Hands down, best multitool on the market... I've had 3 of them for 10 years. 2 that I use, 1 in the drawer. Got them when they were $70 each... ahhh, the good ole days. 😂
Blimey Mike there's not a lot this tool can't do. I was given a Leatherman by my mate Jase Mac who is in one of my camp videos a few videos back. I've never used it. If I want guidance I'll have to refer to this video. A fantastic look at the tool bro. All the best. Mark
The irony of this is that I actually sent the Surge back. The knife laws change on the 24th of this month and the fact that the blade is over 3" and it's a locked blade when open is an issue. Having sought more professional opinions on the matter we felt that it was wiser to return it and use a smaller bladed multi tool that isn't illegal. I still have my bushcraft knives etc, but they aren't worn on my person when out in public. On the whole the Surge was a very good tool, albeit a bit to heavy in the hand to use continually for bushcraft activities.
I edc a surge for work and hands down it beats the wave of which I’ve owned 2. Heavier duty that the wave. I’ve owned 5 Leatherman tools and work all of them to their limit Surge wins 👍
That's awesome, thanks for sharing. I think that if I were outside everyday I would carry the Surge or an alternative Leatherman. As it is I am out maybe 2-3 days a week and I've reverted back to my bushcraft knife.
@ the sidekick is my out doors Leatherman They got the heat treat right on that one and the small serrated blade is still surgical sharp after years, same with my juice. I’ve found the waves and the surge need to be stoned regularly and course stones at that as the heat treatment isn’t what it used to be
Of course it is a luxury. The vast majority of people in cities don't need a multi-tool, and if you are in the trades you will have full size tools anyway. I own 2 and many other Leathermans; the fact that I can go months without using it means it is a luxury at $200 dollars Canadian.
Agreed, it is a luxury. Most of my bushcraft tools get used weekly if not daily. I like the Surge and Leatherman's in general but at the price I couldn't buy more than one if it's not used frequently. Thanks for the message, hope you all had a great Christmas. What part of Canada do you live in? I visited Canada over 30 years ago and loved it.
Serrated blades have no place on a multitool. But for the most part they all have them. I do like the tool, but it would be much better if the four long tools were file, knife blade, scissors, and saw. A standard knife blade can do everything that a serrated blade can do. But, a serrated blade cannot do what a saw does.
I agree with you on this, i never use the serrated blade. 🙂 I'd like the saw to be better than it is. For me it's ok, but i'd rather use my Laplander or ideally one of my Silky saws.
Yeah, that's an option for sure, though it comes with more expense. My observation from using the tool is that the saw as it comes isn't really practical. For the diameter of wood that the saw (as it comes) can cut through isn't that large. You'd be quicker just breaking it by hand. On the whole the Surge is a good bit of kit and very useful as it comes out of the box... apart from the saw.
Good walk through Mike.👍 Leatherman is a bit of a Marmite offering. You either love it or hate it. Is it worth the money? I dont think so. Personal opinion. A lot more I could do with £140 to get gear specific to my needs. Even if I had money to burn I wouldnt buy one. However, each to their own. No criticism for those who find it really useful.
Agreed David, I think Leatherman's are great if you're spending a lot of time outside and you're looking for a tool that is small, relatively lightweight and provides you with a lot of options then it's brilliant. If you're using it as a casual wild camper and or bushcrafter then you really don't need one.
I'm in the UK and have a Surge - great tool - stays at home. I now carry Victorinox only, great tools at a fraction of the cost and most importantly completely legal and unthreatening to other people. You can no longer sell them easily (Ebay ban). Leatherman are not a good option in 2024 UK
Thanks for this Peter, i'm actually going to chat to the police about what constitutes a 'an acceptable reason to carry a knife' for my specific circumstances. I have bushcraft knives, axes, hatchets as well as saws. Whilst, they are not carried on me in public they are transported in the boot of my car in a box or rucksack and are only brought out and used when we are on private land where we deliver our bushcraft courses. From, what I have read and understood this is considered to be an acceptable reason to carry a knife. Even for knives that exceed the 3" rule. As soon as I get clarification on this I will either put up a video or add a comment to this post. Thanks again, Mike
@@loganurquhart11 the laws over here in the UK are over the top and lack common sense in my opinion. I lived in Canada for a while and travelled through the US a few times and it was so common seeing people openly carry firearms. Thanks for the comment, the video and the messages here have probably given you a good laugh 😆
@@WalkTalkBrew yeah I see open carry daily and it never feels like they are a threat. We figured that if they open Karry that there’s a good chance they are legal to carry it or to have it.
