User Review: Leatherman Charge TTi

Leatherman Charge TTi
Above: The current Charge TTi, which may differ slightly from the version reviewed.

Reviewed October 30, 2009 by kd5jha

Rating:
Price Paid: $120

When it comes to multitools I consider myself to be a pretty hardcore user. I never go anywhere without mine, I use it for all types of stuff all day long.

The Leatherman Charge TTi is the latest in a long line of multitools that I have owned over the years. That list includes Two Gerbers (Original MultiPlier, MultiPlier 600), a SOG PowerPlier S44, a Vise Grip Multitool, an Original SwissTool, and Four Leatherman tools (a PST, Original SuperTool, Original Wave, and now my Charge TTi).

I have had this TTi sample for about 7 or 8 months now (I had my first TTi for two weeks before I broke it) and I carry it every day on my belt as part of my portable tool kit. I managed to break the first TTi I bought after 2 weeks of carry (which greatly disappointed me because I am used to Leatherman producing a really tough indestructible tool…I mean it took me 10 years to break my original Supertool!). But I feel that with the Charge that I have to be kinda ginger with it because it might break.

The main three weaknesses that the TTi has IMHO are:

Weakness #1

If you'll look at a side view photo of the TTi you'll see a piece held down by a rivet. The piece that is held down by the rivet is way too thin gauge metal to be in that spot...because if you look at the right side of the pic. you'll see that their are these little metal fingers that spread when you fold open the tool to use the pliers.

This design makes it so you can't open the blades on the outside of the tool while it’s unfolded. This is not a problem per se...UNTIL you try to use the pliers to bend something or tighten something; and when you put some real torque on that joint those little metal fingers will split apart and that flat piece of metal will bow out like a little mountain peak! Then your pliers will just flop back and forth and the tool is mostly useless.

Now I will give credit where credit is due, Leatherman has about the best warranty service in the industry. When I broke mine I sent it off and by the end of the week I had a brand new shiny tool in my mailbox... That's great if you use these tools like I mostly do, at work during the day... but if you are preparing for a survival situation or are using it out in the wilderness you better carry a spare because if it breaks you might be up a creek!

Weakness #2

One of the main reasons that I bought the TTi over some of the other tools out there was the S30V Steel Primary blade. I read all about how sharp the blade is and how it holds an edge so great. Well I should have known, that this also means that it is really hard to put an edge back on this blade when it does finally get dull; and on top of that, because it is so hard (which makes it hold the edge so well) it is also very brittle and chips easily.

I have several places on my blade where there is a chip of steel that broke out, and the only cure is to take a carbide sharpener and remove enough metal to smooth the edge back out again, or just let it slowly wear down over time. Next time I buy one I'll go back to the regular Leatherman steel like they used in the Supertool.

Weakness #3

The scissors... They are great sharp scissors that cut like ninety, but they have one problem; often mine allow the blades to travel past being fully closed because they have a loose hinge or possibly a hinge that loosens up over time, but I have not worked on my scissors very hard compared to some users. Next revision they should make the scissors a little longer and have a better hinge. I'm not sure exactly how to fix it, but it needs some design attention.

So after ripping on the Charge for a bit now I am going to point out what I like about it...

1. As with my other Leatherman tools, they have the best Needle Nose Plier design and the best wood saw blade I have ever used on a MT, bar none. The pliers come to a great size tip, and now that the Charge has included the crimper I like them even more. Their saw blade cuts fast and stays sharp, if anything I wish it was a little thicker so it would not try to bend when you get to sawing fast. It’s great for cutting drywall or pvc pipe in a pinch.

2. I also like the big dedicated flat blade screwdriver, but I miss the dedicated #2 Phillips, but I guess you have to trade something for the interchangeable bit socket. I also miss the Awl blade on my Supertool, but I guess you can't have it all...and I'm not geeky enough to carry two multitools, yet :)

I am not going to kid myself, it is a multitool, by definition a jack of all trades master of none. Therefore I also supplement mine with several other small dedicated tools plus a dedicated pocketknife with a heavier blade. These work better at their individual jobs then the compromised ones in the charge.

My dedicated knife is a CKRT M16-10KZ
http://www.amazon.com/Columbia-River-Knife-Tool-M16-10KZ/dp/B0017UV9W0

I also augment mine with a small dedicated screwdriver because the Leatherman is fine for tightening a screw or two, but as many times as I am needing to take stuff in and out of racks or open an electrical panel in a day I just need a dedicated screwdriver.

an Xcelite 600 Series Multidriver
http://www.amazon.com/Xcelite-600V-4-way-Pocket-Screwdriver/dp/B000ZUADDO/
(Picture does not show nutdriver socket on butt of tool)

And a small set of slip joint pliers because while Leatherman by far makes the best needle nose pliers on any multitool, sometimes needle nose pliers aren't the right tool for the job. (and yes, I did try the vise grip "toolbox" multitool, see link ... but it's even worse about being almost never the tool you really need, and the knife on it sucks even worse than the knife on my original Gerber)

Xcelite 50CG Slip Joint Pliers
http://www.amazon.com/Xcelite-Plier-Utility-Midget-Jaw/dp/B000ZUK39I/

(Proto tools makes a nice set of pliers like this just a tad bit larger and more rugged but they won’t slip into the sheath of the TTi with the tool in place)
http://www.amazon.com/Proto-261sg-Power-Track-Plier/dp/B00209O2NK/

and a little screwdriver for tiny stuff called the "teeny turner" made by picqic…
http://www.amazon.com/Picquic-06102-Teeny-Turner/dp/B001QVPHBO/

I also carry the Leatherman 42 piece Bit Kit in my back pocket in its little sheath (this kit is a great value at $12.50 )
http://www.trailspace.com/gear/leatherman/bit-kit/review/18186/

Lastly, I also bought the little Leatherman flashlight that fits in the side pocket of the Charge sheath. This is a great light for its size. Very bright, and runs on a single AAA battery for quite a long time. It fits right into the sheath and is very tough. It is the Leatherman SERAC S2 Led Light.
http://www.amazon.com/Leatherman-831062-Serac-2-LED-Flashlight/dp/B001ELX7CW/

I know that this sounds like a lot of stuff, but all of it fits neatly in my front right pocket, plus the bit kit in my back pocket, and the elastic pockets of the Charge TTi sheath. And BTW I wear dress pants to work, not Cargos or Jeans so I just have normal pockets.

In the end, while I like the layout of the TTi and the weight, I have to say that I still think that the original Leatherman Supertool is probably one of the best multitools I have ever owned, and if they still sold them new I would still be using one. My old Supertool is still my backup tool, but since the leather sheath wore out I upgraded to the Charge because I wanted to have interchangeable bits and a small pair of scissors.

In the end I would like to tell the manufacturer that no matter how many tools you put on a MT durability of each tool and integrity of the overall tool frame is key, because someone's life might depend on that tool in a survival situation and as far as I'm concerned the Leatherman Supertool is the most durable, KISS, MT I've ever owned or used if only it had interchangeable bits and a small pair of scissors.

My main reason for giving this tool 3.5 stars is twofold,

1. The reduced durability vs. previous Leatherman tools I have owned.

2. #1 connected with the fact that this is the most expensive MT I have ever bought...I would have thought it would be tougher.

If the TTi had been $65-$75 I would have rated it 4-4.5 Stars because it would be a better value.
Actually, while writing this review, I saw that they have a new version of the Supertool out, and I might just have to get one and try it out...maybe it might be a better tool...who knows I guess I'm a sucker for tools :)

RMG

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