First Ascent Multitool

[J-sews]

This First Ascent tool from Eddie Bauer is one of the better multitools to come out of China in my opinion.





So many of the Chinese tools, even the better made ones, are just too thick for my tastes. But not this one. Its all stamped steel (except for the gray anodized aluminum blade gaurd) all polished, all smooth, and with no fat handle scales attached. All-in-all, a very Leathermanesque tool, without copying the appearance of a Leatherman.  





It has a solid pliers (not spring-loaded) along with a phillips and flathead screwdriver, and a cap lifter. The screwdrivers could have been a bit longer IMO. Best of all is the one-hand opening/liner locking knife blade.





Often a feature on "cheap" tools, the onboard LED light on the First Ascent is done rather well. It takes up a minimum of space in the one handle. It has a positive on-off switch that isn't likely to be accidentally turned on. And it points in-line with the knife blade, where it is most likely to be needed.





Of interest to multitool engineering geeks (like me!) it also has a rather clever way of "locking" the handles open. Leatherman pioneered the use of a cammed surface on the plier pivot, which gets tighter as you unfold the handles. When fully deployed, the handles on a Leatherman "snap" into place over a lip in the cam surface, and come up solid against a step in the plier head casting.

On the First Ascent, they solve this problem another way. A "post" is cast into the plier head, which engages a "slot" stamped into the handles. When the handles are fully deployed, the post snaps through into a wider portion of the slot, and at the same time comes up solid against the back of the slot.

Handle on the right hand side being opened:



Handle on the right hand side in fully opened position:


Clever it may be, but I was a bit worried about the strength. So far though, I've done a fair bit of heavy squeezing on the handles with no ill effects.


In summary, the Chinese tools are getting better, and the First Ascent multitool is a good representative of that. I would consider it a medium-duty tool, capable of doing the same sort of chores as a Skeletool. Overall strength isn't quite that of a SOG or Leatherman, but its getting close.



Good:
- Thin and lightweight, more likely to be carried
- OHO, liner locking blade is large relative to the size of the tool
- Good quality manufacturing, among the best I've seen from China

Not so good:
- Longer screwdrivers would have been nice
- Needs a pocket clip
- Liner lock feels a little weak

Nitpicky:
- I'd prefer a full plain edge blade
- Although long, the knife could have easily been made another 10mm longer

[Neil]

I won't be shooting out to buy one but that doesn't look bad

Nice review Bob 

[ryanrrx]

I hate to say it but I kinda like this
I will never give up my leatherman, but I like this tool thanks for sharing

[J-sews]

Thanks!

I wish my pics had turned out  bit better though. The tool has a nice SOG-like polish on all metal surfaces, but in my photos it looks all gray and drab.

[Grant Lamontagne]

I like this one.

I wonder though if that post-in-slot system for the handles would wear out over time?

Def

[Gareth]

That really does look pretty good.   Thanks for sharing Bob.

[markn951]

Not bad... I'd still rather have a Skeletool

[NeitherExtreme]

Nice find Bob.

Looks like a fair bit of real engineering went into that one, so it looks like a winner to me.

So would the give the X-tract competition for best MT with a light? (Or are there other decent lighted tools out there? I can't think of any...)

PS- The light has obviously caught my fancy... Is the switch a button or a regular switch? And do you know what batteries it takes? Are they hard to replace?

[J-sews]

The battery says CR927 3V. It only took about a minute to access the battery compartment with a T6 torx driver.





The switch is a slider. It is covered by a soft rubber boot. The rubber helps make the switch feel like it would be easy to operate with cold wet hands.

[MultiMat]

That looks like a interesting MT Bob  . Reminds me of a Skeletool with a hint of Gerber Octane  .
I always switch off(pun not intended  ) when I see a torch on a MT , but that looks nice & compact + well integrated. Bob how does it stand up against other MT torches . Better than the Guppie's bit holder torch 

Bob what does one of these retail at 

Thanks mate 

[NeitherExtreme]

Thanks for the pic... Looks well done. I like how it doesn't seem out of place, if you know what I mean.

[J-sews]

Thanks for the pic... Looks well done. I like how it doesn't seem out of place, if you know what I mean.

I know exactly what you mean. Like Mat says, the light looks well integrated. On the X-tract LED model that you mentioned earlier, the battery & light sticks off the side of the tool like a tumor. I never cared much for how knobby it looks.


