# Help me pick a multi-tool / Swiss Army Knife **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 6, 2006, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-pick-a-multi-tool-swiss-army-knife/347290 "2006-03-06T20:16:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![black\_rabbit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f19dbf/32.png) [@black\_rabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/black_rabbit)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2006, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-pick-a-multi-tool-swiss-army-knife/347290/1 "2006-03-06T20:16:10Z")
Hmmm… decisions, decisions… I’m currently using a CyberTool 34 by Victorinox. It’s nice, but it’s really, really frickin’ huge. I could probably use it instead of a roll of quarters if I felt like beating the crap out of somebody. It’s big enough to become a PITA when I’m loaded down with keys, change, flash drive, phone, wallet, planner, and pager - all in my jeans pockets. Still, I kinda need it, or something like it, for work. Basically, I _need_ a knife, small/medium flat bits, a real Philips bit, and perhaps bottle opener. I’d also _like_ wire strippers/cutters, and a corkscrew. Pliers, torx bits, small blades, and a can opener are OK, but not completely necessary, and scissors, and awl, package hooks, toothpicks, ballpoint pens, etc are completely useless to me. So far, I’ve narrowed it down to the [Leatherman Juice C2](http://www.swissknifeshop.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=SKS&Product_Code=LJC2&Category_Code=LTG) and a [CyberTool 29](http://www.swissknifeshop.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=SKS&Product_Code=CYBER29&Category_Code=DY), the smaller version of my current knife. They’re the same price. The Leatherman seems to be slightly smaller, though somewhat heavier, but has real pliers and wire cutters. The 29 is a full two ounces lighter than my 34 and has torx bits, but only comes in goofy colors. It also has the dreaded Awl of Pointless Extra Weight. Has anybody used either (especially the Leatherman), and can you recommend one over the other to me? I’m basically going to be using it for futzing around with computer cases, making ethernet cables/jacks, occasionally wiring up a punchdown block, and peeling oranges. I _do_ have a real set of tools, but having something in my pocket is definitely handy. If you can recommend anything else, I’d appreciate it. Aside: What’s the deal with the awl? I mean, I could understand one on a knife that intended for somebody who regularly has to, I dunno, poke holes in wood and leather and shit, but for a geek tool? Whatev. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2006, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-pick-a-multi-tool-swiss-army-knife/347290/2 "2006-03-06T20:47:29Z")
I carry a Leatherman with me everywhere. The pliers alone make it worth it. I have a C2 on my belt right now, and an S2 in my desk drawer. The only real complaint I have about the Juice line of Leatherman is that the blade doesn’t lock, which means I carry a lockblade knife in addition to the multi-tool. For what you are doing, go with the Leatherman. ---
**Author:** ![Mollie\_Magill](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mollie_magill/32/20882_2.png) [@Mollie\_Magill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mollie_Magill)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2006, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-pick-a-multi-tool-swiss-army-knife/347290/3 "2006-03-06T21:24:33Z")
I use a Gerber. I like the slide action better than the folding action of a Leatherman. You can retrieve the pliers with one hand, and with practice you can retrieve a blade or another tool with one hand. I’m not that good. It also has a nice belt pouch, so it doesn’t bulk up your pockets. ---
**Author:** ![butler1850](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/779978/32.png) [@butler1850](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/butler1850)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2006, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-pick-a-multi-tool-swiss-army-knife/347290/4 "2006-03-06T21:29:56Z")
I use the Leatherman Pulse… free from Microsoft as a part of the Server 2k3 promotion they had going back in '03. Great knife, and would have made a worthy successor to my original leatherman if I had actually had to pay real $$$ for it. If I was buying one from scratch though, I’d go with the Leatherman WAVE. Just MHO. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2006, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-pick-a-multi-tool-swiss-army-knife/347290/5 "2006-03-06T22:49:41Z")
Two suggestions– [http://www.knifecenter.com/kc\_new/store\_detail.html?s=VN53761](http://www.knifecenter.com/kc_new/store_detail.html?s=VN53761) [http://www.knifecenter.com/kc\_new/store\_detail.html?s=VN53721](http://www.knifecenter.com/kc_new/store_detail.html?s=VN53721) ---
**Author:** ![Giant\_Spongess](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/94ad74/32.png) [@Giant\_Spongess](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giant_Spongess)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2006, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-pick-a-multi-tool-swiss-army-knife/347290/6 "2006-03-06T23:27:19Z")
I use a Leatherman Pulse. It’s incredibly useful, I’ve used for everything from cutting apples to sculpting baleen\* to retrieving items out of difficult crevices to trimming my nails. I’d recommend anything with pliers over a regular Swiss Army type knife. My fiance has a Gerber. He managed to break one of the knife blades, plus it doesn’t have as many functions, plus I’m attached to my own tool\*\*, so I don’t think it’s as good. \*[sub]Long story.[/sub] \*\*[sub]Har, har.[/sub] ---
**Author:** ![YaWanna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/bbce88/32.png) [@YaWanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YaWanna)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2006, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-pick-a-multi-tool-swiss-army-knife/347290/7 "2006-03-07T00:14:33Z")
I just got a Leatherman Juice (I don’t know which one, but it’s got, like, everything) for hiking/snowshoeing. I haven’t actually used it yet. One thing that has me a bit concerned about it is that I find it not so easy for my little girly (and slightly arthritic) fingers to get some of the tools unfolded. Does this get easier with use, or do I need to oil it, or what? Sorry to hijack. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2006, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-pick-a-multi-tool-swiss-army-knife/347290/8 "2006-03-07T00:36:56Z")
The Juice tools are rather tight when you first get it. A little lube and some break in and it will work just fine. As for some of the other suggestions…the OP was looking for something small, which rules out the Pulse, the Wave, and every other full-size multitool, no matter how good they are. Pity that, because the Pulse is a really nice tool. ---
**Author:** ![black\_rabbit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f19dbf/32.png) [@black\_rabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/black_rabbit)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2006, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-pick-a-multi-tool-swiss-army-knife/347290/9 "2006-03-07T01:24:04Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > The Juice tools are rather tight when you first get it. A little lube and some break in and it will work just fine. :cough: So, yeah. I’ll probably end up with the Juice… thanks for the recommendation. I’ve got one of the original Leathermans (Leathermen?) floating around somewhere. Obviously, it held up well for the ten years or so that I carried it. I _am_ trying to go minimalist; I’ve got _waay_ to much junk to cart around as it is. To wit, I’ve got one of these things on my keychain for when I’m not at work: [http://www.knifecenter.com/knifecenter/seber/utkey.html](http://www.knifecenter.com/knifecenter/seber/utkey.html) ---
**Author:** ![black\_rabbit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f19dbf/32.png) [@black\_rabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/black_rabbit)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2006, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-pick-a-multi-tool-swiss-army-knife/347290/10 "2006-03-07T01:31:17Z")
I should probably add that I’d go with the Victorinox Tinker, but a) I like to have a reasonably straight-handled Philips, and b) there have been a disturbingly large number of times I’ve found myself in need of a corkscrew.