opinions on best keychain tool, gerber curve or ...

[N_N_R]

I've tried only Leatherman Style CS and Leatherman Micra so far and they both have their advantages and disadvantages


Style CS Pros

- tools accessible on the outside
- carabiner makes it easier to carry on a belt loop or wherever
- outstanding tweezers


Style CS Cons

- a weakish screwdriver
- longer in size
- the holes on the blade get full of the material you're cutting



Micra Pros

- shorter in size
- better & more screwdrivers
- the knife doesn't have holes, which can get dirt
- sliiightly longer scissors, I think


Cons

- more "difficult" to carry
- the keyring/lanyard attachment gets in the way of using the knife/screwdirver/whatever
- tools accessible only after opening the whole tool
- the tweezers aren't so refined


Anyway, if I had to choose, I guess, I'd choose the Style CS, because of the tool accessibility and the possibility to carry it OUTSIDE of your pockets in the summer (my eternal lack-of pocket trouble). BUT if you need MORE tools, then choose something wtih more tools

[GSterling]

thanks for the very detailed breakdown.
 reading your description and looking at the tools on the LM site, sure puts a few things into perspective for me. i think your right, the lanyard on the micra would not hold up to the abuse i'd likely give it

[Websniper]

I own the Squirt S4 (discontinued), Micra, and Style PS.

For me (I'm an IT consultant), my favorite tool is the Squirt S4.  I find that I use the main scissors on the S4 A LOT.  They work way better than the small folding scissors on the Style P4 on tough zip ties.  I also prefer the outside opening tools on the Squirt line.

That being said, the things I like better on the Micra are the length of the screwdrivers, especially the small flathead, and the bottle opener works much better because of that as well.  However, I've pinched myself pretty bad several times using the Micra scissors, and the handles are not nearly as comfortable to bear down on as the Squirt's.  The  tweezers on the Micra are also quite crude.

I do like the Style PS for its design and I've been carrying it in addition to the Squirt for its plier head.  I actually just used them today to help clear a printer jam.

If they could add a stronger set of scissors onto the PS4 or have a tool that somehow combined the best features of all the above it would be amazing!  I may have to try some of the SAK keychain sized tools......

[Blitzwing]

I didn't have luck with the curve..  Fell off Keychain,  the little wire gate on the bottle opened kept falling off

[DeezNittles]

I didn't have luck with the curve..  Fell off Keychain,  the little wire gate on the bottle opened kept falling off

I had a similar experience... While the Curve does have some things going for it (mainly the bottle opener and locking tools) it just seems that it wasn't completely thought out for keychain carry.

[sergemaster]

Amici,
Very sad how there's no love for the Leatherman Wingman from most circles. I personally find it OK, but I feel it was geard towards the non MT folks as the PST was back in 1980.

A for the question, I would go the Micra route supplanted with a Gerber Artifact. Lightweight and should... meet most needs.


Cheers,
Serge

[Frankctz]

For keychain, the LM sidekick or wingman are too large....
I prefer the LM Micra or Victorinox Minichamp..

[JimShockz]

thanks for the very detailed breakdown.
 reading your description and looking at the tools on the LM site, sure puts a few things into perspective for me. i think your right, the lanyard on the micra would not hold up to the abuse i'd likely give it

Recently we looked at a video camera that is carried on the key chain,its incredible the quaqlity of the pics are great.

-JS

[powerring]

Let me start by saying I don't carry any of these on a keychain.  I've heard from many wise folks here that the extra weight is bad for a car's ignition.

Anyhow, I've used either a Squirt/Micra, a Style CS, or a Vic Midnight Manager for keychain-sized carry.  I wasn't partial to the Curve because the lock was very difficult to operate (at least on my model).

I've carried the Squirt S4 more than any of my tools since the scissors are great and all the tools open to the outside.  This actually goes in a belt sheath designed for a 58mm Vic Classic.     It fits perfectly.

Alas, that model has been discontinued in favor of the PS4.  The Micra is similarly sized but the interior tools require you to open it up for use.

I find I'm carrying the Style CS, in pocket, more and more though.  It does most of what I need.

The Midnight Manager, or any of it's cousins such as the Rambler or Minichamp, would be fine choices too.  The Midnight Manager has an LED that is weak but useful.

[El Rago]

thats totally true, PowerRing. I even saw some car manuals "advising" against even putting a ring. For these cases it is best to have the car key(s) separate. I do so now. I use a LeatherMan carabiner and I just add/substract key rings with the different implements I might use.

as far as the keychain options go, I have been here for some time now, and I can attest that most ppl carry multiple tools instead of a single one, so this could be some of a moot point, wheater you choose one with more tools, or better cutters.

I carry a "main" tool and a backup Gerber Dime. It does have a decent load out and is quite stylish. But if I need to perform a bigger more complex task, outs come the Wave. I have been carrying it for some while now, and it performs quite well for its intended role. Just dont go asking more, it will break. But that is true of most keychain tools.

[darth_guy101]

Victorinox Manager. Its so handy, I wonder how I ever lived without it.

[Heinz Doofenshmirtz]

I was pretty happy with a CS when I carried one... I stopped because the blade just flat-out sucked.  Dulled easily, and wouldn't take a decent edge either.  The scissors are great though.  If your keychain tool is a back-up, it'd be a good choice.  If you want a keychain tool as your primary EDC MT, I'd choose something else.

I had a Rambler, but the tools were too small for me to use easily.  Always felt like I should use the tweezers to try and pull the regular tools out...