Leatherman please, take this seriously. (These multitools are real challengers)

[@pi-sx3mb]

Why would Leatherman take their competition seriously? They don't even take their customers seriously.

[@patrickbledsoe2176]

EPIC BURN

[@kahuna1247]

This comment should be pinned!

[@For891]

Cept for the 25 year warranty

[@kelvinmoffatt934]

So true

[@stemill1569]

Don't know. A friend of mine has a Surge. He works event constructions. Building stages. Sometimes we work the same places and I can say he is using his for heavy duty. Bolts, dragging metal plates into place and so on. He got his as we were little squits...Azubis...from his boss. It already was heavily used back than. But only wear and tear on the metal. nothing bend. And now more than 5 years after being real workers he is still using that ass old Surge without problems. Well...he lost his bit from the bit holder. It's now somewhere in the dirt. At his last birthday I gave him mine as I had a replacement...kind of. Why is there only one 1 and a half Phillips bit in the entire set? The best bit comes with the tool. But 3 replacements cost fucking 8€...maybe 10 bucks.🦌 He is using his surge for quite hefty work for more than 7 years now. And I'm using my Wave for around 6 years. You can say what you want. Before I bought my Wave I had a bigger China clone and it bent the first time I was really using it. In other words: I feel taken seriously from Leatherman about the reason I bought my tool from them. (and yes. I have so much to say what is shit about it. But it's not that the others don't have the same problems)

[@jrgmty7685]

I lost all respect for Leatherman when they chose to discontinue the Squirt series instead of improving them.

[@maxlvledc]

to be fair, I think they had no choice. People were abusing the 25 year warranty on it and it cost them far too much money to replace the tool every time. In my initial video, people were saying they used the warranty 3 times on the same tool. There is no way Leatherman can keep it and also have the 25 year warranty.

[@attila5221]

@@maxlvledc that's fine, then they should just re-release it with a 5 year warranty or sum, tools aren't meant to last forever, cars come with a time/distance warranty, those who abuse their tools like that won't really be mad that the new ones won't be the get a new one every 3 years because they destroy their knife cutting concrete. but you said it well, complacency should not be tolerated.

[@jrgmty7685]

@@attila5221 I agree lifetime is st upid. Nothing lasts forever. I still have my pocket knives like new. Some people think pocket tools are professional construction tools.

[@oddsavage]

They got rid of a couple of great models.

[@drxym]

I still have a Squirt ES 4 and it's a really handy tool because it's so small but packs in a lot of functionality. I also have a Wave which is over 20 years old and still works great. I'm not especially brand loyal to Leatherman but they make decent tools. There are a lot of similar tools to the Wave now, even the Swisstool is an obvious knockoff. I think more choice will keep prices down and maybe somebody will come up with a useful innovation. I do wish they kept the Squirt line because I think there is a place for a tiny tool that fits on a keychain.

[@shelp7858]

let's be honest. leatherman went the way of boeing after the new ceo in 2018, they care more about profit and buisness than their customers or product (just look at leatherman garage ). it worked fine for a few years when the only competition was gerber or sog , but now its finally catching up to them. new competition is definitely running circles around them, and they dont seem to have the answers.

[@arnoldkotlyarevsky383]

You are describing the profit motive under capitalism.

[@JC_1095]

Their biggest competition was Victorinox, but they too are also losing their way and forgetting what made them great. The biggest competition at the moment is probably the smaller companies who are hungry to make a name for themselves and actually compete and innovate for customers. We’re at the point where there are multiple modular multitools on the market now that not only allow you to customize your ideal multitool but also with super steels and at a fraction of the $250 price for the Arc - *and* Leatherman still doubles down on their soft proprietary flat bits and discourage their customers from trying to modify their multitools. They have a 20th century mindset in the year 2024 and it’s finally catching up to them now that their patents have finally run out.

[@Sheltowee1775]

@@arnoldkotlyarevsky383I think he’s referencing excessive cost to consumer. Personally, spending $150-200 is just too much for me.

[@Pellagrah]

@@arnoldkotlyarevsky383 It's more profitable in the long-run to run a multi-generational business built around high-quality products that build brand reputation, even if the short-term profit margins aren't quite as juicy as selling semi-disposable multitools. Chinese knockoffs have that market cornered already, and I doubt Leatherman will last long unless they drop their prices to match their reduced quality.

[@yelnatsch517]

@@arnoldkotlyarevsky383the issue isn’t profit motive. The issue is with bad management prioritizing short term profits over long term growth. They would rather take more profits now and let the company collapse in 10 years than cut profits now, but continue to grow the company.

[@Thomjordens]

Back in the day, the go to flashlight has always been a Maglite It kind of broke my heart seeing they went obsolete in this day and age of LED technology, they simply didn’t catch up with the competitors.. I sure hope Leatherman stays ahead of the game

[@2centsam927]

Exactly.

[@snackyxchan]

I got keychain light that is brighter than a maglite, that's the funny thing

[@BeeBo932]

But try using your keychain light for self defense. I'll take the maglight

[@snackyxchan]

@@BeeBo932 yeah I don't need a mag light I got a pistol light on a shadow system pistol. and I've got multiple 18650 flashlights for other uses. No one is saying to use a keychain light for self defense lol

[@AlexFlockhart]

MagLite actually did come out with a good LED series that were I hate to admit much better than their original incandescent. It had a simple on/off button and a twist focus just like their originals. But then they made it with a multifunction button including the awful mandatory strobe/SOS setting. Now I only get Milwaukee flashlights.

