[richiequan]

What leatherman do you guys use and why???

['Card]

I use a Wave.

Why? It's got all the tools I need (knives, scissors, pliers, screwdrivers, can opener) and it doesn't have a lot of junk I don't need. Because I've carried the same one for something like 5 years now (and a standard Leatherman model for a decade before that) and it's never let me down.

[JMusic]

I carry a Micra all the time and a Wave when I'm not at work. The wave is laid out better than most and has a diamond file. I very handy tool to have. My wife is always impressed when we are out on a hike and require some type of tool. The wave seems to always have one attached. She calls it the majic tool box.:)

Jim

[tellner]

A Wave with the extra variety of bit-drivers.

[Joe Demko]

A Standard, when I carry a Leatherman at all.

[Highland Ranger]

I have a wave and the bit drivers - very useful.

Broke the pliers completely - they replaced it for the postage.

Like my SAK's better though.

More soul to them . . . .

[Avenger29]

I carry the Standard b/c it was given to me...Good multi-tool. All of the Leathermans are tough and designed well- although I am looking at a Wave or similar because the blades can be opened without opening the whole thing.

[thunder]

I carry a micra every so often. Always carry a folder with me, I've never had a real need for a leatherman. Not saying they aren't great tools, just that my life doesn't require the tools it has to offer. I'm fine with a good blade. It usually sleeps in the junk drawer.

[mp510]

PST (Standard/ Original) and Micra.

[Spec ops Grunt]

Am I the only one with a blast?
It's got everything I need.

[joesolo]

me too on the wave with bit drivers. Has it all.

[TrekkieFromHell]

I have the super tool. Has everything that I could even think of using.

[Rupestris]

Squirt P4.

No wisecracks about mine being the smallest... :evil:

[K.L.O.sako]

i'm a big fan of the GERBER multi tool. i always carry a folder of some sort but when i'm at work theres alot of litte maintenance jobs it'll handle without breaking out the big toolbox. the plier design of the gerber is the best of the bunch as far as i'm concerned.

[battlehatch]

Wave here too...

[sm]

I have no idea what I have or were they are.
One is a small one with scissors instead of pliers
Other one(s) ( maybe I have two of these, dunno) has pliers and other stuff.
Seems I took these out of the package, wiped them off with Singer Sewing Machine oil, wrapped back up in wax paper and forgot about having them until just now.

I won these or given to me as gifts.

[waterhouse]

I have a Micra on the key chain and a Wave that I carry for work. I use both daily.

[Innova]

SOG Powerlock Multi-tool for me. And it comes in a nice leather sheath. I also have a Gerber, but the SOG is much better quality, and easier to use.

[Brian Williams]

Super tool in some box on my dresser, I think.

Nope, in a back up tool box on the reloading bench.

[murph50]

Super tool for me. Gets used almost every day for the last 2 years and has held up very well. I have a Gerber Suspension also but I have not used it much. The Gerber is fairly new and the tools are relatively difficult to open so I still use my Leatherman.

[JTW Jr.]

a bud borrowed my leatherman , I am left with the Kershaw multitool , but its too big to carry so it stays in the range bag.

[3 gun]

Another Wave user here. I added the extra bits also, picking just the most common ones to carry with the Wave. They fit all my scope mounts, grip screws, etc. Great tool for it's size. I carry mine everyday, everywhere. I keep an old model Wave in my car kit.

(Check my sig line for a chance to win a Leatherman!)

[SniperStraz]

I know this doesn't exactly answer your question, but when I do carry a multi tool its the Gerber.

[jfernett119]

I carry a wave at work. It gives access to the blades without opening the tool.

[Valkman]

I know this doesn't exactly answer your question, but when I do carry a multi tool its the Gerber.

Me too - I started carrying Gerber long ago because I could use it one-handed while fishing. Then the owner of Leatherman came out for Kerry during the elections and I decided he could keep his tools since he voted for a tool. :)

[tellner]

Hate to break it to you, but your tool was built by a company owned by Finnish *shudder* Socialists!

