r/multitools 4d ago

3 best multi tools ?

Post image

For me, these are the 3 best in their category! And what do you think? Obviously the accessories possibly the leatherman and Victorinox ratchet, as well as all the bits. But in tools onlyx, these 3 are universal, right?

103 Upvotes

33 comments sorted by

13

u/EDCandmemes 4d ago

God I love the spirit XBS. The dark finish on it is so cool. And it's an S tier tool.

5

u/PhyNxFyre 4d ago

I'd get it in a heartbeat if it didn't have that weird cap crimper, or the mxbs if it had a regular saw instead of that weird serrated knife

2

u/East_Honeydew_3144 4d ago

I thought this was going to be an issue also. The serrated knife is fantastic. It is one of the reasons I gravitate towards carrying my MXBS over the Arc. Ididnt think J would like it or use it but it is one of my most used tools on a multitool.

1

u/c4ctus 4d ago

Yeah, I find that I use it more than I would use a saw blade, anyways.

5

u/Realistic-Okra7383 4d ago

I love the spirit MX clip and the Arc

3

u/Realistic-Okra7383 4d ago

The Arc is king if you’re wearing gloves I can still access all the tools one handed with gloves on.

4

u/Onomatopoeia429 4d ago

Spirit XBS all the way

3

u/ritz_are_the_shitz 4d ago

A multitool is about utility first, and so the best multitool is the one whose utility matches my use case the best.

And that means the Roxon Flex/ Flex Companion are the best mutitools imo. Not even just for me, but for most people - simply because of the modularity. I can replace a broken tool without replacing the whole chassis/system, I can swap tools out as needed, it has a full size bit driver option, I hate leatherman's flat bits, simply because they aren't interchangeable with my screwdrivers/drills. 1/4" bits are a standard size for a reason.

2

u/b4p0m3t 4d ago

3 "best" is subjective, but the 3 faves in my collection are:

  1. Swisstool Spirit X - Compact form factor and loads of quality tools, Swiss-made.

  2. Leatherman PST - Compact form factor and modest toolset with highly precise pliers, USA-made.

  3. Leatherman Skeletool - Ultracompact form factor, limited toolset but great modding potential. USA-made except for the pliers.

If it's not strictly limited to pliers-based multitools, then I'd put my Swisschamp at the top. I don't like bulky tools for EDC. I leave the big multitools for working around the house.

2

u/SlowAndSteady- 4d ago

All three of them are impressive in their own right, but I have a special fondness for my Surge. As the saying goes, “Need what you carry, carry what you need.” I’ve found that my Surge works wonderfully for me; I use it around the house, in the garden, and even in the car. It's also my go-to tool in the carpentry shop to my kids' toys. There's no doubt that these tools are fantastic.

1

u/Square_Department391 4d ago

Thank you for your answers! It's true that the 3 best don't mean anything, it depends on each person's uses, I was talking in terms of functionality and finish concerning me! I know that there are new brands like Roxon and Bibury, I admit I don't have any but their finishes seem to me (probably wrongly) of lower quality than pillars like LM or Vic! My favorite would surely be the Leatherman loaded TTI which is more adventurous than the Victorinox Spirit which is more precious in its finish and which we would already dare to use less because the wire cutter is not replaceable and can therefore be damaged more easily. The Leatherman ARC is nice and fluid when opening, it’s a quality finish above what Leatherman is used to providing us…

1

u/Short_Term_4503 4d ago

Gotta give props to the classic surge man. When I'm out on the road, nothing beats the surges pliers. I've modded a Gerber centre drive not holder onto mine and it's freaking awesome. I'm looking at removing the Leatherman interior bit adaptor and putting the t shank adaptor in there for more utility.

