Best Pocket Multitool, Not Bass/Luthier Specific

[ProbablyTooLoud]

I'm shopping for Xmas gifts, curious what y'all think.

The thread title asks the question.

Do you prefer this type:

https://www.leatherman.com/collections/everyday-essentials/products/curl

Or this type:

Check this out: Huntsman

Victorinox Huntsman - 1.3713 ++ Explore the world of perfect Swiss quality online ++ Home of the Original Swiss Army knife ++ Find a store close to you ++

www.victorinox.com

I'm a Swiss army knife type guy, but I know some people dig the Leatherman thing.

Curious what y'all think.

 

[bholder]

I'll always carry the little "gentleman's" Swiss army knife, but I'd go with Leatherman style for a multitool. Though plenty of other interesting new styles out there too, hoping folks chime in with some good ones!

And remember - as Ani DiFranco said - "Any tool is weapon, if you hold it right!"

 

[turf3]

Well, the Swiss Army knives I've had were always notable for the poor quality of their steel. No, unhardened 300 series stainless does NOT make a good knife blade, nor does it make a good screwdriver (all of mine, the screwdriver blades twisted off the first or second time I tried to use them)>

I'm a fan of carrying an actual POCKET KNIFE made from good steel and kept sharp, and when you need a screwdriver bottle opener corkscrew saw or file, use one of those. I've got a tool kit of actual tools in every car and every house, so the only possible application for the Leatherman or Swiss Army would be if I were still doing backcountry backpacking, which I"m not.

 

[ProbablyTooLoud]

I'll always carry the little "gentleman's" Swiss army knife, but I'd go with Leatherman style for a multitool. Though plenty of other interesting new styles out there too, hoping folks chime in with some good ones!

And remember - as Ani DiFranco said - "Any tool is weapon, if you hold it right!"

I'm hoping to see some new-to-me companies and tools too. I bet there are a lotta takes on this in TB land.

 

[Winslow]

While it's now listed as "retired," I've carried a Leatherman "Pulse" since it came out in 2002. I seem to recall it was marketed as being geared toward electronics-related tasks.

I also have an early version of the Leatherman Micra, which has scissors as the "main" tool, as opposed to pliers in its larger siblings.

 

[TOOL460002]

I wouldn't buy an adult a Swiss army knife as a multi tool if they're going to do more than open wine/beer/cut cheese

 

[bholder]

I have a Leatherman Wave model (targeted for boating, but pretty general use) that I carry kayaking or any serious outdoor stuff. Good tool, too bulky for every day carry though.

I also have a little folding pair of pliers / screwdrivers combo - useful, but also great at pinching fingers ouch.

 

[ThinCrappyTone2]

I'm shopping for Xmas gifts, curious what y'all think.

The thread title asks the question.

Do you prefer this type:

https://www.leatherman.com/collections/everyday-essentials/products/curl

Or this type:

Check this out: Huntsman

Victorinox Huntsman - 1.3713 ++ Explore the world of perfect Swiss quality online ++ Home of the Original Swiss Army knife ++ Find a store close to you ++

www.victorinox.com

I'm a Swiss army knife type guy, but I know some people dig the Leatherman thing.

Curious what y'all think.

I have both, both have their place, but prefer the leatherman for my gig bag. If I needed more of a knife, I'd go with the Swiss Army. But for gigs, where I might need pliers, the Leatherman is the ticket. And it just feels heftier.

 

[el murdoque]

I'm always a bit at odds with the SAK being tossed in with multi tools. IMHO, the SAK is a gentleman's tool. You get your cork screw, your tooth pick and tweezers, along with a little pen knife. It's great for a picnic. A leatherman is the blue collar multitool for someone who needs to get work done without having their tool box at hand.
I do like the Curl you posted because it features all the stuff I frequently use on mine, but leaves out the stuff I don't. The two fold out blades instead of four has the file and the normal blade. I use both of these. The serrated blade and saw, I've maybe used twice in ten years. Also the bit driver and scissors are quite important to me, and they are all there. I used to have a Wave, the first version, but I gave that to my apprentice when she left to tour Europe on a bicycle. I got myself the Charge, which is too bulky for carrying it upon my person, but I do have it in my bag at all times.

 

[blastoff]

yeah the Wave is pretty much the industry standard. im not a leather man myself, i just have a pocket knife. i find that when i need a screwdriver, id rather have an actual screwdriver, but my friends and colleagues who do carry multi tools seem to use them all the time. i do have a Wave somewhere in my tool bags.

 

[Winslow]

Good tool, too bulky for every day carry though.

