Leatherman FREE T4 vs Victorinox Pioneer X and Super Tinker

[smiller43147]

I got a FREE T4 for Christmas, and had to compare it to a couple of SAKs.
I'm going to score all three as follows:  For each major function 0 -1 - 2 where 0 the function is either missing on that tool, or fails.  A 2 works just as expected, and a 1 means it works, but not as well as expected.  I'll also award a bonus half point when I feel some minor function deserves some credit.


The three contenders are: Leatherman FREE T4 (T4), the Victorinox Pioneer X (PX) and the Victorinox Super Tinker (ST).
Size wise they are all about the same, the PX having a thinner profile than the other two.
Weights are: T4 4.3 oz, PX 3.3 oz and ST 3.0 oz.
As size matters (in more ways than one) each of the SAKs get a half point bonus, ST for the least weight and PX for being the thinnest.

[smiller43147]

The most important tool is the blade (we identify them as knives after all).
The two SAKs have nearly identical blades: drop points with polished blades and nail nicks.  The ST has a hollow ground clip point(ish) blade with visible grind marks.  All three do the job of a knife, but the T4 is one hand open/close and has a solid lock.  The T4 is made with a 420HC steel, not a top shelf knife steel, but arguably better than the steel that Victorinox uses (at least for edge retention).  For food prep I think the Vic stainless and polished blade is a better choice.


So it's a 2 all around for the blade.  A bonus half point to the T4 for the OH/locking features.  And a bonus half point to the ST for the small blade.
Score so far: T4 2, ST 3, PX 2.5

[smiller43147]

Next up, flat drivers.  Used just as often as pry tools.  All three have multiple flat drivers, I'm just going to look at the large drivers.
The T4 has a very robust flat driver.  Perhaps the thickest I've seen, right up there with the Swisstool Spirit, and Vic lists that as a crate opener!
The two SAKs have similar drivers, with the PX being more robust than the ST.  Of the three, I like the driver on the PX best as it has the widest tip (large drivers remember?).


They all function as expected, so another round of 2's for all the contenders.  The T4 has a ground chisel edge on the large driver to use as a package opener.  I would award a bonus half point for that, but, it's located right where you naturally put your thumb to open the tool one handed.  Plus I'm not too keen on beveling the edge of the already narrow driver tip, so bonus point denied.


Score so far: T4 4, ST 5, PX 4.5

[smiller43147]

While we're talking about drivers, let's talk phillips.  The T4 has a sturdy looking phillips driver, more than a 2D driver, I'll call it a 2-1/2D driver, kind of like the flat double ended bits Leatherman uses for the Wave.  The ST has a full 3D phillips driver on the back spring, and the can opener can double as a 2D in line phillips if you don't need a lot of torque.  The PX doesn't have a proper phillips, but its can opener can similarly be used as a 2D phillips driver.


One would thing the ST is the clear winner here, but the 3D phillips driver is awkward to use on the back spring, and needs a lot of room to spin the rest of the SAK around.  And while it hasn't happened to me personally, a little too much torque and the liners can be bent.  So it's 2 points to the T4 and 1 point each to the SAKs.


Score so far: T4 6, ST 6, PX 5.5

[smiller43147]

Let's take a look at reamers/awls/punch.  All three tools have unique designs here.
The ST has the same basic tool as used on the 84/85/91/111/130 SAKs.  It's a well designed and manufactured tool, but like the phillips driver it suffers from being on the back spring.  The PX on the other hand has the much touted inline reamer.  The reputation is much deserved, efficient and ergonomic many here have wished for, or modded this tool onto a 91 or 111 SAK.  An understated design that just works.
Then we have the T4.  On paper this looks to beat the PX's reamer.  It's inline, it locks, one handed opening, a triple threat.  I used it on a piece of soft wood, and it was slow and took too much effort.  The problem?  Apparently, to increase the tools function count, a fine screwdriver was placed at the tip of this tool.  Without a proper point it was hard to use.  And how long is that screwdriver tip going to last before it gets buggered up?  I am truly disappointed in Leatherman.  They were poised to knock this one out of the park, and best the PX, but they managed to screw it up.


One point to the T4 and ST, and 2 points to the reigning champ the PX.


Score so far: T4 7, ST 7, PX 7.5  Still a horse race.

[smiller43147]

On to one of my favorite/most used tools: scissors.
What can I say about the Victorinox scissors?  They are the gold standard.  Not only are they beautiful little works of art, they function.  That seems to surprise a lot of people.  These are real scissors people.
The T4 scissors are similarly sized, not as wonderfully crafted, but functional.  They look a bit like Wenger/Delmont scissors, but they don't bob up and down, and they open all the way so they can be sharpened.  They were fine for "snipping", but didn't work so well for long cuts in paper or cardboard.  The issue is that there is a big step that the material being cut has to ride up over.  I've marked up the T4 and ST scissors with a red Sharpie to highlight the area.  The result is that they "hang up" after the first cut, and leave the edge a little ragged.  Like the reamer, they could have rivaled the legendary Victorinox scissors, but fall short.


