I am interested in getting a multitool and looked at the Leatherman, SOG, and Gerber and like the SOG B60.
Does anyone have one of these, and if so how do you like it? How do you feel it compares to a Leatherman for quality?
Thanks.
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Funny you should ask.
Here’s some pictures to compare some of the big hitters.
L-R: Leatherman Surge, Leatherman Core, Victorinox SwissTool, Leatherman SuperTool and the SOG PowerLock.
I would rank them thusly:
SwissTool: Best overall, does not appear to handle dirt well.
Core: Most brutish, handles dirt well and is very strong.
Surge: Most modern, one-hand blades but multi-piece handles make it slightly less strong than the Core.
Powerlock: Best and strongest pliers. Longer implements (Saw, File, Knife) are shorter than the competition. Out-dated design.
Supertool: Obsolete; good tool but totally outclassed.
But they are all good. It’s like the best of the best. The SOG is on the lower end because it’s older design cues.
I don’t feel Gerber successfully competes in this category.
I don’t have any fancy comparisons for ya, but I use the SOF power pliers style, and have for a while.
While they don’t see ALOT of use sitting on my duty belt or in the vest, they get used here and there.
The one thing I like about the SOG are the geared pliers. The tool, won’t get stuck, and collapse while trying to open it. I’ve seen Gerber’s and Leatherman’s, where the jaws got stuck on something they were trying to cut, and the tool would just close when they tried to open them. Probably using it beyond its intended use, but it happens.
The SOG will apply power on opening also. You can also fold it over, like your closing it, and get extra power to cut stuff. I’ve used it to cut thru the hooks on the old ALICE suspenders.
Bob
Hey spoonrobot, how’d you find your way over here?
On the powerlock, I have one and I’d say it is a pretty decent tool. The implements are pretty good, though they could stand some refinement. The compound leverage is nice for the reasons R Moran metioned. It’s easily reconfigured and spare parts are avaiable which is nice. THe only thing I can really fault it on is two things. The gears on mine aren’t covered(I think they are on newer ones) which can be painful if you’re using it as a screwdriver. The other was that on mine, when I closed the knife, the bottle opener would rotate down, sticking the lock in the open position until I pulled it up so it was level with the other implements. I sort of solved this by moving the bottle opener to another location. Overall I think it’s a pretty solid tool. That said, my sog is kept in my truck as a spare, and I carry a leatherman core. For me, the core was just as tough if not tougher and included a similar variety of more refined(except for the awl) implements.
I don’t know if you’re interested in the SOG Paratool, but I’ve got a pair I’ve been carrying since I got it for my birthday in 8th grade…1995? For the past couple years they’ve shared duty with a Gerber multiplier that my wife got me (and I kind of felt obligated to carry). With the exception of the ease of deploying the Gerber’s pliers one handed (flick them out) the SOG is my favorite. It’s smaller and has more and better tools. The side opening pliers take a little getting used to as there are a few situations were you can make them fold up on you if you apply force sideways but they are also very versatile and open up some options for using the pliers as a T-handle or long narrow handle when using the screwdrivers or other tools.
Thanks for the input guys.
One of things I like the most about the SOG tool is that it has the pieces that fold over the handles to give you a more secure grip. I have never liked the feel of a multitool because of the open handles that you grip but I think this is the answer to that.
Also the SOG tool uses bolts instead of rivets so that if something breaks it can easily be replaced or things can be moved around or added.
I use them at work for crimping safety fuse to detonators. Obviously they are the only multi-tool which offers this functionality. Still though, I prefer my Gerber for all around utility.
I just picked up a SOG PowerLock. A guy local to me had a brand new one and wanted $40 for it so I took it off his hands.
Sounds like a great price. Hope you like it.
I fiddled around with it for a while now and thought I would share some impressions.
The scissors suck.
I have the same issue as one of the previous posters about the the other implements opening and closing with the knife. I took it apart and moved the shims around to see if that would take care of it, but it did not. I am going to take it apart and lube the bolt and the faces of the implements. The shims look to be same ID as the shims I have to revalve motorcycle forks so if I need to do anything I should have plenty of shims.
My tool is one of the older ones and has the gears exposed like another poster said. I like how the new ones are covered.
All in all it is a great tool though, especially for what I paid for it.
Had a SOG for years nearly cut my finger off with it literally. I do not do Leatherman as the owner is reportedly anti gun.
I use leathermans because the blades are easier to get to. If the owner is anti gun then oh well.
I’ve had a Gerber Multi-tool for about 15 years now and it’s come in quite handy. I like the fact that the edge that is against the palms of your hands when the pliers are in use are rounded and that the plier head “flips” out and locks into place.
What I don’t like is when the pliers are fully closed, or worse yet, when they slip off of whatever is being gripped, the handles are practically together and result in a somewhat painful pinching of the palm of my hand.
Can someone recommend a multi-tool where the handles are still parted when the pliers are fully closed?
The SOG Power tool is great, I have been using it for 4 years with no issues. And no pinching.
Thanks muchly…I’ll have to take a look at 'em.