Reliability of Leatherman tools
 

I carry a Leatherman Juice S2 as a main tool/utility. It has a scissors, cutting knife, can opener, both types of screwdriver heads, and a pliers. I really like having all these tools in a small, lightweight package.

The problem has been that they keep falling apart. I just exchanged by second one for the same problem: the long, thin ribs that make up the outside of the S2 (and provide the tension on the foldout tools?) keep falling off.

On the first one, they fell off and made holes in the S2 but everything still worked.

On the second one, which I used on two bike tours this summer, they all fell off at once and everything simply flopped out making both the knife and pliers unusable.

They aren't cheap ($60 at REI) and I really like them so hope it was just a fluke. But, two failures in a row suggests I should start looking elsewhere for these options.

Does anyone else use the Juice S2 or other similar Leatherman tools and had these kinds of problems?

Thanks,

Ray

I have a leatherman at work (campsite caretaker) which has survived 4 years of use without incident... for touring I prefer a Victorinox swiss army knife which only lack pliers compared to my leatherman and more useful around camp I find (corkscrew ;)

I carry a leatherman mini and a swiss army knife on tour. The mini tool has a handle that hinges in half so is small to carry and has full sized pliers. I use it a lot on tour and it is totally reliable.
The SAK is mainly used for food duties.
The pliers are the main tool I use for bike maintenance and handling a hot Triangia stove simmer ring.
Touring without a set of needle-nosed pliers is asking for trouble. Ive used them to unstick valve ringe, fish out the remnants of broken gear cables, tension cables etc etc.

I cannot talk about Leatherman tools. However, I've carried the same pair of Gerber multi-pliers since shortly after they came out. I keep them during rides, and used the knife blade to clean a chunk of fresh asphalt from my chain the other day.:innocent:

I have a Leatherman Wave. Had it about two and a half years now. Works marvelously. I also have an old Gerber. I have had that for at least ten or twelve years. I love it more than the Leatherman. The pliers slide out instead of folding. It is really fun to open.

I would definitely look into a different Leatherman model if you want to stay with Leatherman. Usually they are pretty high quality knives.

I have a $5 version of the leatherman and never had a problem with it. This and my Alien I can take apart most of the bike on the road.

I use a Leatherman Juice XE6, and it's held up for more than a year now, I use it fairly often, and have never had a problem with it.

Use all three, Leatherman-Victorinox-Gerber, depending on what I am doing. Find myself using mostly the Leatherman plus an inexpensive, separate corkscrew when I expect to buy wine en route. The scorkcrew weighs little and has great torque. It's this type:

http://www.wellpromo.com/upload/upim...crew-74849.jpg

No experience with that model, but I have used another Leatherman model for about 10 years and it has always worked great and is holding up fine. I also have a Leatherman Skeletool and it has held up well too.

I took the Leatherman on the TA but have abandoned it wrt touring deciding it was too heavy for what it is. I have been carry a swiss army knife on tour lately. Not sure of the model on the SAK or the Leatherman though.

Recently bought this little guy from Berkley Fishing at Wally World. It's not perfect, since it lacks a can opener, but it is very handy and only weighs maybe 2 ounces. You can always carry it for the pliers and scissors and have a separate P38 can opener or as a supplement to the Victorinox.
http://www.berkley-fishing.com/produ...sics/tool-mini

I have the Juice CS4, which has a similar chassis to the S4. I've had no problems until now, but it's still fairly new and has had light use.

I've had a Leatherman Micra for a few years. Lots of use and no problems. I also have a Surge, which I use around the house -- solid as a rock.

Never had problems with my Leatherman tools. I have a Leatherman PST, that I have retired and am using the Leatherman Fuse for day to day use. The PST I have is probably 15 years old and is the second one I have had, lost the first one. For bike repair on the road I depend on my Leatherman and a Park Tool MTB-3 Rescue Tool.

Aaron :)

I carry the Gerber multi pliers also. I have for about 8 years now. It has survived everything I can throw at it, including 36 hours in an Ozark stream when I lost it smallmouth fishing.... lucked upon it about 2 hours before we left for home..

I'm not impressed with Leatherman. The tip of the tiny screwdriver broke off the first time I tried to use it. But the pliers still work, I guess.

While riding arly this year I found a Leatherman Wave alongside the road. It wasn't far from a boat launch so I am guessing someone left it on their boat or trailer and drove off. I considered taking it on my summer tour thinking that the pliers in particular could be handy, but elected to stick with my lighter more compact Swiss Army knife. I may take the Wave on a future tour if I am going to be in more remote areas.

Everyone should have a SOG pocket power plier or the pocket power plier plus. The plus version is polished and features a 1/4" bit driver but lacks the awl that the regular version lacks. I've owned both and they are both wonderful. I'm on my third one, but always lose them and have never broken one. Working in a bike shop, grocery store, and various other places, it's definitely my most used tool.

lot to be said for carrying real tools.

I have that same unit and have had no problems with it. Really like it, in fact. It's the only knife I carry. I also have the micro for when I want to go lighter, no problem with it either.

I always thought the Leatherman looked too fragile compared to the Gerber tools. I have two and one is with me everywhere I go except the secure area I call work. All multiple tool kits of these types must have compromises made to get all the tools in a one handed size kit. Maybe the OP could try a Gerber next. Good luck with them whatever you choose.

If they included a tooth pick and tweezers, I might buy one - I use those two things as much as anything else.

I never leave home without my wave....In 5 years of daily use and abuse its never let me down/

I have the swiss army multi tool which I like very much. Solid, a bit pricey however, but it is strong IMHO

While in the Army I used both Leatherman and Gerber models (late 80's early 90's) and found that the leatherman was not up to the challenge, the Gerbers lasted twice as long before snapping in half. These where saverly abused by the way, tripple strand consertina wire (sp) can be a bugger :p

That said, I won a leatherman at a DCM shoot years ago and it hasn't died on me yet, but I'm not putting it threw the same abuse as it's older brothers :p

I had the same problem with a juice cs4. I plan on returning it to them for the warranty. I hope that works