'got my 3rd Leatherman today. That's not big news around here, but maybe you'll be interested to hear the back story.
Back in the 80s, I carried a SAK, my best buddy at the time had just gotten an original Leatherman the previous Christmas. He said it was better, I was skeptical; it's hard to beat a SAK. He was more into mechanical things, I was more into electrical things.
I never forgot it though. A few years later, I picked up a brand new Leatherman. Was immediately disappointed at how quickly it gets uncomfortable when I squeeze hard. Carried it maybe a couple dozen times in the last 20 years. I love the size and the closed feel. The tool set is good too.
Forgot about that, and went back to SAKs.
A couple years ago, I picked up a Surge. On the internet, it looked perfect. But I found it to be too big and heavy. I could even deal with the heavy part, if it were just a smidge smaller and more comfortable. It still has sharpish corners when using the outside tools.
Just tonight, I was at Lowe's and looking at the Wave, Rebar, ST300, Wingman, and SOG PowerLock. ST300 looks awesome. Looks more comfy than the Surge, but with a similarly useful tool set. (missing scissors though...) I learned from experience that I won't use one that big.
I have a Wingman already. Great MT. That pared me down to the Wave, Rebar, or SOG. I probably would've gone SOG despite the size, if they had the scissor version instead of the V-cutter version. Seems like a bargain at $60 to have one-handed opening, 1/4" socket driver, and geared pliers. I decided that if I got that one, it would suffer the same fate as the Surge and original Swisstool. ---> relegated to glovebox duty.
Wave seems perfect, but woo, $90. That's pretty steep, considering it is pretty much just a mini Surge. I almost bought it anyway.
What sold me on the Rebar was the thought of how good the original Leatherman feels in the hand while closed, but with (hopefully) all the little flaws fixed. That, and the 154CM wire cutter. (sometimes I like to cut coat hangers, and I cut a lot of copper wire too) This seems like the spiritual successor to The One that Started it all. The grip is more rounded. The blades are more accessible. The Phillips screwdriver is nice and long. The only thing that worries me is the thought that maybe some day, it will get all loosey-goosey in the pivots, and the pliers won't work properly after that. I wish they had skipped the serrated blade and put the Wave's scissors in there.
The (Mexican) leather pouch seems to be of better quality than the (Chinese) one that came with my Surge, but not quite on par with that of my original Leatherman.
Bottom line is I think this one is carry-able.
I may yet get a Swisstool Spirit X and SOG Pocket PowerPlier and have a real face-off.
First thoughts:
Let me outta here, little guy!
with the nice pouch and a 4-layer SAK (Mountaineer):
'seems to be about three-layers thick, in SAK-speak:
Clumping, I usually don't mind, but this clumping between the file and the lanyard ring, and between the saw and Phillips is pretty annoying:
Minor complaints though. I will probably spend a little more time than I need to in the lab tomorrow, just putting the Rebar (PST III?) through its paces.
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