Leatherman Surge Multitool Assessment | CleverHiker

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The Leatherman Surge is a powerhouse multitool rightly deserving of its “jack of all trades” status. Recognized for being one in every of Leatherman’s most succesful, versatile, and sturdy, the Surge packs 21 important instruments, together with pliers, a knife, noticed, wire cutters, screwdrivers, and a can opener. It’s constructed powerful, with chrome steel development that dealt with arduous use and abuse in each demanding state of affairs we threw at it.

Certainly one of its standout options is the one-handed operation—instruments are simple to entry and deploy, which is a complete game-changer once you’re working with gloves or in tight spots. The total-sized pliers are strong sufficient for heavy-duty duties, and the sharp, replaceable blades make fast work of chopping. Its design is comfy to make use of, even for prolonged tasks.

Disadvantage? It’s heavy and hulking for on a regular basis carry, so it’s finest for software baggage, automobile kits, or work belts. Whereas the Surge is a bit bulkier in comparison with smaller choices on our multitool gear information, its energy and vary of options make it a go-to for adventurers, mechanics, and DIYers.

How We Examined

Over a 30-day check interval, the Surge was put by way of the wringer in Minnesota farm environments, sustaining gear, and the software additionally traveled north, going through off in opposition to frigid temps and serving as restore chief at basecamp. 

Weight & Portability

The Leatherman Surge is a beast of a software however surprisingly moveable for its measurement. Weighing in at 12.5 ounces and measuring 4.5 inches when closed, it’s a bit heavier than another choices, but it surely’s nonetheless compact sufficient to hold in a bag or clip to your belt. It’s good for these needing one thing beefy and dependable with out sacrificing portability. 

The Surge shines with DIY tasks, tent or pack restore, and common repairs round the home. Whereas it’s a little bit bulkier than different instruments, the heavy-duty efficiency packs a punch—providing you with all the flexibility you want with out weighing you down.

Ease of Use

The Leatherman Surge impresses with clean and intuitive motion, making it simply plain enjoyable to make use of, whether or not it’s a easy electrical restore or a demanding, all-day undertaking. The one-handed opening permits fast and easy software entry, and every software deploys with equal zeal. Silky hinges and a satisfying click on motion communicate to Leatherman’s consideration to element.

Ergonomics additionally play a job right here: the handles are comfy, offering a stable grip with out pressure, even throughout prolonged use at a nationwide forest path camp, maintaining a sputtering range in line. The knife and blades sliced cleanly, whereas the noticed reduce by way of small kindling sticks with no hitch, due to the software’s wonderful design and sharpness.

All the things in regards to the Surge feels polished and purposeful. The motion is constant and dependable, with no sticking or awkward motion.

Ergonomics

The Leatherman Surge scores excessive in consolation and ergonomics, making it one of the vital user-friendly multitools in the marketplace. Designed with prolonged use in thoughts, the handles are thoughtfully formed to suit comfortably in your hand and reduce pressure and fatigue, even throughout extended use or repetitive duties. The contoured design permits for a safe, pure grip, whether or not utilizing the pliers, chopping, or twisting screwdrivers.

Leatherman paid shut consideration to the stability of weight and usefulness right here. Regardless of its strong, full-sized design, the software feels well-balanced and intuitive to maneuver. Its clean edges and thoughtfully spaced design ensured it didn’t dig into our tester’s palms throughout heavy use. The supplies have a premium really feel, with simply sufficient texture to stop slippage, even in moist or downright greasy circumstances.

From the primary use out of the field and after 60 days within the discipline, it’s clear that Leatherman prioritized person consolation with out sacrificing performance. The handles are spaced completely to accommodate a wide range of hand sizes, and the pliers and different instruments are designed to be accessible with out awkward repositioning.

The Surge shines with its software deployment chops, providing fast, seamless entry to its spectacular options. The one-handed operation permits fast entry, even with gloves, and intuitive mechanisms make them easy to tug out and put to work.

Whether or not you’re reaching for the pliers, noticed, screwdriver, or blade, the motion feels responsive and well-built—no sticking, no pointless resistance, simply fluid, dependable efficiency. This function was particularly priceless in tight areas, just like the engine bay of a Nineteen Sixties Chevy pickup that prompted our tester grief. However solely briefly, because the Surge squared as much as that fizzling electrical wire tangle and obtained the job finished.  

