Rating  - Dead useful, but I still don't like it
I wear my leatherman using the optional belt clip and use it hourly when I'm on my boat. I primarily use the serrated blade, the large screwdriver, and the pliers. I occasionally use the phillips bit in the bit driver, the ruler, and the wire cutters. I almost never use the straight blade, the file, the saw, the bottle opener, or the tiny screwdriver. I have the optional bits and the nylon sheath, but have never used them.
I like the locking knife blades, that they're on the outside, and that I can open them one-handed. The tool's bulk does not bother me and I think it necessary to make decent handles for the pliers. I also sometimes use the tool as a hammer.
I do not like its tendency to corrode. I've owned my current tool for about 4 months and it has little spots of rust all over it and it is getting difficult to open. I've taken to oiling it, but now it is oily. I had an earlier model in my abandon ship bag and after several years it became a solid piece of rust.
I do not like the pliers function. The tool is uncomfortable in my hands when gripping it since it has rather hard edges. It is difficult to use one-handed because it is either stiff or oily. It also has a tendency to slip off whatever I'm trying to grip (not just related to the oil). The worst part is that if I grip the plier handles too close to the neck, when the nose slips off the nut, the palm of my hand near my index finger gets pinched HARD between the backs of the saw and the straight blade. I have a big black blood blister on my hand right now from when it pinched me real good two weeks ago. I almost threw the tool in the water I was so mad.
My brother-in-law has a Gerber and the pliers function seems very nice on that tool. The handles were more comfortable and the neck was spring-loaded to make one-handed use easier.
Rating  - Nice Multi-Tool for Right-Handers
There are so many different versions of the leatherman that I wasn't sure which one to get and what the differences were exactly. I went with this one and am not dissapointed. It has everything you could need and is made well.
One note - I am left-handed and the blade for the main knife on this tool is setup for a right hander. I didn't realize this until I was out backpacking and cut myself pretty good because, like an idiot, was cutting towards myself due to the edge of the blade being on the wrong side for me. With all the different models Leatherman makes I'm sure there is a left-handed version. I'm going to see if I can take the tool apart and flip the knife over so the blade edge is on the right side for me, but if you are left-handed and haven't purchased yet, see if you can find a left-handed version of this tool before you buy.
Rating  - Leatherman Wave
Took my 6 yr old camping for the first time, so I thought it would be handy to have a multi-tool. She was basically just excited that it had so many functions. We would take it out and use it just for the fun of it.
This review is more anecdotal because around the house, I have a garage full of tools to work with. I think this is a great tool to have in pinch though.
Rating - Great tool
I gave this to my boyfriend recently, and he hasn't put it down! We have been moving for the last two weekends, and this has come in handy many times- from opening boxes, to assembling furniture. Seriously- a GREAT gift!
Go to the Product Information page
page 2 of 7 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Customer Reviews for Leatherman,830040,037447758737,0037447758737,B0002H49BM, |
