Best multi tool for any/all situations ?

I like my Leatherman Charge Ti, has everything I need, and then some. Their Tread, the wrist multi-tool is awkward in use, but handy for travel. $$$, though.
i do not recommend any multi-tool for working on guns if you have the correct tools available.

I like the original Leatherman, everything I needed but not a lot of extras so it was smaller than many which I appreciate.

The military issue Gerber is good (I was issued one and have bought more when I find them cheap) but I don't care for the way it opens. It is a great tool though and often a bargain on the surplus market.

Leatherman Surge. Four external locking blades, strong pliers, good size,
Leatherman quality. I've been using mine for EDC for about ten years now,
and I've yet to find a better.

I have both the leatherman supertool 300 and a Gerber diesel.
Like ohen, I don' care for the way the Gerber opens. I do like the scissors though.
All things considered, I prefer the leatherman. Mine has saved me lots of steps around the farm.

As a bonus.....
There is room in my Cordura belt scabbard for a bic lighter, a Brinkman solitaire flashlight, two foam earplugs and three .380 cartridges. FYI

Probably the original Leatherman. Although at one time they made a mini that was pretty compact. The "handles" folded in on themselves but when open were pretty much full size. The plier jaws were short as were the other tools, gut it fit nicely into a watch pocket.

Busted the knife blade on mine so it sits in the drawer. Wonder I Leatherman can replace the blade.

Leatherman Charge TTI, carried one every day for at least 15 years.
I have two, when I abuse one enough to break it, I send it in and Leatherman replaces it.

For me it was the SOG multi tool

theboyscout said:

How do you send it in for replacement and how long is leatherman warenty

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Their web site has the address and return instructions.
The stated warranty is 25 years and doesn't cover abuse. When mine have broke it has always from abuse. I tell them that when I send one in and it is always replaced free of charge. Great company and great products.

I have a wave I have enjoyed beating up since it came out. I may need to return it. I have been hunting for my original I had before the wave and I can't find it anywhere.

I am wanting to score a wingman soon. I hear many good things. I don't think there is a perfect tool. You just need to
Decide what features you need.

I prefer the Leatherman Super Tool family for heavy duty work. I have a 200, replaced it with a 300 some years ago when they came out. I went with a Rebar as it's slightly smaller than the Super Tool.

If you are wanting a heavy duty tool that is designed around guns and is fairly compact, check out the Leatherman MUT. Kinda spendy and heavy, but it packs in a combo knife blade (opens one handed), saw (also one handed), heavy duty pliers, a bit driver that takes all LM bits and actually stores a few in the handle, a carbon scraper (replaceable and great for general poking, digging where you don't want to mess up your knife), a replaceable gun pin punch and a spot where a cleaning rod can be threaded in, a belt cutter built into the hammer poll, and a cap lifter. Oh and a titanium pocket clip. It's like a giant Skeletool.

Not a fan of the combo edge, and for the price it should have been better steel, but it's serviceable. I've had mine since they came out and have really beat on it.

They have a similar one called a Signal designed more around camping/hiking survival if that's more your speed. I'd love to get one of those too, but I think a Tread would be more useful...but dang they're expensive.

I carry a supertool 300 everyday for farming/horse training type work. I like the fact the pliers are more or less full size. The knife blades are nice and long, and the saw works very well. The fully serrated sheepsfoot blade is great for rope, or in a pinch I use it to cut bandages or wraps off of hooves etc. The screwdrivers are pretty functional, not my first choice for working on a gun but I would definitely use one before hiking all the way back to the truck empty handed.
I am tempted to replace the 300 with a surge. It's a little bit heavier but I like the blades being accessible from the outside. So far I haven't wanted one bad enough to spend the money though.

drunkenpoacher said:

Their web site has the address and return instructions.
The stated warranty is 25 years and doesn't cover abuse. When mine have broke it has always from abuse. I tell them that when I send one in and it is always replaced free of charge. Great company and great products.

