Fabulous! Where can I get one? Just the ticket for flights...

It seems like --

(1) you need a screw driver just to disassemble the watch so as to use the individual bits;

(2) it would be awkward to use the bits that require rotation, as the bits are off-centered;

(3) keeping track of all the pieces, once disassembled, might be a problem, especially in the field;

and (4) the plier is missing!

I rarely wear a watch or anything else on my wrists. My TSA-safe tools are way less expensive and way more usable than the Tread. I wish Leatherman well but I don't see this being a good fit for me.

I always wear a watch. What disappoints is the proposal to market this band with a Swiss analog watch which is nothing more than a watch. Where is the compass,altimeter, etc.?

I would like a watch band to which I can afix my own watch.....

It looks like you wouldn't need to disassemble it to use the individual tools. You would just bend the band at the hinge so the proper tool sticks out. But the tools would indeed be awkward to use. Even more awkward than a standard multi-tool, which itself is awkward compared to real tools from your toolbox.

It's an interesting concept. I would only consider wearing one if it would be part of what I already wear, like the watch example in their picture. But I doubt I would want their watch. I would want my own, personally selected watch to attach to their band. In the picture, it appears that you have to use only their watch, since it is attached with screws. I wouldn't expect them to come out with a good watch quite frankly. They would probably provide the most expensive, least functional, cheapest to manufacture watch possible. Also, I'm thinking your watch would weigh about two pounds with his band attached to it.

Still, it's an interesting concept. Most interesting to me is the modular aspect of it. Create your custom band with just the exact mix of tools that YOU want, not what some product designer wants. That's the problem I have with normal multi-tools and SAK's. You never find a model that's exactly what you want, you have to make compromises and do without some tools you do want, and accept other tools that you do not want.

I would like a modular multi-tool or SAK. Now THAT would be something highly desirable for me. A basic frame that you could attach tools to. So when you have to fly somewhere, you could remove the blades to keep TSA happy and still have all the rest of the tools, or maybe even add more tools to use the space freed up by removing the blades.

p.s. - If you look at Leathermans watch face in the picture, you can see how they tried to make it streamlined and cool looking. See how the crystal appears to bulge outwards from the watch case? Cool looking, but horrible for real life. That crystal would be so scratched and chipped in practical use, with nothing to protect it. The better watches protect the crystal with the case, Leatherman appears to want to protect the case with the crystal, a non-workable and poor design choice.

the lack of proper handle and too much metal surrounding the tools, making them hard to use. Ever had any use for these types of box wrenches? I never seems to find on with enough room to turn.

Also not sure if i want a cutting hook and a glass breaker on my arm all the time. I bump in to a lot of things with my watch...

I agree that the tools could be awkward to use, but even more awkward is trying to deal with a fastening with no tools at all. It would be a last ditch kind of thing, for situations when no tool box would be handy.

The watch is a negative. I would much rather buy this gadget as a watch band. I heartily second your thoughts on modularity of multitools.

Not a bad idea per se. I wonder though how the micro-tools perform in real life, especially in terms of leverage and getting into hard-to-reach places with the weirdly shaped bits and bracelet frame.

This seems strictly a (very) light duty tool. Good for small repairs, maybe electronics, gadgets etc. I like multitools for what they are, but even a full-sized Leatherman has issues dealing with stuck screws, tightly fastened bolts and the like.

BTW, I agree strongly that a modular approach to multitools would make life easier for many of us. It's one of the reasons why I'm not that fond of the famed SAK - I could never really find the perfect combination of tools for my needs so my SAKs spend most of their time in the drawer sadly.

It is possible to modify many modern multitools, though. Most of the larger Leathermans can be disassembled if you can get hold of the necessary driver bit (which looks something like a weird torx head). With some effort it is possible to replace the existing tools with something else. I've done that on my LM Wave and a buddy of mine did a similar job on his Skeletool. Unfortunately, it does require more skill and equipment than the average DIY projects and may not be worth the trouble in the end.

Very gimmicky and not very useful. At least that's what I think. The designer of the tool talks about it in the second part of this video.

http://youtu.be/Q-3imhqc-U4

Thanks for the informative video. I like the concept, especially since I wear a watch anyway, but the prices are way too high. Someone will make a cheaper knockoff version.

The new multi-tool looks intriguing ...

Most of what I use my multi for is the blade, pliers and screwdrivers...this lacks 2/3 of those. My vote - gimmick

I would think they would have a slot that would accept the tools in the Bit Kit assemblage. That would be quite useful.

What is the MSRP for the Signal? It has some intriguing features so that it might replace my Wave for outdoor pursuits. The MSRP for the Tread has tempered my initial enthusiasm. I will probably wait for a knockoff watch band. The cost of the Tread would be better spent on a PLB (or two).

I have carried a Ltool for the last thirty years and I have benefited numerous times, but the original PST was really fine. With modularity and a locking knife blade, at no great increase in weight or bulk, it would approach perfection. It is still my tool of choice in some situations.

The Signal has an MSRP of $120 according to http://www.leatherman.com/832262.html. That's mighty spendy. It's not clear to me why I would carry that instead of a Wave or a Surge.

