Belt Multitool

Basic Requirements

The multitool I carry on at my side has got to be everything I could possibly need in the absence of a toolbox. I often give little thought to being careful with things that are attached to me, so it’s got to resist rusting and denting with exposure to weather and abuse.

While things like materials and design are important, my most important features have to be durability, efficiency, mobility and functional, elegant simplicity. If its design doesn’t make enough sense for it to be usable, then it’s a waste of my time to carry it.

Finally, I give this consideration to the carrying case: it’s got to attach to my belt somehow, it’s got to protect the tool (to some extent), and it has got to last at least as long as the tool. A broken sheath doesn’t do me much good.

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Current Slot Occupant

Leatherman Charge TTi [Amazon.com]

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Past Slot Occupants

Leatherman New Wave [Amazon.com]

Coleman Pro Lock [multitool.org]

Current Slot Favorite

Leatherman Charge TTi [Amazon.com]

Dethroned

Leatherman New Wave [Amazon.com]

Dream List (If $ weren’t an issue.)

Not that I am convinced these will be better, but I would love to try them:

Victorinox Swiss Army SwissTool RS [Amazon.com]

SOG S66-N PowerAssist Multitool [Amazon.com]

Max Currently Able to Spend

$0

Budget List

Leatherman Wave Delux Leather Sheath [Amazon.com] (The Wave and Charge are so close in size, I think the sheath should work for both.)

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The Story

As a big fan of pocket multitools while in my youth, I longed for something a bit larger than the Swiss Army Knives of my childhood. I had heard adults speaking favorably of Leatherman tools before, and that was what I wanted.

Pro Lock with Tools

I guess my heart wasn’t terribly set on the Leatherman brand though, because for Christmas one year my parents got me a Coleman Pro Lock. They played it up as a redesign of the (then) flawed Leatherman tool, which was uncomfortable to use in pliers mode because the blades folded into the inside of the tool, which was exposed on the outside while using the pliers. Coleman fixed the problem with a radical new design that not only put smooth sides on the outsides of the pliers, but allowed the blades to be removed and used separately.

Pro Lock with Sheath

For a little while I loved this tool. It did nearly everything I wanted it to.

Soon, though, the novelty wore off. The tool rusted quickly and too easily, and it didn’t feel to have a very indestructible construction like I had hoped for. In fact, with the tool units removed from the handles, the pliers felt weak, like they would bend or break if I squeezed too hard. It felt cheaper and wimpier every day I used it.

So, I stuck it in a backpack and forgot about it.

Years later, as an adult, we received a sizable enough chunk of money to treat everyone in the family to some toys. Right away I knew I wanted to get a Leatherman.

Leatherman New Wave

Before buying anything that costs more than $20, I tend to do some research before picking out exactly what I will purchase. I read reviews, check Consumer Reports, and ask people who have used the items I am considering. After several weeks of this, I was beginning to doubt my brand choice for multitools.

It seemed that many people I asked and read from seemed to prefer other tools. SOG and Victorinox came up on several occasions. Gerber came up a few times as well, but the overall ratings for SOG, Leatherman and Victorinox seemed to be a little higher than those for Gerber (being in the military, Gerber has a strong presence, but I don’t like the design of their multitools, personally).

Leatherman Charge TTi

In deciding which to get, I went back to my childhood preference, and I’m glad I did. Now that I own a Leatherman, I would still love to get a SOG and Victorinox multitool (see the two models I’ve included above in the Dream List) to see which one of the three brands is of a better construction, which one is more practical, and which one I actually prefer. With my budget though, this sort of thing would be impossible and wouldn’t make much sense.

Currently, I love both of the Leatherman multitools I own, and am glad I went with them over the other two brands. The tools are tough, sturdy and they seem pretty durable. I will, of course, update this over the years as I put more wear on them, but for now I am extremely satisfied.

The only thing my silly old Coleman did that these don’t was to allow me to use multiple tools at the same time – something that seemed important at the time, but has become increasingly silly sounding over the years. That is why I carry a smaller multitool in my pocket though.

Leatherman New Wave

To anyone looking for a good multitool, the Leatherman New Wave is the best on a budget, but if you can spare another forty dollars or so, get the Charge TTi, which is basically a New Wave with titanium armor on the outside and stronger (S30V) steel in the four main blades. Perhaps in the future I will have an opportunity to try out other tools, or I will discover a whole new league of tools in a higher price range. I do not know. All I know is that I love pulling my Leatherman from its case for action because it is a pleasure to use and it meets all of my criteria. The only thing left to see is how long they will last.

That, and there is a nicer case I am hoping to try if I ever get the budget for it. I know it’s only ten dollars or so, but I can’t go around spending money on these sorts of things right now. I’m sure you understand.

If you have anything to say about this or any of the products listed on this page, please leave a comment. If you feel that I have overlooked an important contender for this slot in my life, please enlighten me!

Thank you for your help, comments and experiences.

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