Leatherman Free Series

[ironraven]

I think most people around here know I love my Leatherman tools. So lets see if I can sum up my reaction to these....

No, not  Certainly not that.

More...  nah, the puke emoji I have a work, while it sums up my reaction is a little too graphic for this forum.

OK, totally one handed, but I'm seeing lots and lots of Rev/Wingman/Sidekick parts in new packaging with general form factors that look like they are going to take a lot of FOD. No real files. No bit drivers. But there are magnets, which to me isn't a positive. And then I saw the prices. My gods! Tim, please come back and save us from this thing that bares your name. In fairness, I haven't been hands on with one yet, so I might change my mind.

And I might dye myself purple, to.

[gilson65]

Just looked at LM Australia. Sure hope you got it for less than the price I saw.

Yes I did couldn’t help myself

[gerleatherberman]

Yes I did couldn’t help myself

 :like:


No worries. I have been known to drop serious fliff on MTs too. :cheers:

Leatherman emailed me that the P2 has shipped.  :woohoo:
Hopefully they'll ship the P4 tomorrow.  :ahhh

I'm excited. Even of the tool isn't great, it'll make a nice collection piece to rest alongside the rest of the LM crew(40 or so and growing..haha). :multi:

[Syncop8r]

From the Facebook:

****** ******** was the very 1st person in NZ to order a Leatherman FREE P4!

When he received it, did it live up to the hype? Read his initial thoughts below.

"It doesn’t disappoint after a quick play! It feels amazing in the hand and looks unreal!

"I can’t believe how light it is. Tool deployment is silky smooth. Love the click when each tool locks.

"I was a bit skeptical about how easy it would be to disengage the locks one handed when you close a tool, but it feels intuitive. I can’t wait to actually put it to work! 😍"

[gerleatherberman]

Sounds like a good outlook! Thanks for posting that, Syncop8r!

Only down side now, for me, is the estimated arrival time for me is next week on Wednesday.

[Wspeed]

Sounds promising 
can’t wait to see what you guys think of them when you get them

[gregpost]

 I wonder if the Leatherman flagship store has already started selling these.

[gerleatherberman]

I wonder if the Leatherman flagship store has already started selling these.

I'd be surprised if they weren't. 

[powernoodle]

Rev/Wingman/Sidekick parts in new packaging . . . And then I saw the prices.

That pretty much sums it up for me too.  It makes the Rev look pretty good at $39 shipped.  Maybe that's the whole point.  Sneaky, sneaky Timmy.

[sawman]

That pretty much sums it up for me too.  It makes the Rev look pretty good at $39 shipped.  Maybe that's the whole point.  Sneaky, sneaky Timmy.

I wholeheartedly must disagree :

The Free series offers magnets.... 

[gerleatherberman]

The assertion that the Free P series is similar to the Rev, because of similar implement styles, is ridiculous. They aren't even close mechanically.

[gregpost]

 Stuart from ToolguyD got his hands on Free P2 and has initial positive reviews, with the exception that one hand opening the knife blade to him seems more difficult(bummer).

https://toolguyd.com/review-leatherman-free-multi-tool-p2-is-amazing/

[powernoodle]

The assertion that the Free P series is similar to the Rev, because of similar implement styles, is ridiculous. They aren't even close mechanically.

Its not ridiculous at all.  The blade, 2D phillips, flat driver, teeny weeny file and can opener look identical to the Sidekick, etc.  They may very well come out of the same parts bins.

While I have P4 fever as much as anyone, my opinion is constrained by reality.  A $139 MT should not have a 2D phillips, a 3 cm ruler and a teeny, toy-sized file.

I didn't design it.  I'm just the messenger.   

[Syncop8r]

Sounds like a good outlook! Thanks for posting that, Syncop8r!

To be fair that was on LM's NZ FB page.

The assertion that the Free P series is similar to the Rev, because of similar implement styles, is ridiculous. They aren't even close mechanically.

The architecture is different, but I still can't get past seeing WIngman/Sidekick/Rev tools in it.

[Syncop8r]

A $139 MT should not have a 2D phillips, a 3 cm ruler and a teeny, toy-sized file.

[genevabuck]

To be fair that was on LM's NZ FB page.
The architecture is different, but I still can't get past seeing WIngman/Sidekick/Rev tools in it.

Can you point to examples of those tools failing?  I actually think that they are better than some of the ones on more expensive Leatherman tools.

[Syncop8r]

No admittedly I can't, I haven't used those tools. A lot of it is my perception based on looks and size. I dislike the tapered shape.

[genevabuck]

No admittedly I can't, I haven't used those tools. A lot of it is my perception based on looks and size. I dislike the tapered shape.

I like them. They remind me of the OG Leatherman implements before they got cheap. Think about this. If LM went cheap on say Wingman tools, they would have taken a major hit on warranty costs. They in my opinion are more solid than the numerous Wave/Charge/Surge/Super Tool implements that I have sent in for warranty. Meanwhile, there still isn’t a thread here about Wingman/Sidekick tools breaking or failing.

