Multitools Reviews

This is a good starter knife, but I tend to really like the old style Wave knife. It has a great selection of small blade type screw drivers. They are just right for spreading electrical prongs on trailer plugs found on semi trailers. Is it possible to find an old style Wave? I lost mine and I really miss it.Please let me know if its possible.
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I gave the Leatherman XE6 Juice, storm gray to my Grandson.

this is the one if you would like a tool to carry with you all the time, as handy as they come.
bill

Great Leatherman tool, up to Leatherman standards as always. Rounded handle is more comfortable than older models' handles for plier use.

If you ever watched Mission Impossible or MacGyver, you need a pocket multi-tool like Gerber's Nautilus. It has a lot of useful tools like screw drivers and a decent (but not great) blade. The size is a little chunkey so mine sits in the glovebox, not my pocket or belt. But the small, bright flashlight is really cool. It changes a "so so" product, into a gotta have product.

Some reasons for only 4 stars? The edge on my blade had a burr that needed sharpening to remove. I chipped my fingernail trying to get at the scissors. And the thing has a kinda "made in China" feel.

I bought one so it's not that bad. I think Leatherman products (some a lot more money) have a higher quality feel but you may not think so. And the shape is really cool so give it a look.

This is my first Gerber Blade. I've found it of incredible quality, with great security features, as well as incredibly built and designed. A very far away step from the pocket knife we're all used to. The blade, the tools, and of course the light are really good. Comes with a real sturdy case to store it in.

The only thing I don't like it is that it has no hooks,so I must buy a tool sheath for it

I can count on the fingers of a closed fist the number of times I've unexpectedly needed a file, teeny saw, corkscrew, or many of the other tools stuffed into many multitools. I don't like wimpy tools, but I also don't need to hear "Is that a multitool or are you just glad to see me?"

All this leads to my multitool preferences. I want a well-selected set of the tools that really matter, sturdy and high quality construction, and pocket-friendly size and shape. I've handled many multitools over the years. None ever hit the mark until the Leatherman Juice S2.

This is the perfect multitool for EDC (Every Day Carry). It's light and elegant enough to ride in dress pants, yet tough enough to be stuffed into my jeans. This is a pants pocket tool, make no mistake. When folded it has no sharp edges or corners to wear a hole in your pocket. Leatherman does not make holsters for the Juice series because that's not how they are meant to be stowed.

The weight and tool durability/quality are well balanced. Stronger tools would have made the S2 too heavy for pant pocket EDC. Lighter tools wouldn't do the job - as is the case with many Swiss Army Knife tools.

The tool selection is perfect too. The most frequently used tools - knife (only one blade is needed and provided), scissors, and can/bottle opener - are available without opening the pliers. Inside, in addition to the pliers, are soft & hard wire cutters and 4 screwdrivers. No rarely used tools to clutter up my clothes and make the tool clumsy to use.

The Juice tools are designed well and seem to be solidly built. The knife, for example, is just long enough to easily section fruit. It has a hollow grind for easy cut entry, yet also has a spine that is wide enough to offer good flexural strength. The blade is nicely polished. The edge is ground with the correct grit and direction for the sort of cutting the tool is likely to see.

It doesn't hurt that the S2 is also the cheapest Juice. Highly recommended.

I really can't imagine leaving the house without my leatherman. I own the CS4, and what I love about it is that it has a very nice array of tools, in a chassis which is small and light enough to be carried around constantly. I have mine attached to my keys, via the lanyard attachment. Any heavier, and it would be too heavy to have hanging from the ignition of my car.

My only real complaint with the CS4 is the lack of a ruler. This is because, for the sake of size, the outer edges have been slightly curved. Not a huge loss. I also would have liked it if they had lost the awl (has anyone EVER actually had to use one of those things?) and replaced it with something a bit more useful, like a little magnifying glass or something.

Overall, if you're looking for a tool small enough to keep with you at all times, you can't go wrong with a CS4. More accurately, though, you can't go wrong with a Leatherman in general. They have two major advantages over normal 'Swiss-Army Knives':
1) The Pliers. This may seem like a bit of a gimmick, but I tell you they are a HUGE lifesaver.
2) The screwdrivers. Because leathermans are basically two small SAK's side by side, they have more interior space to work with, which most models use for a few little screwdrivers. Again, a lifesaver.

Just pick the model that suits you best, though I've found that the larger models I've come into contact with have seemed somewhat unwieldly, and largely useless. Some of these things get MIGHTY big.

I have another leatherman and I take it with me everywhere in my truck. It has saved me many times before and I know it will continue to save me in the future. I just bought 5 of these since I am getting married in October for my groomsman. I know they will love it because it will be a good tool for them in the years to come and they will always think of the wedding when they need to use it.

The tools are well set, and the feel is very sturdy. This thing has enough tools to do some quick fixes if something breaks on your car, house or just about anywhere because you have the basic tools to make the repair.

