Why I Refuse To Buy The New Leatherman Arc Obsidian! Do I Hate Leatherman?

Leatherman Arc Obsidian - www.leatherman...
Dakoyu Signal Clone - www.aliexpress...
Dakoyu 16-in-1 - www.aliexpress...
Bibury Multi-Tool - amzn.to/4eUJfAe

[@erp65]

THANK you! Finally a channel willing to call out the absolute absurdity of a $300 multitool that isn't significantly better than a $40 Bibury. Oh I forgot ... Magnacut! lol

[@maxlvledc]

Really respect it! Said so well.

[@Steve-cw2hc]

You have hit the nail on the head. Keep it up. 😅

[@hvacbudget8600]

@@Steve-cw2hc Thanks!

[@DanielDan-rg9zw]

Well said "you collectors" Leatherman become how some say "a lifestyle" company, instead of making tools for tool users, they made fancy colors for fancy tool users that just want that EDC "grail"!

[@makoygaara]

You sir are a practical man. I want to see a Surge with free technology and Arc with t-shank adapter someday

[@hvacbudget8600]

@@makoygaara I agree!!

[@fuelhemi426]

It is stupid spending $350+ on a multitool. For that price you could get a good multitool (from LM a Wave/Surge/Charge/MUT/Signal/Rebar/ST300/etc, Gerber Center Drive/Dual force, Victorinox Spirit/Seiss Tool etc), a proper fixed or folding knife, and a set of Wera/Wiha bits and a small ratchet-wrench. Just my opinion, I could be wrong.

[@haymaker299]

You could be wrong but you're not! lol! I agree completely

[@fuelhemi426]

@@haymaker299 my sweet spot price for a multi tool would be around $100-$120 bucks, even though I’ve not spend more than $60 on one. Didn’t mention it, but for the right price I might pick up a Free series P4/P2.

[@RichardWilson-1968.]

I am a big Leatherman fan, even was honored to get a personal tour of the factory for my 50th birthday by the man himself in 2018. I am very underwhelmed right now on the direction they are going. I think they need to focus on the folks that got them where they are now. Innovated and affordable tools, not just color changes.

[@jkn2k]

I'm still waiting for the Titanium Surge 😢 the real GOAT

[@kichwatembo6551]

Is there talk about such a thing or is it wishful thinking?

[@Baggytrousers27]

The Arc Obsidian is literally the "Malibu Stacy; but she's got a new hat," from the Simpsons.

[@hvacbudget8600]

@@Baggytrousers27 LoL!

[@TopDog8762]

Please keep the budget info flowing.

[@jelkel25]

I'm happy with my Bond. It does what I need it to and is better than the copies I had previously. Bingo!

[@jaybird8748]

this might seem like a strange comment, but i just want you to know that your videos have helped me through some difficult times. I love multitools and this topic has been my kinda happy place while shit was hitting the fan. It's a gift to have something to be excited about and your channel encapsulates that on such an honest level. Thanks brother

[@hvacbudget8600]

@@jaybird8748 That's great! Happy to have helped. I hope the storms of life lift for you soon.

[@jr2354]

Good for you. I love this channel.🤙🏾

[@KINDanon]

A used P2 was $60 on ebay. The ARC was $245 from Leatherman. I wish Leatherman put the flat bit holder on the P2 and call it something like P2+. Better yet, offer an upgrade kit like Prusa 3d printers.

[@MrMramirez23]

Big ups to you! I’ve seen a few creators who appear to mirror your sentiments, but they have a leatherman arc in their video. They don’t agree with or like the direction leatherman is going yet they spent their money on them. If we want them to listen we need to speak with our wallets.

[@lancewatson2839]

For the cost of the arc obsidian you could buy a good set of dedicated tools

[@hvacbudget8600]

Fantastic point!

[@mattyvlietstra5017]

Just too expensive for me either the original or new colour. I don't need a fancy magnacut blade. I could buy multiple multitools to do the job and replace it every time the blade dulls. Love that Barnett and gerber mt

[@Uncle.Pipo.]

well said, and thank you for the videos you make. this channel is a nice alternative to some of the others that feature unnecessarily expensive edc

[@hvacbudget8600]

@@Uncle.Pipo. Thanks!

[@richardsullivan1776]

I like my original Leatherman Arc. I've been carrying it again ever since the Obsidian came out and have a new appreciation for it. I purchased a newer used Ford F-150 in May to replace my beloved 2011 Chevy Silverado which I had for thirteen years. My truck payment is $303 a month. The Leatherman Obsidian is literally a truck payment for me.

[@hvacbudget8600]

@@richardsullivan1776 Wow! I think some people thought my analogy was a bit exageratted, but you showed it really is a bit expensive. I don't begrudge leatherman because of it, but it's definitely not a wise choice for everyone!

