Leatherman (and other brand) combo tools have been around a long time and are constantly evolving and offering more innovation over time. The steel is better. The on-board tools are plentiful and actually useful. Two of my favorite additions to this kind of tool are the simple pocket clip and the ability to open the blade with one hand. Both of these features are found on the Leatherman Skeletool. As a result, this tool gets carried — clipped to my pocket — almost as much as one of my good folding knives.
At 4 inches (closed) and 5 ounces, Skeletool is not a large or heavy tool. In fact, it’s just right for pocket carry, one-handed operation and simple tasks. In other words, this is a light-duty tool. That’s not to say it can’t handle heavy-duty tasks; it’s just not ideal for anything too aggressive. While the 420 HC blade is tough and sharp (2.6-inch length with a half-serrated edge), there’s not much steel around the hinge. So I don’t work it too hard. Moreover, at only 4 inches in length, there’s only so much handle to hang on to for leverage. Plus, the super convenient pocket clip actually interferes with a quality grip — just a bit. I can remove it, yes, but then it wouldn’t clip to my pocket…
Now, don’t get me wrong. Despite these minor issues, I love this tool. I use the carbiner to carry it on a backpack or as a key fob every now and again. The bit driver (and the flat and Philipps bits) gets regular use for the occasional screw that needs loosening or tightening (most popular: holster tension screws). The pliers are good for general purpose tasks, but I more often use the integrated wire clipper located deep in the jaws.
When the handles are opened for using the pliers, the spread is just right for my hands to manipulate them carefully. When the handles are folded and closed, the blade can be opened with one hand — right after you draw it from your pocket. It’s easy to manipulate the tip-down blade into an open position with your thumb.
Last year, a friend of mine took his Skeletool on a trip to Africa where he was visiting orphanages in very remote villages. He and his team traveled for hours (eight hours, in fact, to travel just 200 kilometers) over muddy two-tracks that gave their bald-tired, diesel, Toyota four-wheel drive vans a very hard time. He used his Skeletool to fix a van sliding door that flew open every time they accelerated and to cut seat belts and fashion a makeshift tow strap to pull another van out of the mud. He also lent it to another man as a defensive weapon when they encountered some potentially dangerous people during the trip. And he still carries the Skeletool to this day.
And for more mundane tasks, the carabiner doubles as a bottle opener.
The Leatherman Skeletool retails for $64.95 and comes with a 25-year warranty.
Related: The Montie Gear Ultra-light Fixed Blade Knife
More info at: https://www.leatherman.com/skeletool-18.html