@@loganurquhart11 makes sense. The media over here focus so much on gun and knife crime that it gives the impression that everyone is carrying. The reality is that it’s a very, very small number of people. This directly affects so many of us who would carry for work activities.
Is this actually legal in the UK? thought you can carry a bladed non locking article UPTO 3 inches if you have a valid reason (work kit/fishing camping ect) the blade on this multitool is 3.1inches, locks and can be opened one handed. £140 to possibly end up with a criminal record is a bit steep.
That's a great question and you are correct regarding the length of the blade. UK knife law allows you to carry non-locking pocket knives with a blade length up to 3 inches (7.62 cm) without any need for a valid reason. You are allowed to carry a knife which exceeds these guidelines in public, but please remember: you will need a good reason to carry it. Gov.uk has the following to say on good reasons to carry a knife: 'Examples of good reasons to carry a knife in public can include: taking knives you use at work to and from work taking knives to a gallery or museum to be exhibited the knife is going to be used for theatre, film, television, historical re-enactment or religious purposes, eg the kirpan some Sikhs carry For me the knives are used in my roll as a bushcraft instructor, which is a paid roll and is classed as work. If you were carrying one of these around without 'a good reason' you could indeed end up on the wrong side of the law.
I think if you kept it in a toolbag you would be ok. But you are totally reliant on the police officer being in a good mood. Most likely it would be confiscated and you would have to jump through hoops to get it returned. Also the LM Charge is now illegal because the serrated blade has 2 points apart from locking. (illegal with 2024 legislation)
Just to let you know that I have the same dog sitting next to me while I watched your video. I think this tool design was meant to be more of a step saver that could prevent you from having to run back to the tool box to get the correct tool. I don't know about bushcraft but when you are jammed under the dashboard of a vehicle and that bloody clip won't come loose you will be glad this tool is attached to your belt. Under the deck, in the boat, on the side of the road, on the shed roof, and under the kitchen sink are other places that come to mind. I cannot say these are legal justifications but who is going to arrest a dog lover?
Dogs are awesome, sometimes he is quite insistent on being in the same room when i'm doing videos or working from home. I 100% agree with you regarding the purpose of these tools. When I worked as a mechanic and more so especially off site having a Leatherman was a real bonus. I think as a bushcraft tool I'd go with one of the smaller and lighter versions rather then the Surge.
They are great, but you're right there easy to misplace. I've got on really well with a knife, an axe and a saw. In saying that the Leatherman does give you much more options of things you can do.
I do like the Leatherman tools, but they are expensive as an initial outlay but they do last a long time. Especially, as you've had yours 20 years. Yeah, the tools do make you think "what is this actually for?".
The Surge has been around for years and there are many many RUclips videos on the tool. Why are you doing a general purpose overview of the tool without adding any value what so ever? What a waste of time!
Wow, thanks John for taking the time to comment, dislike and watch a video that you consider to be a waste of time. There are indeed 100's maybe 1000's of videos that cover the same topic on RUclips. Some offer something new and insightful whilst others just say the same stuff in their own voice from their perspective. I'm merely expressing my own thoughts on a piece of equipment that i'd recently purchased. In future, maybe, i'll check with all youtube subscribers before I make any content in the future. 🙂 Still, thanks again for the comment. It certainly gave me a smile today.
Hands down, best multitool on the market... I've had 3 of them for 10 years. 2 that I use, 1 in the drawer. Got them when they were $70 each... ahhh, the good ole days. 😂
I got the DAICamping DL30, which is a clone of the Surge, for $40 US. Seems to work fine.
That's a load cheaper. I'll have to take a look at this one.
Blimey Mike there's not a lot this tool can't do. I was given a Leatherman by my mate Jase Mac who is in one of my camp videos a few videos back. I've never used it. If I want guidance I'll have to refer to this video. A fantastic look at the tool bro. All the best. Mark
The irony of this is that I actually sent the Surge back. The knife laws change on the 24th of this month and the fact that the blade is over 3" and it's a locked blade when open is an issue.
Having sought more professional opinions on the matter we felt that it was wiser to return it and use a smaller bladed multi tool that isn't illegal.
I still have my bushcraft knives etc, but they aren't worn on my person when out in public.
