You don't need to be an 'investor' to invest in Singletrack: 6 days left: 95% of target - Find out more
Does anybody use one?
What do you recommend?
Depends what you want to do with it. I use a surge as a general cutting and grabbing. A crunch for the mole grips and hex bit driver.
I have a Skeletool RX
It has been used in a couple of rescue situations......... and million beer opening/cheese slicing/ikea building/bike bodging events.
Its always with me except at airports.....that only happens once.
Its several years old and looks like new
I need it for work, general jobbing stuff.
Pliers would be handy, sharp knife a bonus, screwdriver and Allen keys too.
Was thinking about a Wave.
I’m on my second wave. First one is at Berlin airport...
Everything on it individually would be bettered by a dedicated tool but It’s pretty handy and it lives in my work bag.
Wave (must be around 10 years old now). Still like new except that the end of the scissors handle has snapped off making them unusable. Keep thinking about replacing it with a new one because of that, but I'm kind of attached to it now...
A salient point re airports. Check it in!
Wave here. Use it all the time, and it’s the first thing I pack when going on holiday.
Great warranty too- I snapped a screwdriver on a Pulse undoing a bolt in -10 temps. Sent it back to leatherman who replaced it with a Wave foc
Also made the airport mistake but an incredibly helpful security chap walked me to the checkin desk and let me check in my hand luggage as hold with the leatherman so I didn’t have to leave it! A few years ago mind, doubt they’d do that now.
I've got two, the Signal and an old wave. Both brilliant, the wave is well travelled, been used in anger more times than I care to remember and still going strong.
To be honest, you can't go wrong with any Leatherman.
Gerber suspension any day over my leatherman. Being able to get the blades and tools out without fully opening up the tool is a major advantage.
I use my Wingman at work ever day.
Also have a Skeletool in my bike kit. The screwdriver holder wouldn't hold on my first one, so it was replaced under warranty.
I used to have a Charge tti, which I stupidly left in the wrong bag on a return airport trip a few years ago 🙄 it was duly confiscated!
I've recently bought a new Charge + tti, with some bit kits etc.
For me though, 90% of the time, I drive round with a van full of tools, so the Leatherman is more of a vanity/occasional convenience tool
I also bought a LM Style CS the other day as a keyring multi tool - it's got a little blade and awl, but the scissors are better than the Charge - no point buying a micro tool with pliers
Keep thinking about replacing it with a new one because of that, but I’m kind of attached to it now…
I’d get it fixed or fix it myself. link to some scissors
A
Time for some odd tinkering?
Malvern Rider
I’d get it fixed or fix it myself. link to some scissors
btw these are compelling:/blockquote>
Off the back of this thread have dropped Leatherman UK an email. Might well have a DIY crack if they can't help.
I'd be pretty bummed if I had to get rid of that wave. Got a lot of tour memories attached to it.
Funny, it was always the blokes with Gerbers that usually wound up borrowing the Leatherman...
Original PST. It’s 20 years old and I’ll probably take it to my grave. Have a more recent one too, but the PST lives in THE kitchen draw everyone has, ready for action. I use it several times a week.
I’ve a Gerber Suspension & a Leatherman Kick
The Leatherman is just a better product, better made, higher quality tools and nicer to use. Love mine and use it all the time.
Have a look at the Victorinox Spirit X.
My Leatherman Wave is on permaholiday at Palma airport ☹️
I have a couple of Gerber Suspensions (1 in the car and 1 with my skiing kit) which are 95% as useful and only 30% of the price.
I've got a 10 year old Rebar in black that still looks brand new. I prefer the blocky, retro look to the new curvy ones and it's a solid bit of kit.
It's been in my bag or on my bike for almost every single ride in that time.
Leatherman Wave and Gerber Suspension here, my problem is that we're not allowed open blades at work only safety blades. Can anyone suggest a usable multi tool with pliers and the usual tools without an open blade?
Have several multitools from Gerber, Leatherman and Victorinox. Nice things to have but I personally don't find them that useful. Mainly used for opening packaging, although my cheapy Gerber Octane is very useful for fishing.
