Sideclip VS PST review

[ryan1835]

there seems to have been alot of hype about the SideClip lately, having got mine through the door on friday i thought i would do a pictorial review of it next to my PST. Hopefully this will enlighten some of you if your interested/ curious.

This is my first review and my spelling/ grammar arent the best so bare with me


Front facing you can spot a few main differences, firstly the SideClip is held together using a 5 star torx security screw instead of the normal knurled screw used on the PST. Next the SideClip has a rounded slot on the bottom half of the tool on the left for use with the old style universal tool adaptor whereas the pst is without this however it will work with both tools . Also the PST has 2 cutouts for access for tools and the SideClip has one. Finally note how the PST tapers down towards one end and has a lanyard ring whereas the SideClip is flat.



Turning the tools over and you can see where the SideClip got its name from:



Next up a side shot, the SideClip handles are each made from 2 pieces of steel screwed together, this may be because the SideClip handles are made from thicker sheet metal. The PST's handles are each stamped from a single piece. The SideClip is the thinner of the two, but both have a metric and imperial ruler.



Opening up the tools and i notice how much easier the SideClip is to open, this could be due to it being newer than the PST ( the PST was made in 93 and the SideClip in 98) lubrication, or just design.



There is a slight difference in the plier heads too:



The SideClips is ground down completely flat on one side and has a hard wire cutter where was the PST's plier head is symmetrical and does not feature a hard wire cutter as it is an earlyish model .

hopefully the next few shots will show the difference and why







Moving on to tool selection, both tools have the same tools but the pst has an additional awl and a file/metal saw aswell as having a longer knife, you will also notice the screwdrivers on the SideClip are fatter and off set







Just a slight difference in phillips heads too, the SideClips looks like it would struggle with smaller screws, the PST's however has coped with a large variety when i took him to work



pst tool selection:

420HC Stainless Steel Clip-point Knife
Needlenose Pliers
Regular Pliers
Wire Cutters
Hard-wire Cutters - as mines too early for this
Small Screwdriver
Medium Screwdriver
Large Screwdriver
Phillips Screwdriver
Wood/Metal File
Bottle Opener
Can Opener
8 in | 20 cm Ruler
Awl

SideClips :

420HC Stainless Steel Clip-point Knife
Needlenose Pliers
Regular Pliers
Wire Cutters
Hard-wire Cutters
Small Screwdriver
Medium Screwdriver
Large Screwdriver
Phillips Screwdriver
Bottle Opener
Can Opener
8 in | 20 cm Ruler

Here you can see the lanyard holes



A few pics of the PST and its sheath (thanks to dave )





I dont know if the SideClip came with a sheath or not, but if it did i cant see it being too useful as you can clip the tool straight on your belt and was the clip is at the plier end its not likely to open (unlike the charge if you clip it on your belt)





Overall i think there both very nice tools the Sideclip is more comfortable to use as its handles are thicker and don't dig in when using the pliers, but the pst has a longer blade an awl and a nice file. The SideClip in my eyes is more of an urban tool due to it being so easy to carry and having suffice tools for the office environment or when your about town, if i new i was going to go fishing or camping i would be sure to pick my PST as it seems thats the activities it was geared for.

hope this wasn't too bad folks ill apologize in advance




 

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

Very impressive comparison mate

[ryan1835]

Very impressive comparison mate

do you want one yet? 

[Zed]

very cool mate, i really wont a clip on my pst now, must sort that out  very good review ryan 

paul

[ryan1835]

very cool mate, i really wont a clip on my pst now, must sort that out  very good review ryan 

paul

im looking to do the same to mine, wonder if i cant get a BO kick clip on its own :S ?

[Zed]

very cool mate, i really wont a clip on my pst now, must sort that out  very good review ryan 

paul

im looking to do the same to mine, wonder if i cant get a BO kick clip on its own :S ?

not sure mate, ss are easy to get, but wont look the same 

[Gareth]

Nice one Ryan, I enjoyed that.

[AHB]

Very good write-up, Ryan.. 

