I have owned several Leatherman pocket knives over my lifetime. Some I loved. Some had great build and utility but I found them difficult to access the various tools, mainly because they were attempting to do to much (remember the Swiss Army knives with fork and spoon?). Around five years ago, I had to surrender my Leatherman Mini-Tool (now retired) going through airport security at LAX. Finding myself reaching for this handy tool long after handing it over to security, I decided to replace it with a new Leatherman. At that time, Leatherman had recently released the 7-in-1 Skeletool. I selected this tool because it was the perfect size and had the essential tools I use 95% of the time. After carrying the Leaterman Skeletool around for the past 5 years, it has become my favorite pocket knife to bring on my motorcycle, fishing, camping, and use around the house.
About
If you are not familiar with Leatherman, they have been around since the 1980’s and manufacture all of their tools in Portland, OR. If you have ever visited the Pacific Northwest, it is common to see a Leatherman strapped to the belts of young men and old timers alike. All of the Letherman products are premium quality and are backed by a 25-year limited warranty.
Features
The Skeletool is considered a 7-in1 multi-tool and consists of a blade, needlenose pliers, regular pliers, hard-wire cutters, wire cutters, screwdriver bits and a carabiner/ bottle opener. The closed length is only 4″ and easily fits in a front pocket. The combo blade is only 2 1/2″ long. The tool is made from stainless steel and weighs in at 5 oz.
Long-Term Review
After 5 years of use, the Leatherman Skeletool has become my favorite pocket knife. I use it often enough to always know where it is. After dropping it in the Pacific Ocean surf fishing, removing hooks from fish, using at work for computer repair, and opening a few beer bottles, the multi-tool still looks/ works great.
After carrying around the Leatherman Skeletool for the past 5 years, it has become my favorite pocket knife.
~Marc