Daughter headed for New Zealand next spring. All she’s taking fits in her backpack, although she has friends there and intends to do some housesitting.
Being a tool junkie, I’m thinking a Leatherman-type tool would make a good Christmas gift.
HOLY COW, I get to looking and there must be a thousand of ’em out there! All different flavors. Looks like you can spend as much as you want, reminds me of Swiss Army Knives 15 years ago. She’s gonna need the basics, no toothpicks or tweezers or GPS. Just a solid tool. Any recommendations? Is Leatherman the shid, or has someone passed ’em by.
Multitool safari starts now…………..
PJ
Whatever you can do or dream you can,
Begin it
Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it. Goethe
Replies
I have a gerber and I like it. Friend has a Leatherman, and it's nice, but the safety release to fold the blades is extremely difficult to use. Had a cheapie several years ago ... biggest problem was the way the handles folded ... when it was open like pliers, you were gripping the open side of a c-channel, which was uncomfortable when squeezing hard.
Whenever you are asked if you can do a job, tell'em "Certainly, I can!" Then get busy and find out how to do it. T. Roosevelt
Had three LMs through various situations. Every one broke when I actually used the pliers to cut some wire. Tossed them out. I think Gerber has a nice product, also Schrade. My favorite is SOG. Leatherman is Neverman in my book.
i second that sog reccomendation, although i really dont know, i have one and think it's cool to look at but i dont think i've ever used it, if i did it was just for the knife.
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measure once
scribble several lines
spend some time figuring out wich scribble
cut the wrong line
get mad
Ditto Ed on the discomfort of squeezing the Leatherman. I also had mine fold up and bite me a couple times when I was leaning on it too hard.
Go around and try them out. Knife stores, hardware stores, army surplus stores, camping and maountaineering stores will all have one brand or another. Don't pick one to fit your hands if hers are smaller than yours.
Get a good case. I don't carry mine anymore because the leather case wore out and I've never gotten around to getting another one. I suspect a nylon case might last longer than the leather.
A guy at work asked me one time, "Why do you carry that Leatherman?"
"Because I needed it one time and didn't have it."
"Yeah, well, I needed an anvil one time and didn't have it."
"Yeah, well, if you ever find an anvil you can carry in a little leather case on your belt, I bet you'll start carrying it."
I got a Gerber about 10 years ago and used it heavily for about the first 4 years. Found it to be superior to the leatherman of that time.
Can't speak for what is out there now - like you say, so many choices
I thought I had heard that Gerber was still making a good product - but, no personal experience with any of the newer tools
Victorinox SwissTool. Superb quality. Beefier than most, so slightly bigger and heavier too. No scissors or corkscrew though.
Edited 12/2/2004 12:25 am ET by Pierre1
I bet the scisors will come in handy more than anything else. I'd keep those as a must have
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measure once
scribble several lines
spend some time figuring out wich scribble
cut the wrong line
get mad
The original Leatherman is good. Now I understand they call it the PST. The PST2 is the same but with scissors. Handy on a trail. These are not great as pliers as you have to squeeze some rough edges but on occasional light work they are fine. To get to the blades you have to unfold the unit to get to them. Not an issue is you have time like on the trail. One issue unless your real careful is the blades don't lock. A knife blade closing on a hand can give you nasty cuts.
Currently I wear the Leatherman Wave. It is a little bigger and a touch heavier. On the other hand the most used blades, smooth edge knife and serrated knife, are accessible with just a flick of the thumb. The less used large blades, file and a quite aggressive saw, are just a touch harder to get to but fully accessible without unfolding the unit. All of these larger blades have a reliable and easy to use, one handed, lock. A nice safety feature.
The pliers on the Wave are a little larger and more capable but, as is common with all these tools, not up to regular heavy use. They are fully as good as any of the other tools I have held.
