dumah]

Leatherman Wave and a Minimag in one pouch on my belt, like American Express, don't leave home without it.

Cheers, Dumah,
Halifax, NS

[Steve McMahon]

I have a Leatherman wave, love it but put it in my desk drawer when I came across an old stock leatherman sideclip. I allready carry a cellphone and a pager on my belt so it's kind of nice that the sideclip slips into your pocket, but not all the way down. Barely a day goes by that I don't use the thing. Even after years of abuse the needle nose pliers are better than my high end klein purpose ones. The philips driver is also up there with the best. I ground the small flat driver to fit a #2 robertson which is the most common screw in my world.

[htom]

SOG Paratool. One of the first. These days, it's a minimalist, and my daily carry.

I received a Victoronix Swiss Tool as a gift; very good tool but too heavy to carry.
The Kershaw A100 (?) with the vice-grip pliers is a great but too heavy to carry tool.

SOG PowerLock (there are several) are good, large.

The SOG PowerDuo is very new and I haven't seen it in person, but it looks like what I really want.

[Joe ( Cold Spring on Hudson )]

[Jimmy W]

I carry an old SOG Paratool also. It is a pretty well made tool, but I have to tighten up the bolts holding it together every now and then.

[David G]

Here's the SOG PowerLock I carry in the belt pouch. I've used it hard, and beyond what it was designed for. I've used it as a hammer and a pry-bar. It's held up beautifully. It is a lump of metal, though. Wouldn't try and carry it in my pocket - or even on my belt for everyday.

[brad9798]

Uh .. okay, David!

[skipper68]

ME TOO. Tall, with white hair and a beard,...OOPS Wrong thread.

[seanz]

So now I've got to get an iphone?

Oh, the embarrassment.

[pipefitter]

I've tried Leathermen, Gerber, victorinox and vicegrip. They all suck. . .

Agreed.

Someone always gets me one, or their generic equivalents for B-day or other gifting holidays. I have a collection now. You would think that being that I am known for having a mechanical, fishing and general handiwork background for the last 35 years, that they might figure this isn't something that exists that I am unaware of. I know it's the thought that counts and I do appreciate that, but seriously.

Then again, I find vise-grip pliers themselves just about useless compared to my 6" rigid pipe wrench for getting busted screws/bolts out. Except for their locking (r11's/r6's) framing clamps, which I would gladly accept a new set to add to my collection at any given time.

[Meli]

Well if you blokes would be happy with a bunch of flowers and a box of choccies there wouldn't be a problem would there and a few less black balloons
I hate buying presents for blokes, all you really want is a... no I wont go there

[doorstop]

Hey Meli, t'was me birfdee fridee and guess what I didn't get.......