Mat, after a quick search the only place I found it for sale was here: http://www.whittakermountaineering.com/cat/1352/hardware/first-ascent/multi-tool

I do think $49.95 is a bit much though. A made in USA Skeletool has a lower msrp than that.

[MultiMat]

Thanks for the pic... Looks well done. I like how it doesn't seem out of place, if you know what I mean.

I know exactly what you mean. Like Mat says, the light looks well integrated. On the X-tract LED model that you mentioned earlier, the battery & light sticks off the side of the tool like a tumor. I never cared much for how knobby it looks.


Mat, after a quick search the only place I found it for sale was here: http://www.whittakermountaineering.com/cat/1352/hardware/first-ascent/multi-tool

I do think $49.95 is a bit much though. A made in USA Skeletool has a lower msrp than that.

Maybe once the MT has been out for awhile & they hit Ebay the price should come down , I would of thought 

[Crouton]

I like it.  It looks very much skeletal inspired but it also looks to be of decent quality.  Nice review.

[nuphoria]

Cheers for the review Bob, looks like a leap forward in quality indeed

Now we just need to see some stuff which is less rip off and more original design - THAT would be interesting

[Crouton]

I like it.  It looks very much skeletal inspired but it also looks to be of decent quality.  Nice review.

I meant to say "skeletool" but my iPhone auto corrected it for me.

[J-sews]

By request, a couple more photos.
 
Liner lock, and LED switch




Knife closed. Note ball detent on liner lock (and dual ball detents on bottle opener)

[jzmtl]

Looks nice, but why did they have to ruin it with a cheap LED. 

I hate electronic additions to mechanical gadget if you can't tell.

[Grant Lamontagne]

I like it.  It looks very much skeletal inspired but it also looks to be of decent quality.  Nice review.

I meant to say "skeletool" but my iPhone auto corrected it for me.

Auto incorrected you mean!  My phone does it to me all the time! 

Def

[scrappy]

Bob,

you got to stop showing these unique tools. you just added something to the list 

[MultiMat]

Bob,

you got to stop showing these unique tools. you just added something to the list 

Scrap lets just send him the bill , all of us suckers , we will call it a class action 

[J-sews]

You can't sue me personally, you'd have to sue my employer


(be careful though - I understand his husky ate the last guy who tried to serve papers on him!)

[MultiMat]

You can't sue me personally, you'd have to sue my employer


(be careful though - I understand his husky ate the last guy who tried to serve papers on him!)

He does not look half as scary now with his hair cut. I would give him a Chinese burn followed up with a wicked type writer & he will be begging for mercy 

The dogs/lions do pose a problem or 2 

[scrappy]

Surely we can use all of these multi tools for something. Think of the purple nurple we could give with a grappler.

[ryanrrx]

I wana put it to the edc letterman test !!

[joebw]

Hi,

My First Ascent arrived about 5 minutes ago.  I am impressed with this.  Quality seems right up there and the design is really cool.  I could live without the light, but that isn't a big deal.  I thank Bob for telling us about this and showing us pictures.

Seems like Leatherman started a new MT trend with the Skeletool followed by the Freestyle and then the Style CX.  I'm looking forward to Leatherman's next effort in this minimalist world.

Price seems a bit high, but that may be the company offering it.

Best - Joe

[scrappy]

Hi,

My First Ascent arrived about 5 minutes ago.  I am impressed with this.  Quality seems right up there and the design is really cool.  I could live without the light, but that isn't a big deal.  I thank Bob for telling us about this and showing us pictures.

Seems like Leatherman started a new MT trend with the Skeletool followed by the Freestyle and then the Style CX.  I'm looking forward to Leatherman's next effort in this minimalist world.

Price seems a bit high, but that may be the company offering it.

Best - Joe

Joe,

thanks for the info. This proce point is a deal breaker for me but it sure is tempting me.

[scrappy]

It looks this tool may be discontinued. I have looked around and do not see it anywhere.

[parnass]

It looks this tool may be discontinued. I have looked around and do not see it anywhere.

The local Eddie Bauer store has replaced First Ascent multitools with Skeletools.

[scrappy]

I didn't know eddie bauer had store fronts. That is interesting