[@Spanky8402]

I will probably still main the Bond and my Knifeless Rebar for work, but I had to get the EOD cutters and I have some off brand cutters for a backup. I refuse to get another replacement cutter multitool from Leatherman. The Leatherman multitools are more reliable for away from home but I already started using my BIBURY Surge clone for around the house and I love it. It hurts me that Leatherman looks like they are going downhill. I got into multitools at the worst time. I always carried a Victorinox since I was a kid, but I wanted to be more prepared a few years ago and that's when the new cutters were added. I was able to get 2 new cutters sent to me, right after I bought it, but right after the 2nd 1 broke, that's when the Arc came out. This is heart breaking, especially since my Uncle passed away and I wanted to be a Leatherman fan like him. My Uncle also bought me my 1st Victorinox, so at least I can still be a fan of Victorinox still. I really hope Leatherman changes they're mishaps and maybe come out with a new multitool with a full 1/4 driver and no replacement cutters. At least make a Rebar with the Bond plier head. I would be happy if they had the same tools, but went to the non replacement cutters. It would be amazing to see a Surge/Supertool size multitool, but with modular tools to build for yourself. That would be popular and probably over take the multitool market. I hope 🙏

[@maxlvledc]

This is sad to hear... but also nice to know others feel as I do.

[@morte2195]

I was recently blown away by the quality of the green Flissa 16 in one. It's a bit heavy, the tool set isn't perfect, but wow. It's normally listed at $16, but after using their 30% off coupon, the price was only about $11! And after having it in hand, seeing its quality, I immediately bought 2 more to leave in vehicles and tackle boxes. I could buy 10 of them for the price of a Wave. I also thought the Shall was really good for the money.

[@stemill1569]

I once thought the same about those China clones. I really would like to know how sturdy they are. Because getting a new one after every time of real use...nah. That would annoy the fuck out of me. The China tool I had was the reason I wanted to spend the money. But it took me until I used it. No one talks about the quality in their reviews. It's always just "I haven't used it now, but I will report back. Half a year gone still nothing. They always say "this tool is the Leatherman Killer!" but they never even used it for tightening a bolt...big screws. Or loosing a tight screw. They always do their best so the plier, the most important part of a multitool is never really used. Yeah...the scissor is what I can't stop thinking about when I buy a multitool. I mean...I think why the fuck would I need a scissor when I have a half way good blade in my multitool? So yes...I think about those tiny scissors.

[@CharlesHeller]

I really appreciate the candor of this video. Harsh, observable fact based info. Take the straight blade and serrated out of the Wave, put in the serrated hook cutter blade, put in a really competent scissors outside, and replace the tiny scissors inside with a sharp awl. PERFECT tool. Call it the "Wave Form," and you've got a seller for 20 years @ $99...

[@L0wSkiller]

Can you give me some examples as to what you would use the awl for yourself? I struggle to find uses for them aside from poking a hole in something soft

[@CharlesHeller]

@@L0wSkiller I'm always poking holes in things to run zip ties through them. Sometimes use it for cleaning under finger nails.

[@michiganfancyman7410]

That’s not the market that makes them money. Collectors and gadget people make them money and knives and scissors do that. Most jobsites I’ve been on I might see one or two guys in a firm have one, you go to the trailer and you’ll see people huddle around a desk with tucked in shirts and a brand new looking multi tool.

[@rdo6]

Bought a Skeletool CX (and other items $140 total) and ran into a lost package by UPS with major delay on delivery. After contacting Leatherman I've received my full order in 3 days, can't stress enough how good the customer service was (please CALL IN). So in terms of "care" I can't complaint about L, now talking about the competition, Gerber and some of these "unknown" brands are looking really good, I'm impressed with that Roxon shown at 14:40. I might buy some of these and give it a try, if not satisfied I can easily gift some to friends overseas.

[@fluffy0786]

TX Tool Crib even says that leathermans quality has been suffering as well, he bought a few surges and the quality is different on each one. :/

[@edgaraquino2324]

That is why I will not pull the trigger on any more tools, as their QC is practically non-existent....the warranty should be used as the exception, not the rule....hence the debacle with the Squirt & the Crunch, for example....

[@patrickbledsoe2176]

I hate that i have to agree but I Love my Charge with Rebar pliers, and i want a Arc ive been a fan for 25yrs and still think they are the king. They have to step up

[@jakobe75]

I abandonded Leatherman when they raised the price of the Micra to $50 , they used to be $20'ish. They make great small gifts and $50 is completely unreasonable for that product.

[@BananaMana69]

I found a micra from 1998 in a pallet at work but sadly i broke the blade ):

[@Duck4You]

I still don’t own one because of that. Even used they’re ridiculous.

[@flatlanderoutdoors2549]

You are 100% right, not only outdated technology but to raise prices as much as they did baffles me. They have to be losing decent market share at this point.

[@michaelkaliski7651]

You can get a quarter inch bit adapter for the Leatherman. Okay it is an extra bit to lose but then so are all the bits! If you want the best, then the Swiss Tool from Victorinox is the one to beat in terms of comfort in use and fit and finish in general. I have several Leatherman models and one Swiss Tool. The Swiss Tool is the one I reach for most of the time.

[@peterheinrichs7634]

I totally agree, except for the blade. If you wanna use your multitool for cutting, stay away from Victorinox - these blades are way to soft. But, for the tools? I love them! Especially the can opener is the best patent at the market!!!