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I've used their warranty twice; One when my son borrowed my Charge TTi and broke the knife blade, and when he broke the knife blade on his Sidekick that I gave him so he'd stop borrowing my Charge. Both times they were replaced with new ones. They have excellent customer service.

I have the leatherman rebar, fits the bill, not to large to carry, didn't break the bank.

theboyscout said:

What about blade sharpness, the hook sharpness and wire cutters? Will the re sharpen the S30V blade re do the shape or sharpness of all the knife tools?

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The warranty says they will repair or replace. The ones I have sent in have all been replaced with new.
If you state that your tool has sentimental value they will repair it to the extent possible and return it.

I am a big fan of Leatherman.

For EDC I have found the Skeletool to be one of the best pocket carry multi-tools going. One hand open-close knife that is actually comfortable to use (unlike many mult-tool knives) and just the bare minimum other tools. Pliers with wire cutters. Screw drive that uses replaceable bits (I wear out #2 phillips fairly quickly) and a beer bottle opener. I carry a skeletool even in dress pants.

When I am working around the house or hunting property I trade the Skeletool for a Surge. It is a heavier bigger tool but the extra capabilities is worth it in those situations. Having the ability to run several different types of saw blades and file and a complete set of the Leatherman bits make for a very capable tool. The replaceable carbide cutter inserts in the pliers is nice too.

I've had a Leatherman Wave since 2006. Lasted through all my military time and deployment. In the same time frame I broke 6 issued Gerbers. I really like my Wave. It has been a great work horse for many years and I still use it fairly often. If I were still in the military or doing more handy work, I would get a Charge AL.

I have the following multitools- Leatherman Supertool 300, Leatherman Skeletool, Victorinox Swisstool, Victorinox Spirit and Bear & Son Jaws. I had, but have lost, a Leatherman Wave.

For being able to easily carry anywhere, I like the Skeletool. Not only does it have a pocket clip, but it also has a carabiner that I can and do clip to things.

The Wave is a tough tool to beat. To me it's the tool that all others are judged against, however for whatever reason I prefer the Victorinox's. The Supertool lives it's life in my car.

The Bear & Son is a solid tool, but crude- very crude.

I am going to say the best multi tool is the one on you. I carried a Leatherman PSTII for a couple of decades, before that, I carried a Swiss Army knife. Though I carried this Tinker for years, having the Phillips head screwdriver in the middle of the handle made loosening Phillips head screws tedious and frustrating. The Super Tinker was a bit larger but handier.







The handles broke and I glued them with Devcon epoxy. Eventually I sent the knife back to Victorinox for refurbishment. It is in my travel bag. Still goes with me on travel to Regionals and National Matches, but stays in the room.



I sent the PSTII back this year to leatherman, to tighten up the handles and replace the worn standard screw drivers and file. Leatherman did this for free, even though I bought the PSTII in 1996. The PST fit into the same volume envelope as the SAK but had pliers. I cannot count the number of screws I loosened, or things pulled, because I had the thing on me.




When I go to the range, I carry my original Leatherman wave. It has selection of screw drivers that I have used many times on tiny gun screws. I have used the needle nosed pliers many times to clear jams in AR15's. Cartridges will jam feeding into the chamber and the loading port is too small to reach the cartridge without needle nosed pliers. I prefer the original Wave instead of the later versions that require bit attachments. It may make more profit for the company but the screw driver bit attachments fall off in use and they are cheap.



When I am working on my vehicles I am using either a Gerber Diesel or the Leatherman Super Tool 300.




The leatherman Super 300 has longer screwdriver bits than the Gerber, that is actually an advantage when trying to unscrew recessed screws. Big, heavy duty mulitools are bulky. I wear them only when working on mechanical equipment. If size does not bother you, go big.

I have a Leatherman Skeletool that the kid's got me for Christmas one year. Nice and compact, it has enough features on it for most things I need to take care of when I'm out and about. I also still keep a Victorinox SAK in my range bag and have bought them for my kids when they were old enough to put them to good use.