LEATHERMAN SKELETOOL CX

If there's one downside to carrying a conventional plier-type multitool (as opposed to the Swiss Army/Victorinox style knife-based tool) it's that they're usually a little ungainly. Due to their larger formats and increased tool counts, they can get pretty heavy, and generally occupy a bit more pocket real estate than is always desired. However, for many, the sacrifice is often worth it: having ready access to a knife blade, pliers, and usually a screwdriver at the minimum has saved many a trip to the toolbox... or farther.

Which is precisely why we've taken to the Leatherman Skeletool like a fish to water. Combining the pocket-clip style of retention many know and love from various modern pocket knives with a small but useful set of tools, the Skeletool's only slightly less svelte than a larger knife and packs a lot more functionality. Available in three different formats (the Skeletool, Skeletool CX, and new Skeletool SX), with the foundation for each being the combination of a simple folding knife with a small pair of pliers, a driver for any of Leatherman's various bits (with four bits included; two Phillips and two flathead sizes), and a bottle opener/carabiner. The CX model, which is the one purchased for this review, bears two major differences from the basic model and SX in that it is the only one to feature a 154CM stainless steel straight blade (while the SX and standard model use 420HC semi-serrated blades) and a carbon fiber insert in one handle. It's also the only model in the lineup to receive a diamond-like coating in gloss black over the entire surface of its brushed stainless steel handles. And it can be found for the whopping sum of $70, or thereabouts.

Now, we've had our Skeletool for a good long while; damned near a year in fact. And the photos accompanying this piece were taken immediately after this article was written. So, after almost a year of daily carry, you can see how well it's held up. In fact, the diamond-like coating is so durable that the only chips visible anywhere on it is on the pocket clip, and that's after it's rattled around in a pocket with a pretty full keychain. And since the pliers' opening and closing mechanism uses stainless steel fingers against a pair of cams on the back of the pliers' head (similar to the Victorinox SwissTool system) it really isn't subject to dirt ingress like some other tools... so we haven't ever felt the need to clean or lubricate it. And even after all that abuse and neglect, it continues to function just as well today as it did almost a year ago.

And we've definitely found some pretty interesting uses for it. Due to the easy one-handed opening blade, it's replaced the traditional pocket knife, and as such has spent most of its time being used to open more than its fair share of boxes and packages. And under such conditions, it's held up pretty well... but not perfectly. Due to a poor secondary bevel, the cutting edge's angle of attack is far from symmetrical, which makes sharpening the Skeletool's knife a pain in the ass unless you're willing to reprofile it completely. This is an especially annoying problem given that while one of 154CM's hallmarks is the relative ease with which it gives way to a sharpening stone, it's also somewhat delicate. The few times we've had to use our knife to pry something, or have had it hit a metal object with the edge have all left their mark on it and since we haven't yet changed the blade profile, the nicks are almost impossible to remove. Oh, and trying to procure a replacement blade isn't easy, either. But even nicked and dull, it's better than nothing.

Similiar accusations cannot be levelled against the Skeletool's largest tool, the pliers. Although being quite a bit smaller than those found on Leatherman's full size tools, they may be unable to exert quite the same pressure, but are also substantially more wieldy. That came in handy when the headlight switch on yours truly's '73 Land Rover melted and required that the switch panel be removed (thank your Skeletool screwdriver!) and the headlight's spade connectors be essentially crimped together in the cramped space behind the panel. It's also worth noting that the curved shape of the Skeletool's two handles really fall into the palm a lot more naturally than the traditional Leatherman's handles do, and keep the tool from sliding into your grip. They also are almost completely bereft of square edges, meaning you can really clamp down on the suckers without tearing into your palms.

So, would we recommend the Skeletool to someone, even after the difficulties we've had with its blade? Yes; in a heartbeat. It combines the accessibility and ease-of-carrying of a small clipped-on pocketknife with the practicality of a plier-based multitool, and it's saved our bacon more than a few times. Furthermore, barring the injuries suffered by our blade, it's durable as hell and requires little to no maintenance. Add in the relatively cheap price tag, and it's a through-and-through winner.