Urban EDC Tool Test?

Demel · **on:** October 09, 2015, 04:00:22 AM

I've been wanting to do a comparison review of a few multis that are properly suited for urban carry. I have an idea of the ones I want to do but I also wanted to ask your opinions of any I may have missed or suggestions on the tools listed.

So far I've got:
Leatherman Wingman
Gerber MP400
SOG Switchplier
Victorinox Deluxe Tinker
Buck Xtract 732

I ordered the 732 today and should have it by next week. The deluxe tinker is one I'm working on. I have all the others. The switchplier tool set will be: blade, scissors, phillips, flat driver, and bottle opener/medium driver. The idea behind the review would be tools that load the user with components that would be needed in the city, but not necessarily needing things like a saw or file or ferro rod

etc. The price ranges vary but I believe all the tool sets and sizes line up perfectly for comparison sake.

If there are others that can be gotten easily that would fit this category please let me know. Or if you have any ideas that I may have missed. If you have a deluxe tinker you want to part with shoot me a pm. Thanks for your input

Zephon · **Reply #1 on:** October 09, 2015, 04:38:03 AM

Victorinox Manager / Midnite Manager -- Scissors: check, Pen: check

You can go a little overboard with Midnite Minichamp....

Midnite Manager@Work -- Scissors, Pen, keyhole light, and USB 2.0 flash disk. (all it needs is a stapler and you're good to go

)

I've also been carrying a Micra since 2001 so I'd say it's a good urban multi-tool. People won't/don't give you weird looks when you pull any off those off your pocket

Whether it be jeans or dress pants, these guys would vanish in your pocket. They're also small enough to dangle on your ID lanyard.

ba-ta · **Reply #2 on:** October 09, 2015, 05:52:36 AM

Should be an interesting comparison between the tools you've picked. Can't wait for results.

styx · **Reply #3 on:** October 09, 2015, 06:28:02 AM

This is gonna be interesting. And please thoroughly test the beer opening capabilities

comis · **Reply #4 on:** October 09, 2015, 06:43:00 AM

That's an interesting test, and I think what tasks you put them thru will probably make a big difference in the outcome.

Of the big Four, only Vic has no pliers, would that be a disadvantage/advantage?

Corwyn · **Reply #5 on:** October 09, 2015, 07:40:25 AM

Quote from: comis on October 09, 2015, 06:43:00 AM

That's an interesting test, and I think what tasks you put them thru will probably make a big difference in the outcome. Of the big Four, only Vic has no pliers, would that be a disadvantage/advantage?

Deluxe Tinker - pliers... well stunted Vic pliers AKA tweezers on steroids... still good for edc

Etherealicer · **Reply #6 on:** October 09, 2015, 10:02:37 AM

Quote from: Zephon on October 09, 2015, 04:38:03 AM

Victorinox Manager / Midnite Manager -- Scissors: check, Pen: check

You can go a little overboard with Midnite Minichamp....

Midnite Manager@Work -- Scissors, Pen, keyhole light, and USB 2.0 flash disk. (all it needs is a stapler and you're good to go )

I've also been carrying a Micra since 2001 so I'd say it's a good urban multi-tool. People won't/don't give you weird looks when you pull any off those off your pocket

Whether it be jeans or dress pants, these guys would vanish in your pocket. They're also small enough to dangle on your ID lanyard.

Wenger Business Tool... also can punch holes for your convenience

I find for urban carry the tool better not to be black, and if it is pretty its never wrong.

So Spirit (if you cycle or have other reasons for a bit more tool), CyberTool (M, probably delivers the most rounded toolset) if you are into IT or in general need lots of (small) screwdrivers, Climber if you want Scissors and a bigger blade... else Classic/Rambler with your choice of scale tools Flashlight/Pen/Tweezers/Toothpick...

For sturdier scissors you can look at LMs Micra/Style/Squirt line or SOGs Crosscut. Personally, I prefer Vic scissors as I find them to be superior at precision and cutting paper and other light materials yet rise to the task of cutting tough materials (I did cut a tin can open with a 58mm scissors)

Kampfer · **Reply #7 on:** October 09, 2015, 10:14:23 AM

You should add Mauser M712 to the list, a wonderful urban tool.

