Black-Out EDC Challenge

ReamerPunch · **Reply #540 on:** January 31, 2026, 02:39:18 PM

Badge awarded to WECSOG, Sos24, Farmer X, BPRoberts, nate j.

I am thinking of the next color edc... Yellow Submarine? Blues Brothers?

WECSOG · **Reply #541 on:** January 31, 2026, 05:40:28 PM

Quote from: ReamerPunch on January 31, 2026, 02:39:18 PM

Badge awarded to WECSOG, Sos24, Farmer X, BPRoberts, nate j.

I am thinking of the next color edc... Yellow Submarine? Blues Brothers?

Thanks ReamerPunch! Blues Brothers sounds good. Or, maybe "A Clockwork Orange!"

fullbreakfast · **Reply #542 on:** January 31, 2026, 08:31:00 PM

Quote from: BPRoberts on January 31, 2026, 04:26:32 AM

Day 30

Carried the Switchplier today, and used it a fair amount, mostly adjusting some screws.

End of Challenge Review

Companies seem to be moving away from "small-medium" sized tools. Gerber killed the whole MP400 line (and the MP600 is larger than the original MPs), and the Bond is larger than the PST, despite having one less driver.

So, I decided to use this month as an opportunity to test out some of the options that still exist in the ~4" size, as well as two of the more exotic choices.

Leatherman Skeletool

The Skeletool is kind of the minimum viable product version of a pliers based MT. It's got pliers, a knife, a bit driver, and the cool bottle opener/carabiner. For the size, I can't imagine ever wanting to carry it over a basic SAK (even a Spartan gives you about double the tools). You can always tuck a Cobra or something in your pocket with the SAK and get a better pair of pliers for about the same bulk.

I'll be honest, it just kind of sucks at everything. While they're bigger than the glorified tweezers Vic puts on SAKs, they're about the smallest you can get in "real" pliers. The knife is uncomfortable, and prone to mess due to the "speed holes". The bit driver is probably the best thing on here, and I do appreciate the internal storage. I know a lot of people mod out the second bit to put in a pair of scissors or something. Do that and swap in the double ended Phillips/Flat bit as the one in your driver and you'd do pretty well for the kind of light duty this is designed for.

I awlso added a 3d printed striker to the bottom of mine. I've seen other, more elaborate, add ons, but this one was cheap and functional.

Overall, "how small can get get a knife and real pliers?" is a fair question, and Leatherman took it a step further with the bit driver. Unfortunately, a tool with so few implements can't really afford to compromise on their quality, and the knife and pliers don't perform here.

I think there is room for this to work (comfier knife, add a second tool in place of the bit, make the "butt tool" official instead of 3rd party) but it's only about halfway there right now. Maybe a Skeletool +Alpha will come along someday.

OOTB 3/10, moddable to about a 6/10. If you really, really, need the smallest "real" knife/pliers multi I guess this is it.

SOG Switch Plier 2.0

This one, on the other hand, is a pretty solid little tool. It's got about the same tool load as a traditional Bond/PST/Power Access, and a nice beefy plier head for this size. My only real complaint is that you need to open the pliers to open/close the tools, and it can be a little awkward to dig them out. Anyone who has a PST will be familiar with constantly pinching and poking your fingers to try to fish a tool out, and it's much the same here. Still, it's not a terrible sacrifice to cram this many tools and a solid pair of pliers into a small shape. The pliers, knife, etc. are a bit heavier duty than the Power Access, but the ergos are a bit weaker (and you lose the pliers-head bit driver). If they could find a way to outside mount the tools (or maybe give them more clearance from the plier handle) I think it'd be a strong contender.

I've see a lot of complaints about the SP2.0, and I think it'd got an underserved bad rap. I didn't torture test it, but it never seemed like it was going to break when I used it. The can opener isn't my favorite, but it's not even close to the worst. Small size, fun gimmick, and decent quality make this one worth giving a shot, IMO.

7/10. But it can play as both a cool, but usable, gimmicky tool or a basic slightly heavier duty one in a small size.

Thanks for these thoughts. I haven’t owned either of these, but the Switch Plier seems interesting. As for the Skeletool it never added up for me personally as I don’t like the LM flat bits. Take that away and you’ve got sub-par pliers and a blade that isn’t anything special.

EDIT: I just looked at the Switch Plier 2.0 spec. I had assumed it was a bit lighter and smaller than it is. But at 179g it is only 10g less than a Rebar. That is a problem as I see it, because the tool loadout of the Rebar is clearly much more capable. Plus it seems like the Switch Plier is no cheaper, at least in the UK.

BPRoberts · **Reply #543 on:** January 31, 2026, 09:39:42 PM

Thanks for the badge and for hosting RP!

Maybe something metallic next? Give us all an excuse to get some nice patina going on our brass/copper gear.

Quote from: fullbreakfast on January 31, 2026, 08:31:00 PM

Thanks for these thoughts. I haven’t owned either of these, but the Switch Plier seems interesting. As for the Skeletool it never added up for me personally as I don’t like the LM flat bits. Take that away and you’ve got sub-par pliers and a blade that isn’t anything special.

EDIT: I just looked at the Switch Plier 2.0 spec. I had assumed it was a bit lighter and smaller than it is. But at 179g it is only 10g less than a Rebar. That is a problem as I see it, because the tool loadout of the Rebar is clearly much more capable. Plus it seems like the Switch Plier is no cheaper, at least in the UK.

The Rebar is a truly amazing tool, and it's really hard to find anything that compares favorably to it. It's basically just a PST, but with a lock and two extra tools, and it's still the best thing they've ever made.

fullbreakfast · **Reply #544 on:** January 31, 2026, 10:25:41 PM

Quote from: BPRoberts on January 31, 2026, 09:39:42 PM

The Rebar is a truly amazing tool, and it's really hard to find anything that compares favorably to it. It's basically just a PST, but with a lock and two extra tools, and it's still the best thing they've ever made.

I agree. A high bar to clear! For my personal needs and preferences the Rebar and the Spirit are the best pliers MTs to have been made. The question when it comes to other comparable tools is, are there times when I would carry it in preference to one of those?

aicolainen · **Reply #545 on:** February 01, 2026, 12:22:12 AM

Day 30, mini challenge

This was probably the hardest mini challenge.
I don't like having duplicates, so not much of that around. Matching pairs in blacked out and silver even less so.

I almost gave up, thinking I didn't have any, when I came to think of my OG SuperTool.
It's a stretch, but the OG and 300 are at least duplicates in spirit.

It may be the first time I've had them out at the same time. Makes me a bit sad to see how much fat the ST has gained over the years. And Leathermans in genereal.

ReamerPunch · **Reply #546 on:** February 01, 2026, 01:23:51 PM

Quote from: BPRoberts on January 31, 2026, 09:39:42 PM

Thanks for the badge and for hosting RP!

Maybe something metallic next? Give us all an excuse to get some nice patina going on our brass/copper gear.

The Rebar is a truly amazing tool, and it's really hard to find anything that compares favorably to it. It's basically just a PST, but with a lock and two extra tools, and it's still the best thing they've ever made.

I hadn't considered a metallic theme. Interesting, though I don't think I have anything that I could use... except coins. Hey, maybe a coin challenge?

I might get something just for a challenge, if we go for Copper, Brass, Titanium, etc.