[@johnkraemer5505]

I agree with you 100 percent! Leatherman has been asleep at the wheel! Leatherman needs to migrate to standard off-the-shelf bits ASAP! Change that bit driver now! Why is Leatherman always out of stock on accessories? Such as the ratchet! I have been trying to get a new ratchet for about two years! It’s never in stock! I don’t understand why anyone would buy a Wave or Surge right now! Yes… For the warranty…. C’mon! One can buy four clones for the price of a Leatherman (Wave or Surge). Leatherman has made a lot of money over the years! They have become fat and happy! They have taken their eye off the market and lost their ability to be cost competitive! Yes! Made in America is great! Unfortunately, Leatherman is located in Portland, OR. A state, that’s a mess, not business friendly, has very high taxes, and cost of living! The high costs of doing business in Portland is reflected in the price of Leatherman’s tools! Leatherman needs to change their business model from all angles …. Or, eventually fad away!

[@simonlee2769]

You can thank scalpers for the ratchets always going out of stock

[@B00MBATS]

Just watched and subscribed to your channel. As someone who is in the trades and carries Leatherman on my hip daily, and then a Leatherman after work I agree that they need to step it up or they'll get left in the dust. A Surge with the extender and bit kit currently costs $316.23 after taxes Canadian. That's a huge chunk of money. A real honest focus group with their loyal customers and really listening to them would be a good start.

[@GutiTheJ]

Great video man great topic. People like to say cliches all day, but like you pointed out, complecency has killed the American manufacturing market. Good enough only goes so far when competitors can do what you do better and for even less. Innovation is what has always separated us, the fact that other industries have to copy us to even compete

[@edwardfletcher7790]

Thank you for making this video, I hope Leatherman do something unique and LISTEN TO US !!! It's not complacency, it's arrogance now, we're being actively ignored and disregarded 😡 I mean they're the biggest multi tool brand and they don't even come to trade shows !? WTF

[@aaronnoffsinger5922]

I've broken too many tools on my Leatherman plier tools in the last few years. They are cutting corners with steel and heat treat. This often happens when a third generation takes over and the bottom line becomes way more important than quality. The wire cutters used to work well, now they break and are near useless. Gerber maybe ?

[@buckintherut.8156]

Nice thing is they will replace them no questions asked. When you're knock off pos breaks (probably when you need it the most) you get to buy another pair. Now you are at an even price and still with no warranty.😢

[@ManoliKvideos]

Another really good video Dominic! I have also been pretty disappointed in Leatherman’s lack of innovation, price increases, and discontinuation of tools with little to no notice. I also hope they do something big like make all blades Magnacut and improve the bits situation, but it doesn’t really feel like they’re listening to channels like yours unfortunately 😕

[@edgaraquino2324]

Good video, Dominic...😊At 8:10 you mention another bone of contention for me...the cutters...I believe the cutter problem still has not been solved to everyone's satisfaction...What have you heard? Are there any alternatives to the Leatherman cutters? Thanks!!😊

[@maxlvledc]

Nothing is done...that's the last I heard.

[@maxlvledc]

Potentially yes, I'm working on that.

[@edgaraquino2324]

@@maxlvledc thanks!

[@edgaraquino2324]

@@maxlvledc thanks! That will hurt any one who has a Leatherman tool who wants reliable cutters...

[@westpsmity]

I've been really digging the ROXON phantom since I picked it up like a year ago; Easy changing blades with multiple options, massive scissors, good assortment of tools with easy access with one hand, great build quality... definitely recommend

[@hissingoose]

Wife and I have a total of 6 leathermans including the wave and surge. We just got a fake wave each (bibury). The bibury takes normal bits and as far as I can tell at least 95% as good as the wave. They cost $30, not $100.

[@gcutrex6455]

The tale you told looks quite similar to that of flashlights: American Maglite, then, Chinese excelence brands like Fenix, Olight, etc. At least, you Americans have a national reason for supporting a brand name. For us Europeans, this is just an issue of value for money. Thank you for your enlightening report.

[@truthhurts2149]

Fenix olight still overpriced. Sofirn, wurkkos, emissar etc offer better lights with wayyy more options for a cheaper price.

[@chrisumbra5608]

Great video as always. I love Leatherman, but as you rightly said there is area of improvement. I have a surge, which I love but at work or daily life in general I will mostly use the screwdriver and the pliers. The pliers can be handy on certain tasks, but not for everything and of course the screwdriver is very limited with the Leatherman bits. On top of that, being an expensive tool I often hesitate to use intensively although I don’t doubt it’s quality build. I tend to use more Victorinox products as I find that the tweezers, the toothpick, the needle, and the small screwdriver are actually very handy on daily life. That being paired with a great pair of scissors an easy to sharp blade and even a small pair of pliers. I then use a normal screwdriver (or bit driver) and a real pair of pliers for more intensive work.

[@Bethany415]

A couple of points - my own company just hired a marketing firm. One of the first things they told us is that if there was work to improve our products that we did *not* do, rest assured there were going to be competitors that *would* be doing it. Also, I keep wondering about the discontinuations. People (including me) are really unhappy about all the models they stop making instead of improving, but I wonder each time if they just weren't selling enough to justify keeping them. Leatherman has to sell to more than just the enthusiast community to do well, and I don't know if enough of those folk were buying Squirts to justify keeping the lineup around.

[@maxlvledc]

Their biggest problem is marketing..I have no idea why they spend money the way they do in 2024..it's arcaic and very inefficient.

[@yoinky]

​@maxlvledc marketing in 2024 = youtube and influencers. I'm guessing Leatherman wasnt willing to pay the same per video that other foreign manufacturers were lol

[@WT6X]

I bought my all my maintenance team Leatherman and they all have rust after only 6 months. Meanwhile my old Leatherman from when I was in the military has no rust and is in the same condition as their's. Quality has gone down

[@brianw1697]

Awesome video. Makes me feel OK about looking beyond LM.