Gerbers have a little more width on the jaws that makes electrical work, twisting up connections, a bit easier. And the pliers are available without opening the unit up. If pliers are your primary concern the Gerbers are good. I still prefer the Leatherman, particularly the Wave, as a package.
The Waves and Original Leatherman, PST, have some nice smaller blades inside but in both cases you have to open the unit up. The Wave has a very nice set of scissors. They have been quite durable and well designed.
IMHO these tools should not be compared to tools you find on tradesmen's tool belts or tool box. If I want a really effective pair of pliers I would tote around a pair of 9" Kliens at most of a pound. Similarly the scissors are fine for light occasional use but not as heavy shears or tin snips.
These pocket tools, the Wave is a little big for keeping in a pocket while the PST is better, are not production tools. They are meant to be a on-the-spot miniature tool kit. They will always be less the best tool for the job. More the best tool you have at hand.
Even on the job, when I have access to full sized production tools, I still carry a pocket tool. Not uncommon to find out I left an important tool behind after a ten minute climb through an overheated attic. Or I loose or drop a tool down some inaccessible slot. The Leatherman keeps me operational with only a minor loss of efficiency. Much handier than climbing back out to get a replacement.
These tools also are often the only pocket knife I carry. I have a couple more on my tool belt but no tradesman, possibly any human outside an airliner or prison, should be without a good knife. Ever. On this point the Wave has the advantage of quick one-handed access.
By feel, the serrated blade has small notches on the spot you use to open it, or by storing the tool always in the same orientation you can easily get the knife blade, plain or serrated, you want without looking at the tool.
An important feature when I work in the dark or need a knife now. I normally use the plain, smooth blade, for most of the work because it is a lot easier to sharpen quickly and works well. The Serrated blade I save for fibrous materials like rope and relative emergencies when you need maximum cutting power quickly without concern for saving the blade. Not using it often means it stays sharp for those times.
You can sharpen most serrated blades but it takes a special triangular stone and even then you need to know a few tricks. After a few dozen sharpenings the serrations get less effective. A smooth blade stays effective longer as it, with a lot of sharpening, just gets a little shorter.
Leather holsters are OK. Soak them in the silicone used for rainwear to make them last in water. Leatherman sells three styles: military looking but rugged black nylon, casual but durable brown leather and polished black leather basket-weave pattern that matches a lot of popular police belts. These are reasonably prices, $8 to $15 or so, so get a selection for various occasions.
Shop around and see how the various pocket tools feel. IMHO the Leatherman Wave compares well to the competition. At $65 to $75, depending on where you buy it, it is a solid design. Also a good choice for folks wanting to send friends in the military something they can use.
My vote goes to the vise grip version. The others have too many tools and not enough heft or utility.
Peter,
I agree totally with your gift idea. One possible problem though could be getting the thing on the plane.
In all their enthusiasm the airport staff are taking all knives, scissors etc and dumping them in a box. Never to be seen again. Heirloom stuff, precious gifts............lost.
Seems utterly stupid to me to just confiscate things, but thats what they do.
She may be able to carry the thing if it goes into her luggage that gets stowed in the belly of the plane, and not in carry on luggage. Might pay to find out, otherwise she might be better buying one here.
Everything, 100% of it, depends on how you look at it.
DW
Good point about the plane. She travels light, and detests waiting for baggage. Might be a waste or at least a hassle. Now I gotta find a clever way to determine if she intends to check baggage. I've seen boxes of these confiscations on ebay.
In light of that, any other suggestions for gifts? She's 25, with a can-do attitude and a granola perspective. A hard one to shop for because she puts little value in material things.PJ
Whatever you can do or dream you can, Begin it Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it. Goethe
"Good point about the plane. She travels light, and detests waiting for baggage. Might be a waste or at least a hassle. Now I gotta find a clever way to determine if she intends to check baggage. I've seen boxes of these confiscations on ebay."Since she is going to be house sitting, just ship it directly to the house.Might also do that for if she has a camera or other things don't fit in to the backpack.
