I don't know what it is about tools, but I get absolutely dangerous in a Home Depot—brushing aside the guy in the orange apron just so I can spend some quality time alone ogling the latest wrenches, sockets, power equipment, and accessories. I think it's a disorder. I buy something, then immediately see something else, and bingo, I get that, too.
| leatherman Multi Tools crunch And Super Tool 300
I never want to be without the right tools for the job. I've always worked with my hands, and every tool I have ever owned is as important as the next one—except for this orbital sander that exploded after an 80,000-rpm refinishing marathon. I threw that one away. That's why when I shop for tools, I look for reputable factory warranties. I'm not exactly gentle on things that cut, pinch, or rip open your knuckles.
I have a Craftsman Roll-Away, a five-drawer workbench, and wall-to-wall cabinets all crammed full of stuff I've owned for years, but they aren’t very portable. So, when I travel, I usually find the lightest tools and hope they work in most roadside emergencies. Even then, my small toolbox balloons to about 50 pounds, and that's not easy to lug around. So I carry several multi-tools for quick fixes.
Technically, a multi-tool is actually not a tool at all; it's a combination of many tools, from screwdrivers and files to pliers and more. As many of you know, a good multi-tool is worth its weight in gold. The better ones are lightweight, can be strapped on your belt or put in your pocket, are resilient to weather and dirt, and are easy to use. There are several manufacturers on the market, however, the multi-tool that took over where the Swiss Army knife left off is from Leatherman.
Believe it or not, there's actually a real guy named Leatherman, who started the company in 1983, after his car broke down on the side of the road, leaving him stranded. His name is Timothy S. Leatherman, and he's still semi-active with the company that bears his name.
The two Leatherman multi-tools I've selected are based on affordability and convenience: the Crunch and Super Tool 300. Each of these multi-tools has a number of features that make them desirable for light-duty fix-it situations.
Crunch
With 13 different tools engineered into a palm-sized stainless-steel body, the Crunch is perfect for the traveler. Features like lockable pliers, wire cutters, wire strippers, several screwdriver heads, a bottle opener, ruler, 1/4-inch bit driver, metal/wood file, and a serrated knife make roadside repairs easy.
Although the Crunch is not the king of multi-tools, it's a good starter tool. I think the toggle action of the pliers (and vise-grip) is genius and has the clamping force required for most jobs. Its serrated teeth are a nice feature that provides clamping confidence. It grabbed hex-headed nuts (up to 1 inch in diameter) just like a wrench would. One of the special features was the 1/4-inch bit driver that is exposed once the pliers' adjusting nut is removed from the Crunch. This is a handy feature for emergencies, like when using a hex head bolt-removing tool (as shown) and other related jobs.
Super Tool 300
The next step up from the Crunch is the Super Tool 300, an award-winning design that offers 19 tools in one. This is the big boy of multi-tools and is more than 4 inches in length.
What you get is a serrated blade and 3-inch clip point knife, needle-nose pliers, regular pliers, wire cutters, wire strippers, wire crimps, several screwdrivers, a metal/wood file, saw blade, bottle opener, 9-inch ruler, and awl. Both the Leatherman Super Tool 300 and the Crunch come with a leather or nylon sheath.
What I like about the Super Tool is its long needle-nose for reaching in tight areas or picking up small items. You can also remove the wire cutter blades with a Torx head (star screwdriver) and then sharpen the blades with the metal file. The Super Tool 300 is also all stainless steel with no plastic components. If you do a lot of wire cutting with multi-tools, the Super Tool 300 is the right tool for the job.
As with all Leatherman tools, both the Crunch and Super Tool 300 come with a 25-year warranty. And if you want to go stealth, look into the optional black oxide versions. The Crunch (as tested) is available between $65 to $80, depending on options. The Super Tool 300 (as tested) is available between $65 to $75, depending on options.
The next time you shop for tools, don't forget about multi-tools, because a good one will bail you out of a jam faster than a toolbox crammed full of stuff—and for a tenth of the investment.
