Leatherman vs Gerber

[Gin]

A minor, but nevertheless expensive misfortune.

I've lost my Leatherman, which was a useful tool although a bit gimmicky and a little difficult to open its tools with wet fingers.

An annoying shortcoming was the lack of sprung pincer jaws which needed a two-handed action to open & close them.

So what do forumites reckon- do I buy either a Wave or Charge XTI or is the top of the range Gerber multi tool at about the same price a better option.

Ignore price they are all very expensive at about £90 ( yes I know there are deals to be had, this is the high street price ) but Christmas is coming.

The issues are is the Gerber as robust, the blades as sharp and stay sharp, do the sprung pincer jaws really work well and are the other tools easy to open (and close) with cold wet hands.

 

[adrianb]

-that reminds me !

I have a Wave - I literally found it in the bowls of a new boat I had -looked like it was brand new at the time !

I kid not.

Lovely piece of kit for the jobs that suit it.

Adrian

 

[Gin]

Agreed!!- make me feel better about my carelessness why don't you? /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[adrianb]

As long as you didn't lose it on my boat !!!!


Adrian

Come on - how did you lose it ?

 

[Malcb]

I've got a Gerber Urban Legend, I've also got a fairly basic Leatherman. I reckon the Gerber is better and the pliers easier to operate, also all the tools lock open. I tend to use it for most jobs on the boat instead of getting the toolkit out.

 

[Georgio]

Gerber - it's the muts nuts.

 

[Csail]

gerber for general use.... what is the (legal) score with having one on you, as i always do...unless going to pubs/restaurants in towns or cities?

 

[adrianb]

OK OK - according to subsequent posters - I wish I'd found a Gerber one by the sounds of it !!!


Adrian
www.cleanandshiny.co.uk

 

[Phoenix of Hamble]

Well I love my Leatherman!

 

[davidpbo]

Personally I go for a cheap "Stainless Steel" multitool available from a great many outlets. The one I use has a hex socket which will take any screwdriver/allen key/socket etc that I want to use.

Pliers are simple to access and comfortable to use.
Other tools are all useful such as scissors, file and hacksaw, bottle/tin opener, awl (which I filed to a small screwdriver ).

At Approx. £25 it does not hurt so much if it goes over the side. We recovered ours once using a large magnet hence the quotation marks around stainless steel.

 

[Csail]

i have both but i prefer the gerber especially for boat stuff. leatherman is more or a fiddle to select a tool and the pliers are no good for doing up nuts etc. pouch is nicer on gerber as well.

 

[bobgosling]

[ QUOTE ]
gerber for general use.... what is the (legal) score with having one on you, as i always do...unless going to pubs/restaurants in towns or cities?

[/ QUOTE ]

Unlikely to have a problem unless the PC involved gets bloody-minded. There was a recent case involving a Swiss Army Credit Card ( which has a blade about one inch long and blunt as a brick ) and the owner got arrested and cautioned by a Eurostar Transport Police nazi.

Law actually states that the blade of a pen knife must be less than 2 1/2 inches otherwise it is categorized as an offensive weapon.

A good defence against Leatherman being a weapon is that it is a tool which happens to also contain a knife blade.

It is all a very grey area !

 

[adrianb]

Damn - he didn't leave the pouch !



Adrian
www.cleanandshiny.co.uk

 

[alan8376]

After reading the forum on the 2 makes of Multi Tools. I have looked at the Gerber site and I am lost at the various choices.
Which one of the tools is the most prefered on sailing boats?
(Keep it clean!) /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[peteandthira]

I liked the "flick-pliers" that the old Gerbers had, don't know if they still do that.

Does anyone know WHY the LM is so expensive when you can apparenly get cheap (but still SS) equivalents?

Regards

A Leatherman user

 

[Csail]

Not even sure what my model is....its on the boat BUT it has saved one life and the boat so worth its money. reply for more details. ps. dont try to tale one even in cargo baggage to the us.... mine was conviscated, could have got it back on return but at 3 in the morning could not be arsed.

 

[tritonofnor]

I use a Gerber 600 pro sport. Available with a miriad of different tool choices including a nifty adaptor which allows you to clip in any standard jig saw blade for use as a saw. Good half serrated knife, ideal for cutting rope. 600 is medium size, but still available with very full spec if chosen carefully. Bought mine from an ebay seller in the states, with additional tool kit which allows the use of standard screwdriver bits for less than fifty quid...

 

[Kilter]

Gerber for me. Got mine in the US 8 years ago and it's done sterling sevice since.

 

[jerryat]

Yep, Leatherman Waves for us too! Swmbo and me each have one and wouldn't change 'em for anything.
In reality, I expect there's little difference between Gerber or Leatherman at the top end of the ranges and that it really boils down to each individuals particular preference.

 

[guydickinson]

I bought a Leatherman in the US in 1997 and still use it all the time - and if anything goes wrong you can get it fixed for nothing - v good service.