Need Advice in Which Leatherman to Buy..Surge or Charge tti?

[doggydog]

Hey everyone,

I'm a carpenter apprentice and looking around for a perfect multitool to use for my trade that can also be a useful EDC.  I'm divided between a Leatherman Surge and a Charge tti.  Saw a video on youtube by this guy that did a test comparison of the two multitool and he seems to favor the Surge.  Check out his video and tell me if his advice was good or not?

Test Comparision: Leatherman Surge (camo) vs Charge tti

[Zed]

st300    welcome to the forum, 

[airballrad]

I have the TTi. A friend has the Surge. I like both, although the Charge isn't really much more than a glorified Wave.

My observation is that those in the trades tend to prefer the larger tools (Surge, Core, Super Tool line).

[Pacu]

id go tti...

i work construction/electrical/AV at my work...tried the big tools..swisstool, surge, supertools.  They were a tad to heavy on my belt but a wave is perfect mix of everything. Handy when you need it, light not to notice, and quick deploying blade. TTI is an upscale wave. Thing i had to break myself of is using my wave instead of the proper tool needed for the job. Linesman pliers vs Wave, hammer vs wave, proper number 3 driver vs wave. Multis have their time and place too.

think a charge is next on my list as a workhorse/user

[enki_ck]

I had a Surge and now use the Wave, which is as very much like the charge. The tools on them are preaty much the same, so size/weight and toughness is the only difference. The surge with the bit kit and the sheath is almost a pound, not exactly a light tool. But I often regret not having the surge anymore when it comes to the heavier tasks cause it's much more of a tool than the wave/charge is. Stronger pliers, bigger blades, the best scissors on any multitool, ... Will eventually have to get another one. I sold it just because the offer was hard to refuse (paid $65 for it sold it for $105 a year and a half later ) I think it's better than the ST300 cause of the one hand opening blades, so handy when you're holding something you need to cut. The plus on the ST300 are the much longer and stronger screwdrivers, especially the phillips.  My vote goes for the Surge though. 

[Malarauko]

I'd say go for the ST300 if your a carpenter. And then maybe get a Swiss Army Knife to get some scissors. But if you have to choose between Surge and Charge i'd say Surge.

[AHB]

Here's something to help you decide: Charge Owners club!   

[Sea Monster]

I don't have a charge, but I have had a Wave (same thing, less fancy), and I still have a Surge.

I'd recommend the Charge if money is not the issue.

Or, if you want big, tough and ugly - the new Supertool.

Supertools are the name in tough tools, and they've got the coveted awl.

but for more of your "incidental" cutting, gripping, sawing or filing, the Charge should do just nicely.

I'm not convinced that the extra mass of the Surge is proportional to it's effectiveness.

Most tradies (metal workers, locksmiths, etc) I know carry the Charge for preference.

[ducttapetech]

Surge, turbo charged tti with an awl.

[asupernothing]

ST300. The pliers head on that is the best for hard use. I actually prefer to have no outside opening blades now. (this week, as it was a requirement last week.
If you carry a standalone knife, I would go ST300. Aside from that I loved my Charge (till I broke it...). Currently I am carrying a Surge since both the Charge and Surge are KO'd for now.

To be perfectly honest all are good tools, with the charge being my favorite (till I broke it).

As a carpenter what tools on the multi do you see yourself using most often? When I was doing a lot of plumbing repair work I like having the Charge ALX because of the dual bit drivers. I didn't need scissors, do you?

The pliers head on the ST300 has a replaceable wire cutter, which I really liked.

Then again this is MTO so:

Buy them both!

[scrappy]

The charge pliers open wider

[David]

Of the tools you`ve named     I`d go with the TTi.    I just cant get on with the SURGE for some reason.    I carry a ST300 at work.   

[Teofilo]

 Welcome to the forum doggydog!
If weight is not an issue, I'll go with the Surge. The Surge's pliers are stronger compared with the TTi (with crimper) specially when pulling big or stuck nails. Check out also the ST300, another LM's heavy duty tool.
 The Charge TTi for me is a flashy tool with slabs of titanium attached to the handles and a bit pricey. Actually I alternately edc it with  another tool.

[Mercury]

st300    welcome to the forum, 

This is why you will lose all your money, because we suggest a 3rd MT that you hadn't thought of yet, so you will most likely end up with all 3 at some point!

[Mercury]

Really though, they are both great, it just depends on the amount of weight you are willing to carry.  If you don't mind carrying a bucket of cement on a daily basis, then the surge won't weigh you down a bit.  If that bothers you, the TTi is a(not that much) lighter version and it is a little shorter.  Both tools will net you about the same in utility, with the exception of the Surge's natural ability to demolish sidewalks when dropped.

[Threeme2189]

I would personally go with the ST300 if you're looking for a bigger tool, and a Wave\Charge if you want a smaller one.
I too didn't really like the Surge for some reason.

[Styerman]

I would go the TTI route , bout as good as it gets . If you tend to mislay stuff maybe a Wave might be a good idea , things like TTI's grow legs real quick on jobsites .

Chris