Bit kits...and why I don't carry them.

[Crouton]

I EDC a Charge as it meets my needs like no other multi-tool out there and the bit card that comes with it seems to be a perfect fit for the tool right?

Well for me I can't seem to comfortably carry a bit card in the sheath with my Charge.  I carry my Charge in my favorite sheath which is actually a New Wave Leather sheath.  I love the sheath as it has no emblem like the one from the Charge and it's clean and plain.  If it gets ragged I can polish it with shoe polish and it looks like new. 

Heres the rub, although the Wave sheath has a slot for a bit card if I insert one in it and then stow the Charge in the sheath it is so tight it becomes a challenge to remove it.  As such I have to forgo the convenience of having the extra bits with me for the convenience of removing the tool without a fight.

I prefer leather over nylon, but it's not the material the sheath is made of that is most important to me it's the closure mechanism.  I love a snap, the velcro just doesn't appeal to me.  My logic is that it is more comforting to me to know my multi is snapped in tight, and if it isn't snapped then the leather will snap open and you will be very aware that it is open.  With velcro it might be loose and just hangs there.

I did an experiment where I attempted to carry a bit kit for a week, and I just couldn't do it, I was irritated every time I tried to pull out the Charge.

So does anyone have any stories/suggestions on sheaths?  I suppose the sheath would eventually relax but I'm not so sure.  Is the Charge leather sheath larger internally?  I don't have one to test with.

[Anthony]

Same here with my New Wave...no way I can carry it with a bit card.  Victorinox had it right with their Swisstool sheath with the dedicated pocket/slot in the front for the bit driver.  The sheath was bigger, but if I wanted to carry the driver and bits, I could and access everything easily.  That said, that Swisstool sheath stuck out so far I never wore it and kept the bit kit in my EDC bag

Overall I think carrying bits are overkill for me; one big plier based tool and a SAK go a long way, and if I come across a strange screw, most times I've got my bag with me with about 80 various bits.

[Sazabi]

To be honest, I carried my Spirit Plus Sheath for all of a week or so before I grabbed a leather Spirit-only sheath to wear.  The other sheath stood out too far, though granted, I may end up tossing it into my bag, or keep it in my tool kit in my room. *shrugs*

[zepla]

Hmm, I have a wave and the sheat that comes with it. I have in there obviously a wave, a bitkit, a fenix lod-ce and a bit extender. And the tool comes out pretty easy. So no problems here 

[Deere Man]

The key is to give the sheath time to break in with the tool and bit kit inside.  I've found that standing out in a pouring rain for about 4 hours while wearing the tool/kit/sheath really speeds up the process.  Maybe it would help to soak the sheath for a while and then insert the tool, bit kit, goodies, etc and let the "leather" sit and stretch for a while.  I know when I first tried to cram my Surge in it's leather sheath along with a bit card and the file blade, it was quite a struggle to get the sheath snapped shut, but after a few months, it fits like a glove.  When iserting the tool into the sheath, it does sometimes hang up on the elastic pocket holding the bit card, but that can't really be helped.   

I personally find the bit kit rather handy, granted the one bit that comes with the tool seems to be the handiest and sees the most use, but I sometimes dig out the bit card to change bits.  I was pretty sure I was going to hate the bit exchanger system, but once I got a tool with one, I found that I rather like it.  I just can't see carrying a MT with only the two drivers that are on the one double ended bit that comes with the tool.  I want more capabilities than that, and that's what the bit kit provides, with minimal weight and expense.  That said, I'm looking forward to trying out a ST 300 because all the tools are attached to the tool and there's no bits, blades, etc. to loose. 

My wife on the other hand carries a Wave with no bit kit and she gets along just fine.  Then again, she doesn't always use the sheath, and she really only uses the knives, saw, and pliers.  To each their own I guess. 

[DaveK]

I know you said you don't like the Charge sheath much - but does it give you the same problems? I'm just wondering if there's a subtle size difference between the two as my setup seems to work well.

You do have do get a decent grip and pull hard to get the Charge out the way I do it, but I actually like that as it gives me a bit of comfort

[Poncho65]

I carry the bit kit/adapter with my ST300 in a nylon sheath and it seems to do fine but that is me

[Zack]

I carry a bit kit on my MOLLE sheath, and it works great, but that sheath is a bit bigger.  However, this is the first sheath I have carried a bit card with.  The others always felt too crammed.

[DaveK]

Not a solution to Crouton's torment by any means, but I do have a good tip for anyone carrying the bit card in a Charge or Wave sheath......

I found that the bits would snag on the elastic when putting the card in or out, then one day I had a brainwave and turned the card around! It might be obvious to most, but it made a real difference for me.

[rp252]

I've found a way to break in stuff like this in the past (as mentioned above) is with water.  Put everything you carry in the sheath in separate glad wrap/cling film bags and then soak the sheath in water.  Put the items (in their bags) in the sheath and leave it for a few hours.  That should help.

[Crouton]

I know you said you don't like the Charge sheath much - but does it give you the same problems? I'm just wondering if there's a subtle size difference between the two as my setup seems to work well.

You do have do get a decent grip and pull hard to get the Charge out the way I do it, but I actually like that as it gives me a bit of comfort

I haven't tried any sheath with the Charge besides my Wave sheath.  The two charge sheathes I have are both nylon. 

[DaveK]

OK, I'll try and compare the two later and let you know what I find out