Vivi wrote: ↑Sun Jan 06, 2019 11:25 pm
For a long time I carried a Micra in my pocket, but last year I started carrying a full sized multi-tool.
I like the tool selection on the Surge much better. It has an Awl and no useless (to me) eyeglass driver. I like that it can use jigsaw blades, has more robust scissors, and has a wider selection of screwdrivers. I like the large flat head drivers for prying.
The Wave weighs 4oz less though, which makes me think it'd make the more practical EDC. The tool selection is not nearly as good, but it still has the majority of what I'm used to having with me on my Rebar.
What do you carry?
hey Vivi, as you might now I am more into multi tools than I am into knives :o
The Surge is a
brick. I mean, this is often said by people who are used to carrying SwissTools, Waves, ST300s, Gerber MP600s and big honking SOGs among other gear.
It's the most common drawback you'll see about it on every forum, board and probably everyday life.
I carry it often, but I do carry lots of things so it's a minor difference in weight in my EDC compared to a Spirit or Rebar :p
the clip is good on the Wave/Surge and easy to put on or take away. It also has a nice lanyard hole. Usually the clip is wobbly on the Surge and dances a lot, on the Wave it's often straighter and more firmly installed.
They draw attention due to the shiny finish but I know you have no trouble where you live with tha :rolleyes:
re: toolset, I have two Surges, both the old model which I prefer (with an awl, no replaceable cutters, and other differences) . You could search for one, but modding the eyeglass bit driver with a small bit that is sharpened as to be an awl is easy. With security torx bits is easy to tinker or mode the Wave/Surge, and swap the implements
(old Surge)
adding a clip to other Leatherman tools or Gerbers is pretty easy task :)
the Wave is
noticeably lighter, t's scissors are for light use, very precise. The Surge scissors are superb, tough, and very handy for most EDC tasks from big to small, unlike the Wave's. Also they are outside accesible, a big plus. The saw exchanger is fine and you can add lots of stuff and blades, if you have a use for hem and a carry method
Neither has the rust resistance or clocklike precision of swiss tools, but they don't get gunked up as easily and are more mod friendly, the OHO is a bonus that is lessened by having a great Spydie with you
(carrying the Surge will cancel any effort that you've made to lighten ounces on your EDC knives, lights and gear
Definitely not ideal for hiking, mountain trailing and running )
I like to pair the Surge/Wave with a complimentary SAK that has different tools to cover all base between the two or three, but the Leatherman tools will be
very versatile on their own for 90% of things. You can't go wrong with any of them, and now there's the
Wave + too
ChrisinHove wrote:
I find myself reaching for the Cybertool, with its micro bit driver and on-board bits, more and more often. If I’m staying somewhere away for a few days or more, I most likely take the Surge, LM accessory hex bit holder (or the Vic angle driver), and the Cybertool. A pocketwrench ii, aaa flashlight and pencil all stay in the Surge holster.
the Cybertool is an
excellent SAK to pair with almost any MT, but I find that the Wave/Surge/Skeletool have the "weird bits" matter covered with their bit kits and bit drivers :)
Crux wrote:
How so? My daughter uses it daily where she works at wildlife preserve and seems to love it. It doesn't need to be opened to extend the knife and the pliers are heat-treated so as to fairly strong. It's light and easy to clip on and off. #1 best seller for EDC tools.
the Skeletool is
great, in fact I've had three, and I am not trying to start a war, but one of its attributes is
definitely not strong pliers. Not just in my experience, it lacks strength and solidity compared to almost any multitool out there, and its breakages and failures are common and widely documented :confused:
Also, the Wave and Micra are better sellers for Leatherman, but I concede that the Skele is definitely popular (enough so that it comes in six colors, two blade types, two handle materials and now in 2018, halved as to be standalone knives in the new line of products from LM :D )
so, the Spirit with a clip and OHO blade would be the perfect tool for most, but it has none of those, alas the Wave becomes the most obvious (and most successful in sales) option :rolleyes:
Here are some of my favorite knives and multitools of all time, old and new, current production or discontinued :spyder: