Best multi-tool for robot/field use

[Greg Woelki]

Originally Posted by ctt956

I'm seriously considering a multitool of some sort for FIRST and just general use. But there are so many different options here, so I'm wondering this: what tools are the best to have/most often needed for this purpose? I'm thinking it would be used for robot work and maybe field setup and teardown.

I think I want something that can cut zip ties; I know a knife can do it, but there's a high risk of damaging what the zip ties are near as well as injury. Do the Leatherman scissors work for this? Not sure if I need a saw, but for some reason I'm thinking I do, but most multitools only have wood saws. They would probably cut plastic/PVC, though. The Leatherman Super Tool 300 EOD has a metal saw, but cutting metal(or anything) sizable with a hand saw seems to take a while, though wood isn't too bad. But at the same time, I'm thinking I may not need it, as a hand or power saw can't be too far away at a FIRST event. I can see how a file would be useful, and needs for a screwdriver seem to arise often.

I have a Leatherman Surge and it's worked great for me for robotics. The tools I use most often are the unserrated knife, the pliers, the scissors, the file, and the screwdrivers. The tools all work well as intended, and the flat-head drivers also make great prying tools (and with an awesome 25 year warranty, it's just fine to use them as such!).

Zip ties are a breeze with the spring-return scissors. As for sawing, I wouldn't recommend doing much with any multitool; unless you're cutting a wooden dowel or something else small its best to just grab a dedicated tool.

The Surge is the heaviest-duty of all the Leatherman tools, so it's larger and heavier than alternatives like the Charge TTI and the Wave, but I carry it all the time without complaint. I would highly recommend a multitool like the three I've mentioned that has an external knife for easy one-handed opening without having to unfold the entire tool.