Two points for the SAKs, and sadly one point for the T4.


Score so far: T4 8, ST 9, PX 9.5  ARE YOU LISTENING LEATHERMAN?  YOU SHOULD BE IN THE LEAD!

[smiller43147]

While we've covered the most important tools IMHO we're not finished yet.
Can openers.  While this tool is growing less important as pull tabs become the norm, there are still cans without them.  Also, as pomsbz pointed out recently in this thread [size=78%]https://forum.multitool.org/index.php/topic,83541.0.html[/size] the can opener is a "great metal finger nail".  And as noted above, can be used as a phillips driver.
But let's restrict ourselves to the stated function of opening cans.  The Victorinox safety can opener is tops.  While others may be faster, this design has plenty of leverage for that first puncture and will open any can.
The T4 does not have this feature.


So 2's for the SAKs, and a 0 to the T4.


Score so far: T4 8, ST 11, PX 11.5

[smiller43147]

Bottle openers.  Like can openers, not as important as they used to be with twist off caps, but not all bottles have twist off caps.
The Victorinox openers work, but usually require two tries because they grab such a small portion of the edge of the cap.  I haven't had a chance to actually use the opener on the T4 yet, but judging by the thickness of the tool I'm betting it will pop a cap with one try.  New Year's is just a couple of days away, so if my guess is not correct, I'll circle back and change my score, but for now I'm calling the T4 superior.


I'm awarding 1 point to the SAKs and 2 points to the T4.  But wait, I just discovered that I can hold a 1/4" bit in the T4, so a bonus half point to the T4.


Score so far: T4 10.5, ST 12, PX 12.5

[smiller43147]

The T4 comes with a file.  Single cut on one side, double cut on the other.  Looks a lot like the file on the Wingman/Sidekick, short and tapered.  It seems aggressive enough, but given how short it is, not too useful.
Neither SAK has a file.


One point for the T4, none for the SAKs.


Score so far: T4 11.5, ST 12, PX 12.5

[smiller43147]

Getting into more ancillary functions, so I'm only going to award bonus half points now.
T4 and ST have tweezers.
ST has toothpick.
ST has the hook.
T4 has a deep pocket carry clip.


So that's 1.5 bonus points for the ST, and 1 bonus point for the T4


Final score: Free T4 12.5, Super Tinker 13.5, Pioneer X 12.5

[smiller43147]

So the Super Tinker was the winner.  I had expected as much, although I would have guessed by a bigger margin.  Lots of functions on that SAK.  Had I substituted a Climber it would have opened up the lead (the phillips didn't really add any points over the Pioneer X and the can opener). 
The Pioneer X tied for second/third.  I would have guessed it would be last just due to the minimalist tool set it inherits from the Pioneer/Soldier.
Also tied for second/third place is the Leatherman FREE T4.


It was pretty much a horse race to the end.  As the T4 is new, I want to talk about it a little.  Leatherman has had knives for some time, but the T2 and T4 are the first that really rival the 91/93 SAKs.  And a pretty good attempt.  In fact, with a couple of minor improvements, the T4 could win this match up.  It has a couple of features that a lot of people have been wanting in a SAK or SAKalike: OHO blade, locking blade (in fact ALL the tools on the T4 lock), deep pocket carry clip, better blade steel.  Fix the issues with the reamer and the scissors and Leatherman has a real winner here.

[Rapidray]

Great review and photo’s! 

[SirVicaLot]

OHO and lockable blades might be a plus for some people in the states, but not even here you can carry that combo legally in every city/state. In some countries this is even illegal. So for me this is not an advantage.

You also give the SAKs zero points for not having a file and the T4 a full point for having it. On the other hand the ST gets only half a point for having the multipurpose hook and zero for having an additional small blade.
I get that the ST might be the closest to the T4 when it comes to tool loadout. I don‘t think there is a SAK with exactly the same tools, but then the added features should also be considered to make this test as accurate as possible.

Just my 2 cents 

[ElevenBlade]

OHO and lockable blades might be a plus for some people in the states, but not even here you can carry that combo legally in every city/state. In some countries this is even illegal. So for me this is not an advantage.

You also give the SAKs zero points for not having a file and the T4 a full point for having it. On the other hand the ST gets only half a point for having the multipurpose hook and zero for having an additional small blade.
I get that the ST might be the closest to the T4 when it comes to tool loadout. I don‘t think there is a SAK with exactly the same tools, but then the added features should also be considered to make this test as accurate as possible.

Just my 2 cents 

I don't mean to be mean, smiller - but I have to agree with SVL.

In my immediate area, there are jurisdictions where the locking blade is illegal, and as SVL said, the OHO might be illegal in some urban areas nearby too.  So, it's not an advantage for me either. 

I also noted the discrepancy with the file, as I am decidedly anti-file.

As you enjoy New Years Eve, I wonder if you'll change your mind on the bottle opener,  The space where you would catch the edge of the cap (where you fit the 1/4 inch bit) may be a bit small, and therefore fiddly on the cap. 

