Looking for recomendations for an EDC multi-tool

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[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Looking for recomendations for an EDC multi-tool

Posted: 4/19/2010 7:15:03 AM EDT

Thinking about adding a multi-tool to my EDC stuff. What recommendations does the esteemed membership of ARFCOM suggest?

Posted: 4/19/2010 7:38:42 AM EDT

[#1]

Leatherman Wave.

Posted: 4/19/2010 7:42:51 AM EDT

[#2]

Quoted:
Leatherman Wave.

+1

Posted: 4/19/2010 7:44:01 AM EDT

[#3]

I have a Swiss Army Ranger in my messenger bag. I've probably used the scissors more than anything else.
What kind of tasks do you do everyday? That would drive my choice of tool. For my purposes the typical pliers-based tool is overkill.

Posted: 4/19/2010 7:44:32 AM EDT

[#4]

Say what you will about Leatherman's politics, they make good multitools. I love my Charge TTi.

ETA: I've also got a PST II which has been a great tool.

Posted: 4/19/2010 7:44:37 AM EDT

[#5]

Tagscribe, relevant to my interests.

Posted: 4/19/2010 7:45:17 AM EDT

[#6]

I carry a Leatherman Pulse. They don't make them anymore, but I have 2.

Posted: 4/19/2010 7:47:17 AM EDT

[#7]

Been carrying a Leatherman Wave on my duty belt for 10 years now. I've abused and mistreated it on almost a daily basis and its still going strong.

Posted: 4/19/2010 7:49:26 AM EDT

[#8]

Used to carry a Leatherman wave in pocket, but they're really more practical on the belt. I've settled on a Swiss Army pocket knife model with scissors and saw, though it lacks pliers, which are handy sometimes.

Posted: 4/19/2010 8:00:22 AM EDT

[#9]

Quoted:
Tagscribe, relevant to my interests.

Posted: 4/19/2010 8:01:59 AM EDT

[#10]

i like the SOG paratool, the tool is easy to disassemble, and adapt to different conditions.

Posted: 4/19/2010 8:03:15 AM EDT

[#11]

I carry a Leatherman Skeletool. It is the only multi-tool I could find that allows you to open the knife without opening the entire tool. It is like having a regular pocket knife that I also can pull out a pair of pliers and screwdriver if I need it. It also the same size as a regular pocket knife.

Posted: 4/19/2010 8:05:50 AM EDT

[#12]

S2 Juice by leatherman

Posted: 4/19/2010 8:09:06 AM EDT

[#13]

Quoted:

I carry a Leatherman Skeletool. It is the only multi-tool I could find that allows you to open the knife without opening the entire tool. It is like having a regular pocket knife that I also can pull out a pair of pliers and screwdriver if I need it. It also the same size as a regular pocket knife.

http://raduborcea.files.wordpress.com/2008/05/skeletool-cx-diagram.jpg

I have the same one in carbon fiber. Its a really great tool.

Posted: 4/19/2010 8:09:45 AM EDT

[#14]

+1 for the Skeletool.

I also like my Gerber Multi-Plier. I forget which model I have. They make some extraneous stuff on some models that I really don't need ( like a crimper for explosives

) but my model doesn't have that feature.

Posted: 4/19/2010 8:17:06 AM EDT

[#15]

Quoted:
I carry a Leatherman Skeletool. It is the only multi-tool I could find that allows you to open the knife without opening the entire tool. It is like having a regular pocket knife that I also can pull out a pair of pliers and screwdriver if I need it. It also the same size as a regular pocket knife.

http://raduborcea.files.wordpress.com/2008/05/skeletool-cx-diagram.jpg

I LOVE my skeletool. I was using it to assemble a grill yesterday and left it on the deck. Once I figured out it was missing I had an OCD panic attack until I found it.

Posted: 4/19/2010 8:19:15 AM EDT

[#16]

Tag for non-Leatherman mini-tool.

I lost my mini Bucktool and need a pocket-sized one.

Posted: 4/19/2010 8:25:39 AM EDT

[#17]

I am found of the SOG PowerLock Series (I own 4, carry 1, 1 in the truck and 2 spares). They are great tools and i can get them locally at Lowe's for $49.99

Strongest tool I've ever used and the first that i can replace the tool sets on (screwdrivers, blades, v-cutter, etc.)

Posted: 4/19/2010 8:29:07 AM EDT

[#18]

I use a Gerber MP600 with carbide cutters.
The Crucial looks good for a smaller tool.

Posted: 4/19/2010 8:31:07 AM EDT

[#19]

SOG

Posted: 4/19/2010 9:05:33 AM EDT

[#20]

Quoted:
I carry a Leatherman Skeletool. It is the only multi-tool I could find that allows you to open the knife without opening the entire tool. It is like having a regular pocket knife that I also can pull out a pair of pliers and screwdriver if I need it. It also the same size as a regular pocket knife.

http://raduborcea.files.wordpress.com/2008/05/skeletool-cx-diagram.jpg

does it come with a sheath?

Posted: 4/19/2010 9:18:28 AM EDT

[#21]

Quoted:

Quoted:
I carry a Leatherman Skeletool. It is the only multi-tool I could find that allows you to open the knife without opening the entire tool. It is like having a regular pocket knife that I also can pull out a pair of pliers and screwdriver if I need it. It also the same size as a regular pocket knife.

http://raduborcea.files.wordpress.com/2008/05/skeletool-cx-diagram.jpg

does it come with a sheath?