Hi Bill:
I've had a number of these tools, starting with the original Leatherman. I lost my Wave a few months ago replaced it with a Leatherman Charge TI. By far the best multi tool I have seen or owned.
http://www.leatherman.com/products/tools/chargeTi/default.asp
I got mine from Amazon for $99.99 - it was worth EVERY penny.
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B0002H49AS/qid=1102074399/sr=8-3/ref=sr_8_xs_ap_i3_xgl86/102-2087465-3784127?v=glance&s=garden&n=507846
Dennis
Edited 12/3/2004 6:48 am ET by Dennis
"Now I gotta find a clever way to determine if she intends to check baggage."How about asking directly, and telling her that you want to give her something for the trip that has to be in a checked bag? You don't have to disclose the exact item, but there are lots of advantages to the direct approach. It can head off misunderstandings, and it doesn't require lots of head-scratching to "figure out."I just got myself a Wave, and it is very nice. I have an older Gerber that I got for the shake-out pliers, but the tool is too nubbly on the outside, and I do not like the blade locks. The locks on the Wave's main 4 blades are intuitive, robust, and elegant. What's not to like? Have heard good stuff about the Swisstool, but never played with one. Victorinox is great. I carry a Swiss Army Knife every day for the last 33 years, and am lost without it. It feels weird not having it on planes, but it is a minor sacrifice.Bill
Quote: "She's 25, with a can-do attitude and a granola perspective. A hard one to shop for because she puts little value in material things."
First of all, congratulations, you've done a good job there. This is not very PC, but I've noticed that women who put little value in material things are in the minority. Very refreshing.
As to the multi-tool, stay away from the SwissTool I recommended. A traveller does not need the bulk, weight and strength of this or other large multi-tools. Get her one of the smaller models - she's more likely to have it with her when in need. Heavy things are a PITA when travelling in the steamy Tropics, or so say friends who know Asia well.
Well, hard to say as to 'best gift', but for a practical person I always think a practical and therefore useful gift ends up being treasured.
Your leatherman or similar seems right on to me. Any sort of knife is always handy, likewise pliers. The two things on my tool belt I would be lost without are the knife and nippers.
There are a whole bunch of outdoors/camping/travelling type shops here that sell these things.
I always thought the Swiss 'credit card' thingy looked kinda cool. No idea what its correct name is.
Which part of NZ is she coming to?
Everything, 100% of it, depends on how you look at it.
DW
Which part of NZ is she coming to?
Good question. She's just applied with a housesitter finding service, so some things are up in the air.
There are a whole bunch of outdoors/camping/travelling type shops here that sell these things.
If I should need a contact there for recommendations on such a store, would you be willing? I'd truly appreciate it.PJ
Whatever you can do or dream you can, Begin it Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it. Goethe
Peter, I would be happy to suggest some shops and locations if I can.
If she ends up any great distance from where I live, some might not be relevant. We dont do so many of the 'chain store' things here.
This thread has me thinking. Seems like a handy gizmo to have around so I might go and look at some next week.
Everything, 100% of it, depends on how you look at it.
DW
I find the Swiss Army knives to be very good, the one that has 1 blade, bottle opener, phillips screwdriver, flathead, scissors is a pretty good one. My main complaint with the Swiss Army knives is no blade lock, I've been trying to figure out a way to rig one for awhile, experimented with a couple designs but all have been to bulky so far. I have alot of trouble getting the Leatherman's different blades and tools out of the case , I don't keep my nails long and seem to struggle with them.
-Ray
Another vote for the Gerber. It takes a little practice (and sometimes a little breaking in), but you can deploy the pliers in a gerber with flick of the wrist. A very handy feature.
http://www.gerberblades.com/products/view.php?model=5500
I know that leatherman has made many improvements and a vise grip multi tool sound intriguing, but I really like my gerber.
for the holster, http://www.ripoffs.com/tools2.htm
These don't require you to undo your belt to put-on/take off the holster. Very handy for when you walk into the airport and realize that it needs to go in your checked luggage.