[12GA00buck]

I use the one my sister found on the side of the road a few years back, been clipped to my pocket ever since. Great tool, I'm guessing it's one of the old basic models, knife, pliers, screwdrivers. It looks like the Philips head has a tungsten carbide tip. That being said if I ever had to replace it, I'd probably opt for a gerber. I like the one hand operation and the locking blades. Although I recall seeing a leatherman with a gut hook and 154cm blade included. Hmmm Decisions Decisions....

[armoredman]

Standard ordinary Leatherman. Love it, handiest dadgum thing I ever found.

[Kimber1911_06238]

I have the original one, bought it when they first came out. The Gerber multitools are nice too :)

[hso]

Crunch
http://www.northerntool.com/images/product/images/199147_lg.gif

[shecky]

Hate to break it to you, but your tool was built by a company owned by Finnish *shudder* Socialists!

:(
The search goes on for a politically correct multi tool.

[Kimber1911_06238]

Gerber multitools are pretty good, and made in the US... are SOG multitools made in the US??

[hso]

Gerber is owned by Fiskars of Finland. Tellner is pointing out the irony of selecting a tool because of political reasons instead of technical.

[12GA00buck]

This probably belongs in L&P, but I was looking at Finnish gun laws and while there generaly very restrictive, I found one thing I liked.

"Sound suppressors, a firearm accessory strictly regulated in many other jurisdictions, are also available in Finland. Their use is not regulated. Their use can be considered to reduce the noise pollution that firearms otherwise produce. Noise pollution is to some extent a problem, since although most ranges are located in relatively remote locations, many ranges may be closed down if the noise becomes a problem for the nearest inhabitants. Suppressors also remove the need to use hearing protection while shooting. Silencers are not a major topic in Finnish gun control debates as they are almost never used in crimes."

Based on that, I feel moraly and politicaly okay with buying gerber:p

[boomer1911a1]

I love the wave because of the external knife blades. You don't have to deploy the pliers to get to the knives. I had a Gerber. Loved the snap-out action, hated the grip angle. Back to the Kerry backer...:o

[TMM]

on the weekends i carry a Blast i think. not sure on the name. i don't carry on weekdays because of school. it's quite handy, with all the handy tools, and nothing over the top [can opener, screwdrivers, scissor, saw, file blade]. i quite like it, and use it rather often.

~tmm

[LeonCarr]

The standard original one, whatever its original name is. I have had it for 15 years and works great for all kinds of stuff.

Just my .02,
LeonCarr

[wooderson]

some no-name I picked up at the last gun show for $10 - 2CR stainless, seems to be built fairly robust, nice wood panels on the handle and I can get to the goodies easier than with a regular Leatherman. I need to oil the spring or something though.

I want one of the new Leathermen that look like a regular folding knife rather than pliers, but I doubt I'd get $70 of usage out of one.

[JohnKSa]

SOG Paratool.

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B000AQ6HG0.16._SCLZZZZZZZ_SS260_.jpg

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B000AQ6HG0.16._SCLZZZZZZZ_SS260_.jpg
http://www.autumnsedge.com/images/SOG/paratoolf.jpg

http://www.autumnsedge.com/images/SOG/paratoolf.jpg


Very flat. Although it's a full sized multitool, you can carry it like a pocket knife. (I did grind off the opening lug to keep it from eating a hole in my pocket.)
The plier head opens in a different axis (swings out to the side) than the action of the pliers so they never try to fold up while you're using them.
The pliers are very sturdy.
Because of the way the pliers open, you can't pinch your fingers with the handles while using them.
The handles aren't "pokey" side to your palms when using the pliers so you can really bear down.
They contain a saw and file and a flat bit screwdriver small enough to adjust gun sights.
The tool can be easily disassembled to replace broken parts also can be easily tightened/loosened as required. (The only time I've ever broken one was after using it as a hammer a few too many times.)

