Anyone got any Leatherman recommendations? It appears I’ve lost mine, and a friend is offering 30% off if I buy through him, so I’m eyeing the Signal, Wave+ etc. I badly want a bit driver, but the survival stuff on the Signal I don’t really need.
Unless manufacturing has changed, you’re looking at a quality multitool irregardless of the model. I think it comes down to which tools you want. I still use my old Wingman more than my others. I’ve got a Signal in my camping/bugout bag but don’t really use it. It’s nice knowing I have it, but the survival stuff probably won’t get used unless I need to survive…
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If your friend sells from a variety of manufacturers, I found SOG the equal of Leatherman back when I was in the market, 20 years ago. Might be worth looking at if none of the Leatherman options quite suit you.
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The offer is Leatherman only but I’ll take a look at SOG thank you. They seem very competitive on price regardless.
I used to love Gerber when I was in the Army, recently got one of their center drive multi-tools and I really don’t like it. It is very ‘rickety’ is all I can say. not what I was hoping for
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This whole discussion has made me look seriously at a skeletool. Seems like just what I want, with none of the stuff I never use, in a shape that looks comfortable in the hand. I might miss the scissors, but between the wire cutter and the blade, it’s pretty rare that there isn’t a satisfactory alternative on there already.
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The Skeletool is essentially a greatest hits compilation, they’re pretty bloody good.
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I like the Wave and the Signal, but as someone said, you really can’t go wrong with any of them
I have my dad’s Leatherman from the 60s I am old leather pouch and it’s still a great tool.
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Been browsing Nextool idly while doing comparisons.
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005001864261998.html?spm=a2g0o.cart.0.0.78db38darpQBL7&mp=1
Pretty much every decent model has dozens of Russian and Ukrainian reviews under it.
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In an effort to keep costs down (and reduce emissions, and maintain a more reasonable asking price) I’ve been attempting to use more electric tools, with the necessary tradeoffs in size/power-to-weight ratios not being a problem, but I’ve also been doing the “Take the minimum number of tools possible.” mantra to save on effort. This usually isn’t a problem, until I take a polesaw to do a hedge. It’s so convenient! I can reach the top of the hedge without a stepladder and everything! I don’t need the strimmer. Only casuals use strimmers.
Next time I will take the strimmer.
Ordered a Nextool to see what they’re like before inevitably getting something else. Their attitude to having a glass breaker on their tools sold me.
“Glass breaker? Course it is, mate, just throw it hard enough.”
Ladies and gents, I Signaled for help.
Build quality is good. Fit is excellent, finish is like 95%. Knife is good, combo blade though, locks. Saw relies on a nail nick (fucking boo) but locks. Pivots are quite tight and are Torx (which is fine), but the sole lower pivot is Security Torx for some fucking reason. You can access the knife, saw (and ‘hammer’) with the tool closed. It has a locking latch if you hang it off the carabiner, which is very useful after you loosen the pivots, so it doesn’t fall open. The bit driver is the flat 1/4" type, and it locks, which is nice. Can/bottle opener better than average, nail nick opener. Same for the awl. Both lock. Pliers are very well built. Replaceable wire cutter blades, which are a decent idea. Whistle works. Ferro rod works. Sharpener is of limited utility and I suspect the diamond coating will come off quickly.
It’s got some niggles; you can only use the bit driver with the tool open, which then makes holding it awkward. Has anyone done a multitool yet with a bit driver as a socket set flush in one end, no projections or anything? Not seen one. That seems like a great idea, let me know about those royalties. It has a belt clip and it comes with a sheath, which seems redundant considering it also has a carabiner. The hammer is of vestigial use, and it’s also ridged, so don’t use it for anything with a smooth surface. The ergos when gripping the pliers are one-way, too, you need the heel of the hammer to be facing ‘out’, that is, under your little finger, where it is admittedly a nice brake against your hand slipping, and not under the base of your thumb, where it is uncomfortable.
If NexTool have a company slogan, it’s probably something like “It’s Good Enough.” (only in Mandarin). The fit is okay, though there is a notable bit of friction on the spring-assisted pliers, and the finish is literally just a thin coat of black paint that starts to come off immediately; it’s showing bright steel on the pivots and edges as soon as you use it. The knife is a decent size, good shape, doesn’t lock. Saw looks a bit puny but works okay and does lock. Pliers and scissors are both spring-assisted, the scissors are really good and are actually more like a small pair of shears. Philips screwdriver is fine and is also the bit driver via an adapter; the adapter is magnetic which means retaining bits is easy but it’s still got a little wobble to it. All the tools are on the outside of the handles so are accessible with the tool closed. Standard flat/Philips/hex bits, combination flathead screwdriver and bottle opener, file and knot unpicker. Decently comprehensive tool, and all for less than 25% of what the Leatherman cost me, including the discount. I have no illusions about the build quality, but I can literally swap out a few of the included bits for Torx and such, and have a multitool with a bit driver that I can use on every single other tool I own. I can’t currently do that with the Leatherman because their fucking bit kit is completely out of stock in the UK, and of course the Signal’s 1/4" driver doesn’t take standard bits. Speaking of Torx, all the screws bar the belt clip one on the NexTool are the same size Torx, which is nice. The included belt pouch holds both the tool and the bit kit. Hard to argue with it in value for money terms.
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The Duff picture reminded me of:
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Is that all.
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This begs the question of what Ultra Left Beer would even be like. It wouldn’t be cans, I can tell you that. Bespoke hand-blown glass bottles sourced from third world fair trade countries.
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I can confirm that Americans will, in fact, do anything to avoid metric. Measuring in dicks probably makes more sense that yards.
One and the same over here, amirite wink wink
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