This is going to be a long one, so settle in kiddies. For those who don't want to waste the effort to go through it all, here is the bottom line:
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On the whole, I feel pretty smurfing stupid for having wasted money on this absolute crap.
For the rest of you, here is my justification for the above statement, in great detail.
(http://gallery.multitool.org/var/resizes/Leatherman/Leatherman-Tread/Lanthenman-Tread-Watch-Links/Lanthenman%20%2823%29.jpg?m=1557412385)
They came packaged well, and protected against scratches, which is a nice touch. The links I got were absolutely perfect, and included some spring pins, which is always appreciated, because let's face it, they get lost or broken easily, and they are cheaper than dirt so why not include them?
(http://gallery.multitool.org/var/resizes/Leatherman/Leatherman-Tread/Lanthenman-Tread-Watch-Links/Lanthenman%20%2821%29.jpg?m=1557412287)
Here is the watch I got the links for- I like the look of the Seiko Orange Monster on a bracelet, so why not combine the bracelet and Tread so I don't have to wear both? I like the NATO strap it's been on for a while, but time for a nice change, right?
(http://gallery.multitool.org/var/resizes/Leatherman/Leatherman-Tread/Lanthenman-Tread-Watch-Links/Lanthenman%20%2822%29.jpg?m=1557412287)
I think these are going to look nice, and they fit into the lugs on the Seiko nicely, which provides a level of reassurance, as this is one of my favorite watches and if I lose it I am going to be very upset.
(http://gallery.multitool.org/var/resizes/Leatherman/Leatherman-Tread/Lanthenman-Tread-Watch-Links/Lanthenman%20%2818%29.jpg?m=1557412284)
Unfortunately, the spring pins that are currently on my Seiko are too big to fit in the links. This is not a good start. You can visibly see the difference in size between the pins I have and the supplied ones, so I wanted to use the heavier ones, but that obviously is not going to happen.
(http://gallery.multitool.org/var/resizes/Leatherman/Leatherman-Tread/Lanthenman-Tread-Watch-Links/Lanthenman%20%2820%29.jpg?m=1557412287)
(http://gallery.multitool.org/var/resizes/Leatherman/Leatherman-Tread/Lanthenman-Tread-Watch-Links/Lanthenman%20%2819%29.jpg?m=1557412287)
The difference is size isn't just my imagination- the Seiko pins are 3mm and the new pins are 2mm, which may not seem like much (it's only a millimeter, right?) but it means the Seiko ones are 50% larger than the supplied ones. Strike Number One, but I am sure the pins are adequate enough....
(http://gallery.multitool.org/var/resizes/Leatherman/Leatherman-Tread/Lanthenman-Tread-Watch-Links/Lanthenman%20%2817%29.jpg?m=1557412284)
The links are perfectly sized to fit into the lugs, and that means they should help reduce the pressure on the pins, so it should be ok, and I should get past my paranoia.
(http://gallery.multitool.org/var/resizes/Leatherman/Leatherman-Tread/Lanthenman-Tread-Watch-Links/Lanthenman%20%2813%29.jpg?m=1557412279)
Starting to look nice, and the watch and links take up about 10cm. For those not familiar with centimeters, here is a measurement system that may mean more.
(http://gallery.multitool.org/var/resizes/Leatherman/Leatherman-Tread/Lanthenman-Tread-Watch-Links/Lanthenman%20%2814%29.jpg?m=1557412283)
The equivalent of three Tread links. Remember that I already removed two Tread links to get it to fit my skinny wrists in the first place, so this loss of three more means I have lost 50% of the function of the Tread. This is not ideal, especially considering the cost of the Tread to begin with.
(http://gallery.multitool.org/var/resizes/Leatherman/Leatherman-Tread/Lanthenman-Tread-Watch-Links/Lanthenman%20%2815%29.jpg?m=1557412284)
During assembly I decided to compare components, and while it may be hard to see in this photo, the screw on the left that came with the links is slightly smaller than the Leatherman ones, on the right. Since I had my calipers handy I decided to measure them.
(http://gallery.multitool.org/var/resizes/Leatherman/Leatherman-Tread/Lanthenman-Tread-Watch-Links/Lanthenman%20%2812%29.jpg?m=1557412279)
(http://gallery.multitool.org/var/resizes/Leatherman/Leatherman-Tread/Lanthenman-Tread-Watch-Links/Lanthenman%20%2816%29.jpg?m=1557412283)
Maybe half a millimeter's difference, which really isn't a big deal as the forces needed to break the heads off these screws would probably have already caused major, irreparable damage to your arm long before you need to worry about the Tread or your watch.