[Snarlingiron]

Had a Gerber. Great pliers. Great hand pincher too. I now have 2 Leathermans. Or would that be Leathermen?

[JohnKSa]

Yup, the pinching and the size finally drove me to give my Gerber away. It was just too big for pocket carry.

Never owned a Leatherman--I used to borrow friends Leathermen(?) in the lab and couldn't get used to the way a well-used one will try to fold up on your when you're using the pliers one-handed. That and the fact that the handles put the blade sides out when you were using the pliers.

[cereedy]

I carry a charge ti and a juce XE6

[armabill]

I carry a Wave one. I couldn't resist it for $25 new with case.

[grizz]

I love my Wave. It's the most useful piece of gear I own. I couldn't care less where it's made.

[Kevlarman]

Charge Ti on my belt, Squirt P4 on my car keys, Micra in the glovebox. :)

[Sniper X]

Had the great Scherade tool but lost it, or it was stolen, got a Wave and Micra and carry them all the time when I do carry a tool.

[JesseL]

I had a Pulse (http://www.leatherman.com/products/tools/retired-tools/pulse/default.asp), but it got lost so for Valentine's day my wife got me a Gerber Suspension (as recommended by Mad Ogre (http://madogre.com/Interviews/Gerber_Suspension_Review.htm)) to replace it. I prefer the Gerber in every way.

[Zero_DgZ]

If you want a Leatherman I'd steer clear of anything that isn't Wave derived (Wave, Surge, Charge...) and run, do not walk, away from the Classic series.

Leatherman has, ironically (especially for the company that invented the plier-centric multi tool) just gotten around to joining the 20th century in the multi tool world. The turning point was the Wave (arguably the Supertool, which at least has some locking tools) and everything beyond it thus far seems to be a good piece of kit.

For too long in the 'Classic' era (before the Classic was old enough to be the Classic) Leatherman was busy making stamped steel models without locking tools and weak plier jaws/lockups while everybody else on the multi-tool highway was passing them at about a hundred and ten. Gerber in particular still makes a very nice multi tool that gives even the latest Leathermans a run for their money; SOG has some interesting stuff (including one series with double-jointed force multiplying pliers) while Buck and Shcrade make fine tools as well but haven't evolved since the advent of their respective models.

Get a Wave or one of its derivatives; You won't be disappointed.

[wuchak]

Leatherman Micra - on the keychain

SwissTech Utili-Key - on the keychain

SwissTech Pliers - on the keychain

Leatherman Wave - whenever I am working around the house, hiking, etc. I like the size, the way the blades open without having to open the pliers, and the way the handle is curved around over the blades providing a comfortable surface for you to grip when using the pliers.

Leatherman Supertool - in the glove compartment

Gerber - purchased for $2 at a garage sale in like new condition in the laptop case.

[Sistema1927]

Up until about two weeks ago I carried the standard original Leatherman.

However, I recently replaced it with the Buck Xtract. The one-handed opening, better knife, and locking makes it a much better tool. Sure it doesn't have all of the other "bits and bobs" that the Leatherman or other tools have, but it has just what I need.

[Zero_DgZ]

That's actually a step in the right direction. You have to seriously ask yourself how many of those bits and bobs you use... Me, I use the pliers and screwdrivers for the most part. If I want a knife I have a better one on my belt anyway. Can openers? Files? Leather awls? They make no sense to me. The perfect multi tool for me would have good pliers and a pile of different screwdrivers (or 2 or 3 1/4" hex drivers!) and nothing else.

[Boats]

I own a Juice S4, an first edition Wave, and a Surge.

However, when I need a quick bunch of tools, I reach for my Swisstool. Better steel, better fit and finish, better screwdrivers, tougher pliers, better lock-up, better saw, and better file. No Johnny Kerry support either. The LM's are are retired to various tool, glove, and tackle boxes. I'll never buy another, especially after developing an extreme dislike of the lame and nearly useless swapping bits and saw blade/file blade of the Surge.

