What's been happening in past year?

ari6126 · **on:** June 02, 2013, 06:51:58 AM

I've been gone a while, what's up in the multitool world? Any big new tool releases? I see Wenger is going away?

enki_ck · **Reply #1 on:** June 02, 2013, 08:00:33 PM

Nice to see you back.

Sorry for the late reply, I had to gather some info first.

Leatherman:
The Rebar (ST300's little brother) came out. Divided thoughts about that one. Lots of QC problems have been reported.

OHT - LM's take one the Gerber sliding pliers.

Orange Fuse - the classic got a paint job

Leatherman acquired the PocketTool X brand and is now producing their pocket tools Piranha, Mako and Brewzer. They also made some snowboarder specific OPTs, the Hail and the Rime. Also a new sports version of the Skeletool is coming out, the Skeletool SX with a diamond file attached to the frame.

SOG:
PowerDuo - that was a fiasco. http://forum.multitool.org/index.php/topic,40498

Gerber:
MP600ST (Sight Tool) - another variation of the MP600.

Dime - Squirt style keychain tool. There were some issues with the backspring bending out in the beginning but I haven't heard any reports in a long time. Many like it.

Balance - mid sized multi Al did a good review on it here. http://forum.multitool.org/index.php/topic,40506.msg648192.html#msg648192

Steady - a multitool that is also a camera stand.

CRKT:
CRKT Tool - non pliers based multi.

As for Wenger, the reports say that some of the Wenger line will be integrated into the Victorinox production. We still don't know anything exact about which tools and sizes though.

Victorinox also came out with a full sized folder. People don't seem to be too thrilled about that one due to not so good execution. you can read more about it here.
http://forum.multitool.org/index.php/topic,44905.msg726609.html#msg726609

Also, Victorinox seem to be phasing out the 93mm line in north America. There are only a couple models left available although almost the full range is still available in Europe and Asia.

I may have forgot something but that's the most of it.

And happy birthday to you, I wish you all the best.

nuphoria · **Reply #2 on:** June 02, 2013, 10:17:22 PM

Hi ari, nice to see you

AimlessWanderer · **Reply #3 on:** June 03, 2013, 02:06:58 PM

Nice to see you around ari

enki_ck summed it up quite nicely

Of those I have sampled the Dime, Balance, Rebar and Orange Fuse. I'm very happy with the Gerbers, and very happy with the Orange Fuse (particularly as I modded mine HERE

)

The Rebar was a little uninspiring I found, and couldn't be easily modded to take scissors as I had hoped

Several people here have taken to decapitating the Rebar and putting the pliers head on a Wave/Charge .... but personally I Don't like the Rebar head as the cutters impede on the large gripping area which can damage both the cutters and the "whatever" that you are trying to grip. The blades also seem really thin.

I have heard mixed reports on the OHT - great stuff from the LM faithful (surprisingly

) and less favourable reactions from those who like Gerbers .... or that's the general impression I've received anyway. It claims (wrongly) to be the first fully one-hand-opening tool, obviously ignoring the Buck X-Tract line. I have two X-Tracts (Essential and Fin) and the fully OHO is great ... but I have no interest in paying for an OHT. It's a bloody ugly thing in 1980's shoulder pads with rather diminutive tools IMHO.

I have no experience with the other tools released - but from what I've seen, keep well clear of the SOG