Gerber suspension in daily use here for the last 2 years, happy with it
Argh, now I want a wave. I've always been put off by the screwdrivers being too painful to use but I see there is an extension available 🙁
I have a few - mini, micra, p4, s4, ps4, xe6, skeletool, wave
I like Multitools, have a couple of victorinox swisstools too, plus a gerber
Ps4 gets carried everywhere, it's on my keys. Mini is in my commuting bag, sadly no longer made. Skeletool or wave gets carried on my MTB. Juice xe6 or a SAK often in my rucksack
I find Gerber better than Leather man but it seems to vary by model.
Wave user here . My PST is also in the bin at LGW , my fault as I had 2 and packed one in my hold bag then the x-ray machine spotted my 'spare' in the end compartment of my carry on. No time to queue up for 2nd bag check in.
Snapped one of the blades , but its a good tool . The locking mechansim is simple and clever and stops your cutting off your own fingers
I have a Pulse which is at least 15 years old, well used and abused but looks as good as new. I also have a Squirt which lives in my bike bag. I do have a bike multitool too, but I carry the Squirt for the pliers and because it's tiny and weighs next to nowt.
Leathermen not Leathermans surely?!
I’ve got an original wave still in use. Must be almost 25 yrs old and still in good nick. Been useful loads of times. Even survives salt water occasionally with a rinse now and again.
Edit - new wave looks good. The screwdrivers were always a bit of a compromise on the original. Looks like the pliers head locks too?
Do the knife blades still lock given the recent uk law changes?
Leathermans surely?!
No, actually. Leatherman is the surname of the inventor.
If travelling, nothing with a flat blades screwdriver is allowed. Nor a blade. You are allowed to go back out and check in hand luggage if you have time. There is a also a postal service offered at Heathrow that isn’t cheap. Son2 is a security officer at T2 whilst he saves for flying school.
I bought a Wave Plus a couple of years ago. It is solidly built and usually my go to for little jobs. I think the rrp is around 130 quid but I paid less than 100 on some pre Christmas deal at what was then our local Blacks camping shop. If you need one for hiking or biking though then I would look at one of the lighter models because the wave is quite heavy.
Leathermans just sounds wrong!
Does anyone use a Wingman?
I had a smallish purple-anodised Leatherman something-or-other which got nicked by a light-fingered baggage handler in the Philippines. Was good up to that point.
Replaced it with a Wave - probably twelve years ago now - which is rock solid. It gets used for all sorts of odd jobs, usually in ways it's not designed for like using the knife blade to prise things open, or using the insanely sharp scissors as a combined digging tool/tweezers to remove splinters, or using the whole, closed tool as a hammer. It just works, and works well.
I just had the knife sharpened - on a market stall by an ancient bloke with a massive beard and blue overalls, using a belt sander contraption that looked like it'd have your finger off as soon as look at it - and now it's so sharp I feel like Death, having just sharpened my scythe on the first rays of dawn light...
So basically, buy a Wave.
I have a Leatherman Style PS which is quite small but has proved useful on cycling trips. Has mini pliers which I've used to pull small thorns from a punctured tyre. Pliers also good enough to grip/pull/cut gear cable. Also has clip which allows it to attach to loop on rucksack so quite handy. Nice supplementary tool to Topeak Hexus.
My little tool collection. Leatherman Charge+ tti, Leatherman Style CS keychain tool, Gerber Pocket Square knife
[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49403290842_37c1c32257_k.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49403290842_37c1c32257_k.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2igAMbA ]2020-01-18_11-05-57[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/85252658@N05/ ]davetheblade[/url], on Flickr
If travelling, no blade over 6cm in hand luggage. That rules out my PST. Also it’s based on profiling, so you’ll get asked why you need it? Screwdrivers on the tool are ok, stand-alone are not. My juice would be allowed.
I think there are two pretty useful options to choose from: a Wave or a Skeletool.
The Skeletool is quite basic, but is small, light, and easy to carry everywhere. The Wave is noticeably bigger and heavier, but has pretty much everything you'll need. Frankly, if the tool you need isn't on a Wave you should probably be carrying a toolbox instead.
I carried one or the other with me everywhere for the 10 years I lived in Thailand, where they were remarkably useful. I bought Waves for a couple of my Thai friends when I left, as they were always so impressed with them.
Back in the UK I kept a Skeltool in the bottom of my bag until the day I visited the Science museum. When I entered they asked if I had a knife; thinking nothing of it I showed them the tool, which they confiscated from me, then called the police.
The police told me I could have been arrested for possession of an offensive weapon*, that they were confiscating it and I could not claim it back. Funnily, they couldn't close the blade and had to give it to me so I could show them how.
