OK. Did some comparisons to what I consider the closest competitor from LM for the LM Free P2. AND IT AIN'T THE WAVE. IT IS THE................WAIT FOR IT.................THE WINGMAN! So, to start, let me be clear. The Wingman is in no way, shape, quality-wise or aesthetically comparable to the P2. It just has a similar set of tools, excluding the P2's awl and medium flat driver. The Wingman does not have an awl or medium flat driver.If somebody wants a basic tool and wants a Leatherman, the Wingman is still is a great option.Photos.Blade:I like the shape of the P2 blade better, and it is a bit longer.(Image removed from quote.)Scissor:I have always felt the Wingman scissors were flimsy and akward to use. The Free scissors aren't as "big"(which isn't a great single-measure of usefulness), but they are leagues above the Wingman scissors in quality. Much better steel stock, rigidity, and cut.(Image removed from quote.)Big drivers:The phillips is much better in form than the Wingman, and the P2 also has a bottle opener on the phillips. The blade stock, while the P2's looks much thicker than the Wingman phillips, is the same thickness. The better formed tip makes a huge difference though. The flat driver tip on the Wingman is too thick to be useful, but makes a decent pry tool. The P2 flat driver steel stock is 0.8mm thicker than the steel stock on the Wingman. The P2 tip is more of a useful size and has a sharpened edge for miscellaneous applications. Also the P2 big-flat can be used as a pry tool without worrying too much.(Image removed from quote.)File:The Wingman file is wider, but is only a single cut on one side. The P2 has a single cut on one side and a cross-cut on the other side. Both are tipped with a medium/small-ish flat driver.(Image removed from quote.)(Image removed from quote.)Can opener:The P2 uses a SAK-style quarter-circle opener, while the Wingman uses the classic LM can opener with wire stripper. The P2 has a smaller wire stripper on the medium long-flat driver.(Image removed from quote.)Pliers:The P2 has a beautifully machined pliers head, but the bolt-grip area is similar to the Wave's(but smaller) and much smaller than the Wingman's. Note: Wingman pliers are spring loaded and are infamous for having slop. The P2, like the Wave, has no slop in the pliers head.(Image removed from quote.)Anyway, the point is this:If you have an issue with paying $119 for an urban type MT that only offers massively superior fit & finish/action/style/comfort over the Wingman, but doesn't really add any true practical function(aside from the long medium flat driver and awl/micro driver that the P2 has), then the Wingman is still a good option. My choice of the two would be the P2. Mostly, because I really like the fit & finish, mechanism, action, and style. The fit & finish are above the SwissTool Spirit on the totem pole. The P2 is 100% made in the US, while the Wingman uses a portion of outsourced parts, which isn't important to everyone, but some of us think it is awesome the P2 is full-on US made. The P2 is MASSIVELY more comfortable to use. The P2 has all-locking implements that can be accessed ALL from the outside of the tool WITH JUST ONE HAND. The only other full-OHO is the OHT from LM, but that tool isn't practical for pocket carry.I'll do another quick write-up with the P4 tomorrow(if it comes) and Wave, since their toolsets are similar. The P2 toolset is similar to the Wingman.
I think I paid $9, so it's hard to complain I mght try a small round file, but its very small, maybe the lansky blade medic tapered file would work, i'm just don't want to ruin that...even though I can't sharpen worth a lick with it.
Great comparison and writeup gerleatherberman. Thank you Looking forward to the P2/Wave one...
Thanks to all for the enlightening experience reports and comparisons, also in the other thread Hmmm... these threads have got me thinking... and as I'm about to head stateside for a trip, I might even follow up on it. Meanwhile I have a few comments on what I learned and various thoughts, mainly from the videos posted...One thing about the Free P2/P4 which I haven't seen covered in here (or maybe I've simply missed it) is the tool locking system, more specifically that the distance between tang locking surface and the pivot seems to be greater on the Free than on the Surge/Wave/Rebar/ST, and therefore, together with the increased lock travel, in theory should provide for (far) greater lock strength, in addition to the reported precision and lock positivity. As an engineer, that interests me... the question arises why this was done; have there been worrisome failures in this area on older tools? And the fact that the tang's longer read ends double as thumb studs for deployment is a nice (side?) effect.In any case the modified tang shape will play havoc with any modding ambitions. It will be difficult to adapt older tools to fit in the P2/P4... which is a pity, since I'm apparently not alone in missing a full length file (preferably diamond and with a metal saw edge) or t-shank holder, a bit exchanger, and one or two other nice things. Can anyone confirm what I seem to have read, that these might be part of possible future planning?I also noticed a difference between the P2 and the P4 in the plier heads - the locking lugs on the former are shorter on one side, on account of the missing tool layer, but otherwise they seem identical (is that right?). AimlessWanderer noted this as a possible future trouble spot and I dare say this would be even worse on the P2.The pocket clip seems nice...Did anyone's debit/credit cards get wiped by the magnets yet? One thing though... of course, the blades being OHO and locking, the P2/P4 will be illegal for street carry in many European countries including Germany, on top of EU pricing putting off many potential buyers.
