Good job for pointing out that the tools sometimes pop out. You're the first reviewer I've seen to point that out. Very thorough and a very good review.
I bought one, i love mine, the main reason being that it is magnetic and everything is super smooth. Blades are sharp. I also have the smaller FREE which I use almost daily. Nice pieces of machinery.
The charge tti was 170 bucks until they dropped the price down because its been out forever...and the quality on the free series is something you cant fully understand until you hold the tool. The lockup the fit and finish are top notch and worth the extra money in my book. Keep it up leatherman. And also...for those complaining about the awl...try it out before you knock it..it works great
Thank you so much for giving the left-handed perspective! I'm a lefty too and it was nice to hear! Normally I would not care, but this actually effects how you use the tool.
You have to remember, this isn’t a pair of pliers, it’s a multi tool with a built in set of pliers. My point? It’s designed to help assist you in a last minute fix, or help you out in a pinch. If your looking for comfort, then you better carry a pair of Pliers wherever you go. I personally love my P4, and have no complaints. Well worth every penny. -Stephen, Ohio
I love mine, and it feels SO much better than my original 1990 leatherman! I will say that my side tools DO NOT pop out no matter how hard I shake or flick it. Maybe it’s YMMV? Personally, as an EDC or emergency field tool, it’s great!
Supertool 300 with the bit kit is still the best deal of the lot for doing some real work. I put a magnet in an open-top sheath so a can grab it like a gunslinger and whip in open like a gangsta.
Love your description of the good, the bad and the ugly! I’ve watched several videos and your descriptions of the p2 are by far the best. Keep up the great work, greetings from Riverside in Southern California.
Really wanted this tool but lots of cons with it. I'll just stick with my Leatherman Charge+ in Black. It's loosened up so much I can also One Hand Butterfly it with ease.
Tip from a mechanic breaking in tools: Wash out any lubrication with brake-clean, spend some time open/closing everything. Count out 50 or so open/close. You want no lubrication, and you want to move the parts fast enough to generate heat to get metal expansion and increase wear. Then spray down again to clean out those pivot points. Spray, pivot, spray till clean. Re-lube with whatever you use. See how it feels. I would say 2-3 goes of that process should net you quite a bit of reduction on break-in time.
Things that the second generation of the Free P2/P4 needs for me to purchase. First, get rid of the little tabs and nubs that makes handling the pliers uncomfortable. I don't need those pocking and scraping my palms during use. Second, add the file that is found on the Wave Plus. The smaller one on the current Free doesn't look as useful. Third, and most importantly, add the Bit Driver (and tweeker bit). I love the design idea of the Free series, but small little details (and the HUGE detail of lack of bit driver) is keeping me from adapting the Free series for now. Great review!
I would miss the diamond file and bit drivers too much. The magnet is gimmicky because opening any leatherman one handed wasnt ever hard. Also, might attract metal dust in a workshop environment.
I have to disagree, the magnets prove to be an amazing addition to the Leatherman, metal dust doesn’t slow down the tool at all and with a bit of time you can get any that’s on the tool off. The onehandedness is actually insanely useful as well
I work in a metal shop, no dust at all really attracts to it, the only time it does if i get shavings in my pocket and it sticks to my phone and LM. But never caused an issue, I like it alot more than any of my other LM tools and i use the tool alot!
Today, found a Leatherman Free P2 Multitool laying the ground with bunch of fish on the ground. What's weird is the nearest places for fishing is 15-20 miles away. So they had to take the fish and discarded them where I found them. But during the process of getting rid of the fish they dropped the Leatherman Free P2 Multitool. Just looked the tool up the darn thing is $130 dollars. I wonder if they are kicking them self's about now.
I’m guessing the outer side with the clip is curved to follow the contour of a pocket, allowing the flat side to lay flat against one’s leg when clipped on the inside of a pocket. Pretty cool subtle detail if that’s the intention behind it.
One final interesting tip (no pun intended), if you grind down the semi-pointy tip of the Phillips screwdriver tool just enough, you can turn it into a proper electrician’s ECX bit.
Great video. I am honestly not a fan of the new Free series - no bit driver is a huge step back, and there’s the P4 pocket clip fiasco - should have included the clip for the price. I actually found a Charge plus TTI for the same price and immediately returned my P4, can’t wait to receive it. I’d even take the Surge over this. Not convinced about the magnet as it will tend to attract metal particles. Still love LM - Juice S2, Rebar, Skeletool are all greats.
So many people complain that it’s uncomfortable to crank down on the pliers, I’ll tell you what though, I’ve used mine and it doesn’t bother me at all. I work maintenance etc and I crank down on my Leatherman often, it hasn’t been a problem for me at all
I think LM missed the boat on this one. 420 Steel for the knife = fail. Not a real awl (no point to pierce) = fail. Cost (!!!!) = fail. They should just loosen up the Charge action and they'd have a winner.