[@edwardfletcher7790]

It's only common sense at this stage. I own 2 x Waves and a Surge, but I just bought a Wave clone as a gift. It had a bit kit and free shipping for US$20.... SIGH

[@blackline66]

You should always feel ok ...... they mess up ...get lazy etc. Donwhat you want .... they are only brands .... not family

[@edwardfletcher7790]

@@blackline66 People have strong feelings about their favorite brands....

[@oger5150]

First off very good video. Sad for Leatherman litterally never leave home without one. I agree and love my old 300 and Surge. I recently bought the Charge +( more expensive Wave) gave it to my oldest son in favor of my 15 yr old Wave that stays in my truck. I also picked up the Free P4 I though I would upgrade my look with my new title. A little flash I guess. I like this tool the magnetic opening and closing takes a minute to master in comparison to my 300 ST and definately a pebbles weight compared to my Surge. Hard to believe I started with the original ST and an original Gerber Multi Tool. Both got their usage and are paper weights now. I have even tried to go back to Gerber with the Center Drive it's nice but like the Surge it's a heavy tool. Ultimately sold my multi tool heart to Leatherman first and Gerber second. And cost is ok and not being the first bluetooth tool is ok with me. Lol

[@TomSwango]

Where can I find a scaple blade hoder that fits in my knife's T-Shank holder?

[@markadams7597]

Agreed. I haven't purchased a Leatherman since 2018 (a Raptor and a Crunch from the Leatherman Shop in Portland). Since I don't buy chinesium, I find myself reverting more and more to my Protos and Channellocks for DYI stuff. (Still use a 2016 Surge at work and aboard the truck and in the warehouse/yard.) Great review, thanks.

[@flapxjackson]

Nice video. And I agree, Leatherman is letting the competition nip at their heels. I thought the P series was innovative. The Arc is an upgrade. But in my view, I don’t see it being worth $80 more than a P4. At work I alternated between a Leatherman TTI and a SwissTool. With the SwissTool seeing the most carry. I had always felt that Victorinox and Leatherman had the best multi tools. But the competition is catching up fast. I bought a Bibury 16-1 multi tool recently after seeing a video on it. For around $25, it was worth a try. It isn’t at the same level of quality as a Leatherman. But it still is pretty good. I’ve tossed it into the glovebox as an emergency tool. I also bought one for my stepson. Even if it does crap out at some point, I can get another one and still be money ahead.

[@MarcusCreates]

You really are the GOAT! This was a fantastic overview and your knowledge of past and current line up is incredible. 🎉

[@maxlvledc]

I appreciate that! Thanks bro!

[@twotone3426]

I personally like the serrated blade on my Wave and use it it more than any other blade. The ONE BIG thing I can't stand is when you use the pliers with some "force" it becomes stiff and I have to loosen it up by grabbing with two hands one either handles and twist to bring it back to normal.

[@thomasj5722]

I gave my dad a Leatherman Wave for his birthday and i got myself that exact Shall tool you got there. And honestly the difference is very small and the Shall got the full size bit as you mentioned here. Wave was 170$ here in EU and i paid 32$ for the Shall on Amazon.

[@TColeH]

The biggest issue I've had in the clones isn't the functionality or capability, its the quality of the steel and the fit and finish. They seem to just be lacking.

[@Yeet42069]

Nah, if the "quality" of the steel was up to your standard (whatever hocus pocus that may even be) you'd find something else to nitpick on to shill for that company. Anyone buying the Surge instead of the 40$ "clone" needs some extra screws up there.

[@truthhurts2149]

None of the surge clones have a proper pocket clip which pretty much eliminates them for me. I'm not trying to stick on some crappy pocket clip that's going to fall off

[@buckintherut.8156]

Leatherman all the way😮

[@TColeH]

@@Yeet42069 Not specifically talking about the surge clones but any. I have 2 wave clones and have handled 2 other wave clones. Both have poor craftsmanship where the main blade screw comes out by opening and closing the knife blade. The scissors bend easier than the leatherman scissors, the screwdrivers round out much faster than the leatherman bits. I know the arc wire cutters are lacking but the clones are worse in that area. I think the clones will get better but until the steel is improved and the fit and finish is better, I'm carrying a leatherman/victorinox (king of quality) tool.

[@keeperoftruth5951]

All of the wave and surge clones I've handled and own are better fit and finish than the Leathermans I own. The Ozark trail multiforce is superior in every way. Better steel, better scissors, better bit systems and comes with extension all for $40 and no questions asked 5 years warranty

[@EvilSSP]

Leatherman and Victorinox both are resting on their laurels. Both have made "the best" at one time or another but both have stopped there and seem to expect to stay the best forever. I broke down and built a heavily modified Supertool 300 because I just wasn't happy with the tool layout from any brand, and while a modular tool may be a viable solution at some point, right now none of the big brands are getting any more of my money until I see things change. Leatherman seem to have gone all in with the Free technology thing and I can't stand the magnetic closure gimmick and honestly a Magnacut blade just isn't enough to win me over when I also own about 75 high end knives that I also carry everyday. I truly believe Leatherman are on their way to being the Buck/Case brand of the multitool world where they make variation of their classic winners but are ultimately surpassed by new brands that innovate more.

[@kursantstrzelecki2958]

" I also own about 75 high end knives that I also carry everyday" - That's very unfortunate way to write it. Mental image of backpack full of knives ensues.

[@salvadorpneri]

Damn good video my Man. Just be careful - don't step on Leatherman's toes too hard. By the way, I have the Leatherman Crunch, which I bought in 2001. The screwdriver and the straight blade were the first to break. I never returned the Crunch back to Leatherman under warranty. All other tools attached to the Crunch still work, but are showing signs of wear and tear.

