Everything you need, and nothing you don't. I like that a lot! I bought mine second hand, and well taken care of, on ebay a few years ago. I keep it clipped to a belt loop to whatever I'm wearing, The only exception is when I go to bed. I used to carry all types of multi tools on me but this is much lighter and has the most useful tools. If I need something else I can get a bigger multi tool, or just the right tool out of my truck. Never go in over your head. I've never needed scissors, even when I had them. NEVER!
I solved the 'pliers stabbing' problem by purchasing a glass breaking bit which I have in there all the time. It is much less pointy than the driver bits. The other side of the glass breaking bit is a large flat head, which I use to open boxes. This technique keeps my blade sharp, which I only use sparingly for certain applications. I also purchases the bit with a Phillips on one end and a flat head on the other, this goes in the hidden bit holder. I really feel like my set up handles nearly everything. I have even had to use the glass breaker before in an emergency...it worked very well.
I ordered this just now thanks in part to your breakdown. I wanted another multi tool with pliers. I keep a cheap multi tool in my bag and the amount of times per day I want some pliers and have to go to my bag is crazy. Can’t wait to have this on my belt
Agreed I've been carrying mine for over 5 years now. I bought a 2nd one as a backup just in case I ever lose mine or it becomes obsolete. And yes the handle does dig in but I do exactly as you do and keep the philips bit in. Love this multi tool. Its just awesome.
Just got this multi as a gift and was wondering if all the features I found were really it. When you said “It has everything you need, and nothing you don’t” I immediately understood this multi better 😂 Great review, helpful content
I had the other version with the combo blade and I loved it, but it was stolen. You're right about the bit digging, but if I'm doing something that needs a lot of force on the pliers then I just remove the bit (as you pointed out) - not absolutely ideal, but it's basically a non-issue for me. What I didn't love about the non-CX version is the combo blade, the blade on the CX looks much nicer! Combo blades kinda suck to sharpen and they're kinda the jackass of all trades, as I've learned, but it was functional. I'm definitely going with the CX! I used to use big-ass bulky multi-tools like the Leatherman Wave and Charge, but I found that all I ever use is the bottle opener, pliers, knife, and screwdriver!
I use the skeletool every day. It replaced my Wave. It is more compact, lightweight and it has all the tools I personally need. However, it still has a pinch problem. The pliers can pinch the hand if squeezed down tight and not paying close attention to the blade. Leatherman could fix the problem by flipping the blade location. The tip of the blade should point toward the pliers. Had the same problem on my Wave. Still, the skeletool is a great multi tool.
The CX models have an 154CM steel for the blade, and it is a plain edge, vs the combo edge. If you look at a Freestyle CX, the Style KB, the Skeletool CX, etc.... I could be wrong,
About 12 years ago I had the regular version for a few months (before it was stolen) and I remember liking it, despite the serrated blade which I generally hate. Been carrying either a SAK or Leatherman Wave most of my life, but recently got thinking about picking up one of these again.
This was my favorite leatherman for edc for many years but I recently switched to the curl. It's not much bigger with a few more tools(scissors) a better blade and beefier pliers
Subscribed your channel and got yourself another follower just by pointing out how dumb it is how people just take tool in their hand, not put it through hard or daily use at all and just talk about and just tell us what we have already seen.
The blade metal is 154CPM but the marking on the steel blade just says 154PM, so I think that is where the C comes from. The X I believe is “experimental”.
Maybe you could get a single combo bit that has Phillips on one side and flat head on the other side and just keep it in the storage spot always. You would be limited to just the one bit size but I think that’s a decent trade off.
Leatherman makes this exact bit. I love mine. It's a combo no.1&2 Phillips bit on one side, and a 3/16 flat head on the other. The combo Philips is extremely well made and works amazing in both screw sizes. Mine lives in the bit holder, and then in the storage slot I have a no.1 & 2 Robertson (I'm Canadian, so this combo will deal with 99% of the screws I encounter.)
it won't happen, the frame design is too thin to be made with Ti, the only way to incorporate Ti to the design is just the inlay and/or the bit holder (not recommended still, would bother with the structural integrity of the holder)
For me, it’s a pocket knife with some other useful tools. However, I’ve been to many places going through security, and they let me through because it’s “not just an evil knife”. (Obviously not TSA.)
To solve the stabbing you in the hand problem, could you buy a replacement bit (Phillips on one side, flathead on the other) and keep it in the storage compartment in the handle until you need it?
The CX just means Carbon Fiber, makes it more lightweight and durable but somewhat more expensive than the standard Skeletool but in my opinion worth it, comes with a 25 year warranty too.
Your pocket clip has a dent or bend in it just down from the attachment point which is likely making it much tighter than it should be. CX designates a plain 154CM blade rather than 420HC. The CX models can be either carbon fiber or the standard steel spacers, both were made with the plain blade
What, 420HC is trash. It has no carbon just enough of chromium make it stainless, and nothing else to make it harder or tougher. 154CM is actually a good steel for a knife.
@@VitalyMack I didn't say it was better, just clarifying what the CX had. The 420HC is not trash but not that good either. That is why the 154CM was on the upgraded CX models and 420 was on the basic ones. Now days most knife guys even hate 154CM
@anthonymiller8979 I can see that. Just not in my experience. Sometimes consumers like me forget that D2 can even be good if the manufacturer follows the correct process...and QC, lol
I have an Arc, Victorinox Spirit, heavily modded P4. They get strategically placed around the home and car but I actually carry a skeletool along with a Sak for scissors, file, and awl. I much prefer the weight being distributed across 2 tools
So, you don't think first impression videos do anything for the viewer. ...You should let the viewer decide that. Personally, I love first impression videos. And, I'm not alone.
I'm not saying what you can or can't like and I'm sure a ton of people love those kind of videos. But as a "viewer" myself, it brings no new information to the table. You can’t honestly know anything by holding a knife (or any tool) for 5min while talking to the camera. A majority of the time people do first impression videos so they can be the first to make a video on the product. It's almost like a competition! Which preorder buyer can put a video up first, to tell us the specs and how micarta feels great, all of which we could get from the sites description box.
@@ThumbStuds The only thing worse than First Impression video is the "Preview to the First Impression" video lol My Dad passed over the holiday and this is one of the things I inherited. So this is my first Leatherman and I didn't even notice the screwdriver bit stored away I thought I was stuck with just flathead until you pointed it out so thanks! I aim to keep this in the vehicle like you showed. Its definitely a quality tool to keep handy!
What a giant POS. Easier to carry a pair of pliers and a screw driver and a pocket knife. Waste of money and space. Had for years and have never used. Found it in my truck door and it's starting to rust around the pins.
I wonder why anyone would buy such a poorly equipped thing. It has so few functions that it doesn't even deserve being called a "multitool". It has almost nothing. It doesn't even have replaceable pincer blades. I don't like it at all. The best multitool by Leatherman is the Rebar or the Super Tool 300. And if you add the bit adaptor and bit kits and combine it with the Crunch, you have the best pocket equipment ever. But the Skeletool is really worthless.
It’s because it has a really good knife, a good pair of pliers, and a couple good screwdrivers, all in a lightweight and small package with the option to carry it via carabiner or the pocket clip. Yes there are better Leathermans with more tools, but they’re all significantly heavier and a lot of them have worse knives and worse clips.
I found this tool in my yard while raking leaves this Spring. It was probably there all winter. The pliers had minor rust in the “Leatherman” logo area, all over the flat screwdriver and phillips bit, blade and frame. I used elbow grease, steal wool, half an hours worth of time, and finished with a good oiling to bring it back to almost new condition.