Going on vacation, need multi-tool.

[puyo]

Okay, I'm gonna be backpacking (not camping, but staying in hostels) through Europe and I'll need a multi-tool with hopefully most of the following: blade, bottle opener, can opener, scissors, corkscrew, screwdriver.

I've done my research and have come up with the following results:

Leatherman Juice CS4 or XE6
Gerber MultiPlier 400 w/Corkscrew
Buck Summit
and some SAKs...
Victorinox Compact
Victorinox Climber
Wenger Europe
Wenger Traveller

Links go to product pages. Does anyone have any experience or opinions on any of these?

 

[Sigman]

I own several multi-tools (including several "Juice" models and the Gerber 400). If I were to take one of those that you've listed here...I'd have to select the Leatherman XE6...the most bang for the money! Additionally I like the way it fits my hand more than the Gerber.

I'd rule out the SAKs and the Buck Summit in favor of the pliers on the the other two models.

 

[Mark_van_Gorkom]

For a SAK, I'd prefer a Compact over the other models in your shortlist: the combination can/bottle opener works better than the seperate items on the other Victorinoxes, and it has all those extra's in the handles. Mine has come in handy on a great many occasions. For a Multitool, I find the Juice a bit overpriced, for the quality offered, and I don't like the Gerber much, but a Victorinox Swisstool CS may be overkill for you (but I wouldn't go travelling without mine). The Buck actually looks quite usefull, if you don't need pliers and don't carry a seperate folding knife (and you do need a reasonable knife: the cutlery in some hostels isn't sharp enough to cut butter!)

 

[paulr]

I've had any number of these things and for me it always keeps coming back to the Victorinox Explorer.

 

[Deanster]

I'm a huge fan of the Juice line - the KF4 and CS4 are a great size - I find the XE6 to be a bit on the thick side, relative to its length and width, and thus a touch uncomfortable to use in 'pliers' mode.

The CS4 is the best size/capability match on your list. It'd be my choice.

 

[puyo]

Yeah, I was leaning away from the Gerber and Buck because those are both significantly larger. On the other hand, I'm not sure how often I'd need pliers, though I do like the Juice more than the SAKs.

Also, if cutlery is gonna be a problem, would I need a multitool with um.. a fork?

 

[Muppet]

the less it looks like a knife, the easier it'll be to get across borders. I'd stick with something that looks like a pair of pliars.

 

[TheFire]

It looks like you're shying away from larger equipment, but I REALLY love my Leatherman wave. The blades that open from the folded position with one hand are just extremely useful. But yeah, those scream 'knife!' enough that you might have some problems. (and they're locking, so that's no good in England, right?)

 

[notos&w]

leatherman juice - very durable, good materials, doesnt appear offensive, and perhaps most importantly, LIGHT.

 

[tylerdurden]

Do you really need the corkscrew? If not, take a look at the Leatherman Pulse. It has the curved comfy handles, plus ALL of the tools lock and it has thumb-operated unlockers so you don't have to open a second blade to unlock like on the supertool and PST. You can get a good corkscrew/assist/foil-cutter wine tool for a couple of bucks that will probably do a better job than a multitool corkscrew, anyway.

 

[Frank]

I've always carried a Climber when travelling, more now for sentimental reasons than anything. A Climber or Victorinox Traveler (Climber w/o key ring)has accompanied me for over 20 years. If I had to choose a new knife, I'd probably go with a Juice.

 

[Sigman]

As far as "light weight", "smaller", etc...I figure if that's the only tool I'm going to be packing, it had better have a pretty good selection of tools. I'd rather have an "extra" tool than need it and not have it!

 

[Wolfen]

I have the Juice Xe6 and I like it. The tools don't lock but it is compact and useful. I have a older model Gerber multi-plier with locking tools in my trunk but haven't used it since I bought the Xe6 two years ago.

 

[Hoghead]

I EDC a XE6 in a RipOffs CO-37 holster and like the XE6 and the holster. I have a few Gerber and Leatherman tools, but the XE6 is as small as I could go and still get useful tools.
I also use the CO-37 holster for ARC LS & ARC4.

 

[Mark_van_Gorkom]

[ QUOTE ]
puyo said:

Also, if cutlery is gonna be a problem, would I need a multitool with um.. a fork?

[/ QUOTE ]

Doesn't Leatherman make one?
Myself, I use chopsticks /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[itsme1234]

I vote for Compact (my edc too) ! It has all you asked for (the can opener works surprisingly well with Philips screws, at least with "computer" screws. The blade is decent, at least for food and other "normal" activities (I think the blade on "Europe" and "Traveler" is smaller !). And it's not heavy at all (65g), Leatherman Wave (backup EDC) is ~226 g I think (the Compact is 3 times cheaper, too - at least around here). If you don't need pliers the Compact is perfect.
If you can't find the Compact for a good price you can also go for the explorer, it's heavier but the extra tools are good.

 

[felder]

You may want to take a look at the leatherman flair tool. It's got everything you requested on it, plus it has a little fork and a little spreader knife. I don't know how practical eating with it would be, but it may do in a pinch.

The tool has been discontinued, but I imagine you should be able to find it somewhere.

These people may have it, regardless they have a few pictures and a tool listing:

http://www.backcountry-equipment.com/knives/k-ltg/flair.html




[ QUOTE ]
puyo said:
Yeah, I was leaning away from the Gerber and Buck because those are both significantly larger. On the other hand, I'm not sure how often I'd need pliers, though I do like the Juice more than the SAKs.

Also, if cutlery is gonna be a problem, would I need a multitool with um.. a fork?

[/ QUOTE ]

 

[_mike_]

If you aren't leaving for a few months and can wait, check the new Leatherman's out. The Charge Ti and Charge XTi look very promising.

New Leathermans 2004

Mike

 

[Harrkev]

I like my Leatherman Wave a LOT. I carry it every day, and use it at least once a day!

BTW: PLEASE be sure that you know the laws regarding carrying knives in Europe. A knife might poke your eye out, so it may be illegal in some countries!

 

[mylan]

When I go on vacation somewhere here in Europe I normally take my Swiss Champ, but when I go with my motorbike I take my Wave+tooladapter, it's more usefull incase something brakes down and my toolset is missing something for example a saw or file. I never take something like a large one-hand lock knife, it looks like a weapon, a tool is a tool and I think I won't be in trouble for that.

Mylan