Hi Guys,

I need some input from anyone that knows multi tools. My Leatherman Wave has been lost, and I need to replace it with something appropriate. I’m leaning towards the Leatherman Charge XTI or TI, but have also been advised to look at the Gerber MP 8000. Do any of you have experience with these products?

I use a multi-tool rather frequently, but not very abusively. So although strength and durability is definitely appreciated, ease, comfort of use and multi capability receives an even higher priority.

Thanks you your input.

Riaan

Riaan,

I carried a Leatherman Wave everyday for 7 years and on two trips to Africa and found it to be a good tool. HOWEVER, after learning that Tim Leatherman came out and publicly endorsed John Kerry in 2004 I took the Leatherman off and haven't used it since. I tried the Gerber and just wasn't satisfied. Recently I purchased the Swiss Victorinox Multitool and found it to be a very well made, well designed tool. I use it all the time.

Tom

You like it better then the leatherman or are you just being stuborn because of politics?

I personally like the Gerber better than the Leatherman. The Gerber is better made and finished. It makes the Leatherman look and feel crude by comparison.

Now that I know Leatherman supported Kerry, I have yet another reason to prefer Gerber.

Leatherman is the only tool I carry on the duty belt,, we tried the Gerber but the tools broke and or snapped in half,, have never had a leatherman fail.

I have always been a huge fan of leathermans, gerbers are junk IMO, leathermans have gotten me out of so many bad situations its not even funny.

Leatherman has just come out with the ultimate refined and beefed up unit to date, its called the Core, its tight and very heavy duty, The Core is the best tool to date, IMO the wave has too many gadgets, I also don't like the way the blades open.

as for leatherman supporting Kerry, that is very disturbing, guess he feels like doing something like that because of all the rednecks who use them

I've had two Gerber's and the only problems I've had was they don't float.

I dropped the first one while surf fishing at Cape Hatteras...

I have a Victorinox multitool..I can tell you the steel on the knives is super very sharp..

Mike

I've got a leatherman wave and uses it everyday.
Best thing it's got a life long guarentee. Once a year at the Aim Shot show at Kyalami, I hand it in for a service. All broken parts are replaced free of charge. Nothing on my wave has ever broken and I sometimes do abuse it a little bit. I got a lot of respect for this rugged hard working tool.

I started out with Gerbers and then graduated to a Leatherman Wave that I carried for a few years.
My latest favorite is the Leatherman Charge. I like the charge for it's interchangable screwdriver blades that lock into place. I barked my knuckles a few times using the non-locking blades on the older Gerber and Wave.

For hunts I bought the accessory blades kits and made sure than in my side pouch I had blades to fit all the screws on my gun including Hex and Torx bits. They have since retrofited the interchangable tips to the new Waves so they might again be a good option though I don't know if they lock into place like they do on the Charge..............DJ

Most of the Gerber products are made in China, so, even if you don't like his politics, Leatherman is an American. I'll bet he has a few Republicans working for him! I'd rather give my money to an American, than send it to China!

Another vote for the Victorinox Swiss tool.

I have used all three makes over the years. I started out with a Leatherman. It wasn't the strongest thing in the world, but was great for repairing camp stoves, fly reels and rafts in the middle of the Alaskan bush. I still have it around the house.

My Gerber has these little tool heads that fit into a socket on the tool. Those are nice. The pliers on my Gerber are coarser than those on my Leatherman so the Gerber has been better for working on machinery. It resides in the glove box of my pickup.

The Swiss tool is better than the other two by a small, but significant margin. Better quality steel and tighter tolerances. It is a bit heavier, but eveerything in life is a compromise.

lawndart

The Swiss Tool is a very fine piece of kit. It's contruction, mechanics, and steel scream quality. You can access all the tools except for the pliers without unfolding the tool which I could not do with the Wave. The tools lock in the open position while the tools on the Wave did not.

Now, having experience with both I would prefer the Swiss Tool over the Leatherman even if Tim Leatherman was not a liberal Democrat.

Tom

Used both the Leatherman and the Gerber. Did like the original 'supertool' with the locking blades. Now the Gerbers, with the locking blades and better pliers (than the original gerbers) fit my requirements better than the newer Leatherman offerings.

