Best of the best in tools on MTs

[Lynn LeFey]

I've been thinking about starting this thread for a while, just sort of a conversation starter...

What do you think the best option for any given tool on an MT is?

examples: my opinion, of course
best pliers... SOG line compound leverage, any tool.
Best scissors... SOG Crosscut
Best Awl... Victorinox Farmer
Best one-hand open blade for a lefty... Vic Trekker OHO/Soldier
 Best file... Leatherman Wave/Charge

You could even qualify them more specifically
 Best blade on a keychain size tool
 Etc.

And I suppose overall traits could also be listed...
Best MT for working in cold/wet/rustprone/muddy environments or at heights, etc
 Best at a Picnic
 Best full size for pocket carry
 Best to take through an airport
Best for formal dress occasions

One last example from me, again, my opinion...
Best value for money... Used Sheffield 12010, $3

So... what do you all think?

[Styerman]

Best implement density - Vic Spirit

Best build quality - Vic Spirit or Swisstool

Best Ergos. - Vic Spirit

Chris

[Lynn LeFey]

No, ummmm... no bias there, huh?

 Oddly enough, I think both the Husky MT and the Bear Grylls ' Strata' are both more comfortable in plier configuration than the Spirit, but I agree with the tool density.

I think it also wins 'Shiniest'.

Edit:I think I'd also say best tool density, by weight, is the Vic Classic.

[enki_ck]

I think Chris likes the vic spirit

Good thread, Lynn. I'd choose the vic 91mm scissors as the best, but that's just personal preference.

Also,

best keychain multi Vic Rambler.

Best nail file Vic Executive.

Best eyeglass screwdriver Vic mini screwdriver.

Best knife blade LM Wave/Charge.

[PTRSAK]

Best tool for the "Job at hand".

The one in your pocket is better than any and all the one's you have at home...   

[Lynn LeFey]

Very true.

Enki, I set my SOG Crosscut aside for a bit to evaluate the rambler.

For which I'd add...

Best Toothpick/Tweezers: SOG Crosscut
 Can't lose them and the tweezers are beefier.

[gregozedobe]

Best replaceable cutting bits for pliers: LM's ST300/Rebar/MUT (the cutting bits on Gerber MP800 are so hard they are brittle, but they do resist wear well).

Best palm-pincher: Gerber's (in)famous "Mr Pinchy" 

Best super compact MT for a pocket:  LM's Squirt P4

Best fiddle-factor MT:  SwissTool Spirit (great for just sitting there playing with the action without doing any actual work)

Best location for minor tools on a MT: Outside (much quicker and more convenient access than inside).

Prettiest (but still functional) material for cutting blades:  Damascus

[stealth007s]

Great idea for a thread Lynn, I'll have to ponder this for a few

[dks]

Best Tripod: Gerber Steady

Best hammer: MUT (or maybe one of the hammer/pliers combination, cheap tools)

Best for hurting the user : Juice screwdrivers

Best for messing up a good idea by bad QA for a big company: SOG Powerduo

Best gifts for the average user: LM Micra, Victorinox Manager

Best pen: 58mm Victorinox

[Styerman]

Best file - Leatherman waves and charges .

Best pliers - The D2 billet cut Multitaskers

Chris

[Zed]

Best alrounde MT wave/charge
Best oho blade mp800 
Best pliers sog compound leverage
Best file wave/charge
Best phillips st300 and awl
Best comfort (in my fat hands lol) mp800
Favourite MT innovation LM bit driver
Most missed tool LM's old wave/pst2 scissors

I'm sure I'll be back 

[enki_ck]

Very true.

Enki, I set my SOG Crosscut aside for a bit to evaluate the rambler.

For which I'd add...

Best Toothpick/Tweezers: SOG Crosscut
 Can't lose them and the tweezers are beefier.

First love, ha?

I know the Crosscut (and Micra) fall into the category of keychain multitools, but for me personally it's a bit too much weight to carry on keys. And I think the car ignition could suffer from it. The Rambler offers the most utility in a small enough package to be carried on the keys without being noticed. And I turn the scales around so the T&T face  up and are a lot harder to lose.

[SwissArmy Zippo]

IMO the Swiss tool spirit x! I'm very disappointed in my Leatherman wave I just got. The internal tools are loose and it has rust spots. Yes it was purchased new!