Anyway - nice job on the review otherwise.   

[smiller43147]

I understand your point on the OH and locking, but in those areas where either or both of those features are illegal then you might as well just rate the whole T4 as a zero.  Your mileage may vary.


BTW I did give the Super Tinker a bonus half point for the small blade.

[SirVicaLot]

Sorry I missed that. But why a half point? It is a tool the PX and T4 do not have at all.

Don‘t get me wrong, I appreciate you putting the effort in to do this review and I like reading your opinion about it. But when you grade it, my OCD (or whatever it is) insists that every tool is treated equally 

[ElevenBlade]

I understand your point on the OH and locking, but in those areas where either or both of those features are illegal then you might as well just rate the whole T4 as a zero.  Your mileage may vary.


BTW I did give the Super Tinker a bonus half point for the small blade.

That's definitely a valid argument.  See, In my head, I was just not giving the bonus half-point... not giving the whole thing a zero.  Where I live, what I'm (potentially) doing with the MT makes a difference, as does what jurisdiction I am.  If I have my car packed with camping gear I can carry different things than if I'm just roaming around running errands.  (this is my laymans understanding of the laws)  So when I tally pros and cons on my MTs SAKs etc, I have a line item for "legality if I inadvertently carry it".  Case in point, my Victorinox One Hand Trekker  -  it gets all the boxes for all the things, except for that geographic versatility. 

So in other words, I do apologize for derailing the proverbial train on which your rather well-designed comparison and review sits. 

[smiller43147]

As you enjoy New Years Eve, I wonder if you'll change your mind on the bottle opener,  The space where you would catch the edge of the cap (where you fit the 1/4 inch bit) may be a bit small, and therefore fiddly on the cap.

OSU football (vs Clemson) tonight (go Buckeyes) so you don't have to wait.  The cap lifter worked just fine.  Catches the edge just fine.
So did a Pioneer X.  I suppose that means the two SAKs should get another point each.

[Douglas]

Great points everyone and very well thought out and interesting review Smiler.  I say you all get 2 points for participation. 

[comis]

smiller43147, thanks for writing this comparison up, it's interesting to see them compared up close.

I was at Cabela's and REI last month, and had the opportunity to play with both T4 and K4.  I had the feeling T4 was some kind of SAK iteration with OH and lock functions, but with penalty of heavier weight and larger size.  I ended up walking away with the K4 which I think it's more interesting offering of the two.

[ElevenBlade]

OSU football (vs Clemson) tonight (go Buckeyes) so you don't have to wait.  The cap lifter worked just fine.  Catches the edge just fine.
So did a Pioneer X.  I suppose that means the two SAKs should get another point each.

 

[pomsbz]

I have to ask, is the T4 an answer to a question that no one had asked?

[ElevenBlade]

I have to ask, is the T4 an answer to a question that no one had asked?

I think the LM Signal was the answer to a question that nobody had asked.  They invented an excellent backup outdoor MT

I do think that people ask for a good knife based MT. 

[pomsbz]

I think the LM Signal was the answer to a question that nobody had asked.  They invented an excellent backup outdoor MT

I do think that people ask for a good knife based MT.

I was hinting to the fact that the T4 is trying to be something that is already well covered by Victorinox. There isn't really a gap in the market for it.

[ElevenBlade]

I was hinting to the fact that the T4 is trying to be something that is already well covered by Victorinox. There isn't really a gap in the market for it.

 

[Mechanickal]

I think the LM Signal was the answer to a question that nobody had asked.  They invented an excellent backup outdoor MT

I do think that people ask for a good knife based MT.

Good point.
Are there any besides the Spyderench tools??
And even those aren't available on every street corner.

[tango44]

The pocket clip on the T4 makes it the winner overall!

[SirVicaLot]

The pocket clip on the T4 makes it the winner overall!

I can only hope that was    

[SirVicaLot]

Even though SAKs are good tools, there is always room for improvement. So I appreciate LM‘s attempt to step out of their comfort zone and try something new. I also get that on your first try you don‘t get it all right.
The issue for me is, that the tools they delivered are questionable at best.

It feels like the T4 was designed by a hipster that used a hammer once in his life. Now he thinks he can design a tool. It doesn‘t feel like people that use MT‘s everyday had any say in the outcome. Bulky design, plastic inserts, ridiculous short file that cannot decide if it wants to be a nail file or metal / wood file, an awl that with a screwdriver tip (  ), scissors that „hang up“ during continues cutting, and so on.

It just feels like it could have used another year of R&D, but someone decided to throw it in the market, slap a price on that is nowhere justified and see what happens. The T4 costs $60 on LM‘s website. For that amount I can get an Evo S557, a Deluxe Tinker (-$10), or a Ranger (-$7). All of which have far more tools and utility. Heck, for $10 more you can get a Rebar! 

LM, I had such high hopes for the T series. What happened? 

[tango44]

I can only hope that was    

It is not!
Enjoy!