The ST doesn't one hand open the blades, but to me, who also has an EDC folder always available for serious cutting, that feature is overrated.

[Zero_DgZ]

Wow, I've never seen anybody dislike the swappable bits of the Wave/Surge. I like the fact that if I wear one out I can always replace it, instead of having to get a new tool.

Wish it were a regular 1/4" hex driver, though.

[Boats]

The swappable bit seems to be there for your convenience, but it actually a revenue stream for LM.

The phillips head end of the bits are not up to the demands I make of them and are far too easily destroyed. I have wrecked three already. The hex and the torx work okay, but I have better dedicated mini kits for both.

On the original Wave, the phillips is pretty tough and fully dimensioned. Still, one day, I managed to bugger it up on a corroded in screw set into mild steel. For the cost of postage, they put a new phillips into my tool.

Yes, the new bits are supposedly made of "actual" tool steel with zinc coating, but the standard phillips isn't dimensioned correctly, and the whole bit driver feels way less strong than the original SS screwdriver. The bits also lack the useful reach of the original tools. This same problem plagues the swappable saw/file. Both of these are so foreshortened by swappability, that they lose much of their usefulness. The saw on my original Wave is more butch than the one on my larger Surge. That's the definition of lame.

The bits/swappable parts also create the expectation that you will buy replacements, not send in the tools for warranty service. LM wins and the end user subtly loses out for some dubious "42 tools!" features.

Swisstool for me please.

[SoCalShooter]

I use a Wave. Its got what I need. I have the toolkit for it that fits in the holster, its a very well made holster for it and I take the damn thing everywhere.

[mp510]

I'm edc'ing a 301 knife now too.

[roo_ster]

I like the Supertool the best, carry the Micra on my keychain, and the Wave in my laptop case.

My Supertool once saved my bacon, bigtime. I rented a UHaul truck & car-moving trailer.

I was 90 miles down the road from Atlanta to DFW when I realized the trailer's brake & turn signal lights were not working*. The cable going from the connector on the truck to the trailer was all tore up to shinla. So, I bought some electrical tape at the stop-n-rob and took 15 minutes stripping and re-connecting, and wrapping every wire with my ST & the world's most expensive roll of electrical tape ($5 for a roll that barely did the job).


* My second Uhaul trialer. The first's jack was ate up.

[rtrwv]

I have broken 3 Leatherman Waves in 2 years. Yes I am very hard on them. Don't ask me how many Gerbers :cuss: I quit counting. HOWEVER:D My SOG tools have yet to fail under the same extreme punishment as the others.

[steeltiger]

I keep a Gerber shortcut around for art use 9 cutting templates, sharpening pensils,and so on ) I also us a leatherman wave for the saw ( im attempting to start knife making )I find the blades rather pittiful, and the can opener is the same way this is realy all I use in multitools

[perpster]

New Wave. Has it all in a reasonable size/weight combo.

[The Hound]

Leatherman Charge TTi

Leatherman Squirt E4

[mp510]

I had to send my old PST in for warranty work, and it was replaced with a Blast. It seems to be a nice tool, despite featuring some molded components. The lock-up on the tools in definetely better than my SOG Powerlock, and I think it is a nice tool. However, I probably would never have bought that model if it wasn't sent to me gratis.

[rantingredneck]

I have so many multitools around it aint even funny. There is a Gerber in my range bag and another in the field box that lives in my truck during deer season.

There's a "FlipGrip" that stays in my truck console most of the time. It's handy to have around in that it has both needlenose and standard pliers. You just flip it between them.

