Multi Tool Review – Leatherman Skeletool Multitool With Nylon Pouch

I think there is a lot of confusion about what advantages the CX has over the cheaper (-$20) stainless version. I hope this review will clear some of that up. Some reviewers are advising you buy the stainless version because the only difference is a slither of carbon fiber. That is simply not true. The CX has a lot more going on for it than that!

1) The metal used to make the blade in each model is different. The stainless version uses 420HC steel, which is a decent metal with good hardness and good edge retention. The CX version uses 154CM steel, which is considered by many as a “super steel” because of its good corrosion resistance and excellent toughness and edge retention. Imho, this is worth the $20 price difference alone.

2) The blade styles are different. The stainless version has a plain edge whereas the CX has a partially serrated blade. Each has its own advantages and disadvantages. The plain blade is much easier to sharpen because you dont have to deal with maintaining any serrations (if you dont know what you are doing, serrations tend to get ground away when you do any sharpening). The partially serrated blade, however, is much more versatile in terms of cutting. In a pinch, you can used the serrated part of the knife as a saw or just for more cutting power. Additionally, if you learn the proper technique, sharpening a serrated blade is not that much more difficult, albeit a bit more time consuming. Personally, I like the partially serrated blade.

Multi Tool Review

This is a full sized, fully feature-loaded multitool which can usually be found at a great price. It is my main go-to multitool, and I have several from the various lines that Leatherman makes. The Blast is the top model in the Leatherman intermediate line, where its junior siblings are Leatherman Kick and Fuse.

multitool-leatherman-blast-black-horizontal

What’s so great about it? It is lighter than comparable tools with similar features, which makes it easy to carry. It packs a ton of useful and essential tools: knife, metal file and saw, wood saw, several screwdrivers including Philips and eyeglass mini, can / bottle opener, scissors – and they all securely lock in place when open. Each tool opens smoothly by itself, unlike on some lower end multitools. The knife is among the longest seen in any multitool. Pliers are large, sturdy, and the best Leatherman offers, same as on much more expensive models. The screwdrivers are long, making it easy to reach any screw. (Leatherman separately sells an extension bit holder if you need to work with more exotic screws.) The ruler markings on the handle have been surprisingly useful to me also. The price is great too, esp. if you shop around online.

multitool-leatherman-blast-blackmultitool-leatherman-blast-silver

What could be better? To access any of the tools, you need to open the handles. Unlike the Leatherman Juice series, nothing is accessible “from the outside,” which tends to be the fashion these days. Nothing opens just with one hand, unlike on the famous Leatherman Wave. If you are a knife snob, the steel of the knife could have been higher end. Any of these things could be a deal breaker for some people. For me, this is a tool I keep around for when something actually needs fixing; I don’t carry it with me in my pocket since it is a little too bulky and heavy for that. For smaller daily tasks like opening packages or cutting something, I carry and use a smaller keychain tool (Leatherman Squirt) or a Swiss Army Knife, where cutting tools are more easily accessible.

Are there bigger or better multitools? Sure. Many rave about the Leatherman Wave or Charge, but they are heavier, and good luck finding them at less than 1.5x or 2x the street price of this Blast. Victorinox also makes a pricier SwissTool line. For some of course this price difference will be worth it. I feel anything smaller or cheaper than the Blast is likely to be a compromise (some useful tools missing, pliers less sturdy, lesser materials and quality, or something else) – although in many cases, such compromises are OK depending on your purpose.