Cheers, Dave.

Execpt for the 'juice' series, the one with the corkscrew comes in real handy, if there is a bottle of wine to be opened, and everyone has forgotten the proper corkscrew!

Cheers, Dave.

I like the Leatherman Super Tool. No corkscrew but I have not found a bottle of wine that I could not get into if I really wanted some.

I have both I like the leatherman better when ever I use the Gerber pliers I am always pinching my hand with them.

quote:

Originally posted by lee440:
Most of the Gerber products are made in China, so, even if you don't like his politics, Leatherman is an American. I'll bet he has a few Republicans working for him! I'd rather give my money to an American, than send it to China!

Some of them might be but not all. I am looking at mine and it is definetly made in the US. It is one of the locking blade models. I believe the only ones made in Chine is the old style non locking blade. When my old one broke I sent it back to Gerber and they replied back that the same model was now made "off shore". So I upgraded to a better model and it is made in the US.

As a side note one reason I like Gerbers is their warranty. Mine will brake a blade once in a while (gotta learn to not be so rough - can't use the blade as a pry bar). They have always replaced them at no charge. The last time I sent it in without the case and the replaced that too. Hardly ever a day goes by that I don't wear or use it.

Yes, good point! I have had a couple of things break on Gerbers (usually I stuff up the screwdrivers) and they have always replaced them without quibbling. Last one was the old style black (non locking) needlenose pliers. sent it back, got a new model with locking blades as a replacement, along with a note apologising that they did not make the non locking needlenose model in black anymore.

Got to be happy with that!

Cheers, Dave.

quote:

Originally posted by lee440:
I'll bet he has a few Republicans working for him!

Being that both compainies are here in the Portland Metro Area, I bet the odds are that the ratio of Republicans to Democrats at both compaines is even at best.

Riaan, When I suggested that you post the question here I knew you'd get opinions, but I didn't suspect that they'd be political!

-Steve

Leatherman original from 1993-2001, Leatherman wave 01- present.

I´ve used a Leatherman Pulse for a few years and it is very useful.

I have the Buck tool which is also good.

I do not know the Gerber tools. I had two Leatherman tools and they used to go blunt quickly, screwdriver blades twisted and electrical wire cutting was a joke. Now I have a Schrade multi tool and it has outlasted the combined time of the Leatherman tools and still functions flawlessly. I do stuff with it that made the Leatherman tools lie down and cry. My only complaint is that the pouch wore out and the only pouch I could get hold of was a Leatherman pouch.

none of the above - take a look at the SOG tool.

swisstool..
the rest aren't up to snuff

seriously

jeffe

Leatherman is out due to its support to a political philosophy that seeks to destroy private firearms ownership.

I use a Schrade. Don't like all the tools upright on the squeezing ends on the Leatherman.

After I posted I went looking for a source for a pouch for my Schrade and found that the company went bankrupt in the middle of 2004. I found one reference that someone has taken over the lines and are manufacturing the Schrade products but could not find a source. Pity.

I will also vote #1 for the Swiss Tool and then the Leatherman. I have both but the Swiss tool is very hard, I use mine every day during the hunting season.

The Gerber is too flimsy for me. I don't get the feeling of a strong tool.

I use the Leatherman that is like the Vise Grip, I don't even know it's name. If I go it goes, no matter if it is the shootig bench, hunt, or gardening. Good shooting.

quote:

Most of the Gerber products are made in China

Mine has "Gerber USA" all over it.

Works quite well.

Another vote for the SOG. I really appreciate the coupound leverage on the pliers, and the blades seem to be superior. Just my two cents worth.

i have taken a gerber multi around the world a few times...a little rust problem when kyaking in the ocean but it was my fault for not spraying wd40 before the trip and rinsing right afterwards...the mid size ones are the best and plyers are a must for me. i would go for a polished steel vs bead blast finish. the best test is how it feels in your hand and how easy is it to use...go to a store and handle all of them first

I use evryday a gerber and i never has any problenm ,and im a lot in the water hunting ducks ,capibaras and water buffalos .Juan