Surge EDC Practicality

[Yontz]

Hey Guys,
New to the forum and to Leatherman. I recently became the Facility Manager for a small to mid size printing facility. I will have all of the building, manufacturing and office. I was thinking a good multitool would come in handy when I am out and about in the plant and something comes up. Although I carry a knife daily I have never carried a MT. I saw the Surge, fell in love with its versatility of the bits and blades and pulled the trigger. Now I am having some buyers remorse because I see a lot of guys saying its just too big to carry on the person. I was planning on belt carry using the nylon sheath that comes with it. I am looking for thoughts on whether or not you feel it is too much tool to carry on the belt?
Thanks in advance,
Joe

[ducttapetech]

I have been carrying for years on my belt. Best multiplier ever built. I think you will like it.

[Dutch_Tooler]

Welcome to the forum Yontz! Wouldn't be a problem for me to belt carry the Surge. If you prefer horizontal carry e.g. at the 2 o'clock position, there is a leather sheath from Leatherman that allows that as an option and has nylon stretch side pockets for smaller items.

[Aloha]

Welcome.  Hard to say if you'll be uncomfortable carrying it on your belt.  Depending on what else you might have on your belt it may be just more weight.  I also like to balance my weight with what I have in pocket.  I'm a lefty so the bulk of what I carry in my pockets are on my left side.  I carry my MT on my right as a result but at the 2 o'clock or 4 o'clock position.  This way I can still reach for it with my left hand tho I do tend to grab it with my right and pass to my left.  Seems counter intuitive but it works for me.  I'd say keep the sheath minimal.  Maybe carry the bit cards in pocket?  The extra blades a thin enough to fit in the sheath with the tool.  I'd say give the tool a run for 2 weeks regardless of how you might initially feel.  Play with different spots on your belt.  If you wear a tool belt then maybe attach it to your tool belt? 

The Surge is a great tool with tons of versatility.  I highly suggest getting the bit extender or modding one.  This way you can use standard 1/4 bits and increase the reach.  Being able to use so many different saw blades really takes this tool to a higher lever.  As a result the carry weight is offset IMO.  Good luck and report back how it works out.   

[SteveC]

I don't find it too bad on the belt. You will get used to it. The Supertool 300 is another great tool that is slightly lighter 

[Poncho65]

Welcome to and another person here who finds the weight of the Surge quite fine I do carry larger MTs most of the time and find that the weight is barely noticeable on the belt to me It may take a bit of getting use to any MT and a sheath if you have never carried one but after that you will be fine 

We have actually been in the middle of a Surge challenge with a few guys carrying it for 15 and 30 days Here is a link
https://forum.multitool.org/index.php/topic,73773.0.html

[Yontz]

Thanks for all the replies. I’m feeling better about the purchase and I’m looking forward to modding some bit kits and exploring the big work of tshank blades!

[captain spaulding]

Theee is a metal sheath on Amazon for the Surge that will cut down the bulk considerably. It may be worth a look.

[ironraven]

The Surge is the biggest and baddest of the Leatherman tools. I feel it is too big for my EDC, and that is the critical piece. If you are going to using it multiple times a day, try it. You might go through a couple of sheaths finding the right one, though.

That being said, when I'm in the woods, I often have my Surge with me rather than my Rebar, becuase it is a beast. If I was in a job where I was going to be using it a couple of times a day, I would carry it as well.

[LoopCutter]

Actually, a very good sheath option is the Mag-light combo sheath that was described and shared toward the end of the Surge 30 day challenge. It would allow you to add a small mag-light to the sheath.  On Amazon I recall it is about $25. 
I sheath carry my SuperTool 300 with no issues and would expect the same for a Surge. 


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[Glockfan]

Great tool, not much to add that the others didn't cover.

Welcome to the forum!

[ThundahBeagle]

As previously described, the Surge IS  the biggest and baddest Leatherman. And heaviest. I can confirm it is a beast. I can also confirm I carried it on my belt every day for three months and there was no other single tool that was as strong or useful.

-Can I clip the end of that Cat 6 cable for you? Yes. And that c-13 power coupler, while I'm at it, no sweat.
-How about cutting that coat hanger, or that nail? Uh-huh.
-Glad we could fix that door hinge by screwing in those extra long screws for you. Thanks for the help, buddy.
-Saw some firewood for camp? Sure, you want that now?
-Let me cut up some paracord to make shoe laces or cut some rope for tie-down. No sweat.
-Now let's get that fire started, where's the Ferro rod?
-Perhaps you needed me to help turn some bolts on the water pump of that old 4.0 Jeep? Um, okay.
-Open that beer for you, sir? There ya go.
- Anything else? What's next?

That's my experience with the Surge in a nutshell. Great tool.

If you are going to be facilities manager, as heavy as the Surge may seem, you could end up saving weight and time by carrying it. You may need to carry or retrieve fewer of your other tools

[ThundahBeagle]

It will do all of that, and then cut out paper doll accordions for your daughter

[Aloha]

It will do all of that, and then cut out paper doll accordions for your daughter

 

[ThePeacent]

these two are some of the sturdiest, strongest and most solid feeling MTs I have had in my hands, and I've trusted both for the jobs that made all other MTs fear for their integrity.