[@ronaldelkins7287]

Keep doing what you do!

[@Jerry-f6u1v]

Very well said. I agree with you 100%. Please don't change. Love your videos.

[@dieselgoinham]

It’s the same as the old Arc. Save your money. (Yes I bought one)

[@hvacbudget8600]

LOL!!!

Compare the stories of the most well known multitool makers Leatherman and Victorinox. Both have their premium products, but only one of them still satisfies the mid an low price market. Only one of them still produces their tools in their own country. Behind them is the competition that waits for one of those companies to make a mistake and grab some market share. I feel like Leatherman already made some.

[@hvacbudget8600]

Great points! Innovation is not just new tools, it is the ability to continually provide sone quality tools at a budget price! Victorinox does this!

[@paulspeechley1037]

I am done with Leatherman, they sell what is a premium product and charge increasingly premium prices while offering increasingly pretty poor customer service other than warranty work ! These guys need to wake up to the fact their customer base is moving fast away from the traditional blue collar worker of years gone by. Limited edition collectors are not going to be enough alone although that is what they seem to be prioritizing lately. The more discerning EDC customers are taking over, something I expect will accelerate. Anyway I am done, I will stab myself in the eye before buying another Leatherman product, 20+ years of purchase’s over !

[@dualsportoutdoors]

The Arc is Unusable anyway. Thing's frame flexes like chinesium, the wire cutters break on wire that even Gerber's carbide trash can cut, and the "Magnacut" (if that's actually the steel they used) doesn't hold an edge worth a damn. The 154CM steel on the Skeletool CX and Charge holds an edge longer than the "Magnacut" on my Arc did. Man that tool was a POS. Worst multitool Leatherman has ever made and that's saying something because they've made some really bad ones

[@MarineX]

I am almost done with my full testing and review. Shoot me an email and I would be happy to loan you mine.

[@gerbilETH]

The GOAT

[@patrickbledsoe2176]

Very cool

[@hvacbudget8600]

I really appreciate that!!

[@gk.spinoza]

I enjoy the videos about antique Multitools and all the "budget" Multitools.

[@hvacbudget8600]

Thanks!

[@KevinPGA]

With today’s Insider sale, at $207 for the Obsidian and under $180 for the original, I wonder if more will pull the trigger. I decided to order the Obsidian…

[@hvacbudget8600]

@@KevinPGA At that price it makes much more sense!!

[@heart4Pahoa]

Respect you more for not buying and reviewing a different color like it was somehow something new.

[@hvacbudget8600]

@@heart4Pahoa Thanks!

[@DannyMancheno]

A bit of a side bar. I want a tech based multi tool. Usbc flash drive, package opener, simcard opener, mini pry/ screw tools, cables, etc.

[@hvacbudget8600]

@@DannyMancheno The Nextool Gemini probably would be a great foundation to build such a tool!

[@danielruprecht8932]

I just picked up a Wave + based on your videos and the like. Quite satisfied. The Arc is way too expensive.

[@hvacbudget8600]

@@danielruprecht8932 Youv'e got a great tool!

[@godel3081]

keep on doing what you do👍

[@larryvincent1083]

Thank you for the video. I think you are right. Leatherman has lost my business, and I just bought the SHALL Wave+ clone, while it was on sale. I like it.

[@hvacbudget8600]

@@larryvincent1083 That Shall is a great tool!

[@edgaraquino2324]

That Shall BE a great tool!?😊

[@ryangriffith1500]

I just bought a style ps. I only bought it for my no knife kit and thought id never get one since they discontinued. I got a brand new one for 50$ Anyone have some mod recommendations besides the bit holder of course. Now all I need is a mut and I'll never get another leatherman. That is if it ever went down in price.

[@namelesske]

I'm a bit sad about the situation with Leatherman. This money grab behavior with the Garage, and now with their Flagship Arc is generating a negative environment in the multitool community. Everyone is disappointed, and angry. Many good tools were discontinued, many issues with the wire cutter inserts, design SAFETY issue with the Bond (the modern PST), and many many annoying things like the bit shortage, ratchet shortage etc. The complete failure in communication towards the community is also disappointing. They deserve the boycott in the works for the Obsidian. I wish the best for Leatherman employees, but the management needs to wake up FAST. The clone market is exploded in 2024, and going strong, a black DLC coating will not save the company.

[@hvacbudget8600]

@@namelesske Great summary on the situation. Definitely dissapointing!

[@deceptionsdemise]

I only bought it because it was available in black, finally, then realized I probably made an expensive mistake.

[@hvacbudget8600]

@@deceptionsdemise LoL! Looks great though!

[@leowild2134]

Waiting for bibury to bring out a onehand-clone.

