Best budget multi tool

[JustinP]

Hey guys. I recently made a job change and I'm working outside a lot more and am in need of a good multi tool. I'm doing lots of different projects on a grounds team at a local resort/farm and am trying to get some opinions on a decent tool. I'd prefer it be a weatherman style tool and not sak style. I carry a spyderco resilience as my main edc now but am considering switching to a tool because it would be more useful to me now. I know leathermans are loved but they're a little too expensive for me. I'd rather spend less and try out a decent tool to see if I like carrying it and upgrade later if need be. I've been looking at the schrade line of tools and am considering going that route. I have a Schrade schf9 and have loved it for years. Just wondering if you guys have any other suggestions. My price limit is 40 bucks. Thanks for any info!

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[billym]

Hey guys. I recently made a job change and I'm working outside a lot more and am in need of a good multi tool. I'm doing lots of different projects on a grounds team at a local resort/farm and am trying to get some opinions on a decent tool. I'd prefer it be a weatherman style tool and not sak style. I carry a spyderco resilience as my main edc now but am considering switching to a tool because it would be more useful to me now. I know leathermans are loved but they're a little too expensive for me. I'd rather spend less and try out a decent tool to see if I like carrying it and upgrade later if need be. I've been looking at the schrade line of tools and am considering going that route. I have a Schrade schf9 and have loved it for years. Just wondering if you guys have any other suggestions. My price limit is 40 bucks. Thanks for any info!

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You can shop around online (I just Googled) and find both the Leatherman Sidekick and Wingman both just under $40. I would suggest you look into these.

 

[gadgetgeek]

At your limit, I'd recommend looking for a deal and getting a Rebar. The scharade tools have not really proven their worth yet, at least in my mind. If you can't find a Rebar, then go for a wingman or sidekick, depending on if you think a saw, or scissors will help more. Right now those are probably the best budget tools around, and honestly that's largely due to Leatherman's warranty. Even if you have to dig into the back of the couch to find the extra cash, its my opinion that the Rebar is the best tool you can get for 50$

 

[blade dude]

Leatherman rev is very solid I will say. But I do love my wave.


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[WCEDC]

Leatherman Rev or sidekick/wingman if you look around
Rev can be had easily for $30. I got mine for $19 on sale.

 

[gadgetgeek]

I'd bump to the sidekick or wingman over the rev, scissors or a saw would be worth having. A used Wave might be another option if you don't mind auction hunting.

 

[ThePeacent]

Another vote for Wingman/Sidekick, used Rebar or even an old Supertool, they rund very cheap these days. If not Leatherman, try a used Gerber MP400 or even better MP600.
A great alternative would be a SOG PocketPowerPlier.

Don't go the Schrade way, unless it's an old, American made Tough Tool. I talk from experience with almos all Multitool brands, models and tools.

Good luck!

 

[mnblade]

Look for a Leatherman Kick on that big auction site. They're discontinued but still easy to find. Basic, but rock solid.

 

[Hickory n steel]

I'd go for a leatherman Wingman for around 30$.
Imho there aren't any cheap Chinese multitool that are any good, and none of the affordable Gerber's are very good either.
If you could find one on the secondary market, the leatherman fuse is awesome.
there was a series of tools, the kick was had the least features, then the fuse, then the blast which I wish I had because it had the most features.
Either way I love my fuse, and I think that it was the best series of tools leatherman ever made.
Rectangular multitool are the way to go and the curvy ones suck.

 

[JustinP]

Well I went to smoky mountain knife works today and after a couple of hours of handling different tools and consulting reviews I picked up a sidekick. I like it a lot. Only have one issue and please let me know if it's normal. When I took it out of the box I could easily open the blade with my thumb. After playing with it for an hour or so the blade is now extremely hard to open with just the thumb. I have to use two hands now. Will it loosen up over time? Also...I showed my dad the sidekick and he held up a finger and said "wait here". He came back a minute later and gave me a wave that a supplier gave him. So I now have a sidekick and a wave. Because of the pocket clip I think I'm going to carry the sidekick in my pocket and keep the wave in my edc bag. I'm just worried about the tightness of the blade on the sidekick.

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[ThePeacent]

Congrats on your Sidekick and Wave!

About the blade: Just try to tweak and play a bit with the pivot in the handle (you¡ll need torx bits of the appropiate size but it's really easy to do) until you get to the desired stiffness level and you can open it one handed. I did that to my Sidekick and Wingman.

About the wave, it's an excellent tool. The best seller and classic LM model, I've had three of the newer ones, a B.O. one and an original one. You can't go wrong with it, and if you find it better for your EDC needs and tasks and prefer it to the Sidekick, you can buy a pocket clip that attaches to the Wave and allows for easy pocket carry.