As far as every day carry though, there is a Leatherman Micra that lives in my pocket and a Fuse that I carry either on my belt or in my laptop bag for general around the office emergencies. One such was my first day on this particular job when the doorknob to one of the bathrooms in our building came off in my hand locking me in the bathroom. As the new Director I was concerned about yelling for help and the appearance of "helplessness" in such a new leadership role. As it was I just used the micra to finish taking the doorknob apart and let myself out. :).

[coelacanth]

the old style original Leatherman tool, the Wave, the Crunch and the Micra in that order. ( order being from most used to least used ) As to why, I use them because they are decent tools and are habitually carried. Used and abused on two continents for everything imaginable and legal ( well, mostly legal. . . :D). Between us, the folks at Leatherman and I have learned a lot about multi-tool design from their various offerings and I appreciate their commitment to quality and product development. Most of the other makers jumped on the bandwagon after Leatherman established the market and while some of them may have bettered the Leatherman products in some ways I remain a loyal customer of the company that revolutionized a whole segment of the cutlery industry.

[TennVOL]

Buy a Gerber. Leatherman is anti 2A

[hso]

TennVol,

Please provide some information on that, please. The claim has been made before with different people saying it's true and other saying it's an internet myth.

Leatherman and Tim Leatherman are not on the NRA/ILA list of anti-RKBA organizations/individuals. Leatherman has and continues to be a large exhibitor at SHOT. They hold contracts supplying the U.S. military with multipliers. There was one outdoor recreational industry group that endorsed John Kerry for president for his parks and wilderness policies during the election. Tim Leatherman was a member of it.

[mp510]

Here's the text of Leatherman, et-al, endorsement of John Kerry from 04:
Dear Fellow Americans:

We are business leaders in the outdoor industry and we have come together because we can no longer be silent. Outdoor businesses depend on abundant and available recreation opportunities so our customers can enjoy outdoor activities. In return, outdoor businesses employ over a million Americans, contribute $18 billion to the U.S. economy and work together to promote an active and healthy lifestyle to the 149 million Americans who love the great American outdoors.

In our opinion increasing the number of venues for active outdoor recreation, staunchly protecting the environment, bolstering recreation and conservation funding to our public land agencies and reducing health care costs go hand-in-hand. They are essential for the health and well being of the outdoor industry and its customers.

Senators John Kerry and John Edwards share our values and goals. They know that promoting active outdoor recreation promotes good health. They know that proactively protecting and supporting public lands for recreational use means future generations will enjoy them too. They know that improving the quality of the air we breathe and the water we drink is not negotiable for any industry or business in America. They know that health care costs will continue to increase unless we are united in reducing obesity in America.

John Kerry and John Edwards are committed to preserving our national parks for the benefit of current and future generations. President Bush has promoted policies that break that commitment and endanger the future sustainability of our national parks. President Bush's policies have severely under-funded our national parks resulting in rampant understaffing, site closures, elimination of visitor education programs and neglected cultural and natural resource preservation, demonstrating indifference towards unsafe trails, unclear facilities and the growing shortage of safety staff.

As importantly, the Bush administration has rolled back basic environmental protections that undermine parks including:

Rolling back Clean Air Act requirements that ensure visibility and healthy visits to our national parks; Eliminating federal protections for our public lands that will allow mining, logging and development in national forests; Slashing the Land and Water Conservation Fund, which enables the National Park Service to acquire new land and protect and enhance existing parks facilities. In contrast John Kerry and John Edwards have a plan to protect the scenic landscapes and vistas for the appreciation of future generations through rigorous enforcement of clean air and water regulations and will preserve the resources that embody our cultural heritage through committed funding for parks operations by:

Increasing the operating budget of the National Park Service by $600 million will put our parks back on the path toward recovery and restoration. We will pay for this important objective by modernizing the sale of mineral rights and using the revenue generated to increase the operating budgets of our national parks. We know that Senator Kerry is a champion on the environmental issues that are central to our industry and customers. We also believe that Senator Kerry's economic and health care policies will keep our businesses competitive and health care affordable.