Seriously, you NEED one of these for those just in case days.

Okay for starters, I use this sheath daily. It carries my New Wave and I've tucked a bit card into the back pouch. That card came with the separately sold bit pack (which comes with 2 cards of the LM Bits and a sheath of it's own). Anyway, I upgraded from the leather for a number of reasons. Leather can rot and start to stink when it gets wet and it absorbs water, can shrink etc. I hadn't yet developed those problems with the leather pouch, but I didn't like the look and it was starting to wear a bit rough so it looked ragged.

This sheath uses velcro instead of a snap. I wish you could select the option of velcro, snap, or plastic clasp (like a belt buckle) for different uses. I suppose carrying more sheaths isn't really what they want, but velcro does wear out over time.

I also wish it carried the open pliers a bit better. When the pliers are fully engaged, the expandable sides accomodate it fairly well, but the top barely closes. It's even worse when carrying a bit card in the sheath.

The horizontal mounting belt loops are also very tight. You can't put a very big belt through it. This is limited by the size of the sheath, I understand, but do they have to be so tight you can barely get a thin belt through? Maybe this will loosen with time.

Other than those picking of nits, I have to say that this is a nice sheath, it's light weight, sturdy, very well constructed and it does it's job. It's a fair price if you can get it without shipping costs and I haven't looked back with any sort of regret at my leather sheath, that's for sure. It looks much more respectable for urban carry with nylon.

I've owned 6 leatherman tools. I have always disliked the leather sheaths, they can rot, absorb water and hold it next to the tool and are harder to close than the nylon sheath's velcro.

The leather sheath leaves much to be desired. It is too small to carry both the tool AND the plastic bit holder. The nylon sheath is the way to go!

For me, the nylon is more comfortable to wear, holds more inside the sheath than the leather sheath, and the quality is good.
Some other well known brand multi-tool nylon sheaths start falling apart in a couple months. I figure when the velcro wears out; I might have a metal snap put on it.

not the best for a surf fisherman. I really like the tool, and the one-handed snap-out of the pliers is really handy. Until, that is, a couple of grains of sand get in the tool. The little push-button latching mechanism does not like sand at all! For fresh water fishing this would be fine. Otherwise, I'm very happy with the overall strength and quality of the tool, and would have no problems recommending it for other use besides surf fishing.

Who would not purchase this item?? I use them for major events where it involves removing nails and staples off the walls, and also those tedious jobs that require screwdrivers. Fine item to have!

I don't have a lot of tools like this, but I find this one very handy!

This is a great product, and you can get it, along with any other products on Amazon up to $500 Free! Participate in this special promotion and get a free $500 Amazon Gift Card at this web site: nocoststuff.biz/amazon

Bought this utility tool for my car glove box. It comes in very handy at many occasions when travelling. I've used the bottle opener, and utility knife at picnics. The screwdrivers (flat and phillips) come are very useful when a full toolbox isnt around. The holder is very functional too with a bui;t in belt loop to carry the knife with you on the go.

The only minor negative is that there the feel of the tools as you open them is not particularly smooth. It almost feels like there is sand in the joints, but it is a new tool and that isn't the case. Maybe this goes away with some use, but dont yet know. Otherwise, its a few tool to have.

Boy, I've had a love-hate relationship with my Gerber Legend 800! When I got the Gerber it was by far the best multitool I had ever used. It blew away my 80s vintage SOGs, Leathermen, swiss army knives and such. I'had the Gerber from 2002 to 2005 and used it intensively most of that time. If I hadn't lost it I would be using it still. The two tools I've used since (Leatherman Charge Ti and Victorinox SwissTool Spirit) are far better designed and show the Gerbers problems. Even so - there are still things about it that nothing else matches and I sometimes find myself wishing I had the big Gerber in those situations that favor it:

Hots:
Best pliers for detail work in the multi-tool world. As far as I know this is the only springloaded pliers on a multitool anywhere. They are beefy - no sideways wiggle here - and because they open themselves you use them with your whole hand (no back gripping on the inside with the pinky finger to open them like you have to do with every other pliers). This unique aspect makes them much more comfortable and useable for a multitude of tasks. I respect the spotlight review that complained about these not opening up enough for common plumbing - maybe so - but for detail work they have no equal. The wirecutter blade inserts are great too and make you wonder why everyone doesn't do this. Not only are the replaceable wirecutter blades good for inspiring confidence that if you ruin the edge with some hard wire you have recourse - the carbide blades actually do a really job of cutting hard wire - better than any other multitool.

Also - all the tools lock securely - no pinching - and the tools don't open up accidentally by themselves either. The lock mechanism is smooth and easy to employ.

Finally - I really like the one hand opening knife and scissors. As far as I know this is the only one hand opening scissors in the business - and since the scissors is such a commonly used tool this is a great and commonly used feature. One hand opening blade is so essential that once you've had it it's hard to go back.

