Leatherman Surge Multitool Evaluation | CleverHiker

Backside Line

The Leatherman Surge is a powerhouse multitool rightly deserving of its “jack of all trades” fame. Recognized for being one in all 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 robust, with stainless-steel building that dealt with exhausting use and abuse in each demanding state of affairs we threw at it.

Considered one of its standout options is the one-handed operation—instruments are straightforward to entry and deploy, which is a complete game-changer whenever 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 reducing. Its design is snug to make use of, even for prolonged tasks.

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

How We Examined

Over a 30-day take a look at interval, the Surge was put by way of the wringer in Minnesota farm environments, sustaining gear, and the device 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 device however surprisingly transportable for its measurement. Weighing in at 12.5 ounces and measuring 4.5 inches when closed, it’s a bit heavier than another choices, however it’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 normal repairs round the home. Whereas it’s a little bit bulkier than different instruments, the heavy-duty efficiency packs a punch—supplying you with all the flexibility you want with out weighing you down.

Ease of Use

The Leatherman Surge impresses with easy 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 venture. The one-handed opening permits fast and easy device entry, and every device deploys with equal zeal. Silky hinges and a satisfying click on motion communicate to Leatherman’s consideration to element.

Ergonomics additionally play a task right here: the handles are snug, offering a stable grip with out pressure, even throughout prolonged use at a nationwide forest path camp, preserving a sputtering range in line. The knife and blades sliced cleanly, whereas the noticed lower by way of small kindling sticks with out a hitch, because of the device’s glorious 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 probably the most 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, reducing, or twisting screwdrivers.

Leatherman paid shut consideration to the steadiness of weight and usefulness right here. Regardless of its strong, full-sized design, the device feels well-balanced and intuitive to maneuver. Its easy 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 subject, it’s clear that Leatherman prioritized person consolation with out sacrificing performance. The handles are spaced completely to accommodate quite a lot of hand sizes, and the pliers and different instruments are designed to be accessible with out awkward repositioning.

The Surge shines with its device 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 drag 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 precious in tight areas, just like the engine bay of a Nineteen Sixties Chevy pickup that induced our tester grief. However solely briefly, because the Surge squared as much as that fizzling electrical wire tangle and obtained the job accomplished.  

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 probably the most dependable multitools for heavy-duty duties. Constructed with sturdiness in thoughts, the Surge’s stainless-steel building gives unimaginable power, permitting it to deal with demanding jobs with out buckling underneath strain. We pulled wire, twisted fence bolts, clamped onto bolts with the pliers, and lower 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 glorious pressure for gripping or bending supplies, whereas the sharp, sturdy blade and noticed can sort out robust supplies with out shedding their edge. Each device 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 deal with power and performance. Its skill to bear heavy masses with out faltering underneath 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 all our go-to picks.

Materials High quality

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

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 thought for, the Surge is designed to maintain performing, job after job, with the power 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 value displays an admirable construct high quality and flexibility. It sits in that candy spot as a heavier-duty possibility that delivers distinctive high quality, sturdiness, and performance.

The Surge is constructed for severe work, making it a sensible alternative in case you want a multitool that may deal with robust jobs. It’s not overly flashy however gives all of the rugged reliability and efficiency you count on from a full-featured Leatherman. With its spectacular device selection, robust construct, and easy operation, the Surge proves its price with unwavering reliability and enduring efficiency.

Our greatest 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 Evaluation: The Leatherman Skeletool gives 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 ideal for on a regular basis use or minimalistic duties. Nevertheless, it sacrifices among the heavier-duty options and load-bearing power of the Surge. The selection comes right down to choice: the Skeletool for portability and ease or the Surge for versatility and energy.

Gerber Multi-Plier Legend Evaluation: The Gerber Multi-Plier Legend gives a powerful 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 gives a steadiness of sturdiness, simplicity, and ease of use for on a regular basis or tactical conditions.

SOG PowerAccess Deluxe Evaluation: The SOG PowerAccess is a powerful competitor, providing a barely totally different strategy 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 deal with 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 straightforward to function, even with minimal effort. The Surge excels with its full vary of industrial quality instruments and intuitive one-handed entry, whereas the PowerAccess emphasizes ergonomic consolation and modern efficiency.