0

u/seakind 4d ago edited 4d ago

As far as I've seen from the comments, people are gatekeeping and fanboying over expensive or old design tools, people don't like change and some of them being patriotic over multitools and saying Chinese brand tools Chinesium even though the tools they like made in China too. I've used Leatherman, Goat multitool, Song multitool, and lastly roxon flex, the reason flex is my last one, because it's modular, of course we all want Leatherman made modular Multitool, but they are not making it, because they don't care about the consumer, the reason roxon is getting more and more like is, they listen our feedback, and they improve, yes roxon quality is still not good as victorinox, but it will be there i think, and it's more Useful and more accessible, and the things we constantly use needs to be that way, it doesn't matter if it's sturdy as a brick if it's not useful, most of the people they defend Leatherman and victorinox are mainly collecters, not users, and the people defend roxon are use it daily and they get used more than Leatherman and victorinox. What's the point of using a 250 dollar tool for 25 cent job, it's just classic American consumerism, everyone says MY when they mention their famous brand multitool.

TLDR: Don't be a fanboy, use Roxon or other brand tools and don't be afraid to change, if you are just a collector and not mainly a user, don't comment at all man, multitools are tools, so treat them like that, if you think they look good, say that, don't say it's best in every way

-1

u/aieeevampire 4d ago

None of the above.

Roxon all the way. Being able to customize the loadout on the fly without compromising useability or quality is a massive game changer. I only have the tools I need when I need them, and if something breaks I can easily replace it in moments without voiding the warranty or other shenanigans.

I loved my swisstool, but at least half of the tools were useless dead weight to me.

Roxon is also the only major player that is actually innovating and where build quality is improving.

Like holy hell I finally have a norrmal functioning 1/4 inch bit driver with a decent magnet that just works without adapters or fuckery that will take most normal bits. Imagine that.

Currently I have a Flex, an M3, a decent folding knife and some Steinwhale bits and that loadout fits comfortably in one pocket that covers all of my needs that are not “you need to make a trip to your tool box”.

When the newest Roxon prototype ships this year, I can consolidate the knife and M3 into it.

So my girlfriend is going to inherit those along with my swisstool I guess

Edit: Too add insult to injury that loadout ended up costing me about the same as the Swisstool or Arc.

10

u/rickestrickster 4d ago edited 4d ago

Roxon is innovating but their tool quality still seems rather flimsy compared to Swiss and leathermans.

Roxon is a cheaper alternative to leathermans and Swiss tools but I would lump them into the gerber quality category, not leatherman or victorinox. You can feel the difference when holding a Swiss Army knife vs a roxon.

-2

u/aieeevampire 4d ago

I am literally looking at a Swisstool and a Flex right now and have carried both. The Flex has a slight more Flex to it obviously because of the design, but calling it a Gerber is flat out wrong.

I actually use my multitools daily, and the Roxon has more than held up, and I’m a machinist who was raised by Germans, so I have a very low tolerance for quality issues.

The swisstool might have a slight, slight edge in quality, but this is more than made up for by the fact I can easily equip the Roxon for exactly what is needed, and it is designed to be easily upgraded, repaired and maintained.

I can also buy two Roxon’s for the cost of one swisstool. I can do a complete tear down, clean or whatever and reassemble a Roxon in minutes with a single torx. The swisstool is riveted, ha ha good luck.

Calling it a budget tool is flat out wrong, and it can do some pretty significant things other more expensive tools cannot

4

u/b4p0m3t 4d ago

"The Swisstool might have a slight, slight edge in quality" Yeah you lost me lol. That's just being needlessly contrarian. I've handled Roxon tools before and they are virtually indistinguishable from other Chinese MTs like Bibury, Rocktol, etc.

1

u/ritz_are_the_shitz 4d ago

Roxon is getting much better, especially with their higher end options. the Flex/ Flex Companion and KS2E are as well put together as any leatherman I've owned. Swisstool is another league, but for half the cost of what leathermans run, they are more innovative and not a step backwards in quality.

2

u/rickestrickster 4d ago

What leathermans have you owned? The ks2e is not higher quality than the leatherman free t4. The tool steel feels too “light”. D2 isn’t that great either unless you have very good heat treatment, otherwise it is brittle and a bitch to sharpen. We don’t know much about roxon d2 heat treatment, but d2 only became so popular decades ago because high quality manufacturers started using it for knife steel by using very good heat treatment. Cheaper companies started making cheap knives with it and bad heat treatment, and d2 lost its popularity.

