Which UNPOPULAR tool have you found is excellent for daily use?

[AimlessWanderer]

Following on from THIS thread on popular tools that don't work for you, which unpopular tools have you found to be very good for you?

I have to say the IDL T5 and T7 are excellent little keychain pliers and drivers, and a superb accompaniment to a SAK such as a Climber or Traveller. The Screwzall is another great little addition to a keychain 

The Bucktool X-Tract Essential and Fin are probably my favourite tools based around locking knives, and in many ways I prefer them to the 111mm Vics and Wenger Rangers for comfort/ergonomics and also for the blade itself. The pliers on the Fin are pretty useful too

The Gerber MP700 is a winner for me, although these days it has been nudged towards the sidelines a little by the Balance which seems to have taken over it's role (see my REVIEW on the Balance)

Although it's still early days and it's not a tool I often have much call to use, and I was initially quite disappointed by it, the Gerber Grappler was surprisingly useful when trying it out for THIS review

I'll add others as they spring to mind ... but in the meantime, I'm sure I'm not the only one who has found some love for the less popular tools 

[bmot]

I'm absolutely in love with the SOG switchplier 


Just clicking the button all day is so addicting (and annoying  )


But also, certainly when accompanied by a SAK (Climber, most of the time) I find it packs some very useful features in a small package. Also, love the sheath that comes with it


All in all, I do think it gets far too little attention around here 

[kirk13]

Any SAK with a back tool Phillips...

Love the Phillips...LOVE THE PHILLIPS

[AimlessWanderer]

Any SAK with a back tool Phillips...

Love the Phillips...LOVE THE PHILLIPS

Strange boy ... 





 

[Mr. Whippy]

Many of the one piece tools. 

Especially

PocketTool X (Leatherman ) Piranha
Atwood  Prybaby
Atwood Crypto
Atwood Funnybone
Atwood Croconut
Atwood Doubleheader

I also really like the PocketWrench II but that one is quite popular so it's not on the list. 

[AimlessWanderer]

 

It seems Atwoods are very popular .... but not to use/carry  I can't actually think of anyone other than you that posts to say they've used/carried one. Gadget Guy perhaps?

I'm absolutely in love with the SOG switchplier 


Just clicking the button all day is so addicting (and annoying  )


But also, certainly when accompanied by a SAK (Climber, most of the time) I find it packs some very useful features in a small package. Also, love the sheath that comes with it


All in all, I do think it gets far too little attention around here 

Seen one and played with it, never owned one ...

I think there's a thread around here showing a failure point on them which put me off it. Though fans of the Wenger Ranger pliers should note that they operate in a very similar way too  Good to see one getting some real world usage Tom 

[jerseydevil]

Any SAK with a back tool Phillips...

Love the Phillips...LOVE THE PHILLIPS

Strange boy ... 





 

Can I blame Kirk because I agree with him?    It's probably his fault that I like the Tinker so much.  Well, I know that it's my fault that Zed likes it too......    Also the Gerber MP series that have been getting flak from some people in the other thread.  With my Pro Scout, I never feel overwhelmed by a task. 

[Mr. Whippy]

It seems Atwoods are very popular .... but not to use/carry  I can't actually think of anyone other than you that posts to say they've used/carried one. Gadget Guy perhaps?

To be fair, the prices some of these folks pay for a prytool, I'm stunned they'd even consider carrying it as pocket jewelry.   

However, they are quite handy when you're on a ladder and need to wedge something up in the ceiling joists, or remove a little stuck nut...

[dks]

I love the pen on 58mm victorinox, as I do not like carrying proper pens.

[Taxi Dad]

WINGMAN !!! 
I would love the Quality to be a tad better (even at extra cost)

[Steinar]

It is a SAK, so it has a lot of fans, but it seems the Vic Spartan catches a lot of flak every time a thread is about which SAK people don't like. Personally, I find the Spartan an excellent little knife and it's probably the SAK I have the most of (in different versions).

[Rs217]

I'd say the Crunch, which I would guess is relatively unpopular mainstream, but I feel it's absolutely perfect in every way.

[Gareth]

Gerber Flik.   Even amongst Gerber fans it's not massively popular.

Leatherman Sidekick.  It's what I have in my pocket right now.  If it wasn't for the sprung pliers I'd like it even more.

[kirk13]

WINGMAN !!! 
I would love the Quality to be a tad better (even at extra cost)

Why am I not surprised?

Gerber Flik.   Even amongst Gerber fans it's not massively popular.   

+1!

[AlephZero]

From what I've gathered, the Skeletool doesn't seem to be very popular... However, it (with the bit kit of course) has all the tools I need (so far) 

[Mr. Whippy]

I'd say the Crunch, which I would guess is relatively unpopular mainstream, but I feel it's absolutely perfect in every way.

Is the Crunch unpopular?  I love mine.  I use it regularly for removing screws with stripped heads.

From what I've gathered, the Skeletool doesn't seem to be very popular... However, it (with the bit kit of course) has all the tools I need (so far) 

Quite right!  I love my Skeletool! 