[@FaithThruGraceinChristAlone]

I wish like so many others that Leatherman would swap out small scissors for an awl on the wave and put large scissors on the outside. Regardless, after owning one, I just love the feel of a genuine Leatherman. Clones are good but just not the same. I have a bibury surge clone and it has pretty good tolerance and feel. There are ups and downs to all tools. As they say, there is no such thing as a perfect multi tool. Thanks for your videos! Always informative and save us all a lot of time!

[@fezwhy]

Well said. I think they are simply relying on brand loyalty to stay afloat. Even though the competition is half the price. It might take a few years for their customers to catch onto the competition and sales to slow before they do anything. They are obviously cheaping out on materials but also raising their prices.

[@RobWhittlestone]

WOW! That ROXON FLASH ELITE S803E is SUPER DESIRABLE! The FINISH on the ROXON looks EXCELLENT! I have the Surge in black but am irritated by the narrow proprietary bits, even though it's a super versatile tool. AND it was SUPER EXPENSIVE. Great video! All the best, Rob in Switzerland

[@junkinthebrain]

The roxon looks like it is actually better. My favorite Leatherman is the curl, but it comes with a file instead of a saw. Saw. Don't need a file for what I do. I think that the Leatherman competitor actually would work better for me! I appreciate your candor and honesty. This is an excellent video.

[@Nathan.44-40]

Great video, good topic & perspective! So many of us use and carry multi tools everyday. It’s fantastic seeing so many great options on the market today! I carry the Skeletool. Simple and effective. - Nate (Ohio 💪🇺🇸)

[@bronmcdonald3912]

The tool set you described is exactly what i want. I thought about replacing the serrated blade with scissors from a 91mm victorinox and replacing the interior scissors with an awl. that would be perfect. love the micro bit driver also. Somebody needs to make this!

[@jack.charlesc4750]

It hurts to see leatherman being so stubborn and greedy and never listent to the community of users AMAZING

[@edgaraquino2324]

The same people that put them on the map... "pride before the fall"....

[@blackline66]

Hurts...... you need help

[@blackline66]

Leatherman CEO is sleeping .......

[@Thomk121]

No way I am paying $200 for a Leatherman. $200 gets me damn close to a new pistol. I just got the Bibury surge clone for $30 and I love it.

[@The_Cholo]

I just picked up the exact same model and I love it! Haven't stopped carrying since I got it, real quickly I became a big fan of Bibury and already have my 2nd and 3rd iterations in the mail on their way here!

[@Thomk121]

@@The_Cholo that's funny. I did the same thing. Got one, then realized how good it actually was and got 2-3 more. 1 stays in the car, 1 in my range bag and 1 in my work bag. Also check out Roxon. The flex in particular. Amazing, modular, multi tool.

[@GerstBladeworks]

​@@Thomk121but a pistol can't turn screws or plier things. I agree that it's too much but I hate when guys try to compare knife and tool prices to gun prices. It's two totally different tiers.

[@Thomk121]

@@GerstBladeworks you're missing the point. My point is I can get a great Leatherman clone/knock off for $30 that is just as good, if not better, and take the other $170 and do w.e. I want with it. And I personally would put that extra $170 toward a new gun.

[@Thomk121]

@@GerstBladeworks I'd say the same thing about Snap On tools. I'd rather buy a set of Craftsman or Harbor Freight tools and use the lifetime warranties if they break and take my couple hundred in savings and put it towards other things.

[@truthhurts2149]

Once i started carrying a surge anything else would be a downgrade. A few extra ounces means nothing to me.

[@ptstouring49]

Regarding the bits, the part 1 kit which has almost everything you need (no t6/t8 or hex bits) is $15. More importantly, you can buy replacement bits in the common sizes (Phillip/Flat and dual Phillips, or dual flat) reasonably inexpensively ie $6 for 3. And yes, the cutters on my bolster are bad too. But otherwise QC on leatherman is good. The QC on generics I have are hit or mostly miss. Nothing holds a candle to victorinox though. Everything I get from them is perfect. A PS4 replacement and crunch replacement would sell well.

[@TUKByV1]

Hope Leatherman can figure it out.

[@JessicaKStark]

Any recommendations for 4mm bit kits to supplement/upgrade the stock Roxon one?

[@maxlvledc]

Wiha is #1 on 4mm bits.

[@travigal5767]

I was abt to get the roxon s802 but then i checked the blade steel (yes its somewhat important im a snob i know) and it wasnt good quality. And because i didnt want a bad quality blade i decided to go with the surge. My only issue so far with the surge has been that the fine edge blade lock didnt go all the way which i fixed by manually pushing it up. I also tried to cut a 2 mm nail but that was on me for trying to cut nails with fucking wire cutters. Its still high quality, though. Besides the deformation from trying to cut a nail its fine. Its sort of my mini toolbox, whenever i needed a tool for pulling out staples, bending wire, cutting wire, cutting stuff, screwing stuff, opening stuff, etc.

[@JerryWDaviscom]

Great video. I carry a Swiss Army Tinker and have carried one for over 40 years. . I keep looking at multis and love the ingenuity behind them, but man i just cant get past the bulk. The Tinker lacks a file and a saw, so I'm about to upgrade, but not likely to a multi. The quality of Swiss Army is stellar. The pocket feel is very good and the steel and quality control is perfect. The rocsun you discuss is a nice unit, but is obviously heavy. They might want to switch to carbon fiber and skeletonize the scales. That would really be tempting.

[@TheDarkSkorpion]

You want the Victorinox Handyman, then. Of course, if a multi-tool is tempting, there's always the Victorinox Spirit. The SwissTool CS is awesome, but I wouldn't call it light weight by any means.

