Talking About Adventure In Small Boats
Feel I need to play with the big girls now and get myself a Leatherman (my first ;). Anyone any advice on which one to look at, bearing in mind this is for a solo kayaker, with weight and size (and price) all issues? And I'm not looking for something machete-like to fight off Burmese pythons with.
The Sidekick is getting some nice reviews, and has positive weight (7oz/198gms) and price points ($32-40).
thanks!
KB
Scareman
Member
Skeletool! I use to use Gerbers and still keep one in my ditch kit, but I have found that I cannot get through the day withou my Leatherman Skeletool.
I have had the pliers break, but Leatherman repaired the Skeletool.
And Kiwibird, check your messages. I am coming to town tonight, actually leaving NC on Monday now.
I will have the Skeletool with me.
Scareman
whitecaps
Member
Kiwi when you think you need to play with the Big Girls I am taking up shuffle board!
So you want a new toy ok. Check out backpacking forums for a multi tool.
With a Yak I would look for a tool that had needle nose pliers, Phillips screw driver, and scissors.
Me personally. If you have an all in one tool there is no way to hold a nut and also use a screw driver you can not do both at the same time. It seems kinda hard to me to tighten a bolt, screw etc with a tool that is one piece and can only work on only half of the problem.
For me I want a small pair of slip joint pliers a short shank Phillips and short regular screw driver. I want them separate so I can do both sides of the project.
Ok ya gotta have it so get any Squirt or a Juice if ya wnana open the wine. I have never had a problem opening cork wine or non twist off beer caps with my pocket Knife. But then again we have lit cigarettes with av fuel and a spark plug on the airboats. Just have to have the desire or addiction.
Salt water will eat one of these tools alive in my world. Yea they are neat and get a sexy color.
I carry in my shirt pocket a Boye folder with a marlin spike. It will not rust as it is non magnetic.
toby
Goodmorning,I have had three letherman tools over the last 20 years, im curently cariying the wave tool. its a bit biger than some of them but I youse it everyday , iv had blades replased on woranty , even when Iv thort the damage was my folt. I think ther quolity is all good you realy need to look at what tools you wont on the diferant models.
your right about needing to hald nuts while doing up bolts, on trips I now cary two tools , one in the repear kit and one close to hand. to cut down on gear I dont cary a knife in my cook kit I youse the blade on the molty tool. I dont think its good to replace your resque knif with it thow
whitecaps
Member
Dawn good call on pink color. I buy Ladies colors. It sucks to hunt something camo or dark. Play with your stuff if you use a red light for packing up in the dark. Some things are almost unseen wth a red light and I always check with a bright white light when picking up camp.
The Girls get all the breaks. I sleep on a Womens Pro Lite Plus. I am a comfy warm sissy that can can find my stuff!
toby
Good point DGal, and WCaps. Floatsome very kindly bought me a new Boyle folder for my 50th (I say new, as I dropped my old/just new treasured Boyle off Wiggins Pass a few ECs back while cutting a slice of cheese (foolishly with no lanyard)--and that has a screwdriver point.
KB
CrazyRussian
Member
A few years ago I bought Gerber Suspention for Amy. It is sort of girlish tool, light and small. Well, then I lost my big leatherman tool and I borrowed Amy's for a trip.. and borrowed again and again. It did survive UF and a few other adventures.
http://www.gerber-tools.com/Gerber-Suspension-Multi-Plier-1471.htm
The Leatherman Juice CS4 is the best all-around tool there is. It is small enough be light enough. It is big enough to have all the major things you could want. When not zipped away in a tool pouch or PFD pocket, it can hang very nicely (because of its convenient profile aligning with its keyring hanger) inside pants pocket (much more comfortable than letting it sit at the bottom of a pocket) if you use a hook, as I show here: http://www.instructables.com/id/Tips--Tricks-Hang-Your-Pocket-Tool/ . My only complaint is that the scissors are not as good as the ones on a Victorinox; I do prefer the quality of a Victorinox Swiss Army Knife, so that is the tool I carry for my "casual and office wear." But on the boat or in the workshop, I carry the Leatherman. One other comment: the knife blade on the CS4 is very pointy, almost scary-pointy. You might even say 'accursed pointy' but that's another story. For use on a rocking boat, I ground down the tip into a blunter shape, and re-honed: still pointy enough to poke through stuff, but not so much as to casually stick an inch into your leg (but I digress...) -- Wade
MicroTom
Key Master
For me the only multitool is the Gerber which you can open with a flick of the wrist. I have been carrying one for around 15 years now. Here is review of the current model. The video is almost too detailed go to 4:15 - 5:45 in the first video to see how they open up.
There is also a Winchester version based upon the older Gerber design that was most likely made by Gerber and can still be found on ebay. I still have one of these and keep it with my fishing gear because it has needle nose plyers
Waitforthewestwind
Member
THIS IS MY LEATHERMAN. THERE ARE MANY LIKE IT, BUT THIS ONE IS MINE.
My Leatherman Surge rode on my belt for 10 years when I worked construction. Awesome tool.
The thing I love about it is, It came from the factory really tight and has loosened up to the way I use it, and now it is a totally personalized tool.
I can easily open the two blades and the scissors with one hand, as fast as any legal folder out there, and the pliers can be opened by flipping it open and locking it with a bump to your thigh. (I will try to post a video of this if I have time later today)
Whatever model you get it should have two outside opening blades. That way you have a ‘donkey’ serrated blade, and you can preserve the wicked sharp straight blade. (Leathermen come from the factory sharper than any blade I have ever seen). Keep it close to where you leave your wallet and keys at home, and you will be amazed by how much you use it.
Personally, I would rather have the Wave than the Sidekick. The SK does not have the donkey blade, and the spring action is something you don’t need, more to break.
Eric
zenkayaker
Member
hi gang !!! I myself have had many,leathermen,winchester tools and even 1 from vice grip,all were "safety bonus's,from the GOV.however [no shooting],NONE of them meet the requirements of what is needed in a "pinch",so I carry a nylon belt pouch with 1 pr of small needle nose vicegrips,1pr of vicegrip "toolbox"pliersand 1 4" adjustable wrench.it all fits in about the same space as a leatherman "wave",on my pants belt I carry a -12 bulb waterproof flashlite,w/new batteries in a pocket .I feel that I am ALMOST "tooled-up". lmao hope this helps later zenkayaker
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