[Bensasupertool]

The Skeletool. Yes the ergo's suck on the skele when the pliers are deployed and the driver bit digs into the palm. I like it as a knife alone with the addition of tools if I really need them. The pocket clip is a plus for me as well. Its a quick grab if im goin out to the store or just to have something light and useful on me.

[rdub934]

WINGMAN !!! 
I would love the Quality to be a tad better (even at extra cost)

I fully agree with you. The Wingman gets a lot of hate (or dislike) about being low quality. But it is only low quality in relation to certain other MTs like SOGs, Multitasker, and other Leathermans - compared to the millions of cheapo, no-name multis out there, it is really nice. Quality is on par with most offerings from Gerber, and better than some. I have carried my WM a lot in the year and half or so that I have had it, and it has not failed me. Plus it's cheap and backed up by a solid warranty

[Gareth]

Just thought of another; my old LM Freestyle.  NOBODY seems to get/like the Freestyle here.  I always think a fundamental shift in expectation needs to happen when looking at the Freestyle.  Most look at it and think "there's a MT with hardly any tools", whereas I believe that if you look at it as "a OHO knife with added pliers" you'll be a lot happier.

It carries like a OHO knife, basically not much bigger than something like a Spyderco Delica, but YOU GET A FREE SET OF PLIERS! 

 

[Aloha]

WINGMAN !!! 
I would love the Quality to be a tad better (even at extra cost)

From what I've gathered, the Skeletool doesn't seem to be very popular... However, it (with the bit kit of course) has all the tools I need (so far) 

Yes and Yes for both of these LMs.  I love the skeletool for exactly what it is, a decent blade, a good plier, and versatile driver ( if you carry the bits ).  The wingman sees mostly home usage but even with that it stays very busy and hasn't let me down ever.

[AimlessWanderer]

Just thought of another; my old LM Freestyle.  NOBODY seems to get/like the Freestyle here.  I always think a fundamental shift in expectation needs to happen when looking at the Freestyle.  Most look at it and think "there's a MT with hardly any tools", whereas I believe that if you look at it as "a OHO knife with added pliers" you'll be a lot happier.

It carries like a OHO knife, basically not much bigger than something like a Spyderco Delica, but YOU GET A FREE SET OF PLIERS! 

 

Good call!  Nope, I haven't looked at the Freestyle that way, I'll be honest I've always been in the "what's the point" camp. However, that "knife with extras" view is exactly how I look at the X-Tract Fin and Essential, so I can fully relate to what you're saying 

As an aside, the Skeletool is starting to amuse me now  It was listed by several in the other thread saying it's a popular tool that didn't work for you AND listed by several in this thread as unpopular but great 

[kirk13]

It highlights what was always the problem I had with the Skeli...I tend to view,and use,MTs as a mobile toolset that happens to have a knife built in(same with most SAKs too!),where the Skeli is a oho knife with pliers and pit driver attached

[AimlessWanderer]

It highlights what was always the problem I had with the Skeli...I tend to view,and use,MTs as a mobile toolset that happens to have a knife built in(same with most SAKs too!),where the Skeli is a oho knife with pliers and pit driver attached

That would be all well and good if the ergonomics weren't so horrible on the pliers, you didn't have to have the tool half open to use the stubby driver, and the bottle opener didn't work completely backwards   

In fairness I think the Skelly is another "emotive" tool very much like the Juice line, and one that'll split the crowd in terms of opinion. On the whole though, I'd consider the Skelly a rather popular tool

[Goatlord666]

well...mine has been the suspension.

[AimlessWanderer]

Well that one definitely qualifies for this thread 

 

[kkokkolis]

Minichamp is unpopular with many. It is a perfect keychain EDC for me.


Ἄφοβον ὁ θεός, ἀνύποπτον ὁ θάνατος· καὶ τ’ ἀγαθὸν μὲν εὔκτητον, τὸ δὲ δεινὸν εὐκαρτέρητον.
Φιλόδημος Γαδαρεύς

[Goatlord666]

Well that one definitely qualifies for this thread 

 

Hahaha.  Exactly Al.

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[ducttapetech]

Gerber Flik. I can't help it, but I like it. Carried one for a long time. I love the sliding pliers and the OH blade is sweet. The scissors are one of the best I have seen on a multitool.

sent from Ducttapetech's mobile

[kkokkolis]

Oh. Juice is kind of unpopular, with SAK fans at least. And among Juices, Xe6 and Pro are less popular, as heavy and asymmetrical. It isn't a SAK but I EDC it as a beater and use my Vic less often.


Ἄφοβον ὁ θεός, ἀνύποπτον ὁ θάνατος· καὶ τ’ ἀγαθὸν μὲν εὔκτητον, τὸ δὲ δεινὸν εὐκαρτέρητον.
Φιλόδημος Γαδαρεύς

[Gareth]

Gerber Flik. I can't help it, but I like it. Carried one for a long time. I love the sliding pliers and the OH blade is sweet. The scissors are one of the best I have seen on a multitool.

sent from Ducttapetech's mobile

Well that makes two of us.   Actually I can think of at least one other member who still carries a Flik.