On the whole the Surge was a very good tool, albeit a bit to heavy in the hand to use continually for bushcraft activities.
@@WalkTalkBrew Ah, nothing you could do about that then Mike. Have a good week ahead.
I edc a surge for work and hands down it beats the wave of which I’ve owned 2.
Heavier duty that the wave.
I’ve owned 5 Leatherman tools and work all of them to their limit Surge wins 👍
That's awesome, thanks for sharing. I think that if I were outside everyday I would carry the Surge or an alternative Leatherman. As it is I am out maybe 2-3 days a week and I've reverted back to my bushcraft knife.
@ the sidekick is my out doors Leatherman
They got the heat treat right on that one and the small serrated blade is still surgical sharp after years, same with my juice.
I’ve found the waves and the surge need to be stoned regularly and course stones at that as the heat treatment isn’t what it used to be
Mine did not come with leather pouch. 😢
@@phottomatt4202 I had the option to upgrade the usual pouch to the leather one.
My Leatherman surge has Bibury on the boxl and feels ,looks the same as the original .
If it last me 5 years I will be happy 😊 as it only cost £32
That's an awesome price to pay for the Surge. I imagine that the Surge will last you a lot longer than 5 years.
Of course it is a luxury. The vast majority of people in cities don't need a multi-tool, and if you are in the trades you will have full size tools anyway. I own 2 and many other Leathermans; the fact that I can go months without using it means it is a luxury at $200 dollars Canadian.
Agreed, it is a luxury. Most of my bushcraft tools get used weekly if not daily. I like the Surge and Leatherman's in general but at the price I couldn't buy more than one if it's not used frequently.
Thanks for the message, hope you all had a great Christmas. What part of Canada do you live in? I visited Canada over 30 years ago and loved it.
Serrated blades have no place on a multitool. But for the most part they all have them. I do like the tool, but it would be much better if the four long tools were file, knife blade, scissors, and saw. A standard knife blade can do everything that a serrated blade can do. But, a serrated blade cannot do what a saw does.
I agree with you on this, i never use the serrated blade. 🙂 I'd like the saw to be better than it is. For me it's ok, but i'd rather use my Laplander or ideally one of my Silky saws.
Wrong. Cutting rubber and tough materials like seatbelts, climbing webbing, and the like are all more effectively done with a serrated blade.
@@CanadaFree-ce9jn Thanks for sharing this. Everyday is a learning day.
I get that you don’t like the saw, but it’s a t shank adapter, so just get a better/longer blade to keep in your pack.
Yeah, that's an option for sure, though it comes with more expense. My observation from using the tool is that the saw as it comes isn't really practical. For the diameter of wood that the saw (as it comes) can cut through isn't that large. You'd be quicker just breaking it by hand.
On the whole the Surge is a good bit of kit and very useful as it comes out of the box... apart from the saw.
@@WalkTalkBrew It also came with a file.
@@WalkTalkBrew Modding a MUT sawblade and replacing the blade exchanger might be a good ideea
@ that’s a good idea.
Good walk through Mike.👍
Leatherman is a bit of a Marmite offering. You either love it or hate it. Is it worth the money? I dont think so. Personal opinion. A lot more I could do with £140 to get gear specific to my needs.
Even if I had money to burn I wouldnt buy one.
However, each to their own. No criticism for those who find it really useful.
Agreed David, I think Leatherman's are great if you're spending a lot of time outside and you're looking for a tool that is small, relatively lightweight and provides you with a lot of options then it's brilliant. If you're using it as a casual wild camper and or bushcrafter then you really don't need one.
I'm in the UK and have a Surge - great tool - stays at home. I now carry Victorinox only, great tools at a fraction of the cost and most importantly completely legal and unthreatening to other people. You can no longer sell them easily (Ebay ban). Leatherman are not a good option in 2024 UK
Thanks for this Peter, i'm actually going to chat to the police about what constitutes a 'an acceptable reason to carry a knife' for my specific circumstances. I have bushcraft knives, axes, hatchets as well as saws.
Whilst, they are not carried on me in public they are transported in the boot of my car in a box or rucksack and are only brought out and used when we are on private land where we deliver our bushcraft courses.
From, what I have read and understood this is considered to be an acceptable reason to carry a knife. Even for knives that exceed the 3" rule.
As soon as I get clarification on this I will either put up a video or add a comment to this post.
