Looking to add a multi tool to EDC

M

Midgetje93

Joined
Jul 30, 2023
Messages
191
I carry a day bag that has most my daily use stuff in it.

Want to add a multi tool. I’ve had a few along the years. But never one that seemed to speak to me.

Don’t need anything crazy. Just the small tasks that can pop up daily. I’m sure a Leatherman Wave will be recommended. And I’d probably be fine with that. But wanted to see what y’all had/use/maybe selling haha. You never know!
 
I like the Spirit the best, but it's too big for me to EDC. I settled with the Alox MiniChamp on my keychain, sometimes supplemented with the Knipex Cobra XS. Well, or with the Spirit.
 
I carry a victorinox spirit everyday on my belt without fail. I have done so for approximately 2 yrs now, before that I carried a Leatherman rebar for several years, before that was a Leatherman Wave.

Honestly, for a hard working tool you don’t mind occasionally using as a hammer, it’s hard to beat a Leatherman rebar or wave, for a more elegant and finished tool, the victorinox takes the lead.

For infrequent use in some sort of day purse, you could likely do fine with a less expensive Leatherman such as a bond. For a tool aficionado such as myself you would appreciate the fit, finish, and attention to detail in the victorinox tools, for a hardcore user that treats it as a handy tool only, a full size Leatherman is what you want.

Don’t bother with anything else, SOG, Gerber, ect. None hold a candle in real world use to Leatherman or victorinox, either of those two are real tools.
 
Any of those mentioned above would be fine.
My EDC is a 5.11 12 Rush.
This Aus Issue Swisstool lives in the RHS forward pouch, formerly occupied by my venerable Swisstool X.
Since I have my Huntsman, and I don't need two scissors, this one gets the spot and adds a serrated blade if needed.:thumbsup:
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See I have a Leatherman free T4. Which I like the variety. I really contemplate keeping that and just adding the Knipex Cobra XS that everyone seems to love. But then again having it all in one is a nice idea too
 
Those cobras have incredible grip, if you need pliers on occasion with grip like that then they are nice to have, but they aren’t a replacement for traditional multitool pliers that have a more needle nose shape. Fine detail work, most random light duty plier chores, and things like pulling fuses work better with a traditional needle nose style plier head tool, the knipex excel at gripping things that regular pliers struggle to hold, ie. nuts and bolts, stripped fasteners, rusted and seized hardware.
 
As a professional auto mechanic, I’m never far away from a pair or two of full size knipex cobras, but they don’t work well for at least half of the plier related uses I run into regularly. You just have to look at your usual plier usage and evaluate whether a gripping plier like the knipex is what you need, or if you get more use out of a general purpose plier like on a rebar or Swisstool.
 
BJE said:
As a professional auto mechanic, I’m never far away from a pair or two of full size knipex cobras, but they don’t work well for at least half of the plier related uses I run into regularly. You just have to look at your usual plier usage and evaluate whether a gripping plier like the knipex is what you need, or if you get more use out of a general purpose plier like on a rebar or Swisstool.
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Ahh so knipex are nice. But really better suited as an addition. One OR the other a Leatherman would be more well rounded?
 
Leatherman is more well rounded as an EDC tool. Knipex are very nice, but I don’t ever feel the need to have them with me away from my tool box at work.

If you don’t work in the trades or as a hobbyist, then a regular Leatherman tool will serve you better IMO.

Knipex are absolutely worth the money to own and a joy to use when they are needed, but they aren’t as versatile and more of a specialty tool.
 
In my opinion the Wave+ is the most versatile and reliable of the mid/ large size MT. The Surge and Super tool are also great but a good bit heavier. For outdoor stuff I like the Signal as it’s more designed for outdoor activities where the Wave is more mechanical oriented.
 
BJE said:
Leatherman is more well rounded as an EDC tool. Knipex are very nice, but I don’t ever feel the need to have them with me away from my tool box at work.

If you don’t work in the trades or as a hobbyist, then a regular Leatherman tool will serve you better IMO.

Knipex are absolutely worth the money to own and a joy to use when they are needed, but they aren’t as versatile and more of a specialty tool.
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Currently I work at Lowes as part of the pro services delivery team. Most of my job entails pulling large contractor orders and assigning them to flatbed trucks for delivery.

Work sees a lot of knife and box opening. Some light-medium prying. Pulling big/sometimes busted staples out of lumber. Occasionally installing product or at minimal re-tightening.

So tools I’d see myself using most are good set of pliers, knife, prybar, screw driver (Philips and flat) obviously we have a full range of tools in the back. But a carry MT to grab, verses walking all the way to the back anytime I need pliers or something.

If that background helps haha
 
BJE said:
Do yourself a favor and belt carry a regular sized Leatherman if possible, slip the little knipex in your pocket for a week and see if you even use them.
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Oh I’m definitely interested in having the 4” or 5” Cobra. But definitely answers the Leatherman free T4 + Knipex or good Leatherman.

Thinking either rebar or wave+.
 
From the sound of your intended usage, I think the wave or rebar is what the doctor ordered. If you do much assembly or installation at work you will find the knipex very valuable also. You sound like a perfect candidate for a regular Leatherman tool to me. Enjoy 😉
 
BJE said:
From the sound of your intended usage, I think the wave or rebar is what the doctor ordered. If you do much assembly or installation at work you will find the knipex very valuable also. You sound like a perfect candidate for a regular Leatherman tool to me. Enjoy 😉
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Yup. Probably gonna go get a wave plus tomorrow lol.
 
If you carry a folding knife I would recommend the Rebar over the Wave but if you need the OHO knives on the Wave then that is the way to go. I have both and they both are great tools. I like the Rebar more for its Phillips driver and awl but the Wave is more versatile, either way I think you will be happy between the two of them.
 
SteeleJ1976 said:
If you carry a folding knife I would recommend the Rebar over the Wave but if you need the OHO knives on the Wave then that is the way to go. I have both and they both are great tools. I like the Rebar more for its Phillips driver and awl but the Wave is more versatile, either way I think you will be happy between the two of them.
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See I thought rebar at first. But like the changeable bits on the wave plus. Mostly a flat/Philips and a T8/T6 Torx.

I do carry a folding knife too
 
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