real charge AL review (pic heavy)

[pyles 94]

hey guys, finally worked out the kinks on my charge AL review, so here it is.
 the charge AL has been around since 2006 I think. it has 18 tools, and weighs out at 8 ounces. this was my first full sized tool, and I chose it because it was basically a wave with a better blade, better handles, and a few extra goodies we'll get to at the end. the price can be anywhere between 80 dollars and 150 ish. so without further ado, here we go.
the AL has 4 tools on the outside. a 154cm knife blade, a file (one side's diamond, one side's a usual crosscut), a 420 hc sheepsfoot serrated knife, and a razor sharp saw.
here's a close up of the nice saw. it has 2 rows of very sharp teeth, and they're all slanted towards the tool. that means its a pull saw, not necessarily sure what that does for it, but this saw works VERY well
the serrated knife blade has a few little bumps near the thumb hole so if you are in the dark you can know which one you're opening without feeling the blade.
all the tools on the outside are liner lock, and many people are confused at how to close it when I show them. basically you just press the little lock icon below the knife's tang.
when you open the rest of the tool up, you'll see it has a very nice pair of pliers that include needlenose, a round standard gripping area (both have serrates for better gripping) wire cutters and a hard wire cutter notch. the pliers are extremely comfortable, and very easy to use. the wirecutters are absolutely amazing, they cut through copper wire very easily, and I've seen people cut through a 16 penny nail with these cutters. again, very nice.
on one side of the handles, you have a fixed flathead, an eyeglass bit driver (for those tiny little screws in glasses) and some VERY nice spring action scissors.
the scissors may be semi small, but don't be dismayed, they are razor sharp. I've cut through tough canvas with these, and it cut like butter, without hurting my thumb. you have to fold the scissors up before you put them back in the handle (while we're talking about it, the handles have an inch and metric ruler on them) but its easy to do so. here's the scissors again-

on the other side, you have a can/bottle opener, with a little wire stripper (the little V area) and a bit driver.
all the tools on the inside have a little button you press to unlock and fold the tools in
now, the bit driver is very nice. you can get a lot of torque on it, unlike many knock off brands bit drivers, which take up too much space anyhow. leatherman uses a flattened bit method, and saves much space doing so. one way to get more leverage while using the bit driver is to unfold one of the handles, or put them at a 90 degree angle.
the bit driver comes with the philips/flathead bit already in place. of course, its reversable
the charge comes with 6 extra bits, in a little plastic bit case that can slip into the back of the sheath (we'll cover this later) but here's the bit. these are half of the goodies I mentioned earlier
the other half is a quick release lanyard ring and pocket clip. very nice and snug fit, although on the pocket clip, it has a little movement. but they're definitely sturdy enough.

the sheath options are good. currently you can only buy two sheaths for the charge, but you might be able to find the plain leather (far right) online. the nylon/leather combo sheath (far left) and the nylon (middle) are the two currently offered. the leather/nylon carries the bits in a nylon pouch in the front of the sheath, unlike the nylon, which has an elastic pouch in the back inside of the sheath. the leather has it too, but it doesn't hold the tool and the bits together. I currentl carry this tool and use the leather since I have the bit kit and I carry it in my pocket in a little kershaw edc pouch thing.

all in all, the charge is a GREAT tool. I have never regretted getting this tool, and carry it every day I can. I completely recommend you buy this tool. it is definitely worth the money

pros-
great blade material
comfortable everywhere, unlike the wave or surge, that have that wraparound design on the handles
great tool selection

cons-
spendy
the bottle opener is semi hard to use
leather sheath doesn't permit carrying both the tool and the bits

hope this review helped. thanks all for reading. till next time- pyles

[cerbera147]

Great review 

I have a TTi Charge which I love but the Charge AL looks the part with the black handles 

I suppose is like a Wave Deluxe with the 154CM blade and better handles

[pyles 94]

indeed, the handles are 6016-t6 hard anodized aluminum.and yeah, the main reason I got it was because it was a wave to the power of two

[pyles 94]

will this now be featured on the main website?

[Grant Lamontagne]

This is an excellent first try- keep working at it and I'm sure you'll get one there someday.

Def

[pyles 94]

dangit... so only the best eye candy gets on the main website?

[Grant Lamontagne]

I'd go through it with you, but I'm pretty harsh (as I've been told on many occasions!) when I comes to these kinds of things. 

In short, it looks as if you took it out the box, looked it over really good and wrote the review.  I generally look for reviews that are actually used in real world conditions, as the folks that read the reviews are not collectors, they are people who want to spend money once and buy a tool that is going to work for them.  Only by actually working the tool can you confidently say what works and what doesn't and that is how someone will make up their mind on whether to buy it or not.

That having been said, you have a good start there, and I mean it when I say you should keep at it.  You can't expect to hit the ball out of the park on the very first try.

