Why kind of multitool does everybody use?

[denns25]

To all you hiking people: What kind of multitool do you use?

I see where gerber-tools.com (http://www.gerber-tools.com) has quite a selection of multitools, but I don't even know where to begin on this.

Also I hear alot of people that Leatherman is an alternative to Gerber brand.

Respectfully,

Outdoor Newbie.

[brad nicholson]

either the leatherman, the regular standard old leatherman, i think it is called the traditional now or a swiss army knife. i have a "climber" swiss army knife, i have never needed anything else.

[EdK]

I have a Leatherman "something or other". It's one of the big ones that I never ever take backpacking with me anymore...just too big and heavy for my backcountry needs. Instead, I've opted for a small Coleman folding knife with a clip to hang from where ever, and a very small pair of pliars, also Coleman, in case I really need to grip something. I've never really found a use for a multi tool in the backcountry. Ed

[Rich M]

I carry a Leatherman Juice S2. Small, compact and does everything that I need it to do.

[GreatDivide14]

I use a Leatherman PST II-- I like it for the scissors and the good file. I'd rather have a whole knife than two halves, though. I got it when the eagerly anticipated moment came and my Gerber Multi Plier broke. One of the screws that holds the blades in the handle sheared off, ending once and for all the annoyance of constantly having to tension it with that 1/16" allen wrench I never had when I needed it. Before I was liberated, I hated it for the gimmicks. Instead of unfolding the two handles to open the pliers, you hold it in a way that takes some talent to learn and flick your wrist. This move draws oohs and aahs from the crowds and draws profanity from the user when the pliers slip and pinch his/her hands between the grips. It's also a huge pain to get to any of the blades, as you have to flick the jaws out, unfold the blade from the inside of the grips, and slide the jaws back in again, at which point you have a knife with an unwieldy handle whose pieces rattle around loosely. The steel is sturdy enough, but I never managed to get a good edge on it, and I've gotten some other knives sharp enough to shave. Anyway, with sharp blades, solid jaws, and generally excellent all-around quality, I'll get another Leatherman when this one goes out. I'm not holding my breath for that to happen this time.

[Skyeward]

I'd like to know what everyone does with all the tools on multi-tools while backpacking. It's a mystery to me! I've found that I never needed more than sissors and a small blade, so I ditched the swiss army knife. Now carry a 1oz. folding Buck knife, and the sissors in my First Aide kit.

[brad nicholson]

exactly why i carry a swiss army knife, hundred mile an hour tape, and some dummy cord; pretty much fixes everything i ever needed it to. broken pack straps, bindings, etc.

[MN Josh]

I use a Leatherman Micra. <2 oz. and nice and small. Everything else is way too heavy!

[NoKnees]

I'm with ya... I keep the Leatherman Juice in the car, but keep the little micra with me on the trail. Works like a charm. The pliers get the most use when fishing. The only drawback is on short trips when I bring along a whole salami... Small knife makes cutting that and any cheeses I pack a bit rough. In that case I also pack an old Opnel knife, as it ways next to nothing yet has a great blade and a solid wooden handle..

[GreatDivide14]

I carry that burly, ready-for-anything PST II and don't use it that much in the backcountry. My stove doesn't fail (it's a valve with pot supports), my pack suspensions don't contain screws, I don't use a GPS, and even if I do need those wire cutters to make an emergency cell-phone battery from spare change and piss, I don't carry my cell phone. I use the can opener when I pack tuna, I occasionally have to cut something with the scissors or the knife, and I might eventually get some gadget I need a screwdriver to service. In other words, a fairly basic Swiss Army knife would suit my purposes just fine, if I wasn't on a technogeek power trip. If you need pliers, you can always throw in a dinky set of needlenose; they weigh next to nothing, and you could probably drill holes in the handles if you're paranoid enough. If anyone combines a fair-sized blade, a pair of scissors, basic screwdrivers, and a can opener and makes it out of good steel (NO CORKSCREWS!!), it's on my drool list. Until then, I'll keep up the Leatherman machismo.

[Gam]

This is the only tool I take backpacking. Stainless steel blade, walnut handle feels good, locking ring, simplicity, but refined for over a hundred years.
http://www.fototime.com/87DE97AF0DAC59A/standard.jpg

[ND Sol]

I use a MiniBuck Tool, which weighs in at 1.10 oz. It has needlenose pliers, scissors, drop-point knife blade, Phillips screwdriver, tweezers, nail file, bottle opener/cap lifter (use as slotted screwdriver), metric and fractional scales. It is 2 1/2" closed, 3 3/4" with pliers open. The molded plastic sheath that it comes with is difficult to remove the tool from, so I generally don't bring it. Here is a good review of it:

http://www.backpackgeartest.org/reviews/Knives/Multi-tools/Buck%20Minibuck%20Multitool/Owner%20Review%20by%20Peggy%20Dodson/ (http://http://www.backpackgeartest.org/reviews/Knives/Multi-tools/Buck%20Minibuck%20Multitool/Owner%20Review%20by%20Peggy%20Dodson/)

http://store3.yimg.com/I/survivalinstinct_1782_321611

[wayne-o]

not really needed, i use these swiss micro tech http://www.swisstechtools.com/images/1547im~1a.gif

and a leatherman micra for scissors and clreaning fingernails mostly

the small pliars are good for twisting the tabs on my pur filter if it gets stuck or vacuum sealed from suction

[Dusty Dan]

just a Swiss Army Super Tinker. My old Tinker from my youth disappeared in a move, and this is the replacement. I guess the Phillips screwdriver is more useful than the corkscrew, since my hiking partners always seem to find the bottle of wine I stash in their packs before we leave...

Dan

[Powdered Toast Man]

I have a SOG Paratool, but I rarely use it. The last time I did was about a year ago to open a can and since I got some of those little stamped steel openers, I dont even need it for that. Instead I find myself making more use of my small buck pocket knife.

[NoKnees]

Looks like my Opnel... Exactly... Great blade..

[Dusty Dan]

I got my models mixed up. My old knife was a Spartan. The new one is a Tinker, not a Super Tinker. Fewer tools, but adequate for everything I have ever needed. As I said, duh!

Assuming you care, since this was supposed to be about multitools.