[@dragonshadow9564]

I've carried a micro for years as well as a squirt, the original Leatherman I had was stolen years ago. Then I bought a Gerber and carried it since. I have Free 6 I believe, haven't seen it in a while. Recently I bought a wave+ and a bolster from a pawn shop for $80 for both they are both clean and tight and have no issues. This is how I will be buying any further Leatherman I add to my collection. I'm looking at Roxxon for my next buy.

[@Xiomaro01]

The skeletool is my jam. Any recommendations for a similar or better tool?

[@BlueKinTsukiko]

I know this is gonna sound crazy but I would personally recommend sending your video to leatherman. Hell im a leatherman fanboy through and through but you brought up valid and honest points that really made me go "fuck he's right". I know it sounds odd but I would show them this and explain you're there as a honest reviewer/fan of theirs and you want to see them succeed and I'll be honest I do too.

[@GlennmarcieAnderson-o5f]

I agree with you on the curl replace the file with the saw. Think you can I'm not sure which one you buy.might be the one saw blade they use for the surge

[@unfi6798]

Get the Goat & Nextool and Bob's your uncle.! We don't own a Leatherman, only generics & modded. It beats Leatherman anytime. It's a multitool, it doesn't need to be perfect, it just need to do the job. Great vid Maestro. Cheers from Australia.

[@killerboypoor]

I bought my first Leatherman Wave. Straight from the box, the Pliers handles were so stiff! It was tiring just opening them. After opening and closing them to loosen them, they were so loose that they no longer had the friction power to open. This is such an annoying issue, especially when you are paying a premium. I have used several Victorinox over the past 20 years. I have never oiled them or even taken care of them. Each of them works like new.

[@soldier09r]

You sold me on Roxon!! Whoa! And subbed because you’re enthusiastic and in depth 👍

[@jordanarizon4089]

Any recommendations for a Crescent wrench based multitool?

[@maxlvledc]

Hmm, not sure... what about the irwin vicegrip tool?

[@jordanarizon4089]

@@maxlvledc seems like an opening in the market. I wish I was around for the spyderco spyderench or gruppie from CRKT.

[@rcjoe406]

How's the coating on the bibury black and silver 31 and 1 if your using it of course holding up was thinking of a add to cart 😊

[@maxlvledc]

It's not bad at all. If I was getting a surge Clone, that is the one I would get.

[@bothetinman772]

I grew up with Gerber, but my favorite is multi-tool is SOG’s. Letterman’s have too much flex in the grip whenever using the pliers.

[@naterblade]

I will have to say that I am on my third Leatherman from a warranty sending. Do those other multi-tools have 25 year guarantee warranties. All I did was send my Leatherman in told him what was wrong with it they sent me a new one not only did they send me a new one they sent me the new version of the wave. Do those other multi-tool companies have that or do that?

[@keeperoftruth5951]

Yes and Gerber, victorinox are lifetime warranties,Gerber will even pay both ways for shipping

[@crouchingtadpole5158]

Quality has vanished as a priority, even the accessories are in decline. As an example I have 2 large MOLLE sheathes purchase 10 years apart direct from Leatherman. The original full ballistic nylon construction and still going strong, the new pouch is ballistic nylon on the flap and loops. The pouch is made from some cheap stiff low grade material that actually makes a crinkling sound as you push your multitool into it. Get the basics right or loose your customers. In the UK we pay a premium for everything US made so for a Surge you are looking at $200.

[@lordfairfaxpreparedness]

@maxlvledc Great content, brother! I agree that Leatherman needs to do something to improve their tools/tool sets. I'm honestly amazed that they're not coming trade shows or Expos any more too. THAT is a recipe for failure for sure! In a fair market system, like here in the US, competition breeds excellence. That said, if they are not willing to improve and take heed from the end users regarding the quality of their tools and syatems, they will get surpassed as the "King" of multi-tools.

[@edgaraquino2324]

That is because LTG thinks they are untouchable, invincible & the "brand" is enough to keep them on top...even if they ignore the people who got them there & are marketing to a clientele who did not....

[@andrewblakesley4202]

I've been using the Bibury for a few months. It's more comfortable and better equipped than my old Leathermans. So far no issues. Sadly my Roxon proved inferior with a spring snapping and blades dulling quickly.

[@BlueMax717]

I've carried a Leatherman since I was about 17 years old. Im now 38 and I started carrying a clone about 6-7 months ago and I have the Roxon Flex on the way. (well its sitting in irvine waiting to ship) I have a soft spot for Leatherman but $30 for a surge clone that has worked perfectly for 6 months so far, I can't justify buying another Leatherman unless they do something dramatic.

[@mikepodorski4272]

A few thoughts. Assembled in the US will be more expensive. You can't compare a tool made overseas price wise. I understand there is very good value in the tools made overseas, but US labor is expensive and is very important to a lot of people. Legacy tools are hard to change. Can you change a tool that is as loved as a Wave or Surge? Will that alienate a huge fan base? The bits are designed for thinness. I had a Center Drive for a few months and sold it. The convenience of the full 1/4" bit did not outweigh the bulk. I carried a Skeletool for a decade and regularly used the Phillips bit with zero issues. I would rather have the thin bits and an extra tool or less bulk. Is Leatherman quality a systematic issue, or has the post pandemic manufacturing issues effected them as well? Everything, cars, electronics, furniture, tools, guitars, all have suffered from poor quality. Leatherman has made one of the biggest innovations in multitools with the Free platform. I'm disappointed that the P2 and P4 are discontinued, but that may lead the way for better toolsets.