Therefore, we the undersigned are proud to endorse Senator Kerry as the next President of the United States.

Sincerely,

Lee Fromson, president, Cascade Designs (Seattle, WA)

Peter Bragden, vice president, general counsel, Columbia Sportswear (Portland, Oregon)

Menno Van Wyk, CEO, Montrail (Seattle, WA)

Paul Fish, president, Mountain Gear (Spokane, WA)

Carn Nielsen, vice president, Mountain Gear (Spokane, WA)

Dan Nordstrom, CEO, Outdoor Research (Seattle, WA)

Jeff Bowman, vice president, Cascade Designs (Seattle, WA)

Doug Phillips, president, Metolius Climbing (Bend, OR)

Tim Leatherman, president, Leatherman Tool Group, Inc. (Portland, OR)

Dunham Gooding, president, American Alpine Institute, Ltd (Bellingham, WA)

Larry Harrison, president, Earth Games (San Clemente, CA)

Jim Clark, CEO, Watermark (Arcata, CA)

Steve Barker, CEO, Eagle Creek Travel Gear (San Diego, CA)

Peter Metcalf, CEO, Black Diamond (Salt Lake City, Utah)

Ashley Korenblat, president, Western Spirit Cycling (Moab, Utah)

Mike Wallenfels, vice president, Mountain Hardware (Richmond, CA)

Roody Rasmussen, CEO, Petzl America (Clearfield, UT)

Tony Post, president, Vibram (Concord, MA)

Kelly Stone, director sales and marketing, Werner Paddles (Seattle, WA)

Joe Hyer, president, Alpine Experience (Olympia, WA)

Mike Sullivan, president, Sullivan Agency (Wimberley, TX)

Bob Olsen, president, Peregrine Outfitters (Williston, VT)

Michael Crooke, CEO, Patagonia (Ventura, CA)

Brian Bennett, director national accounts, Patagonia (Ventura, CA)

Adam Forest, managing partner, The Forest Group (Lotus, CA)

Gordon Seabury, president, Horny Toad Activewear (Santa Barbara, CA)

Paul Gagner, vice president, Gregory Mountain Products (Temecula, CA)

Tom Campion, founder and chairman, Zumiez Inc. (Everett, WA)

Malcolm Daly, president, Trango (Boulder, CO)

Rodney Smith, president, American Outdoor Products (Boulder, CO)

Joan Keller, president, Le Travel Store (San Diego, CA)




Here is Tim Leatherman's reply to those who contacted him regarding his endorsement:
Dear Sir or Madam:

I assure you I have personally read your e-mail. However, due to the volume of messages received, I cannot give a personalized response to each to you.

However, here in a nutshell is a general response:

Because I publicly stated how I am going to cast my vote, almost all of you have threatened a boycott against my company.

So be it.

I took a position, and now I will accept the consequences.

I am still going to do my absolute best to make great tools and hope that you and all Americans, of every political affiliation, will find them of value. If not today, someday.

Tim Leatherman

President

Leatherman Tool Group, Inc.


Personally, I totally opposed Kerry/Edwards in 04, on so many levels. However, aside from supporting somebody who was mediocre on the gun issue, I see Tim Leatherman as having committed no ill. The fact of the matter is, he wasn't thinking about the gun issue at all when he decided to support Kerry Edwards. He was considering a totally different political issue, and he believed that John Kerry was superior. Not any intentional smite against us.

I don't care for his support of Kerry/ Edwards. But, I give the guy a lot of credit for designing an ingenious tool, running a a successful and consumer friendly company, and continuing to be innovative even though I don't care for his new designs and wish he would reintroduce the PST

[nmlongbow]

I have a PST, Supertool and 2 waves. The little one stays with my fishing gear and the Supertool and 2 waves are either being used daily or sent back to Leatherman for replacement. I break one every 6 - 8 months due to severe use and abuse and always get a new one back, no questions asked.