Mextreme · **Reply #8 on:** October 09, 2015, 10:18:48 AM

I think the Leatherman equivalent to the Deluxe Tinker is the Juice S2, very similar tool set.
I think also LM Squirt and / or Micra are great smaller urban EDCs.
From Victorinox there is a never ending offering for urban EDCs.
I think the 84mm 2 layer is a great format:
Small Tinker, Cadet, Recruit. In 91mm there is compact and Tinker.

Demel · **Reply #9 on:** October 09, 2015, 12:13:03 PM

Trying to respond to everyone, I left out keychain size tools. Honest Vic dominates in this area so most people will only need a classic. I only have three keychain tools the signature, dime, and style cs. That wouldn't be much of a challenge. 9/10 I have the signature on me

I wanted to pick the cybertool initially but the price difference was so high most non mt people will pass on it. The deluxe tinker is more affordable, a layer thinner, and still has the tool set to compete in this category. If vic had something in between the 91mm line and the spirit I would've picked that.

Kampfer: I had to look that up

looks good but may get you in trouble with the locals.

Mextreme: I agree. That's why I just picked tinker.

Styx: I will not hold out

Demel · **Reply #10 on:** October 09, 2015, 07:03:10 PM

Any other suggestions for midsize tools that I've missed?

ducttapetech · **Reply #11 on:** October 09, 2015, 07:07:25 PM

SOG Paratool?

That's us mobile.
Nate

comis · **Reply #12 on:** October 09, 2015, 07:26:58 PM

Thinking about size since you'd mentioned it, I think sometimes it's confusing how different manufacturer defines tool sizes differently. For review purposes, I usually just call anything that is under 3" keychain size, around 3"-4" as pocket/small size, 4"-5" as mid size and 5"+ as large/full size. But that's just personal preference.

Come to think about it, unless we restrict the sizing to pocket/keychain(<4") size only, I think most tools in a plier based MT are somewhat catered towards urban application(screwdrivers/beer bottle/flat head/mini screwdriver etc), and probably could qualify as urban EDC tool.

Kampfer · **Reply #13 on:** October 09, 2015, 07:28:21 PM

Quote from: Demel on October 09, 2015, 12:13:03 PM

Kampfer: I had to look that up looks good but may get you in trouble with the locals.

Sorry, wrong forum.

but if you carry one, I bet no local wants to give you trouble.

Look at SOG PPP as well.

Kampfer · **Reply #14 on:** October 09, 2015, 07:49:04 PM

I built KickASS for urban carry, it kicks Juice S2 ass in every way and it is less than 1oz heavier.

AimlessWanderer · **Reply #15 on:** October 09, 2015, 07:50:11 PM

Off the top, if you're including the Mp400 and Wingman, then here are a few others which may qualify.....

Leatherman Juice
Leatherman Rebar
Gerber Crucial
Gerber Balance
Gerber Strata
Victorinox Spirit
Leatherman Kick
SOG Paratool
SOG Pocket Power Plier
CRKT Tool
Leatherman Leap
Gerber Octane
Leatherman Skeletool

.... to be honest, I'm unsure as to what you are classifying as an urban tool, which is why I have put so many forward. Here for exampe, I wouldn't consider the Wingman or Mp400 or X-Tract as urban tools due to the locking blade. In Germany where locking OR OHO is permitted, then the MP400 would be fine, but the other two wouldn't. Different areas in the US permit different length blades, so that's even more confusing.

Multitools without saws maybe?

Kampfer · **Reply #16 on:** October 09, 2015, 07:52:06 PM

Kinda agree with Al, sawless = urban tool?

jerseydevil · **Reply #17 on:** October 09, 2015, 07:54:21 PM

Quote from: Mextreme on October 09, 2015, 10:18:48 AM

I think the Leatherman equivalent to the Deluxe Tinker is the Juice S2, very similar tool set.

50-ft Trad did a comparison between the Deluxe Tinker and the Juice, it's why I bought a Deluxe Tinker.