General, we love the Surge’s easy-access instruments and ease.

Load Bearing Capability

Surge actually nails it with spectacular load-bearing capability, making it one of the vital dependable multitools for heavy-duty duties. Constructed with sturdiness in thoughts, the Surge’s chrome steel development presents unimaginable energy, permitting it to deal with demanding jobs with out buckling beneath strain. We pulled wire, twisted fence bolts, clamped onto bolts with the pliers, and reduce sticks for a campfire, and the Surge by no means missed a beat, even within the midst of near-zero temps and blowing snow. 

The robust, full-sized pliers present wonderful pressure for gripping or bending supplies, whereas the sharp, sturdy blade and noticed can deal with powerful supplies with out shedding their edge. Each software on the Surge is constructed with stability and resilience so you’ll be able to belief it for on a regular basis duties and extra intense jobs.

Leatherman designed the Surge with a give attention to energy and performance. Its capacity to bear heavy masses with out faltering beneath the calls for of rigorous use instills enduring confidence. Finest carried in a belt sheath, glove field, or toolbox, the Surge rapidly turned one in every of our go-to picks.

Materials High quality

It’s no shock the Surge is constructed powerful, made with high-quality chrome steel that may deal with absolutely anything you throw at it—chopping by way of thick rope, utilizing the pliers for some heavy-duty work, or tightening screws is a breeze with this do-it-all software. 

The corrosion-resistant metal ensures it stays dependable, even in moist circumstances or after extended publicity to the weather. With that stable, no-nonsense really feel Leatherman is understood for, the Surge is designed to maintain performing, job after job, with the energy and flexibility for a variety of duties.

Ought to You Purchase the Leatherman Surge?

Whereas it isn’t absolutely the top-tier multitool within the Leatherman lineup, its mid-tier worth displays an admirable construct high quality and flexibility. It sits in that candy spot as a heavier-duty choice that delivers distinctive high quality, sturdiness, and performance.

The Surge is constructed for critical work, making it a sensible alternative in case you want a multitool that may deal with powerful jobs. It’s not overly flashy however presents all of the rugged reliability and efficiency you anticipate from a full-featured Leatherman. With its spectacular software selection, robust construct, and clean operation, the Surge proves its value with unwavering reliability and enduring efficiency.

Our finest multitools gear information has extra choices if you wish to see what else is in the marketplace. Right here’s some that give the Surge a run for its cash:

Leatherman Skeletool Assessment: The Leatherman Skeletool presents a extra streamlined and light-weight different to the Surge, catering to customers who worth portability over the sheer variety of instruments. Whereas the Surge is a full-sized multitool with 21 instruments geared towards heavy-duty duties, the Skeletool focuses on versatility with 7 core instruments, together with pliers, a knife, a screwdriver, and a bottle opener. It’s a lot slimmer, simpler to hold, and excellent for on a regular basis use or minimalistic duties. Nonetheless, it sacrifices a few of the heavier-duty options and load-bearing energy of the Surge. The selection comes all the way down to desire: the Skeletool for portability and ease or the Surge for versatility and energy.

Gerber Multi-Plier Legend Assessment: The Gerber Multi-Plier Legend presents a robust different to the Surge, particularly for these prioritizing rugged design and flexibility. The Surge boasts 21 instruments and is constructed for extra intensive use. The Legend has a extra tactical really feel as effectively, with a novel, one-handed deployment system that makes entry fast and environment friendly. Whereas the Surge leans towards extra instruments and flexibility for demanding jobs, the Gerber presents a stability of sturdiness, simplicity, and ease of use for on a regular basis or tactical conditions.

SOG PowerAccess Deluxe Assessment: The SOG PowerAccess is a robust competitor, providing a barely completely different method to multitool design and performance. Whereas the Surge is a 21-tool  powerhouse constructed for heavy-duty versatility, the PowerAccess retains issues a bit leaner with 19 instruments and a give attention to modern design and ease of use. One of many standout options of the PowerAccess is its compound leverage system, which makes its pliers exceptionally robust and simple to function, even with minimal effort. The Surge excels with its full vary of professional quality instruments and intuitive one-handed entry, whereas the PowerAccess emphasizes ergonomic consolation and modern efficiency.