What's less than hot:
The scissors spring is stiff to operate and there's no thumbpad. Your thumb just bears down on the edge of the scissors - and it hurts in extended use. The spring mechanism is a bent wire - a bit crude. The scissors are nice and sharp - but considering that Gerbers is Fiskars I was expecting better.

The knife is a nice clip point but it's half straight and half serrated. The principle competition (Leatherman's Charge) has both a smooth clip point and a separate serrated - so this feels like a halfway effort. In use, however, it's fine.

The "Remgrit" saw is useless except for tile. Forget using it on wood - it has grit - not teeth. The saving grace is that the saw is designed to take jigsaw blades - which at first glance seems brilliant. In practice it turns out that there isn't really a true standard for jigsaw blade socket designs and many don't fit here. The other issue is that jigsaws are power tools and this is a hand saw. I never did find a jigsaw blade that was even close in functionality to the saws on Victorinox or Leatherman's offerings. I actually ended up drilling holes in bosch jigsaw blades to make them fit the Gerber, because I felt they came closest - but were much more fragile.

The phillips head screwdriver is the adapter for the bit kit. It's a pretty stubby driver and doesn't fit into too many recessed places. The bit kit takes standard bits - a big plus. However the bit holder doesn't mate securely with the phillips head and tends to slip - or drop bits - in use. Also the bit kig comes with a case that's too small to hold the Legend (it's meant for a smaller model). Since no one makes a case that holds both the legend and the bit kit - the kit often gets left behind. BTW - the bit kit rusts up pretty badly too.

The file is OK - but isn't as sharp as the one on the Leatherman or Victorinox. The Leatherman Charge's file has a soft diamond side for nails as well - a nice touch.

The tools are poorly laid out. The thumb catches on the little flathead, phillips head, and file are all completely impossible to use because they are hidden behind other tools. This is just sloppy engineering. The tools open beautifully by themselves - something that older multitools had real problems with - but you end up having to open adjacent tools anyway - just be able to reach the ones you need.

The grippy side panels are rubber adhesive stickers that come off. This didn't bother me much - but it was a silly decision.

The locking mechanism digs into your palms in certain grips.

The handles are made of aluminum which is supposed to make them light. However, to make them strong Gerber had to make the handles big and thick. This makes the tool very large in the hand. For big handed guys like me this is great - but there are no weight savings here. I have to question the engineering choice of using Aluminum handles since I have come to appreciate the slim elegance of Victorinox's Swisstool Spirit (that uses sleek mirror finished stainless handles) and the Leatherman Charge Ti (which uses sleek and rugged titanium handles).

Finally - and fatally for me - the case is nylon with velcro which doesn't last and has some stitching durability issues. That's how I ended up losing mine. one day it just came off my belt - the beltloop stiching gave way. I didn't notice it until I got home, sadly.

I know I just gave a long list of gripes but when I add it up in my head in the end I have to say that Gerber is one of the best multitools out there. It's rough and tough and covers almost all the bases and while it has a few rough edges it also has a few standout points. However, given the cost and knowing what I know now I'd probably buy either the Victorinox Spirit or Leatherman Charge Ti (or Wave) first - but not by a wide margin. If you use a pliers for detail work with regularity - this might be the one for you warts and all.

I use my gerber MP-800 mostly at work. I work in an office as an engineer and I often need to do some R&D at my desk. This is where the MP-800 comes in handy. It fits in the desk drawer or I can strap it on my belt when I need to go out in the shop. All the tools lock in place. The saw blade is replacable so you are not afraid to wear it out. This is also true with the indexable wire cutters in the pliers. The MP-800 is the next best thing to a whole tool box.

My husband was the envy of all his co-workers when he walked in with the Gerber 800. He loved it! It has everything he needs to work outdoors and more. Great product!

I had one before and I get acostume to it.

I've owned a variety of Leatherman tools over the years and unlike a lot of other products out there, their quality and attention to detail keeps getting better and better. I also own a Leatherman Charge and love the manly feel of it. But the Leatherman Juice S2 can fit in your pocket like a regular pocket knife. Its sturdy construction can handle most of the simple projects around the house or office with ease. If you're the kind of guy who likes to carry a little knife in your pocket, then you'll want to trade it in for this little guy. A pleasant surprise was that it hasn't gotten scratched up when I've put it in the same pocket with my car keys. I've owned it for 6 months now and it still looks like new, except for a little lint here and there.

This is a great tool for those who carry one all the time. It is small enough to fit in my jeans pocket, yet big enough to actually get something done. The pliers and scissors combo is handy and all the screwdriver tips work well. The blade isn't bad and holds a edge ok (what can you expect from a knife in this price range). One side of the tool is thicker than the other so at first you might thing it is broken. This is normal and doesn't affect any functions (and saves a little weight).