Other than that though they have the same length, weight, and general layout. Each comes with either seven or eight tools, focused around a pair of needle nose pliers with a pair of permanent wire cutters. Pliers and Wire Cutters The few tools it includes — an upgraded steel blade, good pliers, screwdrivers, and a bottle opener — are the most often used, and this tool gets these right. But that's it; if you're seeking all the tools possible, you'll be let down with this stripped-down modal. Of the remaining tools, though, our biggest complaint is with the bit driver. With the Skeletool CX, even more than with other models, Leatherman could have easily included a standard 1/4" bit driver. Still, we have tested this model for over three years, and it has slowly grown on us. Thus, the Skeletool is our top recommendation for a portable, daily multi-tool to leave clipped on your person at all times. We wish the main blade were not serrated. Yes, a serrated edge cuts a few things a little better than a straight edge. But that serrated edge suffers or completely fails to cut other things, especially when it is dulled. Once dull, a serrated edge is more difficult to sharpen, whereas the included sharpener on the Signal could be used to resurface an entirely straight-edged blade. The inclusion of a serrated portion on the blade seems like a marketing move more than a practical one. The Signal is unique and functional. It isn't too huge or too clumsy to use. With it, Leatherman comes another step closer to abandoning their proprietary bit driver interface. They built in the expected "squashed" bit driver, but they also included a standard 1/4 inch drive bit holder. We like this. The standard bit holder isn't oriented in an ideal fashion, but it is better than nothing. For survivalists looking for a multi-tool designed with bushcraft in mind, while also functional around the home, the Signal is a great piece of gear to add to the kit.

Overall if you’re considering the Wingman we’d recommend the Skeletool. It’s lighter and smaller, yet provides probably 80% of the utility of the Wingman. Beyond the Edge Ltd is based in Sheffield two hours by train from London and within easy travelling distance from Manchester, Leeds, Nottingham and other Northern towns and cities.A purpose-built, specialized tool for outdoor adventure and wilderness survival, while also serving purpose around the house There are currently three versions of the Skeletool. The standard version which is available in a variety of colours with a knife blade that is partially serrated. The Skeletool RX is marketed as an emergency multitool which comes in a lovely red colour with a carbine glass breaking window bit attachment and a fully serrated blade. And then the CX version I own which has an upgraded non serrated blade. They will all do the job equally well. It honestly might be the best multi tool on the market, and it only costs a little more than the Skeletool. When it comes right down to it there’s almost no comparison between the Wave+ and the Skeletool. Of course, the Wave+ doesn’t fulfill the same niche that the Skeletool does. The Leatherman Skeletool is one of those iconic multi tool designs that really stands out. It embodies a minimalist aesthetic of ‘just enough’ that many people find appealing. This gives you a good edge, excellent corrosion resistance, and the ability to easily sharpen up. Choosing between the blade types comes down to how you intend to use them. Straight edge blades are the easiest to sharpen and do a great job at cutting smoothly and precisely through different materials.

The other half of deployment is the opening action of the handles themselves to access the pliers. Compared to something like the Charge, the pliers are quite stiff as they’re actuated by a series of slipjoints that hold the tool closed and open. I’ve had and used the Skeletool for several years now and it’s never even approached one handed opening for the pliers – although my Charge has loosened up to the point that I can flip it like a Balisong. I use both hands to open the pliers, grabbing the wing that covers the blade with my left hand and the carabiner/bottle opener section with my right to pull outwards. There is a very pronounced “snap” when the slipjoint drops into place in the open position on both sides, and this is not a tool that will unintentionally fold shut thanks to the strong tension. Also, both sides operate independently – which is important as we’ll get to in the next section. Features, Fit & FinishBottle Opener and Carabiner Clip: The Skeletool has a built-in bottle opener for enjoying your favorite beverages and a carabiner clip for easy attachment to gear or belts.

With premium 154cm steel, the sleek Skeletool CX has only the most necessary of multi-tool features, as sometimes that's all you need Recently, fellow IFMGA mountain guide Jeff Dobronyi joined the review team. Jeff's busy outdoor lifestyle requires having the right tool for the job, whether that's repairing ski gear or mountain bike components in the field or doing repairs, or slicing food at home. Don’t want a Leatherman? The Victorinox SwissTool Spirit X is an often overlooked option in this market. It’s much more feature-heavy – and weight heavy, being about 50% heftier at 7.4 ounces. It does have a great set of pliers as well as a full complement of tools including scissors, a saw, and dedicated bottle and can openers as well as dedicated straight and Philips drivers. The Skeletool cuts a lot of weight by having these features be multi-function, like the bit driver and the combination carabiner/bottle opener. It must be said that while they don’t grab all the headlines, the Victorinox multitools are arguably the best-made tools in this segment. Wrap-up Carabiner/bottle opener: This tool features a one way gate and allows for easy clipping to a belt loop or strap. It can also be used to pop the top on a favourite beverage Finally, the fully open position with the pliers deployed is arguable what these tools are all about. The curvature of the handles makes sense once you’re using the pliers – the carabiner side arm is concave to locate your fingers solidly, and the other side is convex to make it more comfortable for your palm. The pliers are narrow at the tip to use as needle nose for grabbing small objects, but you can also use the middle of the pliers to tighten or loosen nuts and bolts. I’ve successfully used the inner portion of the pliers to cut and strip wires for wiring repairs before – it requires a little practice to strip wires, but it works well for smaller (18-22ga) wires like those found in car electrical systems.

The Leatherman Wave+ brings heaps of value to the Leatherman line-up. Leatherman takes 90% of what makes the Charge so impressive and sells it for 60% of the cost. What you get is the Wave+ and an excellent value. The Leatherman Wingman is even less expensive, by a significant margin, but has fewer features and is made with lesser quality materials (though most users may not notice the weight savings of steel vs. titanium casing). For a full-featured tool, the Wave+ is the bargain shopper's choice. The Leatherman Skeletool Multitool is a versatile and compact tool designed for outdoor enthusiasts and campers. It combines multiple functions into a single tool, including pliers, a knife, screwdrivers, and more, making it a handy companion for various tasks in the wilderness. The Freestyle is to the Skeletool what the Skeletool is to the Wave+, a stripped down version. It combines the pliers of the Skeletool with a combo 420HC blade. There are several different variants of the Skeletool, including the Skeletool CX and Skeletool RX. You also have multiple color and pattern choices. Each variety folds out butterfly style and has a variety of different tools and types of blades. Leatherman Skeletool Original, CX and RX Tools It’s only slightly larger and heavier than the Leatherman Freestyle yet offers several additional features, most important of which is the large bit driver. Unless you absolutely want the lightest mostly full size Leatherman the Skeletool is the way to go. Skeletool Vs Wingman