(http://gallery.multitool.org/var/resizes/Leatherman/Leatherman-Tread/Lanthenman-Tread-Watch-Links/Lanthenman%20%285%29.jpg?m=1557412371)
Now I have to decide what links to sacrifice, and I select mostly links with the Allen wrenches on them and try to keep the ones with the screwdrivers on them, since I use the screwdrivers a lot more often. Not that it really matters as I have found the Tread to be largely useless for the most part, and is just man jewelry for the "look at me" crowd. It looks right at home with a man bun. :facepalm:
(http://gallery.multitool.org/var/resizes/Leatherman/Leatherman-Tread/Lanthenman-Tread-Watch-Links/Lanthenman%20%289%29.jpg?m=1557412278)
Speaking of Tread shortcomings, while doing all of this I noticed that several screws on my Tread were already quite loose. This is my real Tread, not the fake one, and this is not filling me with good feelings about putting one of my favorite watches on it- and this is a Tread problem, not a cheap aftermarket link copy. I wore the fake Tread for months and never had this problem. :twak:
(http://gallery.multitool.org/var/resizes/Leatherman/Leatherman-Tread/Lanthenman-Tread-Watch-Links/Lanthenman%20%2810%29.jpg?m=1557412278)
(http://gallery.multitool.org/var/resizes/Leatherman/Leatherman-Tread/Lanthenman-Tread-Watch-Links/Lanthenman%20%2811%29.jpg?m=1557412278)
Getting back to the comparison, the little link bridges look pretty much identical- the real one is on the top in both photos, while the watch link one is on the bottom. There's no discernible difference between them.
(http://gallery.multitool.org/var/resizes/Leatherman/Leatherman-Tread/Lanthenman-Tread-Watch-Links/Lanthenman%20%283%29.jpg?m=1557412371)
Eventually I get it all back together, with one link removed from one side, and two from the other and my beloved Seiko smack dab in the middle, and I have to say that it looks pretty darned good I think. Then I try it on.
(http://gallery.multitool.org/var/resizes/Leatherman/Leatherman-Tread/Lanthenman-Tread-Watch-Links/Lanthenman%20%288%29.jpg?m=1557412277)
That's when I remember that I wear the Tread a little looser than I wear my watch, and I don't want my watch flopping around like that, so guess what? Another link has to come out. :facepalm:
(http://gallery.multitool.org/var/resizes/Leatherman/Leatherman-Tread/Lanthenman-Tread-Watch-Links/Lanthenman%20%284%29.jpg?m=1557412371)
It comes apart again and I decide that I am sick of the Style PS screwdriver not being big enough, so I switch to using the other tool handy on my desk, the SOG Snippet.
(http://gallery.multitool.org/var/resizes/Leatherman/Leatherman-Tread/Lanthenman-Tread-Watch-Links/Lanthenman%20%286%29.jpg?m=1557412277)
Usually I use the Compact, but I am looking for excuses to use the Snippet, and it works a treat. Well done SOG. :tu:
(http://gallery.multitool.org/var/resizes/Leatherman/Leatherman-Tread/Lanthenman-Tread-Watch-Links/Lanthenman%20%285%29.jpg?m=1557412371)
Out comes another link and then the strap becomes way too tight when I try it on again, which leads to the next annoyance- I now have to put back one of my lower priority links to get rid of the half-sized double screwdriver link with the Leatherman logo on it. At this point I may as well have just bought another knockoff- for those keeping track, I have now lost 6/10 links, or 60% of the utility offered by the Tread, and it's usability was dubious at best.
(http://gallery.multitool.org/var/resizes/Leatherman/Leatherman-Tread/Lanthenman-Tread-Watch-Links/Lanthenman%20%287%29.jpg?m=1557412277[/url]
With one of the few remaining semi-useful links removed and replaced by a less useful one, and my $200 Tread's function reduced by 60% (remaining value roughly $80, or close to equivalent to the cost of the knockoffs) I honestly feel like one of the dumbest SOB's on the planet for having fell for this. With about $240 invested in this strap, not counting the watch itself, I feel like I could have gotten a way cooler strap for a hell of a lot less.
And a Charge.
And a Swisstool.
:facepalm:
[img]http://gallery.multitool.org/var/resizes/Leatherman/Leatherman-Tread/Lanthenman-Tread-Watch-Links/Lanthenman%20%281%29.jpg?m=1557412277)
It does look nice though, and only the truly detail oriented (aka anal) types would notice that after all of that, the watch is mirror polished and the Tread has a brushed finish..
(http://gallery.multitool.org/var/resizes/Leatherman/Leatherman-Tread/Lanthenman-Tread-Watch-Links/Lanthenman%20%282%29.jpg?m=1557412277)
In short, I paid $40 extra for the opportunity to make an already overpriced, limited use tool even less useful. The only way this could have been worse is it I'd paid full price (about $70) for real Chronolinks.
Def