Leatherman SIDEKICK / WINGMAN Owners Club

[an0nemus]

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Sensible bunch!

[an0nemus]

Big fan of both the Sidekick and Wingman.  I got a Wave very shortly after having the other tools and what I can tell you is this, its AWESOME.  I later got a Surge and well, its, AWESOMER. 

IMO being a light user of your MT doesn't negate having either the Wave or Surge.  Its more about capability.  My suggestion would be if you end up deciding on either the Wave or Surge be sure to get the bit cards and extender.

I can imagine how it feels! The Charge Tti package does come with the bitkit and pocketclip, but I can't bring myself to buy it as its also a midsize MT like my Wingman.

But I'm sure down the road I'll get a Bit Kit just so to complete the accessories.

[an0nemus]

How is silicone on your OHT?


By the way, my family just received a large cash gift and I suddenly had an impulse to buy another Leatherman. I did a quick research and considered getting a Charge Tti, Surge, Wave and Rebar. I was already in the Leatherman shop and about to buy a Surge when the wife said to think about it more. So I just postponed my purchase and bought a leather pouch in the meantime.

Since I really don't use my multitools much, I couldn't find a good enough reason to upgrade...for now.

I really like the size, pocket clip, scissors and springed pliers of my Wingman!

Your wife is smart.  Avoid impulse buying.
A Wave is a baby Surge. 

Charge Tti is  an expensive Wave, IMHO.

Do right by your needs and family.  No need to impress us virtual friends, we accept you for just having interest!

Of course a Picture of leather pouch will will help calm my buying impluse



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After reading various reviews, those are the same conclusions I came up with! Its either I upsize (Surge) or downsize (pockettools) relative to my Wingman.

In the meantime, to satisfy the urge, I got this for my Wingman for around $9. Its a bit big for it, though. But I like the horizontal carry feature.

[an0nemus]

How is silicone on your OHT?


By the way, my family just received a large cash gift and I suddenly had an impulse to buy another Leatherman. I did a quick research and considered getting a Charge Tti, Surge, Wave and Rebar. I was already in the Leatherman shop and about to buy a Surge when the wife said to think about it more. So I just postponed my purchase and bought a leather pouch in the meantime.

Since I really don't use my multitools much, I couldn't find a good enough reason to upgrade...for now.

I really like the size, pocket clip, scissors and springed pliers of my Wingman!

Your wife is smart.  Avoid impulse buying.
A Wave is a baby Surge. 

Charge Tti is  an expensive Wave, IMHO.

Do right by your needs and family.  No need to impress us virtual friends, we accept you for just having interest!

Of course a Picture of leather pouch will will help calm my buying impluse



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So far it's all good. No problems with the oht after it's silicone bath. Still early days yet though.

I agree with what LoopCutter has said. Needs over wants. And take your time to choose a multitool, no rushing needed.

If you must treat yourself then consider something like a rambler (victorinox) or i3s (olight) for your key ring, less expensive and still very useful.

I do have some non-Leatherman pockettools around, but not a true MT heavy weight. I think I'll buy that Surge anytime soon when there's a sale as its currently being sold at $160 here at full retail price with 25 year warranty.

Last night though I saw this unused Texas Tool Crafters item on sale for only $140, unfortunately I was late by a day as someone bought it already!



Tsk, tsk, tsk.

In the meantime, I'm still enjoying my Wingman as my first LM tool!

[an0nemus]

Hello good Wingman/Sidekick owners. I bought a Wingman from Walmart.ca last week. It sure comes in some unusually tough packaging.

I haven't opened it yet, but notice odd rust like color between the printed letters on the handles. There's also circles of this color on the handles around the pivot screws. Below is a close up photo.

Do you think this is rust?  It also kind of looks like it could be stamped plated metal with a copper colored core and a silver color plated surface. Anyone know?

Thanks

(Image removed from quote.)

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Looks like rust to me, jlomein. But wait for the experts opinion here.

[LoopCutter]

After reading various reviews, those are the same conclusions I came up with! Its either I upsize (Surge) or downsize (pockettools) relative to my Wingman.

In the meantime, to satisfy the urge, I got this for my Wingman for around $9. Its a bit big for it, though. But I like the horizontal carry feature.(Image removed from quote.)

Thank you for the pic of the sheath, I have the same that came with a 2004 Wave.  Also, picked another to hold my bits and extension and a SAK climber.

A Surge sounds like a good fit from your description.   That Texas model was a good price, but not certain your exchange rates. You are in Phillipines?

All the best.


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[LoopCutter]

Hello good Wingman/Sidekick owners. I bought a Wingman from Walmart.ca last week. It sure comes in some unusually tough packaging.

I haven't opened it yet, but notice odd rust like color between the printed letters on the handles. There's also circles of this color on the handles around the pivot screws. Below is a close up photo.