[@flapxjackson]

I don’t blame you for not buying a Leatherman Arc Obsidian to review. There would be no point to it. There’s nothing functionally different about it than the standard Arc. So why spend near $300 to just show it and say “Here’s a new colour.” I’m not buying an Arc because I don’t see value in spending $230 when my P4 works for me. Frankly, before I retired, I carried my SwissTool the most. I liked the tool set it had the most. And I felt the quality was just a bit better than any Leatherman I had.

[@hvacbudget8600]

@@flapxjackson The Swisstool is amazing!

[@Whatyoutakinbout]

Crazy I just bought it and having buyers remorse. My car payment is now a month behind and have no food in my fridge. 😮😢

[@hvacbudget8600]

LOL! I actually did work with a guy whose bathroom floor was rotting away but he couldn't afford to fix it because his kids had to go on vacations. Priorities.

[@Whatyoutakinbout]

@@hvacbudget8600 yea. 1st world problems. Guess I’ll be eating ketchup and spaghetti with tool in hand. 🥲

[@johnkraemer5505]

What Leatherman is doing is ridiculous! Leatherman has lost their focus! It’s very sad!

[@richardhenry1969]

Leatherman is not worth the price to me. Im disabled so i don't work full-time anymore. But even though i don't see leatherman being better then the $30 bibury. In my experience the bibury is better. Then my last 3 leathermans. Of course they were old models nolonger made. I just don't see anything leatherman can do that the bibury can't for much cheaper. I believe many people buy because of branding and marketing lies. I don't believe a knife steel is worth $100. Personally id rather have 14c28n instead of magnacut. Toughness is much more important then edge retention. An corrosin resistance doesn't matter if other parts are not as resistant. Magnacut is just a money grab. Ive yet to see anyone really test the steel because its so expensive. I buy tools to use not collect. But im a different generation i guess.

[@ramsessilent]

yep, love my arc but would never had bought it. if i had not got it it for Christmas i would not have it. i bought a p4 and well i was wait for my zap sheaths i would be using that not the arc because i thought 250 for the ark was too much so as much as i love the black i will not spend 50 more for something i felt was already 50 to much. only problem now is i have a p4 with 2 sheaths i dont need lol

[@hvacbudget8600]

Nice!

[@sergemaster]

Leatherman lost me when they nixed the Juice series without a decent alternative, with the exception of Skeletool and its lack of scissors.. Since then, I've toggled back to SOG and the PowerPint series..

[@dieselgoinham]

@@sergemaster juice broke too much, had to be nixed. Warranty nightmare

[@braixeninfection6312]

The obsidian is nowhere near better or different enough to justify the price. I have the ARC. It's nice, I love it. But I'm actually put off of the obsidian lol.

[@WoodsUnknown]

Here in canada its 431.19 taxes in, way too expensive for what it is. I'll keep my Sourge.

[@hvacbudget8600]

@@WoodsUnknown Wow!

[@arbiter1er]

It's nothing but a reskin in the end. Feels like Leatherman has not innovated in a while. What's the biggest innovation of the Arc besides the Magnacut blade (which is arguably an 'innovation' in the first place)?

[@blade9292]

Ah leatherman and the focus at making expensive tools every time even with a color swap... great .... However I understand why you won't review it. There is no point, unless they fixed issues with the base one ... I'm more interested if they release a new design or if they update an older one. Leatherman should a bit go back and strive for innovation rather than making the most expensive multitools for collectors...

[@andrewfett142]

👍🏼

[@appleztooranges]

Good for you. I refused too. Not worth it

[@hvacbudget8600]

@@appleztooranges I enjoyed your video! You do a great job giving multitool news.

[@appleztooranges]

@@hvacbudget8600 thanks you as well!

[@kichwatembo6551]

Would cost me 12 hours of my life to afford. My rebar does just fine.

[@hvacbudget8600]

@@kichwatembo6551 Crazy isn't it!

[@kichwatembo6551]

@hvacbudget8600 Absolutely insane! Left my soapbox at home but you get the idea.

[@TwistedFatwood]

My problem with the whole Leatherman obsidian ark Whatever you call it Is the fact that I don't buy tool to collect them I bought them to use them I don't think it's all that functional especially in the working man world it's not worth 300 bucks If you buy it to collected it that's fine or just want to buy it that's fine I get it but I don't buy tools and most of the people in the world that buy multi tools don't buy them to collect they buy them for functionality Durability Overall to actually just use it I'm just saying

[@hvacbudget8600]

@@TwistedFatwood Very true!

[@lestagez]

Have y’all thought, that maybe every release a company makes isn’t right for you? Maybe they already have tried and true options at a lower price with many features? What happened to the “buy a leatherman and keep it for 30 years and pass it down… this generation has issues.

[@jkn2k]

Instagram EDC trans community is ruining the meaning of tool 😂 , fashion EDC? WTF

[@b4zz3d59]

Respect. 🫡