It's a great add-on to a great tool, like the exchangeable bits.

Use them and use them hard, no worries, Leatherman's warranty is excellent. I've been very happy every time I've sent a tool in, and Mr.Leatherman even signed my Wave's blade and my Surge with a metal engraving pen!

One final thing: If you like the Wave, but need a sturdier tool, just go and step up to the Surge. It's a Wave on steroids, heavy, tough, durable and with a T-Shank system to use different blade saws and attachments, plus heavy duty scissors and replaceable wire cutters. Love mine! (not my pic, though, but this way you see all the add-on stuff!)

 

[JustinP]

Congrats on your Sidekick and Wave!

About the blade: Just try to tweak and play a bit with the pivot in the handle (you¡ll need torx bits of the appropiate size but it's really easy to do) until you get to the desired stiffness level and you can open it one handed. I did that to my Sidekick and Wingman.

About the wave, it's an excellent tool. The best seller and classic LM model, I've had three of the newer ones, a B.O. one and an original one. You can't go wrong with it, and if you find it better for your EDC needs and tasks and prefer it to the Sidekick, you can buy a pocket clip that attaches to the Wave and allows for easy pocket carry.

It's a great add-on to a great tool, like the exchangeable bits.

Use them and use them hard, no worries, Leatherman's warranty is excellent. I've been very happy every time I've sent a tool in, and Mr.Leatherman even signed my Wave's blade and my Surge with a metal engraving pen!

One final thing: If you like the Wave, but need a sturdier tool, just go and step up to the Surge. It's a Wave on steroids, heavy, tough, durable and with a T-Shank system to use different blade saws and attachments, plus heavy duty scissors and replaceable wire cutters. Love mine! (not my pic, though, but this way you see all the add-on stuff!)

Awesome! Thanks for the info. I love the pics. Especially that first one!

 

[gadgetgeek]

Justin, try cleaning and lubing the pivot, but if it stays really tight, it may be that something in the pivot is galling. In that case, I'd contact LM and see, but I'd send it in for a treatment. Yes it is a cheap tool, but it should work. My guess is a little crud got in there and is locking it up on you.

 

[wesmanthetiger]

I know SOG multi tools don't get a lot of love here, but when it comes to OHT and being user friendly I always choose my Power Lock over my Rebar. Also you can find them on the bay for around the $40 Mark. They are well made and when broken in are just a flick away. Also, because they are just like a normal multi-tool and not specially made to OHT (think Gerber), you don't have to sacrifice tools to get it. I also have a specialty huge version for fishing that is really just an extended SOG Power Assist. Love. It.

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[Humppa]

If I were you, I would take a look on the secondary market. Here in Germany Leathermans are easily and cheaply available on evilbay.

Mostly great quality as the tools are hardly carried.

 

[ThePeacent]

Agreed on the SOGs. I like them even more than my Leathermans, to be honest.

Ease of modding is a huge plus.



Some of my SOGs...

Power Plier, awesome ultra heavy duty multitool, tough as a tank

Powerlock, versatile tough beast and shiny tool, easy to mod and play with

Pocket Power Plier, minimalist lightweight cool and shiny butterfly. Favorite lightweight multitool of my collection.

And my Blacktip, as wesmanthetiger I really love it, my favorite SOG, a huge excellent complex multitool, the king of heavy duty plier based MTs

Can't go wrong with SOG classics (some of them are quite bad, though, like the Powerduo or Powerplier2...)

 

[wesmanthetiger]

Agreed on the SOGs. I like them even more than my Leathermans, to be honest.

Ease of modding is a huge plus.



Some of my SOGs...

Power Plier, awesome ultra heavy duty multitool, tough as a tank

Powerlock, versatile tough beast and shiny tool, easy to mod and play with

Pocket Power Plier, minimalist lightweight cool and shiny butterfly. Favorite lightweight multitool of my collection.

And my Blacktip, as wesmanthetiger I really love it, my favorite SOG, a huge excellent complex multitool, the king of heavy duty plier based MTs

Can't go wrong with SOG classics (some of them are quite bad, though, like the Powerduo or Powerplier2...)

True, Powerduo is horrible! Also, my only complaint about the blacktip is that they didn't extend the size of the tools along with the pliers and handles. A longer blade and file at least would have been great. That being said it's a beast and nothing is better than whipping that thing out one-handed in front of an unsuspecting MT collector and watching their jaw drop. Lol. Good times. Mine stays in my tacklebox and gets used constantly.

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