For general use around the city I live in, I'm really liking the Compact lately.

Kampfer · **Reply #18 on:** October 09, 2015, 07:55:32 PM

The comparison between SAK and pliers base MT goes on, if you don't need pliers, go with SAK, or if you need pliers, SAK is out.

Even small keychain pliers based MT like Squirt has stronger pliers than the 91mm pliers.

jerseydevil · **Reply #19 on:** October 09, 2015, 08:34:08 PM

Quote from: Kampfer on October 09, 2015, 07:55:32 PM

The comparison between SAK and pliers base MT goes on, if you don't need pliers, go with SAK, or if you need pliers, SAK is out.

Pretty much what Al decided. The test is a Deluxe Tinker vs. a Juice CS4

http://forum.multitool.org/index.php/topic,25232.msg456045.html#msg456045

comis · **Reply #20 on:** October 09, 2015, 08:43:24 PM

Quote from: 50ft-trad on October 09, 2015, 07:50:11 PM

Off the top, if you're including the Mp400 and Wingman, then here are a few others which may qualify.....

Leatherman Juice
Leatherman Rebar
Gerber Crucial
Gerber Balance
Gerber Strata
Victorinox Spirit
Leatherman Kick
SOG Paratool
SOG Pocket Power Plier
CRKT Tool
Leatherman Leap
Gerber Octane
Leatherman Skeletool

.... to be honest, I'm unsure as to what you are classifying as an urban tool, which is why I have put so many forward. Here for exampe, I wouldn't consider the Wingman or Mp400 or X-Tract as urban tools due to the locking blade. In Germany where locking OR OHO is permitted, then the MP400 would be fine, but the other two wouldn't. Different areas in the US permit different length blades, so that's even more confusing.

Multitools without saws maybe?

Then will heavy weight such as Gerber MP600 and SOG PowerAssist also qualify?

Demel · **Reply #21 on:** October 09, 2015, 10:09:48 PM

Quote from: ducttapetech on October 09, 2015, 07:07:25 PM

SOG Paratool?

That's us mobile.
Nate

I'll have to look into that. My thing with sog is all their inside components are the same. So one kind of covers the batch. Of course that isn't factoring in the frame.

Quote from: Kampfer on October 09, 2015, 07:52:06 PM

Kinda agree with Al, sawless = urban tool?

Kind of

Quote from: comis on October 09, 2015, 08:43:24 PM

Quote from: 50ft-trad on October 09, 2015, 07:50:11 PM
Off the top, if you're including the Mp400 and Wingman, then here are a few others which may qualify.....

Leatherman Juice
Leatherman Rebar
Gerber Crucial
Gerber Balance
Gerber Strata
Victorinox Spirit
Leatherman Kick
SOG Paratool
SOG Pocket Power Plier
CRKT Tool
Leatherman Leap
Gerber Octane
Leatherman Skeletool

.... to be honest, I'm unsure as to what you are classifying as an urban tool, which is why I have put so many forward. Here for exampe, I wouldn't consider the Wingman or Mp400 or X-Tract as urban tools due to the locking blade. In Germany where locking OR OHO is permitted, then the MP400 would be fine, but the other two wouldn't. Different areas in the US permit different length blades, so that's even more confusing.

Multitools without saws maybe?

Then will heavy weight such as Gerber MP600 and SOG PowerAssist also qualify?

Good question. I mean specifically tools that I look for myself. All of people have varying degrees of needs. For this test the basic tool sets would be: pliers, blade, scissors, and drivers (mainly phillips and flat) anything else is extra.

I do thing the juice is a better "option" than the wingman but it's more expensive than i think it's worth. and I don't have one.

so that's why I picked the wingman.

Also note I not trying to do an exhaustive comparison but more of a "sample from each batch" type of comparison. Blade lengths, locking mechanisms, etc I did not take into account. All the blades listed are under 3" and the tinker is non locking. I'm in the US so it may not be the most helpful for those in the UK

so all things considered this was the list I compiled based on my experience, preference, and basic tool needs of a us city citizen. I hope that helps.