Do you think this is rust?  It also kind of looks like it could be stamped plated metal with a copper colored core and a silver color plated surface. Anyone know?

Thanks

(Image removed from quote.)

(Image removed from quote.)

I suspect it is a thin  oil coating applied to non US shipped products.

The Wingman is made of stainless steel, a very rust resistant metal.

Just remember your LM has a 25 year warranty. 


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[an0nemus]

@LoopCutter--

Yup, I'm here in the Philippines. That unused Texas Surge sold for PHP 7,000 or US$140, at the current exchange rate. A brand new, full retail, full warranty Surge here costs PHP 7,900.

There is a brand new Black Oxide Surge that costs US$130 with black leather sheath, but it has no official warranty. But I don't like black as I prefer shiny tools to look at

[jlomein]

Looks like rust to me, jlomein. But wait for the experts opinion here.

Thank you for your input.

I suspect it is a thin  oil coating applied to non US shipped products.

The Wingman is made of stainless steel, a very rust resistant metal.

Just remember your LM has a 25 year warranty. 

You could be right, I do remember my Glock coming with a reddish copper like lubricant under the slide.  Thanks for the reply.

I guess I can open it now to verify. Initially I was concerned it could have been a fake that Walmart accepted as a return and put back in stock. 

I could really use the Wingman's clamshell plastic opener on this indestructible packaging...I'll need to find a used Wingman to open this one!   

[hellsing]

I'm weak, i know. I finally bought one wingman.

I know i will be disappointed compared to my wave, surge st300, cs4 etc, but you know, it's MTO!

I think you might be surprised.  The spung pliers are really nice.  Over all the tool is pretty nice as well.  Congrats.

Indeed, it's quite correct. The file is totally worthless, but the rest is descent.

I'm a bit disappointed by the scissor, they aren't one hand opening on my wingman.

And sadly a wave blade can't go in.

[an0nemus]

Yohoo! I just bought an unused Charge TTI with bits, nylon pouch, pocket clip and lanyard ring for $100! The seller actually posted a $90 price for his unused TTI but I offered $10 more just to get it. Now my Wingman is going to my son 😁

My wife even congratulated me for my excellent find 😁

[LoopCutter]

Congratulations, that is an excellent deal. 


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[an0nemus]

Congratulations, that is an excellent deal. 


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Thanks, LoopCutter! Been carrying the Charge since I bought it this morning. I must admit I like the Wingman's weight and slimness better, though. It prints less conspicuously when carried vertically

[Poncho65]

Great deal on the Charge You will like it overall better than the Wingman because it is very similarly sized but many more functions Oh and those nice Ti scales

[an0nemus]

Great deal on the Charge You will like it overall better than the Wingman because it is very similarly sized but many more functions Oh and those nice Ti scales

Thanks, Poncho65! And I extremely enjoyed reading your definitive posts about the Charge in another thread.

Being my first LM, I must admit the Wingman will hold the most sentimental value. Ironically, because of its price, its also the LM I won't mind much losing or getting stolen, compared to the Charge

[LoopCutter]

Being my first LM, I must admit the Wingman will hold the most sentimental value. Ironically, because of its price, its also the LM I won't mind much losing or getting stolen, compared to the Charge

I do not like it all that I misplace any of my tools.  Especially a tool that I got a good deal becomes more special as it is likely that deal will never be repeated.

My best deal was a ST300 for under$39, and then the Wingman for $19.   And, my WAVE (2004) a gift from my son.


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[an0nemus]

Being my first LM, I must admit the Wingman will hold the most sentimental value. Ironically, because of its price, its also the LM I won't mind much losing or getting stolen, compared to the Charge

I do not like it all that I misplace any of my tools.  Especially a tool that I got a good deal becomes more special as it is likely that deal will never be repeated.

My best deal was a ST300 for under$39, and then the Wingman for $19.   And, my WAVE (2004) a gift from my son.


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Wow, those are drool-worthy deals, LoopCutter!

You're correct, each LM is valuable in many ways

[Yadda]

I picked up a couple of Sidekicks at Home Depot.  I paid the princely sum of $7.52 US for each of them.

[an0nemus]

I was in a local "tactical" store here in the Philippines yesterday and saw that it was selling a Wingman for US$89. Wow. It thinks consumers can't check sources online.

[Gareth]

I picked up a couple of Sidekicks at Home Depot.  I paid the princely sum of $7.52 US for each of them.

That's practically free!

[Poncho65]

I unfortunately don't have any HD close to me to check

 

Great deal though

[Alan K.]

I unfortunately don't have any HD close to me to check

I do!  I'll be on my way to check on them shortly. That's a price worthy of a little driving around.

[Alan K.]