I hope she has a wonderful trip.
Another vote for the Gerber, mine has been everywhere, camping, work, glovebox of my truck fer emergencies. Still solid after all these years.
Gord
St.Margaret's Bay NS
I have a small collection of these, including SOG, Leatherman, Swisstool, and Gerber. In my opinion, the best all-around is the Leatherman Wave tool. Handles are easy on the hands unlike the original; blades, saw, and file open from the outside and lock in place; and have a pair of scissors.
Received the Leatherman Wave as a gift for standing up in a buddies wedding. I have to say it's the best gift I have ever received. It came with the nylon sheath with velcro which I like better than the leather one.AJ makes a good point about traveling with it, I almost lost a small pocket knife that I got from my grandfather. I was lucky, the airport security let me mail it home.
Leatherman Wave...most of the rest don't come close.
I've had the Leatherman Wave since right after they came out with it. Got it about 6 years ago. Before that I had the original Leatherman, which I still have (in my fishing tackle box). The Wave is the way to go. I've worn it on my belt in the nylon case every day since 98. It's $69 on Amazon.
It's not always the right tool for the job, but it's always the "right there" tool. I got my original one for a 6-week long camping trip and it was good to have.
Its handles are rounded so they don't hurt to squeeze. There are four blades on the outside, (straight knife, serrated knife, saw, and two sided file). Inside are scissors, screwdrivers, and a bottle / can opener. The newest version has a pair of reversible phillips / flat screwdrivers instead of multiple flat blades. Also, all the blades now lock open, where before only the four external blades locked.
The only modification I made on my Wave was to supplement the velcro closure with a snap about 3 years after I got it - the velcro wore out and wouldn't stay closed that well.
Highly recommend the Wave over anything else I've seen. At the very least, get a name brand version, not a knock off. And I have had to put mine in checked luggage while traveling. Once, though, I snuck it past Tom Ridge when I was already in the security line and had forgotten to take it off my belt. Just tucked it in my carry-on bag and they didn't notice.
Swiss army tool. I have broken the pliers on my leather man, Broke the pliers in my SOG twice. The nice things about the swiss anrmy tool is you dont have to open it to get to any tool except the pliers & all the tools lock in place when open.& the grip is easy on your hands.
Your rough on pocket tools. They aren't really designed for boiler making.Perhaps you need to do what a friend did. He modified pliers fitted with a leather holster. He started with a good pair of 11" fence pliers. The handles on these he reworked. He ground one leg to make a flat screwdriver blade and brazed on a Phillips head bit on the other side after shortening it a bit. The leather holster he got a local guy to stitch up. The holster gripped the wider handles while the head hung down out of a hole in the middle. It was a bit bulky by my standards but he had a real working man's tool at hand.Later I helped him modify a pair of 9" Kleins. Similar detail on the handle ends and the same holster design. He loved it. He is a big guy and the full sized tools fit him well.It was kind of like 'Crocodile Dundee': He has a knife. Na, that's not a knife. This is a knife." Similarly he would laugh at folks with pocket tools.
My vote is for the Gerber Multiplier. Now, which one will be a question. I have one of the first "needle nose" version, and have failed to wear it out.
I'd stay away from the "tool kit" versions with attachments--but that's field experience of not having the one "bit" I really need the one time it is absolutely needed.
Now, the "regular nose" and one of the minis (with scissors) might be just the ticket. That would let a person do every thing from light bike & packframe repair to tightening sunglasses screws.
Sadly, probably the only way to take the gear by air is in checked baggage. Which might actually mean the best way would be to shop in NZ. This being the modern age that it is, google found a couple of NZ auction sites. That could be odd, buying an item in the US for pick up in NZ--but avoids the airport hassles. Maybe.