The Surge is heavy but I think that's the minimum you could ask for the versatility and strength it gives you,  and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it to anyone who needs tools at hand in their job or life.



I find it easier to carry horizontally, in a LM Nylon sheath carried at 10 or 2 on the belt, it disappears there after some carry time and you'll be glad to have it on you when needed.

[ThundahBeagle]

...And handy-men worldwide now a-bed
Shall think themselves accurs'd they "have not"...
And hold their multi-tools cheap whiles any speaks
That holds with us a Leatherman Surge!

[ThundahBeagle]

That bit of paraphrasing has got to be worth a "Pull-it Surprise" at least, right?

[Poncho65]

 

 

[AndyTiedye]

The Surge isn't that big.

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[jonon9]

Before I lost my Surge i carried it everyday, a great piece of kit I belt carried mine so weight wasnt really an issue. I love the scissors on the Surge and in my opinion the best scissors in the LM lineup. You wont regret it.
I be buying one again very soon in Black Oxide though 

[gerleatherberman]

The Surge isn't that big.(Image removed from quote.)

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Yeahhhh..about that...look at the newer pliar head on the new Surge. I have a SOG PowerAssist. Problem with SOG=. Pliars don't open far enough to be really useful for heavy duty work(2x the power makes no difference when handles are 8" splayed on my sog. Haha). I call my PowerAssist the world's biggest tool for medium duty work. Poor file, poor drivers, etc. It isn't about being big, it is about being useful I think.
Surge

Hey Yontz,
The surge is big, but not the biggest. It IS probably the most versatile MT being built right now.
Once the weight is adjusted to, you won't regret it. I am in week two of my Surge challenge and can't seem to find anyway to damage it yet, short of deliberate abuse, which I won't do.
The weight took about four days to acclomate to. I carry it in the premium leather sheath with two accessory sleeves. I saved weight by removing my edc blade and swapping a 2xAA maglite for an LED solitaire. Ended up being the same weight as my normal wave/edc knife/and 2xAAA led maglite combo.

Pictured: surge in sheath w solitaire and a photo of the sog vs. Surge handle splay for the same pliar widths.

[AimlessWanderer]

Practicality is subjective. Many people with think the tool is "too much", but many won't. If the tool is what you truly need, then you will find a way to carry it which suits you. If after a while, you find it just too much of a lump to lug around, then you may have to try something in a smaller frame size. Unfortunately the only person who can answer this question is you. How suitable this tool is to other people is somewhat irrelevant. For what it's worth, I find the tool unwieldy, and am less than enamoured by certain features/aspects of it. I am the wrong person for this tool, but that doesn't change whether or not this tool may be right for you. Apologies if this reply is not particularly helpful. 

[ThePeacent]

well so much Surge talking encouraged me to take it out and carry it as my big LM exclusively for the entire week.
It's one of my less used tools as it stays in the car kit all time, so let's see how it fares.
Hope you enjoy yours!   

[gerleatherberman]

well so much Surge talking encouraged me to take it out and carry it as my big LM exclusively for the entire week.
It's one of my less used tools as it stays in the car kit all time, so let's see how it fares.
Hope you enjoy yours!   

(Image removed from quote.)

Don't forget to start the 7 day Surge challenge thread to get the badge. If you have not done so already.

[LoopCutter]

I have been considering a Surge since all new discussions and challenges.
Yet, have one question, maybe two. 
If I understand correctly, the file and saw are interchangeable to the same exchange fitting?

If that is correct, are there different files types that are made as the saw blades?

For a larger MT I use and find the ST300 fits many of my needs, I also, use my Rebar for smaller jobs and when I need the added SEX appeal a Rebar has.  Yet, of late, my Wave sees EDC work duty, for the file, both sides as required for rough and or fine work. And, the saw for fitting plastic conduit and cleaning edges on broken wood pieces.  The OH blade compliment as well is handy why the Surge interest, if I can have it all in the bigger package. 




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[Yontz]

Well the Surge is on it's way to the house today. I should have it by the time I get home. So tomorrow I will start carrying. I think I am going to ditch my EDC knife and just go all in.

[SurivStud]

Probably everything has been already said. I would just add, IMHO, that the weight difference between the Surge and other full size multi tool isn't that much as to be concerned about. You may have to decide wether to carry something or not but once you have decided to add a multi tool to your EDC and therefore accepted some extra grams, the difference between any full sized MT and the Surge isn't that much as to be a decision point.
I own the  Charge TTi (pocket clipped carried) and the Surge besides other smaller ones and use to carry the Charge when I don't have a specifically Surge required anticipated need, but when I carry the Surge (belt sheath, horizontally) the weight difference doesn't distract me.


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[Yontz]

Came home from work tonight to a package on the table. The Surge has arrived! It's not as big, bulky or heavy as I was anticipating. I'm super stoked to start carrying it. I have already hit the garage and found an old bit kit in a non used toolbox that i will take to work tomorrow and give it a work over in the grinding room to accessorize my new Surge. The only confusion I had from the purchase was the model number. They advertised 830160 and I received 830859. I think it is just a matter of the sheath but I asked the seller anyhow. It is definite the newer model and not old stock. Glad to be part of the Surge Owners Club!

[ducttapetech]

Congrats man!

[SteveC]

Congrats man!

+1