[Zed]

They seem very close in size , other than the SC is narrower, i want one now      

[ryan1835]

They seem very close in size , other than the SC is narrower, i want one now      

thanks guys

its probably only 2-3 mm thinner at the most, i need to get a vernier like bob or find my micrometer but the screws stick out more on the SideClip

[Chako]

Good review. I enjoyed it. 

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

Very impressive comparison mate

do you want one yet? 

I've already had one in the past, and I'm happy not to repeat the ordeal

[ryan1835]

Very impressive comparison mate

do you want one yet? 

I've already had one in the past, and I'm happy not to repeat the ordeal

[Zed]

Very impressive comparison mate

do you want one yet? 

I've already had one in the past, and I'm happy not to repeat the ordeal

each to there own mate, i mean some members dont like the old wave, the cheek of it     

[ryan1835]

Very impressive comparison mate

do you want one yet? 

I've already had one in the past, and I'm happy not to repeat the ordeal

well its no charge 

i think id rather have an old wave then a new wave though as i prefer the proper screwdrivers

each to there own mate, i mean some members dont like the old wave, the cheek of it     

[Benner]

Cracking comparison mate. 

[Smitty44]

Thanks for the review Ryan. &

[DaveK]

That's a brilliant first review Ryan! Good pictures, and some pertinent details that we often miss (like the Sideclip's pliers being flattened on one side). Did you know that the Kick is like that too? - in fact, the Kick is the modern Sideclip really, although most people prefer the original for aesthetics - the Kick is basically better in use IMO.

The Sideclip didn't come with a sheath btw - as it was intended to be carried clipped as you rightly surmised

Funnily enough, I saw a Sideclip in a shop today, in fact he had a few old Leathermans that have been retired for a while including a Pulse, Mini, ST200, and one more. I actually broke my own "don't buy in the UK" rule for that other one in fact. So, my pocket aches atm, but I am in possession of a genuinely NIB Flair

[ryan1835]

That's a brilliant first review Ryan! Good pictures, and some pertinent details that we often miss (like the Sideclip's pliers being flattened on one side). Did you know that the Kick is like that too? - in fact, the Kick is the modern Sideclip really, although most people prefer the original for aesthetics - the Kick is basically better in use IMO.

The Sideclip didn't come with a sheath btw - as it was intended to be carried clipped as you rightly surmised

Funnily enough, I saw a Sideclip in a shop today, in fact he had a few old Leathermans that have been retired for a while including a Pulse, Mini, ST200, and one more. I actually broke my own "don't buy in the UK" rule for that other one in fact. So, my pocket aches atm, but I am in possession of a genuinely NIB Flair (Image removed from quote.)

lucky sod

im debating on polishing my SideClip or not :/

and i didnt know that about the kick ill have a look later maybe

[DaveK]

I'm not sure about lucky! I paid RRP for it 

But, I figured that these are getting scarce now, and my Flair, whilst in great condition, didn't come with anything other than the sheath (it was covered in cement actually ). So now I have a pristine example to taunt Ben with 

[ryan1835]

so when do we get pics? 

[DaveK]

I'll just use some old ones - you'll never tell the difference 

[ryan1835]

but i wanted to see the box 

 

[Benner]

I'm not sure about lucky! I paid RRP for it 

But, I figured that these are getting scarce now, and my Flair, whilst in great condition, didn't come with anything other than the sheath (it was covered in cement actually ). So now I have a pristine example to taunt Ben with 

 

[DaveK]

but i wanted to see the box 

 

OK - I'll get one sometime

I'm not sure about lucky! I paid RRP for it 

But, I figured that these are getting scarce now, and my Flair, whilst in great condition, didn't come with anything other than the sheath (it was covered in cement actually ). So now I have a pristine example to taunt Ben with 

 

Who rattled your cage?

[Benner]

You (for a change  )! 

[DaveK]

Moi? 

[Dunc]

A most enjoyable read and two of my favourite tools 

Dunc

[ryan1835]

A most enjoyable read and two of my favourite tools 

Dunc

i think everyone needs at least one 

[Poncho65]

Great comparison of 2 great tools