Just don't get the price... For that money I would expect at least 154CM steel... Or S30V... For the same price you can get the Surge with the bit kit and bit extension... So that's 64 tools for the same price... I would even get the Leatherman Wave+ for $100 instead of this...
i agree but im more into the simplicity, with the build quality, and one hand ability. it is pricy but I love it, i use it everyday at work and prefer it over my other ones just due to the fact that it gets the job done smoother almost it seems.
Basically a upgraded Wingman. All the inside tools are very similar to the Wingman with material. I'd still choose a removable bit driver from the Wave. I can see the Rebar outlast this tool, being rugged and built like a tank. Only thing I really like is the pocket clip. Leatherman talked about the Free being the best, I think they missed the mark. Hard to beat the design of the Wave/Charge/Surge. I'm more excited for the K Series. I've seen other reviews with the inside tools popping out when cutting wire and a lot of play in the handles. Compare it side by side with a Wingman, basically all the same tools minus the awl and some smaller tools. Cant get passed that useless file and small ruler.
Was on the fence about this multi-tool. But the fact that the magnets make it uncomfortable to use for heavy chores requiring the pliers or wire-cutters.... Yeah, I'll stick with my clip-carried Leatherman Wave.
Agree with most everything you commented on. My victorinox multi tools are the most comfortable. I find the p2 jaws rather stiff, it'll take a long time before they drop open like my Leatherman PST. As other people commented it is a shame the design of multi tools is always a compromise.
I like the Free P2 because the P4 just have too many knives; excluding other things. Honestly, I find I rarely need a knife... I often enough need a package-opener, but a straight edge is not the best for that. I certainly don't need a straight blade, a serrated blade, a saw and a package-opener in one mulittool. It just limites what else there could be in one. And the more, the heavier. I love the Surge, but the main fault I have with it is how heavy it is. I carry the supertool 300 (though it lacks scissors), but the wave+ or Rebar is the best balance for "comfy-bility" of everyday carry.
Plier head stiffening up after cutting something was the main reason I sold mine, besides tools not being the best. Also... There's zero reason to get P2 over P4, if you ask me. It's only 1mm difference in thickness, it's so negligible. The tool had so much potential. I would like someone to do this all over. It's close to actually being good, but it needs serious work. I am not around metal shavings so the magnet system works great for me. However... LM Wave and Vic Spirit are still kings, baby.
Unfortunate about the grip would gloves mitigate the issue? I carry an ultralight pair of gloves on person, hopefully they can round those edges in future versions.
It's pretty much a damned if you do, damned if you don't situation. First everyone complains about tools not being accessible from the outside... they fix that and then the complaints are on comfortability when using the pliers. What isn't taken into account is that the backs of all of those tools are not there anymore... just an open frame against the palm of the hand. I personally like the series... I would go for the P4 though... but has to go on my Christmas wish list... I'm not spending the money myself. I'm still a Supertool 300 fanboy.!!!
Last year everyone was complaining Leatherman hasn't come up with anything new in a while. Now they have a whole new line of tools and everyone is still complaining, sigh.
Have both the P2 and P4(somewhere:/); both are exemplary pieces of engineering, but I like to have a saw, so P4 for me. Damn shame they both seem to have been discontinued. The arc is nice, but at over 200$, too much for a user. Wish we still had the options of other FREE series. Damn I hope I find my P4 somewhere in my house😂 I have a feelin it’s hiding in a seat cushion or in a corner
I wish they would keep the original in active production. It has the best pocket feel without too much compromise of all of them. (I don't consider that $275 Collector's Edition to qualify as active production).
I’ve been using mine every day for about 6 months. Great tool. I wish there was a more diverse tool selection(too many flat blade screwdrivers) perhaps a bit tool? Lastly, I wish the steel on the knife was something like D2 or AUS 10, blade does not maintain a sharp edge for very long.
Here's another thing! Their tools shouldn't clump when you're trying to get a certain tool out and not waste the time of fumbling around when the tool could be deployed and doing the job at hand. You guys need to put a ruler on your new P2 & P4 that you can use to measure whatever you need a certain measurements. The little piece of shit is not useful for anything. The ruler on a MT right now is Victorinox Swiss Tool! Maybe you guys in research and development should give Victorinox a call and get some pointers on how to have a winning MT.
But does it effect lensatic compasses? I recall the Cammenga 3H being rather sensitive to magnetic fields in general. (was over an iron lode one time and it went nuts) Would not get it until i could be sure its not going to effect my ability to navigate.
Great review Ben. Nice to see an honest review and not the usual it's great splash the cash. I've upgraded from the wave to the wave +. After this I've made the correct decision for me. Keep up the good work.
