I loved my Leatherman and used it nearly every day, but after less than a year one of the clips that lock the tools into the “open” position broke off. It just wasn’t built that well. I took the thing back to REI a few months ago and exchanged it for a slightly more expensive Victorinox SwissTool Spirit ($85 list, now about $49). Leatherman may have invented the multitool, but Victorinox–the company that makes Swiss Army knives–makes a much better one. It’s sturdily made, good looking, comfortable to hold, and not too big. Best of all it’s constructed so you can fold out the smaller tools without opening the plier handles. Annoyingly, and like most multitools, it’s missing one of the most essential tools: a corkscrew. But I still use it almost every day. Sorry, Tim Leatherman, the Swiss have you beat on this one.