Anyway, be careful what you choose, as it can get you into a bit of trouble. I believe there is a Gerber multi-tool that has only small, unlock able blades, which is theoretically UK legal. Hang on, here's an Amazon link:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00KYO627M/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&linkCode=gs2&linkId=4a77b9965137c3e1e4d211209cb15fdb&creativeASIN=B00KYO627M&tag=bluespennies-21&creative=9325&camp=1789
It looks a bit awkward to carry with that pointy end, but is probably your best bet if you're UK based. I might even get one myself.
*I find this amusing, as it takes a fair time to get open and lock the blade. I can't imagine any opponents politely waiting around while you get yourself ready. A screwdriver would be a much more effective weapon.
That's why I carry a leatherman juice, it's their equivalent of swiss army knife with non locking blades
Not a problem unless you're getting scanned as no one is every really going to check
Leathermans
My second favourite Village Person, after the Construction Worker.
I've an old Leatherman Fuse which is still like new despite years of abuse offshore.
Also have a Skeletool which lives in my walking/camping pack.
I had one Gerber years ago (don't remember which model) but the quality wasn't close to a Leatherman.
I like my Victorinox SwissTool in black, replace 2 Gerber Suspensions which I managed to break some how.... Victorinox is a lot nicer made tool if a bit expensive....
I wonder what happens to all these multi-tools that get confiscated at airports?
The world's airport security staff probably have a multi tool wars Instagram page.
Binned with everything else I’m afraid. Sorry. I do ask him “what’s he’s confiscated today?” When he finishes his shifts. Anyway, the 6cm is measured from the hinge which rules out most of the full sized tools.
I’ve got a Gerber Legend MP800, it’s my second, after I lost my first one when the small bag it was in with a power pack and cables fell out of my courier bag in the back of a car somewhere when I was a plater. 😢 I was particularly upset because it was a Christmas pressy from my mum.
I managed to get another from the States, ex-counter display model, saved me nearly £50. It has a number of features I particularly like, the cutter blades in the pliers are triangular tungsten carbide inserts held in by a Torx bolt, and can be rotated or replaced if they get worn or chipped. They’re the only thing I’ve found that’ll cut security wires some dealers put on car keys - I’ve tried heavy duty hard-wire cutters that just got dented, the Gerber chopped straight through.
The saw has a Remgrit multipurpose blade, but I’ve got a set of Black&Decker fit jigsaw blades from Wilkos that fit, so I can swap it out for longer blades than will fold into the handle for cutting larger items, which is handy - I carry those inside the belt sheath.
The new Leatherman FREE series look good, though not cheap:
https://www.maxim.com/gear/new-leatherman-free-2019-3
I have a Micra, received for my 18th birthday so fast approaching its warranty expiry. Also a Skeletool CX that gets used a lot, mainly blade and screwdrivers.
Finally, my main tool at home is an OHT, bought in the US for about £35. It’s heavy but the spring pliers and the accessibility of the tools is why I have it.
I wonder if there is not an opportunity for a pop up shop in either LGW or LHR to post back all the knives , perfume , and overweight bags to the homes of people who make the scholboy error of trying to carry on a bladed articles, have overpacked , or simply do not understand the fluids rules
Trouble is you would have to charge probably between £15 and £25 per delivery to cover wages , rent , postage and business rates, and then make no profit
If you lose stuff at the airport or on a plane that's exactly what they do. There's a business that collects it, files it and you can get it back - for a significant fee.
replace 2 Gerber Suspensions which I managed to break some how….
Gerber’s warentee is something ridiculous like 30 years. I emailed to as if I could buy a replacement screwdriver blade for my suspension as I’d chipped the corner off after 5 years. They just said post it in and replaced the whole thing
they’re too bulky in your pocket though so I use a sidekick now
I have a friend who worked with American SF in Afghanistan. He totally recommwndes the SOG multitool that was issued to the Americans. When i was lucky enough to visit the states i got a SOG Powerlock multitool, which seemed way better than Leatherman and i have been really really impressed with its quality.
Had my Leather an Charge Ti for 20 years now, seemed to be the best tool for decarbing rifles. It's always with me when on the bike now Nd has come to the rescue many many times.. I dread the day I forget its in some hand luggage!
After all that I think I'm going to go for a Swisstool.