[turnsouth]

Best phillips st300 and awl

Agreed, and any of the Leatherman's that use the ST300/Core style Phillips.

My list:

• All-around utility blade = Vic
• Plier tip = Leatherman (can usually pluck eyebrows with them)
• Scissors = Vic

[Mr. Whippy]

Best pliers are actually:  Schrade ST5e (or Craftsman version).  Real slipjoint bluntnosed pliers

Best locking pliers:  Schrade ST6 (Basically vise grips with tools in a handle)

[AimlessWanderer]

It's very tricky for me to call "best" on anything, as it depends both on the role and on the user.

Example for you - scissors!

If you're trimming a nail my favourite might be 58 or 74mm Victorinox scissors, but the Wenger 65mm scissors are better on cutting things like plastic which would otherwise push out - the serrations help to grip the material as well as cut them. A Crosscut can cut heavier materials, but a Micra will beat it when cutting a longer distance as there's less to get tangled up in at the pivot. Cutting a large piece of paper would therefore be easier with a Micra than with a Crosscut, but would be easer with 91mm Victorinox scissors and even easier still with a Wenger Business Tool or with an X-Tract Fin from Buck, although if it was an A3 sized piece of denim or leather instead of paper you'd do better with the mighty Paul Chen Multitasker shears. If you're using scissors in the kitchen for food prep and would rather not get the rest of the tool gunged up in animal juices and bits, then maybe the CRKT Crossover would suit you better - big scissors which also come apart for cleaning and convert to a knife. All this is without factoring in different tastes, additional tool requirements, environments (wet/dusty/oily/gritty) etc etc.

Drivers are just as subjective - probably more so, and sometimes the best suited drivers for a job aren't on the best handles and are great for a quick fix, but poor on ergonomics for extended use

Pliers, blades, wire cutters ... all subjective

That said ...
Best chisel/scraper: Victorinox Swisstool/Spirit 
Best Set Square: Victorinox Swisstool
Best tool density/diversity: Victorinox Spirit
Best fit/finish/consistency of manufacturing excellence: Victorinox Spirit
Best looking multitool: 2010 Victorinox Spirit RT

 

[turnsouth]

That said ...
Best chisel/scraper: Victorinox Swisstool/Spirit 
Best Set Square: Victorinox Swisstool
Best tool density/diversity: Victorinox Spirit
Best fit/finish/consistency of manufacturing excellence: Victorinox Spirit
Best looking multitool: 2010 Victorinox Spirit RT

 

Seems to be a theme here 
 

[AimlessWanderer]

Yeah, they're all cop out no-brainers 

[nuphoria]

Hmm, interesting idea for a thread

I'll have to ponder it a while myself but I know it would include the diamond file from an LM, 91mm Vic scissors and the LM OHT blade and saw. Bit driver from an LM too I think... I also know I would probably change my mind

[Lynn LeFey]

A Crosscut can cut heavier materials, but a Micra will beat it when cutting a longer distance as there's less to get tangled up in at the pivot.

Just so you know anything that interferes with cutting with the Crosscut equally interferes with the Micra. It's not the pivot that is ever an issue, but the tool body. I've got about 15 years carry time with the Crosscut as experience on this.

However, your general point is correct.

For instance, there are instances where I'd prefer the scissors on a 58mm SAK to the Crosscut or Micra... or Squirt S2.

So... best thread/wild hair trimming scissors...Vic 58mm line.

Best can opener... not touching that one.
Best can opener for left handed fey: Sheffield 1200E

Best pry tool, Spirit X Crate Opener
 Best keychain tool drivers, Micra

Edit: Best saw (that I have encountered) Vic 111mm line.

Mr. Whippy, I'm fine with folks posting different views on what a best tool is, as with your best plier post. I can only say what the best one is that I've come across. I've never encountered the Schrades. I was kinda hoping stuff like this would come up, so, cool.

[Yalius]

Hmmmm...

Best pliers-- SOG Powerassist.
Best wire cutter-- LM ST300
Best handles-- LM Surge
Best bit driver-- Kershaw Select Fire
Best saw-- Wenger NewRanger 78
Best file-- LM Surge
Best blade-- LM K502
Best single-use drivers-- LM ST300
Best bottle opener-- Kershaw Select Fire
Best scissors-- Leatherman Style CS
Best awl-- Victorinox Farmer

[Syph007]

Another spirit x fan here.  It wins in every category I can think of except one!  So instead of listing all the things I love about the spirit here is the one category it doesnt win.

