2012 Multitool.Org Multitool Of The Year Award- Vote Now!

[Grant Lamontagne]

It's that time of year again!  The offerings haven't been as generous this year as in the past but we still have some great choices this year!

The nominees, in no particular order are:

Gerber Dime:


Leatherman Rebar:


Gerber MP600ST:


SOG PowerDuo:


Gerber Balance:


Leatherman OHT:


Gerber Steady:


Boker/ Jared Price Toucan:

(Thanks to Mr Whippy for this photo!)

CRKT Tool:


Just in case you can't choose which one is the best, or you feel that a couple of these have significant merit, each user can vote for up to three separate tools!  The tool with the most votes at the end of seven days wins!  Seven days from now is Christmas Eve, and I'll make the official announcement on Christmas day.

To see the past winners, check out these links:

2009 Multitool.org Multitool Of The Year

2010 Multitool.org Multitool Of The Year

2011 Multitool.org Multitool Of The Year

Happy voting, and may the best tool win!

Def

[Ashley]

None!

The Ash Mobile Voom Voom

[Syph007]

Technically this is best NEW MT of the year, since to me the best tool of 2012 is still the swisstool spirit x! 

I picked both leathermans though.  I do still like leathermans and buy them still.  Of the rest I tried the crkt tool and didnt care for it.  That SOG tool just looked disappointing, but I never tried it either.

[Gareth]

I actually got three from the list.   I might have to hold on for my vote right now, I can't quite make up my mind.

[David]

LM Rebar followed by the LM OHT.

[Grant Lamontagne]

Technically this is best NEW MT of the year, since to me the best tool of 2012 is still the swisstool spirit x! 

That's the point- only new or significantly changed multitools are eligible. 

Def

[AimlessWanderer]

Three of the above have been in my hands this year, two of them I still have, the others I'm not that bothered about 

Dime ranks top of the tree for me - absolutely love that tool, and by far the best tool I've owned of that size (and yes that puts it above the P4, Style PS AND the Micra)

Balance - another great tool. I'm not quite as enamoured as I am with the Dime, but I still think it's a good tool from Gerber, and one I'm sure will serve me very well for a long time.

Third vote went to the Rebar. I chose to get rid of mine as it didn't suit me personally, but for many people it would still be a great tool

NOTE: These all get a vote from me because irrespective of how much I carry them (or not), care, effort and thought has gone into these tools, and I have found the Gerbers particularly to be good tools for everyday life. The Rebar I know will serve someone more suited to it just as well, and it not suiting my needs shouldn't detract from it deserving recognition 

[Zed]

I voted rebar,although I've owned none of them but the only one I would buy going on reviews on here and general looks and functions would be the rear 

[stealth007s]

I voted rebar,although I've owned none of them but the only one I would buy going on reviews on here and general looks and functions would be the rear 

 

[AHB]

I couldn't get myself to vote for the Dime, so one more for Rebar..

[dks]

Well, I have the Dime the Steady and the powerduo..... oh and an MP600, an older model though.

The only one that has no hugely major problems is the steady, though it is by no means a good multitool...

They all had very good potential, really clever tools, but badly executed... Only the rebar strikes me as a good tool, though it is really a shrunken ST300; not really new then, just an extension of the ST line....

  Now, how about a "worst tool of 2012" vote ?   

Maybe I will just vote for the rebar...

[Zed]

I voted rebar,although I've owned none of them but the only one I would buy going on reviews on here and general looks and functions would be the rear 

 

LOL  my tablet keeps doing this, although I've nothing against a nice rear 
 



(Image removed from quote.)

[AimlessWanderer]

I couldn't get myself to vote for the Dime, so one more for Rebar..

I know a couple of people have had issues with theirs, but mine have been spot on. Did you have problems with yours too Allan, or is it a general feel thing?

[kirk13]

Hmmm,not really a vintage year,is it?

The Dime is the only one I own,and I think it may be the best keyring MT out there at the moment.

The LM offerings kinda leave me cold.Why does LM need a Gerber style tool?The Rebar may be a good tool,but it really isnt anything new at all,in fact I'm rather smurfed that the Zytel tools got discontinued in favour of it.

The only tool aside from the Dime thats UK legal is the Balence,and while I'm very sure I'll get one,I'm in no rush.

As for the others,its either a rehash of something else,something for which theres not much of a need or has gotten bad reviews where it counts.

I'm happy voting for the Dime,but my personal tool of the year would either be the SwissTool or the Spirit

[AimlessWanderer]

I'd agree that the Rebar is a rehash of sorts, but at least they made a decent job of that particular one 

[AHB]

I couldn't get myself to vote for the Dime, so one more for Rebar..