Swiss stool is what happens at an airport when you eat too much toblerone.
I wonder if there is not an opportunity for a pop up shop in either LGW or LHR to post back all the knives , perfume , and overweight bags to the homes of people who make the scholboy error of trying to carry on a bladed articles, have overpacked , or simply do not understand the fluids rules
It’s already available. Not cheap though, so the default option is to bin it. Going out and checking in your luggage is always a better and cheaper option.
Biggest so far is a knife from a USM. About 12”. Guy said he’d just get another from supplies when he got back.
In Switzerland Victorinox used to have a shop post security in Geneva. Not sure if it’s there still. I still use my little white penknife too.
I've had one of these:
https://www.gerber-tools.com/Gerber-Multi-Plier-400-compact-sport-05500.htm
.. for about 25 years now and it's still going strong. It's been all over with me and did a lost and found gig on the Everest Base Camp trail back in 1999. Light enough to carry in a bike pack without fussing, has a good spread of tools including pliers, screwdrivers and scissor things that cut through pretty much everything. Stainless steel, well designed, easy to use.
I've never really felt the need to buy anything else and I'd probably just get the same again if I were to lose it.
Picked up a Skeletool CX (CX means a little bit of carbon - all steel are available) from Go Outdoors yesterday.
Their full list price - £110 (£129 on LM website), with discount £99, in the sale £74, because they couldn't find the box cost me £55 😊
It's basic though - blade, pliers, bottle opener and screwdriver bits x4 - I have all the bit sets separate though
That takes me to three LM multi-tools and a Gerber knife
On my second Wave, my first was in a bag that was nicked from my garage. Still angry about that.
I looked at the various options when I came to buy a new one and came to the conclusion the Wave was perfect for me.
It’s worth bearing in mind that most Leathermans have a locking blade and are therefore illegal to carry unless you have a good reason. If you have it whilst working, that is a good reason but if you have it on you afterwards because you forgot to take it out of your pocket or bag, that is not.
I have a PST which doesn’t lock so is okay to carry
Original PST. It’s 20 years old
That made me question how old my Mini is - it was given to me well before I got married, and that's 18 years ago. Been on my keyring ever since.
If you have it whilst working, that is a good reason but if you have it on you afterwards because you forgot to take it out of your pocket or bag, that is not.
Based on the amount of times I've been arrested and searched in nearly 50 years, I'm guessing I might get away with it.
Taking it to footy matches etc would be stupid (trying to get an a plane is also stupid, but I tried that - by mistake 😂) but I think in general everyday life I'll probably be ok
I've had a skeletool for around 15 years - sits in my guitar tool box for string changes and various other small chores - mostly useful
I've have a wenger snowboard knife which is still the most lovely well engineered thing - sadly not available for years now, must have had mine about 17 years
Which one has the best scissors? That's the tool I actually use most!
If you have it whilst working, that is a good reason but if you have it on you afterwards because you forgot to take it out of your pocket or bag, that is not.
as a 43yr old, white middle class male, i'd hazard a guess that would be considered a pretty good reason, unless of course I'd just stabbed someone..
Which one has the best scissors? That’s the tool I actually use most!
The scissors on the one I linked to above are great for stuff like cutting accessory cord, climbing tape, wire etc. Not ideal for paper and similar as the blades are quite short. I most use scissors for that sort of thing. Or the Swiss Army knife ones are okay.
I guess it depends on what you mean by 'best'. Those Gerber ones are good for cutting through hard to cut things ime.
I've got a Charge Ti and a Gerber Suspension.
The Charge has been used for everything from trail side repairs to minor dentistry over the 10 or so years I've had it. It could do with the blades being sharpened but other than that its in good shape.
The Gerber, I don't think I've ever used in anger, its basically brand new. Amazon were doing some daft offer and I got it for about £20. Its nice enough but compared to the Leatherman I don't like the way the tools lock and unlock, its very fiddly in comparison to the Leatherman.
IMO the main reasons to go for Gerber were more rapid access to pliers (how realistically urgent is that ever going to be?!) and the ability to open/unlock the knives without opening the tool, with one hand (which can be a problem sometimes)
Leatherman sorted the second issue about 10yrs ago so I really don’t see any reason to buy a Gerber now.
Is there no way to carry proper tools in your line of work OP? I'd far rather have the actual tools the likes of a leatherman has, they're a poor substitute in use.