I like it. Sometimes you just have to suck it up when it not super comfortable. Kinda like the Bob Dustrude bow saw. If you have soft hands and cant get over the handle put on some gloves.
Leatherman tools are uncomfortable to hold tight without gloves and work for long hours. Most have pointed edges that dig into the palm and if used for long can give blisters.
They are multi tools that you always have on you and that can do anything in a pinch, they are not a replacement for a proper tool that you plan to spend hours on end using
Good honest review thank you. I agree with your review entirely. I like everything about the P2 except when I use the pliers the end of the handles dig into the meat of my hand. The implements flying out also does not help. I hope LM fix these issues in their next release. I will defer my purchase until then.
I’m going to wait for the next model of the free series I do like the tool but in both versions the absents of a good screw driver and a good file really turns me of of it asides that though it seems like an awesome system
@@vabu94 I feel the same. I'm a big leatherman fan but this just makes me appreciate my wave more. The free is more expensive and looks lower quality. You loose some of my favorite tools like bit driver, saw and full size file. I hate sharpening serrated blades so the combo blade is a loser for me. The ruller and awl looks like junk tools you get in cheap multi-tools. The magnets could be a problem that attracts dirt or interfers with electronics. I think the wave is close to perfect. I would be interisted in smaller size but very high quality leatherman that is between a squirt and a juice in size. In larger leatherman tools I would like a fire steel. An advanced case for larger tools that holds other EDC items like a pen and business cards would also interest me. Other than that my wave is perfect.
@@KenShew325 I've actually been eyeing up the Signal which has a firesteel in it. I carry my Surge in a Maxpedition single mag pouch with my flashlight clipped to the side of it. I used to have a Skinth holster which had room for a lot of stuff.
Having bought one of these I honestly feel reviews like this are people just being whiny. It’s not uncomfortable and for the lack of two popular tools (full sized file and big changer) I really get more use out of this then I did the wave.
Nice Big Pliers Really solid construction Thank You for the review. It is more sleek and less bulky than the others. You can always have it on you with few people noticing or being worried about it.
I just bought a pair and it's my first Leatherman purchase. I'm debating whether I should return them due to defect. Did you notice that when using the pliers, you must force the jaws open because of the almost interference clearance of the replaceable cutting heads? One handed operation does not seem very convenient.
No one is going to cut a lot a thick wire with those. They're going to use a dedicated tool. If you're using those to cut a thick wire, you're basically in a survival situation. Same with the rest of the tool
Thanks for this review, the uncomfortable pliers puts me off them though. I have a 20 year old wave and looking for an update, if you get time could you recommend something please? Many thanks
Leatherman needs to fire their entire design team and then hire half a dozen people who really use these tools for feedback and development on their already close to perfect line of multitools. Small tweaks here and there is what they need not some piece of junk that is supposed to be a desperate attempt at a game changer! Leatherman Free = 🤮🤢🥴
The only good thing about about the SOG multitool (a multitool with a similar effect when opening) is the compound pressure from the geared pliers. The butterfly style of opening sucks because the handles generate so much inertia that they wack the s&@t out of your hand when coming around. So Leatherman managed to successfully copy the suckiest feature of the SOG Multitool... Great!
I noticed they took the idea of having the tools on the outside from Victorinox on their Swiss Tool collection and the can opener on the P2 sure looks a lot the can opener on all of the Swiss Army Knives. Yeah their tools on the P2 & P4 look a little beefy than other MT's that Leatherman has on the market. And one more thing why in the HELL would they charge you for a pocket clip, and don't even get me started on that POS ruler. Some of those look like they came off the Wingman & Sidekick. Boy what a ripoff. My Swiss Tool BS is way better than these new tools. I'm on a fixed income and I have to save a longtime just to buy myself or for my son's for Christmas or Birthdays. Man Leatherman is trying....but they're just going the wrong way! Thank you!
Just got my charge a few days ago i was gotta pick up the p4 when i saw blade hq video about it. After all the reviews i saw about i just picked up the charge. I don't really see any thing better about the p4 p2 then the wave or charge other then the 1 hand opening, but out of the box i could flip open the charge with no problem.
i have a charge tti just like yours with all the accessories and bits. usually leave it at the office since tools at the office cubicle environment are lacking. issue i have w the charge and wave is i get sime finger pinch on the belly of my index/middle finger? i got the free p2 and like it, had no issues with finger pinch, and the tools are sturdy enough and long enough to reach ppaces (say vs the charge bit system, which requires an extension to clear tight spaces). the hand IS uncomfortable tho, like u said :( my favorite goto multitool is still the swisstool spirit. dunno if youve done a review on that, but i love that thing.
