Preferred Multi Tool

BBQ BOY

BBQ BOY

Joined
Feb 24, 2009
Messages
2,814
I am in need of another multi tool. I plan to use this tool either as a piggy back to my bushcraft knife or stand alone when I detach it from the sheath.
I have had a few different Leatherman's but wonder if I should give a SwissTool a go.
The question is which MultiTool should I get to piggy back along with my Bushcrafter. Full Size, Mid size? Which tools come in handy the most in either a survival situation or just a few days in the woods camping and hiking?
 
I like my Leatherman Kick. Basic,useful tools ,not a lot of weight. I may be the odd one out, but I like non-locking tools on mine. Never had a need for more tools on one , like the Wave ( although they are nice units.) I find the pliers come in handy the most ,followed by the can opener, then the screwdrivers for tinkering with a gun or reel if I need to.
 
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prefer the leatherman wave
like that i can get to the blades saw etc without opening the tool
and that they lock open
 
IUKE12 said:
This post by Bearthedog convinced me I needed a Swiss tool. Simply outstanding multi tool.
Click to expand...

+1. A great tool, but if weight is a concern then go with the swiss tool spirit! After owning a few Leathermans and Picking up my first Swiss Tool made a huge impact. The Pliers are way thicker then a Leatherman's pliers. Also I think you get more useful tools, but have been out of the loop with Leatherman for some time now. I have cut my fare share of steel wire with my Swiss and it is still going strong.
 
I find SAK Hiker/Camper is great for piggy back setup, or in the pocket. Small, light, inexpensive.
Two blades for smaller tasks, saw for notching, owl for drilling holes, cork screw for untying knots, tweezers for splinters, flat screwdriver for light prying. Rarely use can opener.
Pair it with small pliers in the backpack.

If pliers used a lot, then carrying wave or swisstool makes a lot more sense, but a bit too heavy to piggy back on a medium bushcrafter for my taste.
 
I wanted a big sturdy one without regard for weight, and most of the recs said go with the big SOG, which I did. It is very sturdily built and has a lot of useful features. The saw blade is good but the plain blade (which has a partial serrated edge) is kind of stupid, but I didn't really care about the little blade. I can throw a SAK in my pocket if I want a little blade to go along with.
 
I like the Victorinox products a lot better than Leatherman.

DancesWithKnives
 
I really liked my Leatherman Charge and carried it for several years. I've since been using the Vic Swiss Spirit which I much prefer now...optimum for size, tools and function. I do prefer needlenose pliers and the Spirit is more so than the larger SwissTool.

ROCK6
 
For Bushcraft I like the Swisstool Spirit better than the Wave. The weight is similar (actually the Spirit is slightly lighter), but the Spirit has awl and chisel. For trap making and general wood working they're more useful. If you want it as a stand alone, get the Spirit S as it comes with regular drop point knife instead of scissors.
 
WoW BBQ BOY so many often ask "what's the best" like we know what's best for others :confused:,
you asked correctly, what's preferred! salute to you
25u7k09.gif

(and thank you LOL)

when I first started off I paired my Ranger (RD7) with a SOG
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but it was a little big and heavy for it.

now I go with a Farmer in the nylon pouch it came with, or the Vic Spirit
if I want pliers.

they are light, very versatile and do a good job. So SAK or Spirit is
my preferred MT with my blades
 
Lots of folks like to pair their MT with a good solid Fixed blade (as a opposed to a fixed blade and a locking folder). If you want to go the piggyback route, you might look at the Juice series, the XE6 or... CS4??? They are the two with the saw blade (something I find very useful in the woods). The Kick, Fuse, Freestyle and PST are all great tools to pair up, if you don't need/want the saw. If you only want a basic Multi, pliers, screwdriver, phillips, can opener, and want an ok folder, the Buck Xtract works good in that role, but it is thick enough that you don't want to piggyback it. Same with the Wave or Surge in IMHO. Plus the Wave and Surge have the replaceable saw/file which is pretty good if they break, you can swpa in a replacement, but I prefer the thicker more solid saw on other models (SuperTool, Core, Blast, SwissTool, PowerLock, hell even the Gerbers).

On the Vic side of things, if you do not want the pliers, well... for a piggyback, the Woodsman is tough to beat. Very thin Alox scales, but tough. Mainblade, Saw and Awl, no other tools. Great for woods carry. Or Lumberjack, the Camper and Huntsman are very well built at utility tools go. But once again, once you get into the SAKs that have the pliers, you get a thick enough tool that it doesn't lend itself well to piggybacking.

I have a Blackhawk sheath (I think it is blackhawk) with the front pocket on it for my fixed blade. I have a PST and a Camper (or woodsman or lumberjack) in that pocket with a ferro rod. Easy access to it, and the combo's work great.
 
It´s hard to beat the Leatherman Charge TTi. Perfect tool selection, S30V blade steel, a gut hook that opens clam shells like it was made of butter, OH opening for blade, serrated blade. File and saw on the outside of the tool. Everything locks up like a vault. Removable pocket clip. The greatest MT on this planet!
 
Personally I prefer the Swisstool Spirit X. But think what you could use the most and then decide. No need to cough up big cash for sth that won't bring many benefits over some cheaper models
 
I don't have a Victorinox multitool yet, still on my wish list, but my Wave has served me well on outdoor trips. I recently bought a Charge ALX which I want to try out on the coming winter hikes.
 
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