I know a couple of people have had issues with theirs, but mine have been spot on. Did you have problems with yours too Allan, or is it a general feel thing?

I haven't had any problems myself, it just dosn't really deserve any "of the year" placement imo..

[AimlessWanderer]

I couldn't get myself to vote for the Dime, so one more for Rebar..

I know a couple of people have had issues with theirs, but mine have been spot on. Did you have problems with yours too Allan, or is it a general feel thing?

I haven't had any problems myself, it just dosn't really deserve any "of the year" placement imo..

Ah, ok - just checking I hadn't missed a "aww bugger" thread 

[thebullfrog]

Unfortunately haven't had chance to handle any of these, so had to vote based my opinion of their design rather than any first hand knowledge. As such:

#1: Rebar. Only reason I haven't bought one is that it lacks scissors, but I think it's a great new rendition of the Supertool school of thought. For the customer it's designed for it looks like Leatherman really nailed it. The hybrid clumping system is brilliant, and all dedicated implements. Great tradesman's set-up.

#2: OHT. While it's "inspiration" is pretty obvious, and shares a lot of the faults (limited tool count and size) that Gerbers have, I love what they are trying to do here. All one handed opening, outside accessible tools, some great details, wonderful aesthetics. I wouldn't buy one just yet, but I like the direction they're going in if LM can find a way to address some of the limitations inherent to the design.

#3: CRKT Tool. Probably the least practical tool here, but I give major kudos to the designers. I can't imagine it really being too effective in the real world, but I simply adore the "outside the box" thinking at play here. One of my favorite things about CRKT is they aren't afraid to experiment and try new ideas, which really shows here.

On a side note, I wanted to put the Powerduo on this list. It looked like a great EDC set-up and was upset I had to miss the group buy, until I started hearing near universal complaints. Such a great idea ruined by poor QC that I hope will turn out to be limited to just the early production runs and they can sort it out. If I recall there was a design flaw making the can opener useless as well, but I suppose it could be swapped for a different tool? I'll give the Powerduo an Honorable Mention.

[Grant Lamontagne]

I'm happy voting for the Dime,but my personal tool of the year would either be the SwissTool or the Spirit

Sadly neither qualify as there's neither a new one or significant update to either.  It sure would be nice to see something new from Vic though!

Def

[thebullfrog]

If Vic started slapping some Alox "scales" onto the Spirit I would give it all the votes in the world. Just think: Orange Alox Spirit X....

[Grant Lamontagne]

I doubt very much that would work all that well,  I don't think the ALOX is flexible enough to withstand the pressure of being used as a plier handle.  What you'd end up with is an internal frame and ALOX handle scales similar to the Charge series, and I doubt very much Victorinox would do that.  It's too much wasted space, and they are masters of making every bit of a tool functional.

Def

[AHB]

If they just put a pocketclip on the Spirit, we would have an all time greatest..

[thebullfrog]

Actually a charge style set-up is exactly what I was thinking. I know from a functional standpoint issues abound, but think of the shear beauty of a B.O. Spirit with orange Alox scales. The textured Alox would go a long way to solving the slipperiness issue it has too.

[SwissArmy Zippo]

I voted for the rebar.

[Mr. Whippy]

I didn't vote for the Rebar because I haven't actually handled one yet.  It seems like an update of the the Supertool or PST with replaceable cutters and locks.  Is that about it?  That could be an awesome tool.  I want to put my hands on one before buying, especially after handling a Sidekick.

I voted for the Dime because I LOVE the layout of this tool.

I also voted for the CRKT Tool because it is a unique take on the multitool. I do agree though that it has shortcomings (the biggest being limited clearance of the wrenches).

Third vote went to the Toucan.  It is a fantastic one piece tool.  One of my favorites, especially if you want a blade in a one piece tool.

[Millhouse]

The only tool on the list I bought was the Rebar.

I like the tool, but it doesn't see any real use. It serves as a backup to my preferred tool, Spirit X.

[Vladimir]

I voted for Rebar
I love mine!

[MeadMaker]

I had to include the Steady in my choices. I don't own one, but you have to give Gerber some credit for targeting users that have not had many MT's designed with them in mind.

[tattoosteve99]

I voted for the rebar, only because of parts for mod fodder

[Sr.Multiherramienta]

If I didn't have any multitool and I had to buy one of the list, the Rebar would be my choice. So I vote for the Rebar.

The Dime is a temptation, actually I bought one. But it's quallity control is lax.