Ease of use on multi-tools

Hi there

I'm planning on spending the considerable amount of money to purchase a multi-tool. I'm trying to conduct some research (mostly on the net) about price, features, size, etc. and cannot find some critical (according to me) information concernind these tools. I was playing around with an old Swiss Army Knife when I realised that it was extremely frustrating to open (access) and close the tools. Some were reaching the finger-nail-breaking limit!

I am considering getting one of the following:
1. Swisstool Spirit
2. Leatherman New Wave
3. Leatherman Juice (one with a saw)

Here's what I'm hoping you could help me with - which one of these is the easiest to open? I'm not talking "sissy" easy, I just want to keep my finger nails intact.

Thanks,
Naseem.

All the tools on the Spirit are opened with nail nicks. On the one I've got can all be opened with a single hand. Haven't owned a Leatherman or a knock-off since the days of the original when the tools were on the gripping side with the pliers open.

edit
If you get the Spirit, get the ratcheting plus model. It will use any 1/4" hex drive bit unlike the newer Leatherman models.

The Leatherman New Wave has two outside blades that can be opened very easily one handed.

I have both leathermans that you mention, and I'm about to get the new swisstool spirit this week, so I'll let you know how it is. From what I've read on other reviews, the spirit will be similar to your swissarmy knives, they detent open and closed, but I don't have any personal experience with it.

But my experience with the Leathermans is that there's no problem getting the tools out. The wave has holes in the blade for one handed opening, the other tools are pretty easy also. Actually they're too easy and tend to fall out on their own, which is one of the reasons I don't like to use it. However, there could be some inconsistencies during manufacturing, so YMMV. One of the reasons I dislike leathermans is because they use non-adjustable fasteners holding the tools together, so you have no control on the tension, and there's a lot of variability from part to part. Unlike the SOG's which are easily adjustable with a hex head to the desired feel.

How old is your swiss army knife? If there is a lot of crud or rust in the mechanism it might cause some issues, but on a well maintained and clean knife I've never had a problem. The spring design is usually very consistent. Only on my really old knives did I have a problem, and a little oil usually helped a lot.

I have all three of the tools you mentioned, so I can offer some insight.

First, the Leatherman Juice is a great pocket carry tool due to its size, but it is definitely not as strong as the Wave/Spirit and the handles are pinned so they can't be adjusted. They also don't have any locking tools, which can be dangerous, and none of the implements are designed to be opened one handed.

The Spirit is extremely well made, but again it can't be adjusted and the tools can't be opened one handed. They also are a little tough to open, but not too bad. On my old Swiss tool (non spirit) the lock was extremely difficult to work, which was something I never liked. I also didn't like that it only comes with a non-pointed half serrated blade.

The new wave has blades that open one handed and the one I picked up recently has user adjustable pivots (with a six-pin security torx bit). It also has easier to use with two liner locks and (basically) lock-back style locks on the other implements. The Wave also has an available pocket clip and bit adapter (to use regular bits). The Spirit is very nice, but I really think the new Wave beats it.

I personally carry a Leatherman Charge (with the upgraded 154cm blade) and I love it.

I just gave my son a LM Wave (the new version) as a gift for earning his First Class rank in Boy Scouts. Here is my take on its fingernail friendliness (FF):

As mentioned, the two main blades open on the outside (no folding required) via thumb holes. One of these blades is plain-edged and the other is fully serrated. One cool feature is that the outside edge of the serrated blade is slightly notched so you can tell which side is the serrated blade just by feel. These are both very FF.

The saw and file are also on the outside. They open using fingernail pulls that are at the very ends of the blades. This gives them maximum leverage which also makes them very FF. If, for some reason, my fingernail was cut extremely short or missing, I find I can just barely catch the fingernail pulls with the fleshy part of my finger and not use the nail, but it isn't very comfortable.

Now, opening the handles gives access to the can opener and large screwdriver socket on one side. The can opener uses a classic fingernail groove, which is pretty smooth. The large socket uses a fingernail tab that is not nearly as smooth. I find is fairly easy to get it just a bit of the way out and then pinch it with fingers to pull it out the rest of the way.

If you go to Leatherman.com, go to the Wave, and then place the cursor over bullet III, you can get a pretty good look at the classic fingernail groove on the can opener and the little fingernail tab just opposite of the can opener's "hook".

The other side has the flat screwdriver blade, the mini socket, and the scissors. All three use the fingernail tab and they all behave pretty much like the large socket on the other side. I find it easiest to pull them out just a bit with my fingernail and then pinch the blade between fingers to pull it out all the way.

I have a Juice S2. It is NOT easy to open. I like it - great size and weight, good tool selection, but the screwdrivers open from the inside. They don't have nail nicks, they have little doohickies that stick out from the edge of the tool. And they can be nail breakers. I've seen posts on other forums that suggest I'm not the only one with this problem. With enough use and some lubrication they get easier.