No, but it clips to your pocket like a regular pocket knife.

The CX is lighter with a partially serrated blade, but the standard version works fine too.

Posted: 4/19/2010 9:24:03 AM EDT

[#22]

Swisstool Spirit...

Posted: 4/19/2010 9:25:10 AM EDT

[#23]

+1 on the SOG

Got mine back in 2004 and have been using the hell out of it ever since. I have not had to replace a single tool, and I don't miss the hellacious blood blisters that the original Gerber multi-tool gave me when the bastard pliers slipped.

Posted: 4/19/2010 9:28:55 AM EDT

[#24]

carried gerber 600 series for years. never broke one even using them for things they really should broken on.

Posted: 4/19/2010 9:30:37 AM EDT

[#25]

Quoted:

Quoted:
Leatherman Wave.

+1

Posted: 4/19/2010 10:02:58 AM EDT

[#26]

Quoted:
Say what you will about Leatherman's politics, they make good multitools. I love my Charge TTi.

ETA: I've also got a PST II which has been a great tool.

what do they say about their politics??

Posted: 4/19/2010 10:04:26 AM EDT

[#27]

Quoted:

Quoted:

Say what you will about Leatherman's politics, they make good multitools. I love my Charge TTi.

ETA: I've also got a PST II which has been a great tool.

what do they say about their politics??

The owner is a Democrat.

I confess I have been converted to using a Wave. I have two. At least some americans are employed there making the tools.

Posted: 4/19/2010 10:05:26 AM EDT

[#28]

Quoted:
Leatherman Wave.

+1

Posted: 4/19/2010 10:07:58 AM EDT

[#29]

Quoted:

Quoted:
Say what you will about Leatherman's politics, they make good multitools. I love my Charge TTi.

ETA: I've also got a PST II which has been a great tool.

what do they say about their politics??

The owner is a Democrat.

I confess I have been converted to using a Wave. I have two. At least some americans are employed there making the tools.

Are SOG and Gerber USA made?

Posted: 4/19/2010 10:36:08 AM EDT

[#30]

Quoted:
Swisstool Spirit...

+1
My Swisstool is the shit. It is built like a tank. It has every feature I could ever want including scissors. It has spent weeks in the florida swamps and has no rust on it. That is indicative of a rock solid finish. I would stake my life on this multitool.

RLTW!

Posted: 4/19/2010 11:18:53 AM EDT

[#31]

Quoted:

Quoted:

Leatherman Wave.

+1

+2

Posted: 4/19/2010 11:19:41 AM EDT

[#32]

Quoted:

Quoted:
Leatherman Wave.

+1

+ 1.21 gigawatts.

Posted: 4/19/2010 11:26:06 AM EDT

[#33]

Quoted:

Quoted:
Say what you will about Leatherman's politics, they make good multitools. I love my Charge TTi.

ETA: I've also got a PST II which has been a great tool.

what do they say about their politics??

The owner is a Democrat.

I confess I have been converted to using a Wave. I have two. At least some americans are employed there making the tools.

Are SOG and Gerber USA made?

Dont know about Gerber but SOG's are made in the US

And a huge +1 to the SOG. As has been mentioned, you can modify the toolsets, and its one beefy multitool. Without the shitty politics

Posted: 4/19/2010 11:28:10 AM EDT

[#34]

Quoted:

Quoted:

Leatherman Wave.

+1

Charge is better.

Posted: 4/19/2010 11:29:30 AM EDT

[#35]

Quoted:

I carry a Leatherman Skeletool. It is the only multi-tool I could find that allows you to open the knife without opening the entire tool....

Wave, Charge Al, xti, tti, and Surge all do this.

Posted: 4/19/2010 11:35:56 AM EDT

[#36]

I've had a Gerber Shortcut (mini, with scissors instead of pliers) for several years, and it just won't break or get lost.

Before that, I carried a Leatherman Micra but it got away from me.

Posted: 4/19/2010 11:37:20 AM EDT

[#37]

Quoted:

Quoted:

Say what you will about Leatherman's politics, they make good multitools. I love my Charge TTi.

ETA: I've also got a PST II which has been a great tool.

what do they say about their politics??

The owner is a Democrat.

I confess I have been converted to using a Wave. I have two. At least some americans are employed there making the tools.

Are SOG and Gerber USA made?

Gerber is probably made overseas. SOG buys some of the parts overseas and assembles them here. I'm not sure if Leatherman buys some parts overseas or not

Posted: 4/19/2010 11:57:35 AM EDT

[#38]

Quoted:

Quoted:
Say what you will about Leatherman's politics, they make good multitools. I love my Charge TTi.

ETA: I've also got a PST II which has been a great tool.

what do they say about their politics??

The owner is a Democrat.

I confess I have been converted to using a Wave. I have two. At least some americans are employed there making the tools.

Are SOG and Gerber USA made?

Gerber is probably made overseas. SOG buys some of the parts overseas and assembles them here. I'm not sure if Leatherman buys some parts overseas or not

Yes, SOG says "assembled in USA" on the website for the larger multi-tools. There is a new smaller one that says, "China", which is too bad but at least they are up-front about it. I could have sworn when I bought mine it used to say, "Made in USA" right on the webpage. Don't know if that was the same as "assembled in USA" or not.