Your thoughts about the 2013 MTOTY list?

[J-sews]

First of all, if you haven't done so already, get your butt over here and vote! 2013 Multitool Of The Year


Now, if you've already done your sworn duty and voted, what are your thoughts about this year's offerings? For me, I'm well known as a pliery kinda guy, and once I looked past all the new one piece tools, it made for a pretty short list. Does this mean that plier-type multitools have reached an absolute pinnacle of design, and there are no new innovations left to be innovated? Or does it simply mean that the manufacturers had an off year (i.e. lazy) and didn't put much effort into new r&d? Hard to say for sure. But I do recall having this very conversation with a fellow enthusiast at least ten years ago, that perhaps there were no "new" features left to be invented. And yet look at all the cool features they've come out with in the last ten years. One only has to check out the amazing innovations of fellow members like Metropolicity and the other modders in our ranks to know that pliery multitool evolution is a long ways from being over.  

But that's just me. What are your thoughts about current and future tool offerings?

[enki_ck]

I'm a bit dissapointed by the big 4 offerings but have hope that the LM LEAP will bring something new to the table next year. I hope my guess on the tool being something Juice sized will be correct.

As for new tools, I'll have to think about it a bit.

[kirk13]

The problem of this list is 1) they're one piece tools,or 2) they're aimed at a specific past time group(none of which I belong to) or 3) they're a rehash of an existing tool,which either I've rejected after trying,or is of no use to me.

There's not really a lot of stuff there for a guy who needs a selection of decent screwdrivers and a pair of pliers

[Gareth]

Lots of scope for future development I'd say.  Different sizes, different materials, different styling.  You might wonder just how many ways you can make a knife with a hole in the blade, yet Spyderco keep doing different things.

[Millhouse]

The problem of this list is 1) they're one piece tools,or 2) they're aimed at a specific past time group(none of which I belong to) or 3) they're a rehash of an existing tool,which either I've rejected after trying,or is of no use to me.

There's not really a lot of stuff there for a guy who needs a selection of decent screwdrivers and a pair of pliers

Exactly what I was thinking.

I think it is more going to be a case of evolution, rather than revolution.

[Syph007]

Personally I dont count the one piece tools as real mutlitools.  They are a multifunction tool the same way a hammer is.  A hammer can do more than one task but its not a multitool.  Just cuz its made by leatherman doesnt automatically make it an MT.

For me the next evolution of the MT is for me to design a plier based generic frame of high end materials but has no tools in the handle.  The idea is that you can tear apart any 91mm SAK and then populate the handle blanks with tools from SAK you already have.  Use them hard and buy more cheap saks to rebuild your personalized MT.  A compromise of sorts, but I like the idea of not forcing everyone to have the same tools. 

[scrappy]

I think that it takes years to develop a multitool and this was just an off year were no development came to Market. but in years coming we'll see more innovations

[Gareth]

While the Gerber MP1 might have gotten a slightly mixed reception (due to some issues with QC), it is at least a new pliers based MT with some interesting features not seen before, specifically the forged pliers.  I'm a little surprised it's not getting a touch more credit.

[Mr. Whippy]

Interesting question, Bob.

For me, the things that current multitools fall short on are as follows:

1.  The pliers heads are way more flexy than a dedicated tool. 
2.  The pliers cutters can't be effectively sharpened (replaceable cutters answers this)
3.  The handles aren't as ergonomic and won't apply as much force as a dedicated tool
4.  Tools with bit drivers require special bits, ie I can't go to Lowes for replacements.  Yea there are adaptors, but that's just one more thing to carry
5.  Most onboard scissors are fairly lame (in comparison to a Vic scissor for example)
6.  No good brute force options (ie hammers (MUT excluded) or prybars--unless you're like me and use the pliers head to pry)
7.  On board rulers are becoming less functional (in comparison to a PST for example)
8.  No option for insulated grips (for electrical work).

These are deal killers, but they are the items I find wanting on my MT's

[J-sews]

Good replies folks.  

The problem of this list is 1) they're one piece tools,or 2) they're aimed at a specific past time group(none of which I belong to) or 3) they're a rehash of an existing tool,which either I've rejected after trying,or is of no use to me.

There's not really a lot of stuff there for a guy who needs a selection of decent screwdrivers and a pair of pliers

Exactly what I was thinking.

I think it is more going to be a case of evolution, rather than revolution.

A-hah! My thoughts precisely. So the question is (in the future) if a tool that is already pretty good gets some worthwhile improvement made to it, shall it be eligible to win the Multitool Of The Year Award? Or is the award to be reserved only for those designs that are mostly "new"?

[gregozedobe]

4.  Tools with bit drivers require special bits, ie I can't go to Lowes for replacements.  Yea there are adaptors, but that's just one more thing to carry

True for some, but not all Leatherman MTs.  The Crunch uses std 1/4 hex drive bits (but has nowhere to carry them).  Some other MTs also use std 1/4 hex drive bits (admittedly not the most common current manufacturers eg Schrade Toolbox MTs (the locking pliers ones), The KutMaster variants and several others ).


I was rather underwhelmed with the MTs on the 2013 MTOTY list, so didn't vote for any of them.

[Etherealicer]

Personally I dont count the one piece tools as real mutlitools.  They are a multifunction tool the same way a hammer is.  A hammer can do more than one task but its not a multitool.  Just cuz its made by leatherman doesnt automatically make it an MT.

For me the next evolution of the MT is for me to design a plier based generic frame of high end materials but has no tools in the handle.  The idea is that you can tear apart any 91mm SAK and then populate the handle blanks with tools from SAK you already have.  Use them hard and buy more cheap saks to rebuild your personalized MT.  A compromise of sorts, but I like the idea of not forcing everyone to have the same tools.

Where can I order one? :worship: (clearly this emoticon is missing)

[Gareth]

4.  Tools with bit drivers require special bits, ie I can't go to Lowes for replacements.  Yea there are adaptors, but that's just one more thing to carry

True for some, but not all Leatherman MTs.  The Crunch uses std 1/4 hex drive bits (but has nowhere to carry them).  Some other MTs also use std 1/4 hex drive bits (admittedly not the most common current manufacturers eg Schrade Toolbox MTs (the locking pliers ones), The KutMaster variants and several others ).


I was rather underwhelmed with the MTs on the 2013 MTOTY list, so didn't vote for any of them.

Gerber MP1 has a 1/4" hex driver.  Just sayin'