I have found myself carrying a leatherman multi-tool more and more lately. It could be the fact I’m getting older, but it could just be a desire to be more prepared in my day to day life. There are so many situations I come across at work or when tinkering with hunting gear where I quickly need a pair of pliers, scissors, screwdrivers, a knife, or a bit driver. Rather than constantly be running back and forth across my house to my workshop, having a leatherman in my pocket allows me to tackle a lot of simple tasks quickly. I have had an older Leatherman Super Tool for many years that has always worked well. It’s a little heavy but still functions as well as the day it was made. There’s nothing wrong with that tool, but I have noticed in recent years that the newer models include a mini bit driver along with a couple of other upgrades. So, after a few months of research, I picked up the Leatherman Charge+ TTi.
The Multi-Tool
At $170, the Charge+ TTi is the most expensive multi-tool in Leatherman’s lineup. I point this out first to tell you flat out you don’t need this particular Leatherman. The Leatherman Wave Plus multi-tool will only run you $100 and has almost the same feature set. You don’t need the TTi version per se, but you probably do need at least one Leatherman. The TTi, is basically the Cadillac of the leatherman line. It features titanium scales and a knife made of S30V steel. Beyond those material upgrades, the tool features great pliers, replaceable wire cutters, scissors, a diamond-coated file, a saw, a mini bit driver (think eyeglass size bits), and the leatherman bit driver. Included with the tool are a couple of attachable clip options, a nylon case, and a small set of 12 bits. The whole package weighs in at just 8.9 ounces which makes this a great addition to any hunting, survival, or bug-out kit.
The inclusion of the bit driver allows the multi-tool to be used to perform quick field repairs on scope mounts, rifles, bow accessories, sunglasses, and many other pieces of gear that can fail. The diamond file can be used to sharpen a knife blade or axe head. Sitting at the top of the tool, the needle-nosed pliers are the best feature of the Leatherman. Useful for everything from tent repairs to removing a broadhead arrow from a deer shoulder, a good pair of pliers is invaluable. In a package small enough to fit in your pocket, the Leatherman multi-tool is a must-buy for anyone who spends considerable time outdoors.
