Need some help choosing the right MT

ZuesL · **on:** November 05, 2009, 10:33:16 AM

hey guys

before i start i would like to say this is my first post on this fantastic forum, i have learnt a lot from reading the reviews here and i really appreciate it

i am planning on getting my second MT, (lost my first one and have no clue where

) and have been looking between the gerber suspension, the huntsman lite and the cybertool 29

i mainly need it for around the house jobs, bearing in mind im only 16 so i wont be using it a lot. i will also use it for camping trips thou i rarely go on those, about once or twice a year.

reading reviews i thought that the gerber would be a good choice as it is similar to the one i had and features a good range of tools i would probably use.
after reading the forum here i thought the huntsman would be a good choice because it has a wide range of tools and it has a led light

as im also a computer fanatic i thought that the cybertool might be a better choice as it had a screwdriver with bits and because i dont have much to spend, i thought the 29 would be better,

which one do you think i should choose? or do u have any better suggestions? im willing to spend up to £30-35 and preferably from Amazon.co.uk

oh and just wanted to know, i read the huntsman and the cybertool have a removable ballpoint pen, do i have to take it out completely to use it? or does it stay in the SAK for better grip?

thanks a lot for all your help, i really appreciate it

zepla · **Reply #1 on:** November 05, 2009, 10:49:17 AM

I have no experience with the tools you mention but I'm sure you get plenty reactions that you should go for a SAK. Somehow not a lot of big Gerber fans out here. Poor fit, bad quality and so on so I'm told. But like I said I have no experience with it my self.

BTW, welcome on board

DaveK · **Reply #2 on:** November 05, 2009, 10:55:10 AM

Hi ZuesL - welcome to the forum!

Personally, I think that any of the three tools you've mentioned there would serve you well, so you need to decide which features on your new tool you think you'll use the most. There are some other factors to take into consideration being in the UK too, specifically legality!

The Suspension is a tool that receives a fair amount of criticism on here, although I actually like mine a lot, and think that it represents good value for money. The problem with it though, is that it has locking knife blades, which means that you may receive some bother if you tried to carry it outside the house. If however you only intend to use it in the house, and pliers are important, then it's probably your best bet.

Being 16, I guess the carrying of any blade could be a problem outside, but it's worth bearing the above in mind, as the Huntsman and the Cybertool are legal to carry, given that the blades don't lock.

Some of the SAK guys will be along soon I'm sure, to tell you about the pros and cons of the two SAKs, they're not really my bag you see (I'd go for the Suspension).

You might also consider picking up a used tool from this forum, which would likely get you a lot more tool for your money.

ZuesL · **Reply #3 on:** November 05, 2009, 11:02:34 AM

oh wow, thanks for the quick replies

I didn't know about the locking blade law, so thats good to know now

i would buy it off the forum but my dad will be paying as i dont have a card, and he only wants to order on sites we have ordered from before. if i could, i would buy from here but unfortunatly I cant

I too read about the criticism of the suspension so thats why I also looked at other tools. the pliers aren't that imporant so i guess i would be better off with the SAK, and hopefully I will get info on choosing the right one

thanks again guys

DaveK · **Reply #4 on:** November 05, 2009, 11:15:05 AM

Oh - you'll get info alright - maybe later when people get home from work!

I'm sure they'll help you decide.

Gareth · **Reply #5 on:** November 05, 2009, 11:18:08 AM

Of the three I'd go with the Huntsman Lite, it's a great all-round knife that will do well in the home or camping. As to the pen; it does come out to be held in the hand and can indeed be fiddly, but it can also be held under the hook tool on the back that lets you hold the SAK and write much more easily.

While I don't think it's true of all Gerber’s, I've handled the Suspension and can't say I was at all impressed with the quality. If it were my money and I wanted a pliers based tool I'd go for a Leatherman Kick, not the most amount of tools but the quality is great. If you particularly like Gerber then have a look at the Gerber 600.

Not to be a total killjoy, but do make sure Mum or Dad do the buying. At 16 you're not old enough to buy knives in the UK, but you are most certainly allowed to own them.

Let us know what you go for in the end.

Oh, and welcome to the forum.

DaveK · **Reply #6 on:** November 05, 2009, 11:21:28 AM

Gareth - you reminded me of this deal at Heinnies at the moment:

http://heinnie.com/product.asp?s=y29iuc655081&CAT_ID=102&P_ID=4605

ZuesL - This is a much better Gerber, at Suspension prices! Heinnies are a well established business, and do the quickest delivery I've come across in the UK, included in the price. I don't think there's a better deal around in the UK at the moment!

Mr. Whippy · **Reply #7 on:** November 05, 2009, 11:57:47 AM

Quote from: DaveK on November 05, 2009, 11:21:28 AM

Gareth - you reminded me of this deal at Heinnies at the moment:

http://heinnie.com/product.asp?s=y29iuc655081&CAT_ID=102&P_ID=4605

ZuesL - This is a much better Gerber, at Suspension prices! Heinnies are a well established business, and do the quickest delivery I've come across in the UK, included in the price. I don't think there's a better deal around in the UK at the moment!

Let me toss in here that I much prefer this Gerber design too. The slide mechanism is fun to deploy (the pliers) and the saw bit holder is quite handy.