[@chriskp]

How do their blade steels compare to 420HC?

[@snelson7779]

I run a rev and have for years. The blade steel breaks easily and rolls edges because of thenhollow grind and thin blade, the file is so stubby its barely worth having on it. Ive also seen every saw on a leatherman wave break off if put to any serious use. Just sad to see the quality be the way it is.

[@bassyaker7256]

I am looking for a lightweight good edc multi tool with belt pouch, I have a gerber that I use for fishing but it’s way to heavy for edc

[@Flburr99]

I still have my original leather man tool from the 90’s. Compact and awesome. But now I buy bibury. I won’t cry if I drop it in the lake or lose it in the woods. I can afford to give them as gifts and they do everything I need it to.

[@terryboone3333]

I like the Roxon just because of the ease of getting the tools out. My Leatherman tools are a pain to get out. The idea of useing one hand to get them out is a must sometimes.

[@Yeet42069]

Anyone who would buy Leatherman surge for 150$ instead of the "clone" for 40$ that is straight up superior in many ways is just buying and inhaling a brand. They are not using that thing, and even if they are, their decision making is skewed and terrible.

[@danielorozco1728]

Im starting to get tempted by modding Victorinox SAKs, do you have experience on this? I would really like to experiment but I need a little bit of advice to begin.

[@maxlvledc]

I do, but it's not very easy.

[@danielorozco1728]

@@maxlvledc I think replacing brass rods with screws makes it easier.

[@maxlvledc]

@@danielorozco1728 harder than it sounds, I ended up using treaded m2.5 brass rods to make a hybrid..it worked but was time consuming. You can also always start with an ali express kit

[@danielorozco1728]

@@maxlvledc I know I asking too many questions but what was the difficult part of installing screws?

[@vsferr9]

I was die hard Gerber and SOG however the new Leatherman ARC has left my 20 plus Gerber and SOG tools on the shelf since I got it

[@danaboatman954]

What a fantastic video that really hits all the points in a constructive way. One can only hope that Leatherman is listening, along with the others since they are all competitors for the same clientele. For me, if you are willing to spend in the $100 range, its hard to beat the Roxon, IMHO. I didn't want to spend that kind of money, so I recently bought the Bitbury 31n1, in gold(yellow) for less than $40. Unfortunately, if I had to predict where Leatherman is going, I would have to say they will become irevalent. Unless Leatherman listens to you and others and begins to take action.

[@Kieran-q4t]

I like your video and the warning inherent in it is very valid. I currently own a Surge and i have since bought a Rocktol, which is a Chinese clone of the Surge. In fact there is only one Chinese clone of the Surge but at least 20 named versions are out there. Only the color can be different. I will say that the clone is fabulous and the biggest disappointment in the Surge (The Scissors) are absolutely great on the clone, in fact i would like to remove the scissors from the clone and exchange them with the Surge. Other than that, there is no difference that i can tell between them unless you mention price, over 230 Canadian or 49 Canadian from Amazon.

[@MartinDunwell]

Yesteryear in the UK triumph Norton bsa we're the top bikes Honda kawasaki yamaha murdered them these things happen companies just don't learn

[@llamawizard]

Give it to me straight. What budget multitool should I buy. Preferably has a sheath that carries at least few commonly used bits.

[@maxlvledc]

Hmm, go with a surge Clone. If you can handle the weight, they are amazing

[@llamawizard]

@@maxlvledc thanks! Should be fine with the weight being that I go about 280 unfortunately lol. Thanks!

[@TarmoLuumann]

I am not a Leatherman guy but even I am rooting for Leatherman to step up their game because without serious competition the other big competitors (looking at Victorinox here) also have no motivation to improve their products.

[@claritean]

any way you could think of to transplant a full sized bit holder into a wave? asking for a friend

[@maxlvledc]

Yes, Eric makes one on shapeways

[@maxlvledc]

Search "metro grade goods"

[@claritean]

@@maxlvledc thanks mate, great videos by the way!

[@jammer2isme]

Bought 4 Bibury 21-in-1 multitools after watching some of the previous videos here - my son's love theirs, the guys at work have started buying them, and it's been my daily driver and it's amazing how many times i've used it and the bits at home and work and have bought a couple of the other clones from Bibury. Leatherman is just selling the brand name at a markup at this point.

[@usarchitects]

I agree with everything said is this video, but one important factor to consider is that no reviews mention the resale value of the leatherman MT’s, which in many case you could sale your used 10 year old leatherman potentially for same price you paid, and in some cases much more thatn that. Can it be done with any of the clones? No you can’t. That is the major problem for the clones, and reason why many of us will still buy Leathermans.

[@maxlvledc]

You're definitely right.

[@CharlesHeller]

@@maxlvledc I disagree. I would imagine that VERY few of us watching your vids, would consider the resale value of a multitool in the purchase calculus. I'd guess that MOST of us want the tool that works best for our individual need or work, resale value be damned. We MIGHT consider the value of some of the parts we could cannibalize from it... YMMV...

[@maxlvledc]

@CharlesHeller resell is an important metric to determine how a tool is perceived in the marketplace. It's an indicator of both brand and product.

[@usarchitects]

@@maxlvledc Well said, that’s a huge financial factor that can’t just be ignored even for small investments. Say I bought a new Bolster for $35 and want to upgrade to a Wave, I could sell it for $45 and put towards the upgraded MT, that’s awesome. If one day I change my hobby interests, I could sale the collection and buy Ham radios. I love Maxlvledc videos and bought many MT’s including clones and flashlights based on the reviews, as a designer myself (not for MTs) I always appreciated the open minded real world end user critiques which is immensely useful for the community and influence for manufacturers.