[AimlessWanderer]

I like them. They remind me of the OG Leatherman implements before they got cheap. Think about this. If LM went cheap on say Wingman tools, they would have taken a major hit on warranty costs. They in my opinion are more solid than the numerous Wave/Charge/Surge/Super Tool implements that I have sent in for warranty. Meanwhile, there still isn’t a thread here about Wingman/Sidekick tools breaking or failing.

Whichever one I had (the one with the scissors that I stole for a wave mod), was unpleasant ergonomically for me, and I'd rather the drivers lock than the blade, but the individual tools did seem robust. The diminutive file was well cut, and the Phillips, though not full profile, did seem well made too. As I mentioned earlier in this thread, the tapered shanks of the drivers can cause access issues though, and making plier heads hollow to house a return spring, does compromise them and lead to excessive wear quicker. All told, while there's much I dislike about the design, there were no glaring shortfalls in manufacturing quality on mine.

As to not seeing any pics of failures, I don't know of anyone here who puts one to hard use regularly. I'd guess that most people here who own one, use something else most of the time. I only know of Taxi Dad carrying one regularly, but I don't think he works his tools as hard as other folks here do. Again, the plier pivot was the only obvious weak spot for hard use that I saw. The rest did seem to be fairly durable.

[SteveC]

I like them. They remind me of the OG Leatherman implements before they got cheap. Think about this. If LM went cheap on say Wingman tools, they would have taken a major hit on warranty costs. They in my opinion are more solid than the numerous Wave/Charge/Surge/Super Tool implements that I have sent in for warranty. Meanwhile, there still isn’t a thread here about Wingman/Sidekick tools breaking or failing.

The tools on my Sidekick other than the knife and saw are fairly useless IMO. The phillips is okay but does cam out more easily than any 3D phillips on my other LM's. The large flat is too thick and wide for anything other than use as a prybar. The file/ medium flat is a joke. The small SE knife is okay I guess.

It sits on my desk and gets light use. I imagine that most SK and WM get lighter use than most other LM models.

[gerleatherberman]

Well. All-in-all, the fact is, those of us who will have the P2/P4 will be enjoying them/not enjoying them, while those who don't have them will be wondering.
I try not to be one to tell how a car drives before actually driving one.

If LM had released something near-similar to a model they already make(which is what is sounds like some presumptive detractors wanted), I would have been pissed, because they would have something to compete with tools they ALREADY make. They went for something fun to use and completely different, and that takes brass. It might suck, but I seriously doubt it will. It will probably fall into theMT catagory "super fun to play with and moderately useful."
Leatherman did smurf up by advertising it as better than tools they currently make/sell. A lot of the initial hatred of the Free series was born in the grey sheath on the tatted dude's belt.

[Top-Gear-24]

Well. All-in-all, the fact is, those of us who will have the P2/P4 will be enjoying them/not enjoying them, while those who don't have them will be wondering.
I try not to be one to tell how a car drives before actually driving one.

If LM had released something near-similar to a model they already make(which is what is sounds like some presumptive detractors wanted), I would have been pissed, because they would have something to compete with tools they ALREADY make. They went for something fun to use and completely different, and that takes brass. It might suck, but I seriously doubt it will. It will probably fall into theMT catagory "super fun to play with and moderately useful."
Leatherman did smurf up by advertising it as better than tools they currently make/sell. A lot of the initial hatred of the Free series was born in the grey sheath on the tatted dude's belt.

 

I can only speak for myself, but at the moment the curiosity outweighs the negative feelings from the sales talk again  .

[balvenie]

[gerleatherberman]

 

I can only speak for myself, but at the moment the curiosity outweighs the negative feelings from the sales talk again  .

True true. We are going to need to schedule a Free challenge. Free tp participate in of course.

Oh....my....smurf...
That thing looks to be a smooth operator.
Thanks for posting that.

[Monrogue]

Well curiosity has gotten the better of me and I’ve got a P2 on the way.  It’s been quite a while since I got a new multi tool, so I’m excited.  It looks interesting, and I fall into the “fun to play with, but moderately useful” target anyway

[Wspeed]

£169,99 for the P2
£189.99 for the P4

I will wait for prices to go down before I will get one 

[Poncho65]

Well curiosity has gotten the better of me and I’ve got a P2 on the way.  It’s been quite a while since I got a new multi tool, so I’m excited.  It looks interesting, and I fall into the “fun to play with, but moderately useful” target anyway

Great to see you Mons Let us know how it goes with it

Can't wait to hear all the thoughts about these, guys

[Wspeed]

Same here very interested to see what everyone thinks of them 

[Monrogue]

Great to see you Mons Let us know how it goes with it

Can't wait to hear all the thoughts about these, guys

Yo Ponch!   

[Poncho65]

Yo Ponch!   

So where you been hiding at