Thanks for the honest opinions about this. I have had a leatherman for years and years but don’t use it much because I don’t work in a trade where I need it, but they are the best in a range bag, and I think I will buy the P2 for that bag.
i dunno.. I own a Wave, Supertool 300, Surge, Crunch and a Micra. but these Free tools just don't seem like Leatherman to me. I will admit that have not held one in my hand yet, but the shape of the tools and the faults in its design are a step back from what they have been doing for many years imho.
I am not a machinist. But I have dabbled in blade smithing. Could some one machine a cpm3v blade with a Scandinavian grind and just unscrew the old blade and put the new one in.
Great review. Highlights the positives, and points out a couple minor negatives. For me, the biggest plus is the "lever" which lifts out the tools. No more painstaking searching for nail nicks when you're in a hurry, or in low light conditions! Huge plus. But I'm still waiting for a multi-tool with a decent built-in flashlight. Either CR123, CR2, AAA, or AAAA powered. And built-in micro USB port for recharging. Would be great as a back-up to other flashlights you're carrying! Side note: The BEST part about a big company like Leatherman dropping a new product in our laps? Laughing at the endless OCD whining, bitching, and moaning in the comments. It's like the equivalent of a group of house wives bickering about what's better: a regular egg whisk, an electric egg beater, or a fork! Freaking hilarious. Cheap comedy. :D
And some "best" youtubers said Benchmade made great knives 😆😬. Example: the Bugout! Plastic handle, and 150 dollars, that it s a joke: a blade, an plastic handle, three screw..lol. A leatherman is made of many blade, many system, many screws...
Also, I forgot to mention the package opener on the Leatherman P2 is not that great either!!! The package opener on the Wingman comes to a narrow, fine curved sharpened edge, which allows you to easily pierce the thick plastic edge of clamshell packaging and slice it open. The package opener on the Free P2 looks like they tried to sharpen the corner edge of a flathead screwdriver!!! It's not as sharp as it should be and it's a lot easier for this package opener to slide/skip off of the clamshell packaging while you're trying to slice open!!! What annoys me is that Leatherman already had perfected the package opener which was on the Wingman, so then why not just add that same awesome package opener to the Free P2&Free P4? It's just the case of Leatherman trying to combine two already existing tools into one(pry tool&package opener) and the result of doing that ends up just turning into one lackluster, not so useful tool basically an all in one pry/package opener tool!!! The more that I've been using my Leatherman Free P2, the more I'm not liking the various tools that Leatherman decided to have in it!!!
Leatherman is out of their minds trying to pass these designs off as being worth more than something like the Wave + or Surge. Even just the toolset (and the tools themselves) of the Super Tool 300 lays the Free P designs to waste. It just seems like they were trying to pass off sub-par, cheaper to produce tools as flagships so they could eventually phase out the actual good products and make more money selling Wingman level tools at Surge and Charge level prices.
Nice review . I am not a big fan of multi tools in general . I have some and used them but I think they cost too much for what you get. A small pair of vice grips and a small multi bit screw driver cost last then $20.00 . They take up little room in a pack and are far better then a multi tool.
The problem with Leatherman, in general, is that the quality is not that great as Victorinox. First: the tools on Leatherman break quicker. Period. Second: compare the metal file (which I really use often!) . Leatherman is just a joke of file. Try to saw some metal and you know what I mean.
Some of its tools, like the little half a file remind me too much of the Wingman. And Leatherman prices rarely go down. Typically they continuously rise and that's the way it will be as long as their rabidly nonobjective fans keep buying them no matter what they do.
Holy crap do you need 3 flat head and a awl who uses the Awl ...we use it to puncture hole in cans to shotgun beers ...but that's it sorry skip awl and crappy measure put bit driver in there or bit driver in the flat head 2D Phillips spot!
I thought the P2 might be an upgrade to my excellent Skeletool - nope. With an R2/R3 bit in the handle and it’s combo blade, my Skeletool handles any small task I need it to on the job site. Including the short, cheap looking tools from the Wingman really downgrades the Free P4 and P2, full length files and saws are one of the Waves best features Disappointing step back Leatherman
How much are the p2 and p4?? The p4 seems like a better fit for me if I was in the market. I would want the saw and non-serrated blade. But the ergonomics of it are definitely a negative
On the Free P2 most of the tool seems to have a thin flat tapered edge. According to Leatherman's website the mini ruler is said to have a medium flathead screwdriver end, but because the end of the mini ruler comes to a noticeably thin tapered(chisel ground) edge it's not really good to use as a screwdriver at all!!! The Free P2 has a really good long Philips screwdriver but unfortunately no dedicated long/wide flathead screwdriver. Instead, Leatherman decided to add a mini ruler with a weird thin tapered(almost chisel ground) edge which makes absolutely no sense at all!! If Leatherman decided to not have the interchangeable bit holder on the free P2&Free P4, they should have not added just only a long dedicated Philips head screwdriver, but they should have also added a good dedicated long/wide flathead screwdriver as well!!!!!