I wasn't overly impressed with the stock Leatherman belt holster. I don't know what they're doing now, but at the time, it seemed like all the included holsters were the same size, and the Pulse just flopped around a bit too much in it. Since the mutli-tools were right next to the bang-bang-noise section of a large sporting goods store, I found a generic spare magazine holder in a small size, which fit the tool more snugly, and sits flatter on my belt. It's so slim, I barely even notice it.

The Leatherman holster went into my bass case, where it holds a set of nail clippers.

 

[DukeCC]

Gerber needle nose multi-plier. Announce your presence when you whip it out with that satisfying 'click'.

 

[prndltech]

Oh man, you don’t have to do that. But cool, I’ll PM you my address!

A fixed blade, a folding knife, a SAK and letterman is the only way

But in all seriousness, I like both and always have some kind of multi tool in my gig bag too.

 

[micguy]

I carry a Spyderco dragonfly - a light pocket knife that has a big enough blade for a lot of tasks. When it comes to multi-tools, they are either heavy enough that I won't carry them, or the tools are dinky enough that they are not useful. I do have mutitools, but only carry one when I know I am going to use it - it's a special situation tool, not an every day thing. For every day, the tool(s) you actually have with you is more useful than a much more capable one that's....at home. A knife blade is the most useful tool on most multitools, so I carry that, and don't have something tugging at my pants constantly.

I carry a decent set of tools in my car - every thing you'd have on a multi tool and more (the full sized versions of all those tools). If I get somewhere, and someone needs some help, I am well prepared (more so that if I tried to do it with one multitool), as I'm seldom very far from my car. Most "mechanical emergencies"/situations where I can help out can wait a couple minutes while I go get some tools from my car.

I do have enough tools in my cable bag that I can change strings, do a truss rod tweak, etc on the spot on a gig. I don't need them very often, as my basses are well maintained, but I don't even have to go to my car in that case.

 

[ProbablyTooLoud]

I have both, both have their place, but prefer the leatherman for my gig bag. If I needed more of a knife, I'd go with the Swiss Army. But for gigs, where I might need pliers, the Leatherman is the ticket. And it just feels heftier.

I consider the Leatherman an actual tool, whereas a lot of Swiss army knife type thing aren't quite up for it.

 

[ProbablyTooLoud]

I'm always a bit at odds with the SAK being tossed in with multi tools. IMHO, the SAK is a gentleman's tool. You get your cork screw, your tooth pick and tweezers, along with a little pen knife. It's great for a picnic. A leatherman is the blue collar multitool for someone who needs to get work done without having their tool box at hand.
I do like the Curl you posted because it features all the stuff I frequently use on mine, but leaves out the stuff I don't. The two fold out blades instead of four has the file and the normal blade. I use both of these. The serrated blade and saw, I've maybe used twice in ten years. Also the bit driver and scissors are quite important to me, and they are all there. I used to have a Wave, the first version, but I gave that to my apprentice when she left to tour Europe on a bicycle. I got myself the Charge, which is too bulky for carrying it upon my person, but I do have it in my bag at all times.

Spot on. The SKA for me sits in the bedside table drawer, whereas the Leatherman is with the bicycle tools.

 

[ProbablyTooLoud]

Gerber needle nose multi-plier. Announce your presence when you whip it out with that satisfying 'click'.

Forgot about Gerber, thanks.
Yup, top notch.

 

[ProbablyTooLoud]

Oh man, you don’t have to do that. But cool, I’ll PM you my address!

A fixed blade, a folding knife, a SAK and letterman is the only way

But in all seriousness, I like both and always have some kind of multi tool in my gig bag too.

Santa's got you covered.

 

[ProbablyTooLoud]

I carry a Spyderco dragonfly - a light pocket knife that has a big enough blade for a lot of tasks. When it comes to multi-tools, they are either heavy enough that I won't carry them, or the tools are dinky enough that they are not useful. I do have mutitools, but only carry one when I know I am going to use it - it's a special situation tool, not an every day thing. For every day, the tool(s) you actually have with you is more useful than a much more capable one that's....at home. A knife blade is the most useful tool on most multitools, so I carry that, and don't have something tugging at my pants constantly.

I carry a decent set of tools in my car - every thing you'd have on a multi tool and more (the full sized versions of all those tools). If I get somewhere, and someone needs some help, I am well prepared (more so that if I tried to do it with one multitool), as I'm seldom very far from my car. Most "mechanical emergencies"/situations where I can help out can wait a couple minutes while I go get some tools from my car.

I do have enough tools in my cable bag that I can change strings, do a truss rod tweak, etc on the spot on a gig. I don't need them very often, as my basses are well maintained, but I don't even have to go to my car in that case.

Wow that Spyderco dragonfly looks solid.

 

[Luther]

I'd go with a nice pocket knife or rechargeable key chain flashlight. Multis have their place, I have 2 and never seem to use them. Of course I'm Field Service Technician for 40+ years and have hand tools up the wazoo.