I understand the uses in everyday situations, but in a survival situation, I just don't need the tools. The majority of the tasks I come to deal with in a survival situation mostly involve cutting or tying. The leatherman has it's uses no doubt, but when I go into the woods, I don't need much in the way of tools except for a knife and maybe something heavy to pound with. Other than that, I'm good.

I have seen some people post that they have seen Les Stroud carry one and that is reason enough for them to carry one. I don't think that's a very wise way to choose the tools that you trust your life to. I'm not going to buy my gear based on someone else using it unless I get to see it first hand. Not edited for time, and especially not on TV. Les has my respect and I really think he's a great guy, but to drop a c-note on a pocket tool just because he uses one is simply irresponsible. I also don't buy from Ron Popeil or any other people I see on TV unless I find one down at the flea market for next to nothing and curiosity gets the better of me.

Again, I completely understand why people carry them in everyday situations, and I can see the usefulness under those conditions, I'm just a little skeptical about plunking that much money down for a tool that I feel is a bit superfluous. If you can use it, I have no problem with that. I think to be fair though, if more people thought about it, they might just agee with at least some of what I have said.

It's a great tool for you? Then it's worth every penny and more, but in the woods, with no electricity, no running water, only the earth and her predators to keep you company, how many uses would you have for it?

I think I understand what you're saying.

My guess is Les Stroud probably carries one not only for use with his survival situation, but to fix/adjust camera equipment that goes belly-up in the field. And they usually leave him with something man-made (plane wreckage, broken snowmobile, etc.) that he can improvise items from, courtesy of his Leatherman.

I guess it all depends on the situation. If I'm driving to/from the trailhead or a campground, I want the Leatherman with me. If I'm working or traveling, I want it with me. Fishing... I want it with me. If I was dropped in the middle of nowhere with only the clothes on my back, I'd opt for the fixed blade instead. (Unless I have to pull a "Castaway" and rip out my own tooth.)

You brought up a very good point. That camera gear is very expensive and also very sensitive. I can certainly see why Les carries one. I wouldn't' be a bit surprised if he carries spare ones in case one gets lost or broken. An $80 knive is a drop in the bucket when compared to $10,000 camera gear. In fact, I would hope he would carry a spare just so the show doesn't end prematurely due to a camera being knocked over or something like that.

In certain situations, I would probably carry one if they weren't so expensive. I might even EDC one. In my BOB though, the place is taken by a regular fixed blade, and for EDC I carry two small pocket knives. I carry two only because they get borrowed alot and I frequently need one while the other is in service somewhere else. I also carry two lighters for the same reason (I'm a smoker but the guys at work like to light firecrackers out back or fire up the grill). Sometimes the lighter never comes back but the knives always do.

I just used my Wave again to unjam my printer... Quick fix, paper due, didn't have time to get anyother people/tools to help me out...

Sometime back I attached a mini-Leatherman knock off (Cabelas brand) to the sheath of my Becker Brute. I thought that would be a good cheap way to always have a flat screwdriver handy in case I ever needed to access the stuff in the handle. A few days ago I tried to take the handle off, and the flat screwdriver on the knock off actually twisted like a corkscrew on one of the screws. I took the KF4 that I EDC and had it off in seconds. Needless to say the knockoff is now in the trash and a Leatherman will soon reside on the sheath. I have mine out every couple of days for one thing or another and can't imagine not carrying it now. But if you do carry one make sure you get the real deal.

I understand your hesitancy to spend $75 - $100 on a single tool. When I was considering the same decision, I weighed the benefits of the multi-tool with the larger number of survival tools for the same amount (Ritter PSK + Pocket FAK + Nalgene Bottle + Katadyn Micropur Tabs + Photon microlight + some other small items).

I finally settled on eventually buying it all over a period of six months. I chose the Leatherman Charge Ti because of the quality of steel used in the blade and it had a better grip for me than the Wave.

The reality is we do have a limited number of dollars and a variety of equipment that we individually think it will be valuable given our circumstances. I love my Charge Ti because it saves me the hassle of putting an entire toolbox on my back when traveling. I due keep extra tools in the classroom, car and garage, but I don't want them in my pockets/on my belt for EDC purposes. You may find that you prefer to keep other tools around. It becomes a personal preference. It also may be a consideration of backup/reserve gear. Why carry only one high quality knife when I can also carry leatherman as well. Murphy's law dictates that I'll probably lose one in an emergency.

I completely agree that one shouldn't carry a piece of gear just because an expert carries it. The best multi-tool on the planet would be useless to me if I wasn't aware of its features and knew how to use them safely and properly.

Different strokes for different folks. You should carry what you are comfortable with, and what works for you. As long as you carry it ALL the time, 'cuz you can't plan for a "survival situation"...

The main thought behind a multi-tool is, you carry it on your person and it contains, in a compact package, common tools that are useful in many different situations, be it survival or otherwise. It's the equivalent to carrying a small tool box in your pocket. Sure, it’s most useful in an urban/suburban environment, but pliers, knife blade(s), saw, file, scissors, and flat pieces of steel (screwdrivers) are such generic tools that they can be useful everywhere.

I normally carry a Leatherman charge Ti (which is expensive at ~$100), but I also have a few Leatherman Blasts that I carry occasionally (which have a similar tool selection). The Blasts cost me $30 at Walmart and work just as well. For $30 I couldn't fathom not carrying it, it has come in so handy so many times it has more than paid for itself. Fixing a stove on a hiking trip, fixing someone else’s flashlight, fixing my glasses, lifting hot objects, scraping, prying, making holes, cutting barbed wire I got tangled up in, ect. Uses are only limited by the imagination.

I also carry a full toolbox in my vehicle, but I know from experience that if it isn't on your person it wont be there when you need it most.

I sense an interesting story in the near future! <img src="/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

Bob waar is nasty stuff, it ripped more than one pair of $130 uniform pants. And it is one of the reasons I always keep my tetanus shots current...