Multi Tool Guide Weblog

Buck X-Tract multitool: one hand only

Buck is a well known knives manufacturer. They used to sell a multitool: the BuckTool. This model never did as well as the Leatherman and Gerber tools. Now, they are trying again with the X-Tract. This is a radically different multitool. It features only the basic tools: a pair of pliers, a knife, a normal and phillips screwdriver and (curiously) a can opener. The unique selling point is the fact that all the tools can be opened with one hand. I am sure most outdoor fans will instantly see how useful this is.

The X-Tract is featured in the Seattle Times: Small Tools to Keep You Safe

Tags: multitool review

Multitool.org reviews Leatherman Surge

In their usual style, with many high quality pictures, multitool.org gives a comprehensive review of the Leatherman Surge and compares it with the Wave. The Surge is a much heavier multitool than the Wave, which is a good thing, if heavy duty is what you need.

The conclusion: The Surge is a good heavy duty tool, but it does have a few drawbacks, the main one being that it rattles.

Multitool.org Leatherman Surge Review

Tags: multitool review leatherman

German videoblog compares Swisstool Spirit and Leatherman Wave

Two German Scouts demonstrate and compare the SwissTool Spirit and the Wave. Interesting, if you understand German.

Multitools video at YouTube

Tags: multitool review victorinox leatherman

Multitool.org user deems Multi-Plier 600 worst multi tool

Multitool.org forum user dunc5 says the Gerber Multi Plier 600 is the worst multi tool he owned:

the screws in the handles kept coming loose on both handles and the awl broke after trying to put a small hole in a thin bit of plastic , I've never bought another gerber product again

According to user damota the handle problem can be remedied as follows: Simply use Loctite on the threads when ever you loosen or tighten those threads.Can be applied with a pin so you do not need to strip the thing right down to do it.

What was your worst multitool

Tags: multitool review gerber

How to choose a multi tool for your girlfriend

A recurring topic in various knife and multi tool forums is What multi tool should I buy for my wife/girlfriend. Of course, any time you want to generalize about a group of people as large as 50% of the entire population, you will upset some people, but I still think the question is valid. In this article, I will discuss how to choose the best multitool for women who are not particularly interested in tools themselves. If you want to know how to choose a multi tool for your truck driver girlfriend who will use it every day on the job, you do not need advice that is tailored to women, you need advice tailored to truck drivers.

Keychain tools, swiss army knives and full size tools

If you ask on a knife-enthusiast board which multi tool you should buy for yourself, you are likely to get a plethora of answers. If you ask which multi tool you should buy for your wife, you are likely to get more than one reply that advices you to just buy a Victorinox Classic Swiss Army Knife, or a Leatherman Micra keychain tool. I agree that these are great additions to anyones purse or keychain and definitely recommend them. Leatherman's Squirt and Micra are great tools and the good scissors will appeal to many women. The Victorinox Classic is a good Swiss Army Knife that is even smaller than the keychain tools (the main difference between the Leathermans and the Victorinox is that the Leathermans include screwdrivers whereas the Victorinox includes a toothpick).

While I definitely recommend the keychain tools, I think it is strange to think that only men will appreciate and need the larger multi tools. There are many day to day uses of multi tools that apply to women just as much as to men. It is empowering to have a good multi tool. Even if they do not use a multi tool daily, many men carry a multi tool for use in emergencies. There is no reason why women should not prepare just as well for an emergency as men and a real multi tool should be part of everyones survival kit.

The best multi tool for women

Just like there is no best multi tool in general, there is no best multi tool for women. There are some considerations that I think are useful to keep in mind:

Choose a multitool with scissors. I know multi tool diehards will say that scissors are useless because you can always use a knife, but scissors do a much better job at cutting many things.
Weight is not the most important consideration. The tool will probably be carried in a purse, not on a tool belt, so a single ounce more or less does not matter much.
Size is an issue. Most women will not appreciate a Leatherman Core or a regular Swiss Tool. Those who do probably already own one.
Choose a tool with screwdrivers. Newer tools sometimes only include a bit driver. Many women will not want to carry bits with them at all times, but would like a phillips screwdriver to make simple repairs.
Quality is important. Don't buy a 10 dollar tool from a hardware store. It will not be used, and not be carried. Good workmanship will be appreciated. It is important to be able to count on your tools and of course you do not want your wife to hurt herself with a bad quality multi tool.

How to find the best multitool for your woman

Here are some questions you can ask yourself to decide what is the best multitool for your wife or girlfriend:

What is she going to use it for? Does she have any hobbies that require special tools? Most women never use a saw, but if your woman loves to hike, it may become one of the most used tools on her multi tool. If she likes to drink wine, do choose one that includes a corkscrew.
Will she feel comfortable with a larger multi tool? Some people feel that a Leatherman Juice, with nice bright colors, is much less threatening than other multi tools. Remember: a tool that actually gets carried is better than a tool that sits in a drawer, even if the tool in the drawer is technically the better one.
What are the laws where you live? It is illegal to carry locking blades or blades that are over a certain size in some places. If you want this to be an every day carry tool for her, make sure to choose one that is actually legal to carry.