[@CharlesHeller]

@@maxlvledc I suppose if you look at it holistically rather than selfishly, you have a point. I wasn't thinking from a "value to the marketplace" perspective, but a "value to me" perspective. Like I said, YMMV...

[@davidvolsky7713]

I had a Leatherman add pop up on Facebook. It was apparent that the entire add was marketing their tools as a lifestyle brand for hipsters, not for the working man.

[@AS-lm2yv]

are you talking about the ad where some guy has cacti stuck on his arm?

[@davidvolsky7713]

@@AS-lm2yv There were several different people featured in the ad. I think you could probably guess their political and social views fairly accurately. I don't recall that particular individual, but it's possible he was in it.

[@AS-lm2yv]

@@davidvolsky7713 alright, I mean nothing bad at all about being liberal but yeah there wasn't a lot of working in that ad

[@emtiv334]

I've broken several pliers on Leatherman over the years. Never broken any of my Gerbers. If you could take the Leatherman system and build them with Gerber quality, you'd have a good tool.

[@jon27d]

I carried a Leatherman sidekick as my EDC for the better part of 10 years. It's a great little light duty tool with a decent toolset. There's no way it's worth $70. I've since upgraded to a free P2 (swapped for a better blade) but that sidekick still rides around in my get home bag.

[@Blackflag.actual]

Brand loyalty is the real reason Leatherman is like this

[@AutieTortie]

Brand loyalty is the real reason the US is like this

[@richardhenry1969]

Personally I used leatherman for years. I even received one for finishing a job as a ironworker. But they lost me after the crunch with the bits. Now I don't believe these corporations care about anything other then money. The ARC is ridiculous $200+ because of a blade steel. America is being destroyed from within with greed from these companies. They want top dollar but quality is barely adequate. A $200 multi tool and its plyer head has problems. That is beyond lazy designing. How long before people stop buy American be of it not meaning what it used to. Hard to have pride in anything anymore.

[@maxlvledc]

I feel this....a lot

[@stephenphillips8692]

I still have my original Leatherman from 1988. I had a coworker that was from Oregon and had one of the originals. I bought the 1st one I saw!

[@GoodmaneYT]

Man, I was so dissapointed with the GOAT tool. Wire cutters are worthless, one of the outer tool positions doesn't even lock. I haven't even carried yet and I'm not even sure if I want to bother pursuing a warranty claim.

[@phychmasher]

Man, and all we want are the darn Phillips/Flat head combo bits anyways! Ugh, come ON Leatherman!

[@LackLusterMedia]

GOAT was a cool idea, but I carried it for 2 weeks, and it just sucked.

[@timwingers]

Leatherman want to known as the "premium" brand and price themselves that way. But I chose to go the clone route, because of the price. I can beat them up without hesitation and because I can use standard bits I don't fear breaking them. If Leatherman lowered the price, a lot of thier tools would look better. For instance, I found a clip strip of Revs in the clearance section of a Home Depot, for $6 a piece. For $36 I got 6 of them. At that price I EDC the REV, when most people skip over it. I replaced my Victorinox with it.

[@Dream4Design]

Victorinox multitools? any good?

[@michiganprotection]

Got a new surge to replace old user and the large flat head chipped and was shot right away. I’m a knife maker so I just fixed it and it looks like new but what if I didn’t know how to grind? Steel is not same hardness or temper is shit. Pick one And the wire cutters on my arc were shit. I got one for Christmas as it’s all i wanted and I switched them right away w an old tools cutters. Fixed.

[@CSltz]

I'll tell you who made a great everyday multi-tool. That was Schrade when they combined with Vise-Grip and made “The Toolbox.” Knife blade Screwdriver Vise grips and wire cutting. If you need more than that. Your going back to the work shop anyway.

[@maxlvledc]

Pics?? I don't know if I've seen that one

[@scotsman7626]

Leatherman should make non locking version of the wave and rebar, two great tools that we can't EDC on the UK because of prohibitive laws, and they should do the same with the surge but with a slightly shorter blade, victorinox should make non versions of the Swiss tool, sog really, really should make s non locking power pint, One of my favourite tools as an old gerber with retractable pliers, but I can actually put in my pocket without worrying about 5 years in prison because it doesn't lock. Any multi tool company's please make tools with pliers, NON locking knife, no knife is no good, saw, tin/bottle openers, awl, and screwdrivers, maybe a file and scissors, Is that really to much to ask for? I'm telling you, a wave with a non locking knife will do really well in the UK

[@Phantomedc1]

is there any chance you could get in touch with tim at Leatherman? you've got a great channel and good reach and all valid points that you bring up. im British and i love leatherman as a brand and its exciting seeing these new tools coming but also sad that leatherman isnt keeping up with how fast things are changing

[@edgaraquino2324]

I believe TL sold out & just visits from time to time...even if he made his displeasure known & gave suggestions, I doubt he would be listened to...

[@maxlvledc]

I've tried, I get hit with the Customer service wall.

[@werthliving6745]

Jesus Christ. You might be one of the best reviewers I have ever seen. Subscribed!!

[@growsustainflourish8911]

The sad thing is that these are really simple changes they could make to improve their product line. Same goes for victorinox and some of the toolsets on their knives and the lack of new designs. Blockbuster, BlackBerry, Kodak….. there are a lot of examples of what happens when you sit back and ride the name you’ve created for yourself until one day your just a memory.

[@bobbymills4476]

I wish one of them would have an add on hammer piece or a VG 10 blade steel. Roctol has a VG 10 blade so I'm gonna buy one and watch zZz 777 to make a hammer piece,etc