If the idea of the Tread was to have a multi-tool without a knife, that's already been done with the LM Fuse. At $600 in black with a watch, it's certainly not the everyman's solution.

The Signal has too many trade-offs for my liking (including trading $120 for it in the first place). The sharpener is poorly attached. The ferro rod/whistle combination replaces the secondary blade, and there is no way that tiny whistle could be heard in the woods on a windy day. The big issue for me is the plastic handle. I don't doubt that it is strong and functions well under laboratory conditions. I'm pretty sure though, that my Wave handle will not melt if I accidentally drop it in the fire and have to find a stick to fish it out.

I guess that if you build a bombproof product like a Wave or Surge etc, you are hard-pressed to keep sales up. I am a huge LM fan, but I haven't bought anything from them for a while...I already have what I need, and those items could last a lifetime.

I strongly suspect that is the reason why Leatherman keeps introducing new, possibly inferior but certainly more 'gimmicky' designs. It's hard to improve on the good old workhorse multitools.

Still, I can't quite figure out why they don't try to introduce minor improvements that would actually make sense. I would love a more modular construction that could be customized by the owner without too much hassle.

The possibility of upgrading the existing tools, particularly the knife blade, with something better (154CM or better steels) would be welcome, too. The knife blades on my good old Wave aren't that great. I would definitely be willing to spend a few $ for an upgrade blade with better edge holding etc.

Upgrading and tweaking multitools sounds like a promising business model. Is there anyone who does this?

According to their description, they will be using a sapphire crystal. Based on my experience, the watch should be plenty tough.

I'm pretty hard on watches. My watch faces always get marked up, and in the past few years I've broken 2 crystals. While my last purchase was a Bertucci which does protect the crystal with the case design, I also have a watch with a more standard design & a sapphire crystal which sees a lot of use and is still without blemish after years of use.

Based on this watch, I'm sold on the worth of the sapphire crystal (you do pay a premium for one).

SOG sell the components of their multitools, so you can replace & modify them.

http://www.txtoolcrafters.com/ do some mods, like putting in damascus blades... but bit geared towards bling for my liking.

That's a cool site. I'd love it if they would do Cerakote for the handles plus steel upgrades for knife blades.

I find that I need an inner tool and the pliers on a multitool at the same time.I wish that the drivers and such were in a removable cartridge and could be used seperately.If I had to hold a nut and turn a screw for example.

BOATMAN
John

Hey, Izzy, are there good instructional videos or sample projects online?

I like the Micra mod. I have a couple lying around that I got in a trade for something else. I'm going to try it.

If you remove the plier part of a leatherman and put the other implements on the other side, don't you end up with something suprisingly a lot like a SAK? (Victorinox have one hand opening, locking blades models too).

Before I encountered my first Leatherman, I had religiously carried a SAK for years. The only reason for going over to yhe L-tool is the pliers, which is a very good reason.

Down. Overpriced gimmick.

I do carry a SAK and a small pair of Vicegrips while at work.SAK is EDC....

BOATMAN
John

Thumbs up from me. At least on initial review: http://www.equipped.org/blog/?p=654

If you know you are traveling by air, and you only have carry on luggage, I suspect that you could TAKE OUT the knife blade in your Leatherman and just put a spacer there.

Then you can put the blade in when you come back...

I picked up a couple of the Lowe's Task Force mini multi-tools on clearance for $1.00 each after last Christmas.

Just for fun I took out the nail file and put in a spare house key.

I have found that when the TSA questions my Leatherman, if I calmly and politely explain that it is bladeless, they will check it and let me proceed. You can make it a lot easier and less time consuming by putting it in a bin by itself going through the X-Ray machine. In some airports they never even look at it.

If I'm checking luggage I always have an un-neutered Leatherman in my checked bag.

It would be great to have a video review that shows how the Tread is used. I'm suspicious of it, but I haven't written it off yet. I just have visions of taking my Tread watch off, taking forever to get the link I want out of the chain, and the rest of the links falling apart like a big mess. And that's when I discover it's a pain in the neck to use the link.

I really can't think of a situation where I'd (a) be traveling with carry-on only and (b) have anything that could be fixed by the tools on a Tread that couldn't more easily be handled by a small $30 tool kit. A small set of screwdrivers and needle nose pliers, under 7" in length, easily slips into a laptop bag and are permitted under TSA rules.

Quite frankly this strikes me as a Pandora bracelet for men. In that regards it is priced accordingly.

I got a $10 Coast MT, roughly equavalent to a LM juice, from Radio shack and dremeled off the cutting tools. It lives in the diaper bag. Despite being made from pot metal, it's held up surprisingly well. And, if it get's confiscated, I'm only out $10, not $50.

I view the Tread like one of the "survival bracelets" with paracord, metal match, and a whistle. But, for urban use. It's nice, but there is no way in heck that I'm paying $150 for one when I can get the same utility from a $30 PockettoolX

the tread is far too expensive, heavy and expensive -its more jewelry than a useful edc tool

Seems they're doubling down, and coming out with a metric version.

*facepalm*