I invested in an premium multitool and can't go back to cheaper options

3 hours ago 5
Leatherman Free P4

A bully multitool tin beryllium a reliable companion for decades (as agelong arsenic you don't suffer it!).

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET

I similar having a bully multitool adjacent astatine manus and astatine each times. While they can't regenerate a due toolkit, I don't fancy carrying a afloat toolkit with maine erstwhile I'm retired and about. Many of my readers are similar me, often uncovering themselves doing random and unplanned DIY tasks passim the day, truthful having a portable toolkit that tin grip the basics is essential.

Also: The inexpensive keychain instrumentality I ne'er permission location without (and wherefore it's truthful great)

Not a week goes by without idiosyncratic asking for my multitool recommendations. My proposal is ever the same: cheque retired what Leatherman oregon Gerber has to connection and disregard the rest.

Why? Two reasons: warranty and repairability.

Take my trusty Leatherman Free P4. I chose this 1 for 3 reasons: it has each the tools I need, the ligament cutters are user-replaceable truthful I don't request to warranty the instrumentality to get them fixed, and it comes with a agelong 25-year warranty.

And these are existent warranties. I cognize due to the fact that I've had to usage them a fewer times implicit the years. I usage and misuse my tools -- aft all, immoderate instrumentality tin beryllium a substitute for a hammer if you're originative enough! As a result, I've managed to interruption a fewer blades and adjacent the pliers. But each time, the contented was dealt with promptly and to my implicit satisfaction.

Also: I gave my Android telephone thermal imaginativeness superpowers with this accessory - and it's connected sale

Assuming you don't suffer your multitool -- don't beryllium similar the feline penning this, who managed to suffer 2 multitools successful arsenic galore years -- you'll person a reliable companion for decades.

The adjacent happening to see is repairability. The ligament cutters connected each multitool I've owned get perfectly hammered. I usage them not lone to chopped ligament but besides to chomp done tiny bolts, nibble done metal, and gnaw done screws. They acquisition a precise hard life. Therefore, these parts request to beryllium user-replaceable. Otherwise, I'd beryllium replacing oregon warranting the instrumentality each clip the cutters get mangled.

Cutters connected  my Leatherman multitool mangled aft  a fewer  years of hard   work.

Cutters connected my Leatherman multitool mangled aft a fewer years of hard work.

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET

Fortunately, you tin get replacement cutters for Leatherman and Gerber multitools. The cutters are casual to replace, allowing you to get your instrumentality backmost to an as-new authorities successful nary time. 

I replaced the cutters connected my Leatherman successful astir 5 minutes for astir $12.

ZDNET's buying advice

Personally, I don't urge wasting wealth connected inexpensive multitools. It's a mendacious system and a classical lawsuit of 'buy cheap, bargain twice.' I've been sent dozens for testing, and they've each been mediocre quality, disappointing, oregon adjacent dangerous. That's wherefore I don't urge them and person opted for the Leatherman multitool instead.

Some radical person told maine they'd bargain a inexpensive 1 for the car oregon location to usage successful an emergency. However, the past happening you privation to trust connected successful an exigency is simply a inexpensive tool! 

Editorial standards
Read Entire Article