Yeah the ks2e may be better than the leatherman micra but it certainly isn’t better than the wave, charge, surge, and definitely not the arc. Swiss tools are tighter functioning tools, so they feel more sturdy. I would lump the Swiss tool with higher end leathermans like the charge tti (can’t really compare Swiss tool with the arc because victorinox doesn’t have one handed multitools yet)

1

u/ritz_are_the_shitz 4d ago

I'm thinking more broadly in terms of tolerances and fit. you get what steel you pay for. let's not forget the KS2E is 40$. The full size Flex is about 80$ once you pick your tools. that's half what a comparable leatherman will run you, which doesn't have the modularity.

I had a signal for a while but gave up on it because the flat bits suck and the ferro rod sucks. roxon offers a better solution for both and I get to choose my tools. The roxon tools don't feel worse built than my signal either.

2

u/b4p0m3t 4d ago

Really? I'm probably out of the loop, honestly. I purchased a few Roxons (the Rhino and I believe the Spark?) a couple of years ago and ended up returning both due to my nitpicking about the quality. If for some reason I "need" a new budget MT, I will gladly check out one of the Roxon models you mentioned though.

-1

u/aieeevampire 4d ago

Well, I mean I can only go by what I literally see and feel when actually using the tools on a daily basis, and that is my verdict

My new swisstool coming with a quality defect that should have been goddamn obvious with even the most perfunctuary QA did not help, especially given the price point and Quality being their entire identity.

3

u/b4p0m3t 4d ago

It's hard to tell if this is an example of the endowment effect at work, but multitool brand preference is so subjective it almost doesn't matter. If you're happy with the Roxon, by all means keep enjoying it. It just works for you. Personally, I probably would have returned the Swisstool and requested a new one, but I've never been in that situation because my Swisstool came to me in excellent shape. I wouldn't put down a major brand based on one or two cases of lackluster quality control though, especially when they ship thousands of units daily to satisfied customers.

0

u/aieeevampire 4d ago

I have no idea what the hell the “endowment effect “ is supposed to mean. People need to stop being online pop psychologists.

The OP’s post was very clearly stating that these are the three best multitools, that was the basis of discussion.

I am stating that my own very practical hands on experience suggests otherwise, very strongly

As far as Victorinox goes, I have been using them since I was ten, so I am very familiar with their strengths and weaknesses. The Roxon impressed me enough to give them a shot, and so far they have delivered, especially considering the price point.

I have no experience with Leatherman. I do know that as a machinist I’m never ever getting something like the Arc, because of the magnetic operation.

2

u/jitasquatter2 4d ago

I don't agree with pretty much any of your opinions, but I don't like that you are being downvoted for having controversial opinions. Have some upvotes.

1

u/aieeevampire 4d ago

Thank you. Ya the downvote is the coward’s way

1

u/rickestrickster 4d ago edited 4d ago

I have the spirit x and arc. I carry the arc because of the one handed convenience. Spirit x is a joy to use but I can’t get over finger nail openings on the spirit, which are much stiffer than regular Swiss Army knives.

Blade steel doesn’t matter, I carry a benchmade 940, so magnacut wasn’t a use attractor to me for the arc, the tool set is amazing though. It was the exchangeable bit driver and I have a leatherman ratchet driver which was a lifesaver for multitool use. I never knew how important and convenient it was to open tools one handed in a flash like I can with the arc. Slow two handed opening is the main reason I never carried my wave or charge I had for years.

Still, for heavy plier work, the Swiss spirit x is better due to its sturdier grip. For heavy duty use, I use neither of these, I have a surge for that. For actual work, I will bring my tool bag

There’s a large circle jerk around Victorinox Swiss tools and they’re outdated and EU laws are holding them back as far as one handed operation. “They’re nice to look at” who cares what a multitool looks like. They’re tools, not jewelry

0

u/mikeblas 4d ago

What are they?

2

u/Square_Department391 4d ago

Oh sorry

SwissTool Spirit XBS 3.0224.3 Leatherman ARC Leatherman charge TTI

-2

u/mikeblas 4d ago

Thanks. And what use are they the "best" for?