The knife blade opens from the outside with a standard nail nick, pretty easily. The can/bottle opener also opens from the outside, with a stud. The scissors are on the outside, too, and open with a nail nick, but the opener must be open to open/close the scissors, which I find downright odd.

If you don't like a SAK you're not going to like a Juice.

Kevin B.

I only have the New (and old) Wave and it is very finger nail friendly. With a little practice I was able to open and close all the implements one handed. The New wave is great because all the tools lock in place and the outer blades are easy to deploy. The quality is also top notch.

new wave hands down

Guilty - the old SAK did have some crud on it and maybe this is what contributed in part to it being difficult to open the tools.

From what I've gathered reading your responses, the New Wave is the easiest opening tool, but the SAK Spirit should be fairly easy to open if regularly cleaned and lubricated (actually this could apply to almost anything).

I've read elsewhere that the SAK Spirit is the more sturdy (ok ok - hold your horses) but this might just be as a result of improper care and use of the Leatherman tools. I don't plan to abuse any tools unless my life depends on it.

Any comments on the relative strength of the SAK Spirit and New Wave?

One problem with the new Wave is that it is strictly right-handed for one-handed opening of the two main blades. Unfortunately my son is left-handed.

This morning I watched him pull the knife out as a lefty (hold case with right hand and pull knife out with left hand - the exact opposite of what I do), then switch hands, open the blade with his right hand, and then switch hands again.

I do wish LM would come out with a left-handed version of the new Wave to address that issue.

You'd have to get one of the security torx that Leatherman uses, but couldn't you take out all the blades and just reverse the order. I know there's guys out there making custom blades and such, and I don't think there would be any problems with everything reversed.

Ahh.. The curse of the left-handed people..

I'm also left-handed(and use a 'old' Leatherman Wave and a Squirt BTW) and from my experience, you get used to switching from hand to hand every time.



So would a lot of other things...

If you'd ask me: Leatherman New Wave hands-down.

Take care

No, the handles is stamped such that it is right-handed. They'd need to completely redo the handles. I can't recall if the knife blades are symmetric side-to-side.

I realize this is my first post, but I believe it is possible to open the new wave left handed, and without modification (which I believe voids the excellant warranty). I own one, and the first thing I checked when I got it was to see how I could open all the tools one handed, with either hand.

I just push the the knife out with my index or middle finger, and then bring it the rest of the way up with my thumb. Admittedly, it is slightly harder to close one handed. For that, I depress the lock with my middle finger, and push the blade down with my index until it is out of the lock. Then just bring it home with the thumb.

I do the same thing right handed to open the file. The saw is a bit too difficult to bring out like this on my wave. I usually have to resort to the finger nail pull. Still, I can open and close all the tools one handed (with the exception of changing the double headed screwdriver. That still has me stumped), and it is an excellant quality tool. I highly reccomend it.

I have the same problem with my Leatherman Charge Ti. I have to open it with my right hand and pass it to my left. I usually don't open it one-handed because I'm afraid of dropping it and breaking the blade during the transfer.

Perhaps we need to have a website called equippedtosurvivelefthanded.com.

i am ambidextrous and am able to open the two main blades on my LM new Wave with my left hand, as well as my right, it just took a little bit of practice and i found that if i use my middle finger as opposed to my thumb i am able to get it openned. it felt a little awkward at first because the blades are on the opposite side of the blade and i cant use my thumb.

Leatherman for the following reasons:
1) Main blades are on the outside.
2) The file is diamond coated on one side. As you are in South America, I take it that a parang or machete is part of your equipment? The file is ideal for sharpening.
3) The saw, which locks, will cut bamboo etc.

Try running your SAK under a cold water tap. That should ease the blades.

Thanks for all the advice and comments.

I have one final question: does the bit holder on the Leatherman get worn/slack after considerable use? I would hate to lose a bit by it falling off the tool. Also, has anyone had any experience getting replacement bits from the company?

It's also very difficult for me to access warranties and replacements from over here. As for returning items - forget it. A friend of mine recieved a defective item which the seller kindly offered to replace on the condition that he return the defective item. He had to give up after the US customs charged him import duty that was more that the value of the item - he just told them to keep it and ordered a new one.

I'm seeing that most people here (ie., the right place - the survival forums) are Leatherman fans and I'm almost convinced, but the possibility of losing a bit and not being able to easily replace it might be a consideration for me.

PS. hey Leigh_Ratcliffe - we call it a "cutlass" and it's 22" (yep - twenty-two inches) of blade. You can do some mean cutting with it!!! Not a tool for novices though. Will get some pics in another post later on.

I haven't noticed any looseness from the bits, but I don't use them that regularly either. I don't believe leatherman will replace individual bits, but they do sell supplemental bit sets.

http://www.leatherman.com/shop/shop.aspx?category=37