is Leatherman worth the cost?

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BullRunBear

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I've never carried a multitool but between range time and chores around the house, it may be time to start. (I swear I'm busier in retirement.)

There are a lot of these multitools on the market. I'm looking for one that will last, not just a cheapie. I would rather pay a higher price once than lower prices several times. (This is why I ordered a Lee Valley block plane instead of getting a Stanley at the local Lowes.) So my questions are: are Leatherman tools worth their higher cost? Are there comperable quality items on the market?

Thanks for any help and suggestions.

Jeff
 
They are worth it. I'm sure someone on here will refer a good site with very reasonable prices.
They's made (mostly) here in Oregon so of course they're the best. lolz
 
So my questions are: are Leatherman tools worth their higher cost? Are there comperable quality items on the market?
Click to expand...

I'm not sure what you're comparing them to to be able to answer the question.

Are they better than SOG or Gerber or Victorinox multipliers? That's almost a matter of opinion of how you like the features and the tool selection in a particular make/mode.

Are they better than the low price Home Depot/Lowes/Walmart multipliers? YES

Are they worth that much more than the HD/L/WM low price multipliers? YES

Look at the Wingman for $30. It has just about everything I want on a multitool (except the saw on the Sidekick). I hacked a Wingman by robbing a saw off of a Sidekick and reshaping the tang so it would lock in the Sidekick (curse Leatherman for not making them an easy swap) so it is the "perfect" backwoods multitool.
 
I've used a Leatherman Wave for years, it's held up great.
I also have an SOG, don't like it as much, mainly keep it because it's specifically designed for telcom, with punch down tools etc.
 
I have three Leatherman I have used since Leatherman first came on the scene in the early 80's.

Two are the old Super-Tools, and the other one is a smaller version with non-locking blades.
I keep one in the truck, and the other two in the house within easy reach when I need one.

I keep thinking I will wear them out so I can move up to the latest and greatest new models.

But I can't wear them out.
They all show signs of lasting much longer and continuing to work as designed then I will!

rc
 
Check your local pawn shops. I have bought several Leathermans in them for usually around half price. Last buy was 6 Waves at $30 each. I think I have one of everything Leatherman has made. I may have a problem.
 
Is a Leatherman worth the cost?

I took a Leatherman Wave on vacation to a beach house rental a couple of years ago. I fixed two sticky doors and repaired a bathroon door lock. I took apart and cleaned the bathroom fan that was stuck. Fixed a loose sink handle and tighened up a screen door roller. The property owner returned my $800 dollar security deposit and later sent me a letter of thanks with $100 dollars and an invation to return any time. That paid for the tool that I always have close by.
 
Yes! I bought a Wave a couple months ago and love it, though I wish the knife blade was better steel like some of the more costly ones, but is does an ok job, could use a sharpening out of the box. The "tools" of it are very good, the sissors are not the sharpest but eat 550 cord easily.

Great tool for ~$75.
 
Love my leatherman wave, use it multiple times a day, and hate any moment I don't have it on me (usually just when I'm flying). The blades lock AND all the tools (screwdrivers ect) lock as well. Pliers are strong but slightly sensitive to twisting (as any needle nose would be). Well worth twice the price tag.
 
no experience with the sog, but I've got the original gerber and the 20th anniversary wave. the wave is way better. leatherman's tools are better formed and seen to be better steel. ex: the edges of the gerber blade screwdrivers are all rounded, the leatherman's are all sharp and square. the phillips has held up better on the leatherman as well.
 
I have used the Leatherman ( not sure which model I have , had it for many years ) as well as a Kershaw multi-tool that has the vise-grip like pliers. Both are worth the price in my view.
 
Both of mine were gifts and well worth the price.....

I have played with a number of the junky knock offs and oddly one that has been useful was the most cheap and crappy looking one which was a gimme from University of Florida for Donors and such and it currently rides in the wife's van's glove box. Next was a "Winchester" branded knock off from Wally World that came with a key chain tool as a plus. I gave one of those to my dad several years back and he still carries it to junk yards when looking for classic car parts. With the cheap knock offs you just do not know what you are getting until you try them.....and if they are all you have and you really need something and those break or just dont work.... "sin lauw"

I think the big name brand tools have got too many geegaws and Leatherman has just what you need and quality for that.

Yes, I think Leatherman tools are worth their prices. and if I ever need to replace one I will likely just buy another Leatherman.

-kBob
 
I prefer with the Wave model, the blades open when the tool is closed. I feel it has the best array of tools. I love mine and have it on me almost all of the time.
Off brand multi-tools are usually pretty lousy.
If you break a Leatherman you can send it back and they will send you a new one, so don't be afraid to buy a used one.
 
Thanks to everyone for their suggestions and experiences. Obviously, the Leatherman line is worth the cost.

After checking a bazillion websites, it looks like the Leatherman Blast comes closest to my needs. I considered the New Wave version but don't need the size or all the features and it bugs me a little that it is made in China, at least according to the Dick's website.

I hadn't considered pawn shops but, since there will probably be more multi-tools in my future, I'll keep an eye peeled. No doubt I'll find other uses but it will come in really handy in the field (photography and sketching). And it will replace a bunch of heavy, bulky tools when using my black powder guns.

Jeff
 
Never thought I would carry/use one until my girlfriend bought me one as a surprise. She got the skeletool model with a carabiner style hook built into the end. Easily clips on my pants belt loop, which means I carry it a lot more often than if I had to put a bulky pouch on my belt. I clip it on my jeans most days.
 
I chose to go with the blast over the wave. Mainly because it's lighter weight and the philips screw driver is longer than the bit driver. I bought mine to throw in the BOB, but carried it for a few months to test it out. I defiantly don't regret getting it and neither will you.
 
I'll admit to being a bit of a Leatherman junky. I have bought a half dozen or so models over the years.

I still have the first one that I bought in the 80's with the leather belt case. It got used pretty much daily for years while I was taking care of various office tech items - still have it.

My EDC these days is generally the SideClip, it is easier to pocket carry it than wear the belt pouch for one of the larger models (Wave, Surge, etc.) while more utilitarian than the Juice, plus a Micra in the other pocket (the small scissors are frequently quite handy ...).

Trust them to last, I have never had one fail or be damaged during normal use.

Nick
 
BullRunBear said:
.After checking a bazillion websites, it looks like the Leatherman Blast comes closest to my needs. I considered the New Wave version but don't need the size or all the features and it bugs me a little that it is made in China, at least according to the Dick's website.
Click to expand...
Huh, that's news to me. Always thought they were made in USA. Do you have a link to that?
 
made in China,
Click to expand...

All Leatherman tools are made in the U.S.

The flashlight is Chinese with the kit you looked at. If you look at the Wave by itself you'll see that Dick's lists the country of origin as U.S.
 
"... worth the cost?"

There have been many times for me when warranties and customer service would have been useless and fortunately not needed due to the quality of the tool.

Oh yeah - I'd say mine have been worth much, much more than the cost even while seeing some of the imitators fold up and not in the way their "manufacturers" intended.

I've been carrying the same one since they came out with two others about and around as well.

For what it's worth, I've never really been able to justify anything but the original though I did pop for the unit with the blasting cap crimpers when they came out (unfortunately- they put splits in the caps while crimping) and bought one of the black ones which was a mistake as they can be hard to see at times.
 
Are they worth it? Absolutely. You can do nearly anything with one. My honest opinion is that they're structurally stronger than a Gerber, due to the Gerber having an open frame and an extra set of joints between the handles and the pliars. The Leatherman design just seems beefier. I own several Leathermans, and though I don't use them as much as I used to, they're always there when I need them.
 
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