Suggested multitools

With the above suggestions in mind, I recommend the following multi tools:

Leatherman Juice S2 This tool is a little smaller than other multi tools, but it is still large enough for most uses. It comes in orange and gray and looks much friendlier than other tools. All the tools open from the outside, but they do not lock. The CS4 and XE6 are also good options, but do not offer that much more for daily use than the S2.
Leatherman Wave (OLD STYLE) The Wave is beautiful. Most women will appreciate the rounded curves and the obvious craftsmanship. The locking blades open from the outside. The diamond file is perfect for (ahem) filing fingernails and the scissors are great. I do not recommend the new Wave. It does not include screwdrivers, and the scissors are of poor quality.
Victorinox Swiss Tool Spirit Like the Wave, this is a very nice tool. The Spirit feels sturdier than the Leatherman tools. It has a good selection of tools, the scissors and phillips screwdriver are very well made and the fact that all the tools lock and open from the outside makes them much easier to use. It feels exceptionally well in your hands.

Don't think these are the ones? Try the multi tool comparison chart to see if there is a tool that meets all your wishes.

Tags: multitool review victorinox swisstool leatherman

Initial Impressions of SwissTool Spirit on BladeForums

BladeForums user Bodieism gives an initial impression of the SwissTool Spirit. He reviews it very favourably and prefers the Spirit over Leatherman's Charge Ti. He also posts some detailed pictures that compare the Spirit with an older model of Leatherman's Wave.

Victorinox SwissTool Spirit Review

Tags: multitool review victorinox swisstool

Equipped to Survive reviews Leatherman Wave

Doug Ritter has a great review of the Leatherman Wave and the two Charge models at Equipped to Survive. The review is accompanied by many pictures that greatly help in deciding which of the tools is better for you. The most shocking for me was the comparison with the old wave, which I owned and loved. The scissors on the older model were great, those on the new model seem flimsy and way too small.

Mr Ritter's conclusion: Which model to get, Wave or Charge, really boils down to your personal needs. For many, the Wave will suffice quite adequately at much lower cost, and we prefer its sheath. If the advantages of the better knife steel appeal to you, the Charge is your tool. As to Ti vs. XTi, my personal choice is the Ti simply because I prefer the availability of the scissors in my multi-tool.

Do read his entire review and marvel at the pretty pictures. He makes some important points about the shortcomings of both the Wave and the Charges, the most important one (in my opinion) being that they do not feature traditional screwdrivers. They have bit holders with proprietary bits that cannot be easily replaced.

Tags: multitool review leatherman

JWZ Reviews Gerber Recoil

Blogger JWZ reviews the Gerber Recoil and compares it with an old style Leatherman Wave. In his opinion, the Wave is superior. Keep in mind that this review is a few years old. The new Wave is radically different from the old one and nowadays there are many multitools with all locking tools.

JWZ does praise the scissors on the Recoil. Scissors on newer Leatherman tools are said to be much worse than classic Wave scissors, so if you are looking for good scissors and don't mind the clumsiness of the Recoil, this may be a good tool for you.

Read the entire review.

Tags: multitool review gerber

Multitool.org reviews Leatherman Kick

Multitool.org reviews the Leatherman Kick. The conclusion: The Kick is a decent tool at a good price, but not an option for a heavy user or a bigger person. I would say it is better suited as a small tool for a lady's purse or as a child's first tool. The biggest drawbacks of the Kick, according to the reviewer, are the flimsy feeling and the low quality fake leather sheath.

A picture gives a good comparison of the Kick vs. the Leatherman Juice and the original PST.

Leatherman Kick Review

Tags: multitool review leatherman

SwissTool Spirit Reviews on BackPackGearTest

BackPackGearTest gives very extensive reviews of all kinds of backpackgear. Three reviewers have tested the Spirit for months and give three reviews: an initial report, a field report and a long term review. If you are looking to buy a multi tool for backpacking use, these reviews are very useful.

The verdicts (keep in mind that these are from people who were asked to review the tool, not from people who sought out a multi tool themselves):

I don't really feel as though the Spirit has offered anything unique beyond the other multi-tools I have used in the past although the Spirit has held up to general use better than less expensive counterparts. Anthony Smith

The Spirit has mainly performed as expected. It's come in handy at home, work, and while backpacking. Even though there are a few things that I would do differently if I had designed it, I still like it quite well and will carry it on future trips. Becki Stacy

Overall, I have been extremely pleased with the Swiss Tool Spirit. It has been a well used, and very usable tool. It is amazing that it looks like new, with very little change to the surfaces of any of the tool's parts. [...] There have been no issues with its use, and I find that it is the first tool I reach for. Leesa Joiner

BackPackGearTest SwissTool Spirit reviews

Tags: multitool review victorinox