Don't feel too bad Poncho.  I managed to hit 5 home depots today and there was not one Skele or sidekick in any of them.

[Yadda]

Don't feel too bad Poncho.  I managed to hit 5 home depots today and there was not one Skele or sidekick in any of them.

This Home Depot is perfectly located.  It has good traffic, but no close neighborhood so discretionary spending is slightly lower leaving LM products on the shelf through a few extra markdowns.  I picked up a Kick for $7 a few years back when they discontinued carrying them. 

[Faddy Daddy]

I don't have one of these (yet)  but for the price they sure seem hard to beat. And ... not too terribly big or heavy for EDC.
I do think I'd take a Side kick over the Wingman, I always carry a micra for the scissors if nothing else, (Love those) and I prefer a straight blade. If I could swap out one thing, it would be the package opener from the Wingman for either the file or the smaller serrated blade.

I've probably one read a 1/4 of this thread so far but someone mentioned sharpening the package opener, for curiosity how would one do that?

[ThundahBeagle]

I posted this in another thread but thought it belonged here...


There's this maintenance guy I know swears by his Leatherman Wingman. Up til now, I have only ever given one to my youngest nephew, but in considering Christmas gifts, the Wingman surfaced once more (not for that nephew, obviously).

Along comes Lynn LeFey and the post of a nice polished PST for sale, and waxing poetic when comparing that polish to newer tools. So I sat with the Wingman in its bubble and my old PST and PST II adjacent.

It hit me how similar the tool load out of the Wingman is to that of the PST II.
Not the same, but almost. Sure, the file is tiny isn't diamond encrusted and the plyers are spring loaded, but the scissors and combo blade are there, even if they are outside open. Phillips head is there. Maybe not the same number of flatheads, but almost. One is replaced by the package opener, which maybe isn't bad, since so many have ruined blades and small drivers buy opening packages.

I don't know why it hasn't hit me before, but is this the PST III? ( Or IV, if you consider the Pulse to be PST III)

[Poncho65]

This is a great place for that type of info Might help someone make the decision to buy or pass on a Wingman I love when I get epiphanies like this myself so thanks for sharing yours with us

[LoopCutter]

I keep a Wingman clipped to side pouch of my tool grip. Sees Service frequently, with scissors, combo blade, and pliers doing whatever task required.  Plus the clip keeps it in place and ready for the next task. 

I also, have one at home in the package, ready to be a gift anytime to a friend or family member. 

The Saw on the Sidekick makes it as useful for off-road adventures.


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[ThePeacent]

Of all the budget LMs the Wingman is my favorite by a mile and IMO the only one worth getting if you're not ready to step up and get a real LM
But to me this is as real as you could ask.
he uses it provides (OHO Blade and a very nice set of scissors) put to shame other similar priced tools



The drivers are the two basics, 90% of the needs you might have regarding screws will be done by these 2. The flathead is a nice prybar, and the package opener is a much appropriate tool for today's urban chores, something rarely seen on other MTs.



The clip is top notch, a standing point in its design, and the 50/50 edge does also the two kind of cutting 90% of the people face, a finer type of slicing (food, paper, envelopes) and an aggressive, destructive cutting (rope, cardboard, plastics, thin steel) all in one.
The file is quite pitiful but provides a decent grit and surface, nowadays most folks only file their nails and proper work is let to proper specific files and tools



if I had to gift a tool to a non-tool person (AKA Joe Smith guy) and wasn't sure what could he use, how much to spend of what would it be of it, this one would be. He'd get the basics, easy steel to learn on, decent durability and awesome warranty to back it up 

[gregpost]

Your review is excellent and I agree with so much of it. The fact that Wingman fits perfectly in the watch-pocket of my jeans with the clip means I always carry it. Since I always carry it, I always use it. Since I always use it I have come to depend on it for first usage and as you stated most of the times it's all that's needed. If Leatherman improved a few things, it would be even better. Sometimes when cutting things with the pliers I find myself having to do the Wingman wiggle, if that doesn't work I get the ST300 or Rebar out. The scissors on mines have improved if that makes sense and cuts many things, but they could be improved to be more like Leatherman's other excellent scissors. I would ditch the can opener and see if they could do a package opener/wire stripper combo. I wonder how 4 outside tools would affect the pocket ability of the tool. It's made me appreciate combo blades where before I didn't like them. I also like spring pliers, I sometimes do repetitive tasks with the pliers and that helps prevent fatigue and make the task go faster.

My favorite Leatherman design is the Surge but I rarely carry it. I tried a Wave and it felt like a compromised Surge, maybe that is because of the order I familiarized myself with them. The Wave is also not as easy to carry even with the Wave pocket clip, so I loaned it(will probably never get it back) to my cousin and he likes it.