Most carry options - Charge/wave series.  Sheath, built in lanyard, detachable lanyard and detachable pocket clip.  I cant think of a tool that has that many options other than these LMs and its something I really appreciate and like.  Now I will be putting something similar on my user spirit x, but it doesnt come like that.

Edit: I forgot to explain why the detachable lanyard ring is key for me as well.  You braid a lanyard right onto the ring, then detach it from the tool to use.  I love this option for lanyard pocket carry.

[enki_ck]

Best low riding pocketclip = LM Wave (not the Charge though   )

[Mercury]

I have to say i think 91mm victorinox scissors take the cake.   I have carried them for years and for an everyday quick cut solution they simply cant be beat. 

Im not too into carring a keychain tool, and my hands are just a hair too big to use them comfortably.  I get more dexterity and accuracy with the vic scissors.  I tried the crosscut and micra and recently the style cs, but they are all too small for my hands. 


Sooooo


Best scissors: Victorinox 91mm
Best pliers: i really like both the wave pliers and spirit pliers

Best awl: st300
Best phillips: blast/st300
Best blade: wave
Best file: wave hands down
Best caplifter: victorinox 91mm
Best can opener: wave
Best saw: vic spirit
Best bit driver: wave

Sent from Tattooine while bulls-eying womp rats bigger than two meters.

[Lynn LeFey]

The only 91mm SAK I've had with scissors was an old Explorer, and the scissors weren't in mint condition, so I'll reserve judgement until I can get a hold of a new pair for testing.

[Gryffin]

Best office EDC utility for it's size: Victorinox Executive. Hands. DOWN.

I read somewhere that Chuck Yeager, test pilot and first man to officially break the sound barrier, is an avid ultralight wilderness hiker and fly fisherman, and usually the only knife he took along was an Exec.

All killah, no fillah. Righteous. 

[gregozedobe]

Best quick change tool holder: LM's Surge. 

Besides the LM supplied diamond/metal file and wood saw, you can also clip in any other tool that has the same end fitting (eg Bosch metal saw blades)


Best unintended quick change tool holder:  LM's Wave

With some file/machining work all sorts of things (eg hacksaw blade) can be fitted in where the removable clip goes (and all you have to do is press the tool unlock lever to remove them, plus the tool can be as long or as short as you like).

[lowtech]

While i am a strn g believer that a) the best tool is the tool you actually carry and b) judgement is very subjective and dependant on the task at hand I want to add my 2p.

Best all round plier for my usual tasks is the Blunt nose Gerber MP 600. It opens wide, grips bolts and nuts firmly, you can cut wire and the stubby nose won´t get in the way when trying to turn or manipulate something in a confined area.

Best MT Can opener for me is the Vic Sak one. My judgement is biased from my Boy Scout days and i´m not interested in lengthy discussions, ok 

I actually do get out Vic 91Scissors instead of using the one in my office for delicate cutting tasks, so i´d say i rate them very high. Although i like 58 mm ones better for trimming the odd wild hair.

Bladewise I favour the Vic 111 plain edge for Camping/hiking allround tasks and have no real favourite among the other blades, i use what i carry and usually that is good enough, be it a 91, 108 Solo or my Gerber MP 600s blade.

[Steinar]

Drivers are just as subjective - probably more so, and sometimes the best suited drivers for a job aren't on the best handles and are great for a quick fix, but poor on ergonomics for extended use

Pliers, blades, wire cutters ... all subjective

That's a feature, not a bug. If it was objective and meaningfully measurable, any discussion and different perspectives would be utterly pointless.

Best can opener... not touching that one.

 

[AimlessWanderer]

Drivers are just as subjective - probably more so, and sometimes the best suited drivers for a job aren't on the best handles and are great for a quick fix, but poor on ergonomics for extended use

Pliers, blades, wire cutters ... all subjective

That's a feature, not a bug. If it was objective and meaningfully measurable, any discussion and different perspectives would be utterly pointless.

... fully agree, and my perspective is that it's too subjective for me to form a definative opinion to chuck into the discussion