ZuesL · **Reply #8 on:** November 05, 2009, 12:11:38 PM

Quote from: DaveK on November 05, 2009, 11:21:28 AM

Gareth - you reminded me of this deal at Heinnies at the moment:

http://heinnie.com/product.asp?s=y29iuc655081&CAT_ID=102&P_ID=4605

thanks mate, just read the description and it said it had a locking feature, i thought that was technically not allowed to carry

if it helps i do plan to carry it with me )not in school obviously), you never know when you might need it

i should have said i was looking for something small, or about the size of the huntsman, sorry about that

Gareth · **Reply #9 on:** November 05, 2009, 12:22:12 PM

If you want to carry it then definitely avoid anything that locks. it's just not worth the potential hassle. Have a quick look at this thread it'll maybe give you some other ideas. http://forum.multitool.org/index.php/topic,8384.0.html

Most SAKs are non-locking and won't cause any hassle. The Leatherman Kick is also lock free.

Chako · **Reply #10 on:** November 05, 2009, 01:00:45 PM

Welcome ZuesL to the forums.

Well if you are a computer fanatic, the Vic Cybertool is hard to beat. I only have the 125th Anniversary 34 model, but I am always working on computers and I do not need to use it to know how useful having it as a companion would be. In fact, if I was getting one just for working on computers, I would save up for the Cyber Tool Lite that features the newer white LED.

The LED light on SAKs that I have seen (Red) so far, have mostly been weak useless things only good to illuminate a keyhole at close quarters. I have heard about the new brighter white LEDs and an even newer more powerful white LED but I don't have any first hand experiences with them.

The Gerbers are a plier based multi-tool. A better choice over the Swiss Army stuff if the pliers are going to be your most used feature. If you are looking at the Gerber Suspension, take a look at the MP400 or the bigger MP600. Both feature a sliding plier head design that is perfect for one hand deployment of the pliers. I have also found that this style of multi-tool from Gerber tends to be of higher quality than their other stuff. I have a Suspension and I don't think rather highly of it compared to the MP400 and 600s.

Happy MT/SAK hunting! :)D

Styerman · **Reply #11 on:** November 05, 2009, 01:43:16 PM

I would look to the Huntsman lite or the Cybertool , can't go wrong with either ! They will compliment whatever you aquire in future . Welcome to the forum !

Chris

Benner · **Reply #12 on:** November 05, 2009, 02:13:41 PM

Like the guys have said, if you are planning on carrying it outside, stick to non lockers. This applies to everyone here in the UK, but especially due to your age I would be extra cautious.

Heinnies is a great UK store if you are wanting to buy locally and will get it to you very quickly to. I have bought from them many times and have always been pleased with their service.

Welcome to MTO pal.

ZuesL · **Reply #13 on:** November 05, 2009, 04:54:52 PM

wow thanks a lot for all your help guys, i really appreciate it.
i think comparing the features of the two, i will choose to get the huntsman lite as it is only a few quid more expensive but has more features that seem more of use to me. i'll update when i order it as i am currently busy with mock exams, and will hopefully make a review as part of my contribution to this great forum *bows down to the monitor* Thanks a lot for all your help and for sharing your knowledge, and hopefully i will get one with the new LED so i can hopefully test it out for ya

scrappy · **Reply #14 on:** November 05, 2009, 08:09:30 PM

all of the gerber tools lock,so I would stay away from them.

Mike, Lord of the Spammers! · **Reply #15 on:** November 05, 2009, 10:07:14 PM

Welcome to the forum mate

Of the list you've quoted, I'd go for the Huntsman Lite too

But there are so many sak's to chose from, I'd pick the features you want, then select a sak from there...

http://www.victorinox.ch/index.cfm?site=victorinox.ch&page=550&lang=E

John · **Reply #16 on:** November 05, 2009, 10:18:06 PM

Good news guys the postal strike has been called off

[edit]

I meant to put this in:what do we have on the way

while I'm here welcome ZuesL

ZuesL · **Reply #17 on:** November 05, 2009, 10:22:46 PM

Quote from: Mike, Lord of the Spammers! on November 05, 2009, 10:07:14 PM

Welcome to the forum mate

Of the list you've quoted, I'd go for the Huntsman Lite too

But there are so many sak's to chose from, I'd pick the features you want, then select a sak from there...

http://www.victorinox.ch/index.cfm?site=victorinox.ch&page=550&lang=E

haha, i just tried it out and it gave me the huntsman

must be made for me

and although the strike has been called off, there will still be massive backlog

, family member is a postman and has to go to work tomorrow

thanks a lot guys, i will hopefully order it soon and will update when i get it

AHB · **Reply #18 on:** November 05, 2009, 10:23:26 PM

Quote from: John on November 05, 2009, 10:18:06 PM

Good news guys the postal strike has been called off
[edit] I meant to put this in:what do we have on the way

A good thing can't be said too many times..

And welcome, ZuesL

John · **Reply #19 on:** November 05, 2009, 10:32:49 PM

Quote from: AHB on November 05, 2009, 10:23:26 PM

Quote from: John on November 05, 2009, 10:18:06 PM
Good news guys the postal strike has been called off
[edit] I meant to put this in:what do we have on the way
A good thing can't be said too many times..

True

I'm just hoping that burning smell all over the country ATM isn't Royal mail clearing the back log