Leatherman Wingman: not recommended

[J-sews]

Neil Gareth, there are more differences then that, but overall, they are similar tools.

Fixed.

[Gareth]

Neil Gareth, there are more differences then that, but overall, they are similar tools.

Fixed.

cheers Bob.

Dan, obviously they are similar MT's but my point was that there are significant enough differences that a person could like one but not the other.  If you read Powernoodle's review one of his biggest gripes is with the scissors and how they work, not an experience you'd get by owning a Sidekick.

[powernoodle]

I suspect that I would like the Sidekick for the reason Gareth stated.  But then you are getting away from the El Cheapo $29.95 price which is the Wingman's biggest selling point.

A $29.95 Sidekick would be pretty groovy.  I'd be happy to lose the carabiner and leather sheath to the price down.  Because for me, if I'm going to blow $45 for an MT, I might as well start thinking about a Juice, Wave, SOG, etc.

Its also worth noting that like most of you cats, I'm not the average MT buyer.  I have dozens of MTs already, so the reasons that I buy are different from the average guy who is buying his first MT to carry on the job or whatever.  I could make it through the day just fine with a Wingman - even with the crappy scissors.  I just don't have to. 

[New_World]

I love my wingman.
its worth the $25 i paid for it any day IMO.

The scissors on mine are great. =)
I think I got a really good one...I like how snappy it is.
feels like a USA leatherman...oh wait...it is! 
wingman is a good value.

[New_World]

I suspect that I would like the Sidekick for the reason Gareth stated.  But then you are getting away from the El Cheapo $29.95 price which is the Wingman's biggest selling point.

A $29.95 Sidekick would be pretty groovy.  I'd be happy to lose the carabiner and leather sheath to the price down.  Because for me, if I'm going to blow $45 for an MT, I might as well start thinking about a Juice, Wave, SOG, etc.

Its also worth noting that like most of you cats, I'm not the average MT buyer.  I have dozens of MTs already, so the reasons that I buy are different from the average guy who is buying his first MT to carry on the job or whatever.  I could make it through the day just fine with a Wingman - even with the crappy scissors.  I just don't have to. 

I agree...lose the carabiner and sheath on the sidekick to bring the price down.

[Heinz Doofenshmirtz]

I don't find the Wingman or Sidekick appealing from a purely practical point of view.  I understand they're new entry level tools, and for that they seem to be a good model for LM.  Once people get an idea of what a decent MT can do, they're going to want something better, and will eventually move up to a Wave or a Charge.

For me, the issue is weight and size.  They're just too darn heavy for what they offer.  Admittedly they are higher end tools, but for the weight of a Sidekick or Wingman, you can get a Wave or a Charge and have a better tool with more functionality.  If they were 5 oz. instead of 7 oz., it'd be a different story.  I know that's not a lot of difference, but for me it's important.  I do a lot of cycling and hiking and those small differences add up. 

[Blackbeard]

I'm not sure if your's is defective or not, but I find you need to engage the scissor lock almost like the Surge's, but instead of pushing on thumb pad, you push on static part of scissor after you open it and slightly raise pad, than you get an audible click of the lock....of course they don't includes this tidbit in the info sheet.

[Dunc]

I'm not sure if your's is defective or not, but I find you need to engage the scissor lock almost like the Surge's, but instead of pushing on thumb pad, you push on static part of scissor after you open it and slightly raise pad, than you get an audible click of the lock....of course they don't includes this tidbit in the info sheet.

That's exactly how mine is , once you get used to it it's fine .

[powernoodle]

I'll take another look at mine, thanks.

Edit:  nope!    I make sure that the lock is fully engaged, and then cycle the scissors about 20 times and the lock pops open.  Its not the end of the world, but its the first of my many Leathermans that has ever had a defect in design or execution.  I'm sticking with my "thumbs down" on this one.

[Lynn LeFey]

I picked up a Wingman a few days ago. The scissors on mine are fine. A point about opening them, and not having a thumb nick... the entire spring bar acts as a huge groove for deployment and is perfectly rigid for this purpose... at least on mine. The scissors on mine also have no play at the pivot, and try as I might (within reason), I can't get the thumb pad to slip past it's intended stopping point. This is using the scissors right or left handed. I think the OP should seriously consider returning the tool as a defect.

I purchased the tool for an externally accessible blade, and had hopes there'd be the possibility of swapping the blade and scissors, since I'm a lefty. No such luck. The tool is asymmetrical, with the 'well' that the blade fits into being deeper than the other side. If you swap the two, the blade won't close. Just a head's up on that. However, on the flipside... the problems right handed users have with the uncomfortable scissor pad are not an issue to lefties, since the left thumb rests on the smooth roll of metal, not an edge. I can open the blade while holding it left handed, with an utterly awkward index-finger half open, followed by finishing the open with my thumb. That sucks, though.

The file is nice, the can opener works as promised (it's 'meh', but works), and the package opener ROCKS! I've opened several blister packs with it, and it works great.

As of this point, the screw drivers are untested, and the slip joint 'locks' (while fairly stiff) give me pause. The pliers and wire cutter also remain untested. I have exactly zero faith in the wire cutting ability, and assume the pliers are pretty standard.

It's a little heavy for my taste. The pocket clip will remain unused on mine (being a woman who carries a purse all the time, I don't intend to stick it in a pocket).

I was hoping to replace my current EDC (a SOG Crosscut, a Sheffield 12010, and a Spyderco Delica) with a single tool. The SOG's scissors are better, and the Delica is a very easily OHO blade, even left handed. For the benefit of improved blister-pack opening ability, and bigger pliers, I just don't think the Wingman is a win for me. YMMV

[Dunc]

Did you find that while using the scissors they had a tendancy to push the material you were cutting out the scissor jaws so you kind of end up chasing it ? I actually found the wire cutters ok so you may be in for a pleasent surprise . May I suggest you remove the pocket clip as this will give give the tool a thinner and smoother profile .

[Lynn LeFey]

I've only used the scissors on paper. They worked fine. I haven't run them through any kind of paces.

I'm going to keep the clip on mine, because if I remove it, it will disappear in a junk drawer, never to be seen again, and since it's resides in my purse, if I intend to use it, I don't notice the clip or care. It doesn't interfere with trying oho left-handed, and actually lets me clearly know which way I'm holding the tool.

[Zed]

I love my wingman.
its worth the $25 i paid for it any day IMO.

The scissors on mine are great. =)
I think I got a really good one...I like how snappy it is.
feels like a USA leatherman...oh wait...it is! 
wingman is a good value.

$25    we get so shafted in the uk  not sure on that converted but must be around £20  i would buy one for that and im sure it would be great value for money,

[Farmman]

I love my wingman.
its worth the $25 i paid for it any day IMO.

The scissors on mine are great. =)
I think I got a really good one...I like how snappy it is.
feels like a USA leatherman...oh wait...it is! 
wingman is a good value.

$25    we get so shafted in the uk  not sure on that converted but must be around £20  i would buy one for that and im sure it would be great value for money,

Hate to do this but it is currently about £16.50 ie about what we pay for a style.