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Traveling with your Toolbox?

Some of us are born with it. Some of us grow into it. However we come by it, it is a role we feel destined to fulfill. Even while traveling on vacation or business we cannot avoid our compulsion. We are Tinkerers! If it is broken we assign ourselves to fix it. If it isn't broken, we will find a way to improve it. This has been so since the beginning of time.

History books and encyclopedias invariably picture early man crouched near a rock, chipping away at a new and improved hand-tool. The artifacts that trace our technological advance from that distant moment are primarily hand-tools and can be found proudly displayed in the museums of the world. It can only be from this ancient fascination with tools that the multi-purpose hand tool of today has evolved.

The search still continues for the most useful combination of implements and three American companies, Leatherman, Gerber and SOG, among a growing number of others, are leaders in the quest for the elusive combination of weight, strength and versatility. The tools they have created are based on the principal of “form-follows-function” combined with sophisticated ergonomics and most of them resemble something that’s intended to unfold in space.


Leatherman - PST Pocket Survival Tool

After testing the offerings supplied to us by these three companies, our first comment would be that we would be delighted to own any one of these tools. Cheap imitations are available but are of inferior quaility and limited usefullness.

The tools we investigated for this article are all top of the line in manufacture and design and well worth their prices, which loosely range from $50 to $100. (The street prices do vary greatly, however and it pays to shop with care). The one price exception is the tiny “Micra”™ from Leatherman that will debut in October. They sent along a sample of the Micra and we were extremely impressed with it. It will sell for $25.

All these nifty, hand-held yet nearly complete folding toolboxes are so complex that descriptions could go on for pages. The profiles that follow simply describe the few details that impressed us most as we did our "tinkering".


Leatherman - Super Tool

For overall quality of craftsmanship and the look of a serious precision instrument Leatherman’s three fine offerings would be hard to beat. The handles open smoothly, there is no looseness or sloppiness whatever, the blades all lock in place, the markings on the rulers are easy to read and there are some extremely useful features.

Gerber and SOG both have the distinct advantage of one-handed opening which can be a major selling point. SOG’s quick one-handed “flick-of-the-wrist-motion” made their tools the easiest to open. Sailors, mountainclimbers and others working while in action would find single-handed operation an indispensable feature.

SOG’s "geared" opening design gives the user compound leverage with twice the wire cutting and gripping strength while exerting the same hand strength. This geared system also gives the design a fascinating space-age look.

Leatherman was the only company that offered scissors on two of their tools and we found these extremely useful. Both types worked very well and their design was unique.


Gerber Multi-Plier Pocket Tool

Gerber has designed an optional tool kit with coupler and bits. This was very effective and greatly expanded the capabilities of the multi-purpose tool. The coupler fits on the end of the philips screwdriver head (which, like the other blades and tools, folds out from the handle). The tool kit comes with six different screwdriver attachments and the quarter-inch coupler accepts any standard 1/4 inch hex bits.

Gerber also offers both a needlenose and standard plier, as does SOG. Both of Leatherman’s plier-based multi-tools we tested are needlenose. An advantage of the SOG plier design is the ability to exchange tools contained in the handle. This would allow you to replace damaged blades or customize the tool for your specific needs.

If you work with wire you will find the wire cutters on the Leatherman Super Tool and PST II tool the most useful. The top of the wire cutter (found at the base of the plier) is for soft wire and the bottom is for cutting hard wire and could also be used as a wire stripper. Beneath the opening mechanism, between the handles, is a provision for wire crimping.

The Leatherman Super Tool and Gerber model have two separate knife blades, one plain and one serrated. The SOG has a combined straight and serrated blades in one. The SOG and Leatherman have the most convenient bottle and can openers while no corkscrews were offered by any of the manufacturers.


Leatherman - Micra

The Leatherman Micra was the most unique of all the tools we tested. This multi-tool will be a favorite among airline travelers and others who may not normally carry a multi-purpose tool. Leatherman's design for a flat-headed philips screwdriver is simple but ingenious. The angled sides make it usable on all sizes of philips screws, even the tiny screws used on computers.

The Micra is built around scissors rather than pliers making it more useful for the less mechanically minded. The scissors are sharp, easily operated and like all the Leatherman products are superbly crafted. They are spring-loaded (although it is impossible to see where the spring is located) and they fit comfortably in the palm of your hand. The tiny tools contained in the handles are nevertheless very functional and easy to open. This tool contains tweezers and a high quality multi-purpose file. There is a lanyard ring but to us, the Micra seems destined to be carried on key chains.

NOTE: Airline security regulations restrict the length of knife blades that can be carried on-board an airliner. It appears that all of the knives we reviewed meet this requirement. It should be recognized that these tools, even with a short blade are very menacing in appearance, and may be frowned on by security personel. Each airline can have their own policies, and enforcement may vary from terminal to terminal based on staffing and level of any security alert. Many airport security officers will not accept a blade that is longer than the width of the ID badge they are wearing.
For those unfamiliar with multi-purpose tools, they may seem a bit awkward to open at first but a very little practice overcomes this problem and the only serious warning is that these are real tools, the knives are very sharp and the other extendible implements can pinch. Until you are quite familiar with your new multi-purpose tool, whichever brand you select, be careful!

All come with either leather or ballistic cloth sheath. We prefer the leather style for elegance. Both styles can be worn on a belt and both are of the same high quality as the tools they are made to contain.

Whether attached to a hikers belt, tucked in the corner of a suitcase or loose in the glove box of your car. There is a multi-purpose tool for you so useful and, yes, "fun," that you’ll wonder how you ever lived without it.

LEATHERMAN: WEB SITE

GERBER: WEB SITE

SOG: Phone 206.771.6230 - Fax 206.771.7689 NO WEB SITE

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