LEATHERMAN Wire-Cutting Pocket Multitool
Last updated: September 28, 2022
We looked at the top Multitools and dug through the reviews from some of the most popular review sites. Through this analysis, we've determined the best Multitool you should buy.
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Product Details
In our analysis of 124 expert reviews, the LEATHERMAN Wire-Cutting Pocket Multitool placed 20th when we looked at the top 22 products in the category. For the full ranking, see below.Our Expert Consultant
Vicki Liston
Home Improvement Expert
Home Improvement Expert
Vicki Liston writes, produces, and narrates “On The Fly…DIY,” an award-winning home improvement and DIY show of unique project tutorials for the casual DIY’er.
Home improvement and all things DIY have been Liston’s passion since she bought her first house in 2007 and she started making video blogs in 2014. She’s performed hundreds of DIY projects, from small ones to major, wall-smashing renovations and can teach you how to make a trendy DIY barn door for cheap. The proceeds earned from “On The Fly…DIY” are donated to no-kill animal shelters and rescue organizations.
Expert Reviews
What reviewers liked
It has the same design as the CX, so it’s lightweight, easy to carry, and contains only the most important tools.
The Skeletool knife blade opens easily, closes easily, and locks up securely. It could use a quick honing or sharpening right now, but other than that it’s in great condition. Keep in mind that this is a ~7-year old knife that’s seen a good amount of use.
This is a strikingly attractive tool, at least in my eyes. The skeletal frame is defined by gentle curving lines and many holes. A triangular hole in the blade allows it to be opened single-handedly. The pocket clip curves to match the frame, and even the back of the blade has a gentle humped curve that makes it pleasing to the eye.
We particularly loved the 420HC stainless steel used on this tool as it’s the same super quality steel used in surgical instruments and hunting knives.
Bought this for my husband. He had the same tool for several years and really liked it, but lost it. Am filling this out for him.
It opens fairly smoothly & then clicks into place in a very secure way. It also closes and clicks solidly into place, taking a page from the SwissTool book.
The pliers, cutters, and carabiner all function perfectly. Leatherman did a great job putting the Skeletool together.
The 420HC stainless steel knife blade is a winner in my book. With a smooth action, single-handed operation, the open and close design locks in and out of place with total control.
What reviewers didn't like
The downside is that the blade steel is lower quality and the edge is partially serrated, making it more difficult to sharpen. We also found that the pivot points are tighter, so it’s harder to open and close.
It’s worth pointing out that the handles are directional. When the handles are opened for pliers use, one side is rounded outwards, the other is rounded inwards. This means that one side is more comfortable pressed against your palm, and the other held against your fingers. This isn’t a complaint, just an observation.
Speaking of the carabiner, I rarely find myself using it. Clipping it to a belt loop makes for an awkward carry since the tool is too short to ‘tuck’ into a pocket that way and it sort of pokes out a bit for me. I prefer using the spring clip in a back pocket… until I noticed that the protruding head was catching on things like my car seat. This is not really a design flaw, but it bothers me enough that I stopped carrying it for now (I will re-evaluate when I get the case, which I still have not ordered.)
There isn’t really much to complain about the Leatherman Skeletool, but we did notice a few things that we think could use some improvements. First, we felt like the functionality was a little limited. The Skeletool is basically pliers with a bit driver and a blade. You will need to get a little creative to extend the functionality of this little piece. We feel they could have added another primary tool or two to enhance its functionality.
Blade back digs in when using bottle opener.
The only real complaint we had was Leatherman’s use of a proprietary bit size. The ¼ in bit is incredibly common, their decision not to go with it honestly has us scratching our heads.
I prefer to leave the Large Phillips head on when the screwdriver is not in use as it has the least sharp tip, unlike the flat head which is so precisely molded it can be slightly sharp on the corners. This is only ever an issue when you are using the pliers in an upside down position or if you have very large hands.
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