[The P2] doesn't really add any true practical function
A P4 is no longer fun at $139.95. For me, anyway.
Thanks for the comparison GLBM. So, the tools are Wingman-ish? My Wingman/SideKick served me well and I was a happy camper when I got them. They were an upgrade from a cheap MT that actually also served me very well. I was less concerned about fit and finish and needed a tool that performed. I then got a Wave. It was and is a game changer for me. Then I got the Surge and it changed the game further. While I've used other MTs and like other MTs those bit holders and blade exchangers for me are game changers that I dont want to be without. OHO is also a good thing for me as well as diamond file and scissors. Looking at the Free Series and looking back at my early comments I was initially struck with how similar looking the tools looked to the Wingman/SideKick. Seems this is the case. While not exact parts, they are similar-ish. For me personally, for what I use my MT for, the way I have gone thru my progression of MTs, I am still feeling like the current tools I have are best for me. These tools are neat and sure look great. They just dont seem to bring enough to the table for me. I have more or less stopped thinking how the LM rep seemed to attack the Wave when demonstrating the Free series. I can see how someone who was looking for a easy to use, easy to access, well made ( according to y'all ) USA tool then the Free series is the way to go ( price aside for some ). It very well may be the only tool one needs if they only wanted ONE MT. Price wise, I am not sure exactly how I feel. My initial thought was, its spendy. I also thought considering all of y'alls comments on QC that I am super happy for that. I also really like all OHO and the ease of deploying the tools. I am not attacking the Spirit or Swisstool................... if you get those a little dirty they can be a difficult to open. With the Free it seems like a really good system so far. Clumping being sold as a feature got a giggle from some but I can now see this being a feature specific to this series. GLBM also said IIFC that the tools can be individually opened with no clumping. Back to price. I cannot see how this tool can be any less . With the price of all LM tools seeing a hike, this tool couldn't have hit the market for less than a Ben Franklin. The discussions have been really good on both the optimistic and questioning sides. This is what we do Y'ALL, we go hard when a tool hits the market. MTO aint no joke, we don't play . Remember when the Signal was announced? Anyway, glad this tool is in the hands of MTO members and thank you all for such a lively conversation.
Thanks. I do really like the looks of the tools and the features. I'm super happy those of you who got one or both are stoked about them.
Excellent post, Aloha.
One thing though... of course, the blades being OHO and locking, the P2/P4 will be illegal for street carry in many European countries including Germany, on top of EU pricing putting off many potential buyers.
This is something that really surprises me too. Most new LM tool have that issue and yet they do not seem to be bothered by it. Is LM‘s European market just not big enough so they don‘t see the need to do something about it?
MTO aint no joke, we don't play . Remember when the Signal was announced?
Yes, I got sniped at for sharing my thoughts on that too My opinions didn't change when I got to handle one either. I seem to have gotten quite good at identifying what will be good and bad about a tool for me, from just looking at pics, and it's rare for me to have a change of opinion once the tool is in hand. Unfortunately, a lot of people don't like me commenting off pictures only, even though I predominantly just reinforce my opinions by handling it at a later time.
Confirmation bias perhaps? I try everything I can get my hands on these days because I have been pleasantly surprised by certain multitools(especially Leatherman) and disappointed in others I thought I would like.
I don't think so, because if I have a concern about a tool, I want to be proven wrong. I want to feel reassured that the aspect is at least less of a concern than I thought it might be. I don't WANT things to not suit me, or to annoy or disappoint me. Sometimes it's slightly better, sometimes slightly worse. For example, the LM OHT felt even larger in hand than I expected, but that also meant the blades didn't seem quite so diminutive, even though they still seemed disproportionate to the tool.
I’m carrying a borrowed P2 today. The lack of a bit driver may make these tools a nonstarter for me. I didn’t realize how much I used the bits when I’m actively working on something. I still can’t figure out why they left the bit driver out. From my perspective this is a huge oversight. I wonder who made that decision. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
I think the Leatherman bit system isn't that great anyways, not a great loss to me. I think some people that use them or already bought into the system are upset it's not backwards compatible but this is one of the things that holds multitool design back. If everything is always backwards compatible how can you do something that is really new.
The LM OHT is one that when I handled seemed like a solution in search of a problem and I did not like it. Something I've been surprised by are the 85mm Wenger style Saks made by Victorinox. On paper they don't seem to offer much advantage over the 91mm models, which are more feature rich, cheaper, offer more colors, and are actually thinner because of the scales. But handling and using the evogrip, I now prefer them to the 91mm models.
The only thing I can say is that the tool adapter fits and works perfect
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