Def

[pyles 94]

so I should like re do the review in itself? whenever I get bored I plan out reviews in my head, like what I would say and all. I've had this for about a year and carried it every day, and I've used just about every feature on it

[sawman]

so I should like re do the review in itself? whenever I get bored I plan out reviews in my head, like what I would say and all. I've had this for about a year and carried it every day, and I've used just about every feature on it

Your pictures were great, but you need to be more informative about the implements (knife/saw/etc) rather than just to say "It's very nice"... Tell us how after a month of moderate use the 154cm blade still held a decent edge.  You actually did pretty good describing the scissors.  You're half way there with the great pics.  Keep at it and do a little better selling us what you're reviewing 

[Threeme2189]

so I should like re do the review in itself? whenever I get bored I plan out reviews in my head, like what I would say and all. I've had this for about a year and carried it every day, and I've used just about every feature on it

Your pictures were great, but you need to be more informative about the implements (knife/saw/etc) rather than just to say "It's very nice"... Tell us how after a month of moderate use the 154cm blade still held a decent edge.  You actually did pretty good describing the scissors.  You're half way there with the great pics.  Keep at it and do a little better selling us what you're reviewing 

Exactly, describe it from a users point of view, how everything is holding up, rust, stiffness etc'.
other than that, a decent review 

[Grant Lamontagne]

The boys have it right.  It's not enough to say that you've used it, you need to say what you've used it for, along with some examples of the things it's done.  And when you think of the things you have used it for, imagine the things that other folks may be able to use it for, and how well it may or may not work for them.

A big portion of a good review is experience- get out and enjoy life a bit more, use the tool and then tell folks how well it works.  You can get a lot of support from folks on this board, more than I would imagine from most forums out there, and if you really want to be able to write a good review, take the suggestions here to heart, learn and do that much better next time.

I'd also suggest taking some time and experimenting with your camera a bit more.  Your pictures aren't bad, but could be improved with better lighting and angles. 

No one here is trying to shoot you down, we are trying to help you improve, so don't take anything said personally.

Def

[pyles 94]

ah well. I doubt I'd get one on the main site anyhow. 

[Dunc]

ah well. I doubt I'd get one on the main site anyhow.

Don't give up so easily 

[pyles 94]

well I probably won't. if I put so many hours of thinking and figuring and uploading a photoshooting for that review, and it pretty much sucked, it will be impossible for me to ever get on the main site. follow?

[asupernothing]

well I probably won't. if I put so many hours of thinking and figuring and uploading a photoshooting for that review, and it pretty much sucked, it will be impossible for me to ever get on the main site. follow?

No, I don't follow.

[Threeme2189]

well I probably won't. if I put so many hours of thinking and figuring and uploading a photoshooting for that review, and it pretty much sucked, it will be impossible for me to ever get on the main site. follow?

No one said your review sucked! It was a decent review!
You go all of the basic stuff in there, plus some darn good pictures. Now you just need to beef it up a bit with "user related experience stuff", and refine it a little it.
Think of it as a first draft that gets feedback for improvement 

[Benner]

Can I just point out that reviews appearing on the main site are the exception, not the rule.  There are many many reviews, even ones written by myself, that never get to the main site.  It is not a problem, if it is important to you take the advice given and use the tips on the next one you write.

[Dunc]

Ben is right , I wouldn't worry about the main site . What you are trying to achieve is a review that people will find interesting and helpfull .

[cerbera147]

While having your review on the main site would be pretty cool it shouldn't be the final goal.

I know if I'm looking at a new multi I'll read the reviews from the main site then search for the others in this section of the forum 

I've seen some really great reviews here that aren't on the main site but maybe should be. I found this forum through the reviews on the main site; 'tis a gateway to the real gold 

[parnass]

hey guys, finally worked out the kinks on my charge AL review, so here it is....

Pyles,

Thanks for posting the review, especially the photos.   Each time I have walked past a Charge AL in a store display I have wondered if the handles would me more comfortable than the Wave (or Surge) and overall whether the Charge AL would be worth getting.

[pyles 94]

whatever. maybe again I'll try and fail again... sometime

[Grant Lamontagne]

Whether you think you can, or you think you can't, you are right.

Def

[Outback in Idaho]

Try to write a review without a biased opinion, like you was showing the product to people that have never seen one before. Never assume. A few English Writing courses on thesis might help in the reference and support ideas.

Even though I passed with A's in college writing at age 45 doesn't mean I'll ever be making a review. I do far better live demonstrations, yet I tend to slide off on tangents - and that's not good.
Every thesis I've written was restructured at least 8 times and still made errors. Most the reviews are good, although the KF4 and XE6 missed a few points that could make it better. Yet who am I to criticize, those reviews got me to buy the KF4. ~ Still the KF4 review could be polished in a few spots.

[pyles 94]

that does make more sense. maybe I'll try again later

[pyles 94]

xelxos could you reply to my PM?

[Outback in Idaho]

xelxos could you reply to my PM?

Your request is denied.
PMs from you are not welcome, and not open for discussion.

[pyles 94]

I'm trying to say I was wrong xelxos, please just at least read it

[Grant Lamontagne]

Gentlemen, let's not start any drama in the open.  This is Multitool.org, not Days Of Our Lives.  If Jim has blocked you, that's just something you'll have to live with.

Def