CX arrived- not impressed

[Grant Lamontagne]

I had to get one, after all, this is my site and the Skeletools are the tool this year, so I figured it was pretty well mandatory.  I got it from EDCDepot for the group buy (Thanks Marc!) and I have to say I'm really not impressed. 

Don't get me wrong, I like the Skeletool concept, and I am quite fond of the standard Skeletool, but I really don't think that the tiny slab of carbon fiber and a fancier steel blade is really worth the extra $20.

The first thing I did was weigh them both, and the weight difference is only 1/10 of an ounce (3g), which is half the weight of a credit card, and not significant.  It's not a load bearing piece, so there's no strength benefit, and the piece the CF replaces on the standard Skeletool appears to be aluminum, which is pretty lightweight in its own right.

When it comes to a minimalist tool, I think it should also have a minimalist price- even at the $70 EDCDepot is selling them for, I think users are better off with the standard in the $50 range, and to be brutally honest, I think anyone who doesn't already have a Skeletool might be better off waiting for the Freestyle if they are looking for a light duty, in the pocket while wearing formal clothes type tool. 

I like the concept, I like the design, I like the tool, I just think that the CX is too much money for too little tool.  Look at how many other, better equipped tools that you can get for $70 or less.  And, before someone points out that backpackers and hikers are conscious of each individual ounce they carry, I would also point out that those same backpackers and hikers are probably also better off with a model that includes a saw anyway!

It's nice to see the major players getting into the minimalist and inexpensive tool market, but I'm not certain a $70 Skeletool could compete with a $40 Zilla or $30 Zilla Jr.

Def

[jzmtl]

But it has the cool/bling factor over the zillas. 

The small plier size is what killed it for me. I used spirit to assemble a bbq and gotta say that's the minimal size I'm comfortable with.

[hawkchucker]

It might have the bling over the Zilla Jr, but comeon the Jr is a really cool looking piece! I really havent gotten into the Skeletool yet, but the Jr heck ya!   

[Grant Lamontagne]

I'm not saying the CX isn't a nice looking tool.  As far as looks go, it is a very nice tool, but I don't think "pretty" is worth extra money on a tool that's meant to be worked.

Pretty is as pretty does, and the CF really doesn't add any benefits.  One could at least argue that the upgraded blade steel on the CX is worth more, but I'm not certain I'd pay $20 extra for it if I was looking at the two of them side by side in a store. 

Def

[hawkchucker]

The CX is also serrated right?

[Leatherman123]

Yep, it is indeed half serrated.

[Grant Lamontagne]

Partially serrated, yeah.

Def

[hawkchucker]

Yah see I Really dont like the 50/50.

Just give me one or the other. I kinda like the Serr on the Zilla though.

[Leatherman123]

Yeah, the Zilla serrations interest me also.. The Flik has similar serrations.

[hawkchucker]

Hey def. Can you really Torque the blade with the Carbon Fiber? Does it add any strength? Never played with the stuff.

[Grant Lamontagne]

The hunk of CF is pretty much just a spacer, and like I said, doesn't appear to be structural.  It's on the opposite handle from the blade and is only there to provide space for the extra bit.

Def

[jzmtl]

Well carbon fiber is the new chrome. Like those exotic cars with CF dashboard that cost over $20k to make, it probably have zero functional benefit over a $50 molded plastic.

[Styerman]

Def , I take your point . That said I like my CX , I think the 154CM blade is worth having , and I find thet the partial serations work for my applications . Had I bought a plain jane model  , I would have got a CX anyway at some point . Therefore in a perverse way , going with the CX actually saves me a wee bit .

Chris

[Grant Lamontagne]

Consider yourself lucky that you don't feel the need to get them all like I do!

I may not like certain models, but I have to have them anyway!

Def

[scrappy]

I too thought these tools are a little pricey but something important to realize is that the 20 dollar diference is not because leatherman sells them for 20 dollars more but is because dealers sell them for 20 more. I believe the price difference is 8 or 9 dollars less than that but they are hot right now and they are the higher model which naturally gets a higher mark up.
I do like mine much more than the zilla tool but the zilla tool is a bargain. I could see my self using the freestyle the most. sounds like  a good deal.

[BIG-TARGET]

My biggest hangup with the zilla is the the liner lock DOES NOT fully engage the knifeblade!!  Major safety issue

[Grant Lamontagne]

MSRP is as follows:

Skeletool= $72.00
CX= $96.00

All three of my Zillas lock up fine- in fact, a little too tight on one, so it's almost impossible to disengage sometimes!  Of course, that's common with liner locks and will eventually wear in.

Def

[jzmtl]

There was a site doing pre order for CX for $55, so you can see how large the margin is.

[Leatherman123]

I got my STD. Skeletool for 48 bucks and my CX for 80.

[Grant Lamontagne]

Dealer price is usually about 50% of the MSRP.

Def

[scrappy]

There was a site doing pre order for CX for $55, so you can see how large the margin is.

that is what I mean you got yours for 55 and leatherman got his for 80. there is a 24 dollar difference in msrp so the dealer pays about a 12 dollar difference.

I have a zilla and a zilla jr. the jr is great but the zilla has lock issues.

[DaveK]

I've had my CX for a few weeks and I love it!

The CF is a bit of a con though - it doesn't actually seem to do anything except keep the spare bits in place, like Defender said - nothing to do with the structure.

But, it is very good at what it was supposed to do, i.e. be light and look good!

[Grant Lamontagne]

Yeah, but do you have a standard Skeletool to compare it to?

 

Def

[DaveK]

Yeah, but do you have a standard Skeletool to compare it to?

Yeah I do! And I agree with what you say - the differences don't justify the extra asking price.

But, and this cannot be denied, it looks fantastic doesn't it?

[Grant Lamontagne]

It does indeed, but then I think out of the three, the Freestyle is the prettiest!



Def

[DaveK]

I'm looking forward to seeing the Freestyle - whenever it gets released!

Is it tungsten that its made from?

[Rob]

It's $11 difference in cost between the two models.  But yes you'll see more of a discrepancy in asking price right now since the CX is harder to get by dealers.  I agree the carbon fiber is nothing more than racing stripes or chrome but coming from the motorcycle world I love the stuff and would get a CF toilet paper holder if I could find one.  Well not really but I do love the stuff and think it's cool that it's on there even though it serves no purpose other than coolness factor.  Heck I bought a SOG J48 just because of the CF handle.

Oh and wait until the Freestyle hits dealers this fall.  The cost on those will make them quite affordable.

[Grant Lamontagne]

I'm pretty certain that the Freestyle is just steel, or possibly even steel and aluminum.  There's really nothing fancy about it at all, but with it's ~$40 price tag, it will compete nicely with other minimalist tools like the Zilla, Guppie and X-Tract.

Def

[BIG-TARGET]

MSRP is as follows:

Skeletool= $72.00
CX= $96.00

All three of my Zillas lock up fine- in fact, a little too tight on one, so it's almost impossible to disengage sometimes!  Of course, that's common with liner locks and will eventually wear in.

Def

You didn't order from Tim did you?

[Grant Lamontagne]

No, but then I didn't pay those prices either!

I got my CX from EDCDepot and my standard Skeletool was a gift from Leatherman.

Those are the suggested list price- dealers may sell for less.

Def