Thanks again,
Mike
In the US we actually want to carry something that is threatening. A Leatherman is not a threatening knife. lol
@@loganurquhart11 the laws over here in the UK are over the top and lack common sense in my opinion. I lived in Canada for a while and travelled through the US a few times and it was so common seeing people openly carry firearms.
Thanks for the comment, the video and the messages here have probably given you a good laugh 😆
@@WalkTalkBrew yeah I see open carry daily and it never feels like they are a threat. We figured that if they open Karry that there’s a good chance they are legal to carry it or to have it.
@@loganurquhart11 makes sense. The media over here focus so much on gun and knife crime that it gives the impression that everyone is carrying. The reality is that it’s a very, very small number of people. This directly affects so many of us who would carry for work activities.
Is this actually legal in the UK? thought you can carry a bladed non locking article UPTO 3 inches if you have a valid reason (work kit/fishing camping ect)
the blade on this multitool is 3.1inches, locks and can be opened one handed. £140 to possibly end up with a criminal record is a bit steep.
That's a great question and you are correct regarding the length of the blade.
UK knife law allows you to carry non-locking pocket knives with a blade length up to 3 inches (7.62 cm) without any need for a valid reason.
You are allowed to carry a knife which exceeds these guidelines in public, but please remember: you will need a good reason to carry it. Gov.uk has the following to say on good reasons to carry a knife:
'Examples of good reasons to carry a knife in public can include:
taking knives you use at work to and from work
taking knives to a gallery or museum to be exhibited
the knife is going to be used for theatre, film, television, historical re-enactment or religious purposes, eg the kirpan some Sikhs carry
For me the knives are used in my roll as a bushcraft instructor, which is a paid roll and is classed as work.
If you were carrying one of these around without 'a good reason' you could indeed end up on the wrong side of the law.
I think if you kept it in a toolbag you would be ok. But you are totally reliant on the police officer being in a good mood. Most likely it would be confiscated and you would have to jump through hoops to get it returned. Also the LM Charge is now illegal because the serrated blade has 2 points apart from locking. (illegal with 2024 legislation)
@@petermoore9504 Thanks Peter, i replied to this and your other post in one, if that makes sense. 🙂
Just to let you know that I have the same dog sitting next to me while I watched your video. I think this tool design was meant to be more of a step saver that could prevent you from having to run back to the tool box to get the correct tool. I don't know about bushcraft but when you are jammed under the dashboard of a vehicle and that bloody clip won't come loose you will be glad this tool is attached to your belt. Under the deck, in the boat, on the side of the road, on the shed roof, and under the kitchen sink are other places that come to mind. I cannot say these are legal justifications but who is going to arrest a dog lover?
Dogs are awesome, sometimes he is quite insistent on being in the same room when i'm doing videos or working from home.
I 100% agree with you regarding the purpose of these tools. When I worked as a mechanic and more so especially off site having a Leatherman was a real bonus.
I think as a bushcraft tool I'd go with one of the smaller and lighter versions rather then the Surge.
Bush craft? How did you get there? By motor boat? By snowmobile? Truck? (Ideally your truck should have it's own tool kit, harder on a snowmobile.)
I always loved the idea of a leatherman but I think I would just leave it at my arse. As you say mike hard to beat a bushcraft knife.
They are great, but you're right there easy to misplace. I've got on really well with a knife, an axe and a saw. In saying that the Leatherman does give you much more options of things you can do.
I love my leatherman wave
It's heavy but iys 20 years old .
Thanks for your review , no idea what some of the tools are for 😂
I do like the Leatherman tools, but they are expensive as an initial outlay but they do last a long time. Especially, as you've had yours 20 years.
Yeah, the tools do make you think "what is this actually for?".
The Surge has been around for years and there are many many RUclips videos on the tool. Why are you doing a general purpose overview of the tool without adding any value what so ever? What a waste of time!
Wow, thanks John for taking the time to comment, dislike and watch a video that you consider to be a waste of time.
There are indeed 100's maybe 1000's of videos that cover the same topic on RUclips. Some offer something new and insightful whilst others just say the same stuff in their own voice from their perspective.
I'm merely expressing my own thoughts on a piece of equipment that i'd recently purchased. In future, maybe, i'll check with all youtube subscribers before I make any content in the future. 🙂
Still, thanks again for the comment. It certainly gave me a smile today.
Good vid mate, explanations and descriptions very well presented. 👍🫡
Cheers Greg, much appreciated.