Posted on 27.04.2021 by admin

Product test: pocket tools Multitools for on the go
Gerber suspension
Herbertz multitool
Leatherman Skeletool
Puma Multi Tool
Outdoor multi-tool comfort
Outdoor multi-tool compact
Polo multitool
Polo multitool LED
Victorinox Swiss Tool
Walther Multitac
Conclusion
Tried: De luxe on-board tools
Hazet T-handle ratchet 863Q
Hazet socket wrench set 853-1
Fit for the breakdown

Schahl

counselor

workshop

Product test: multitools for on the go

Product test: pocket tools
Multitools for on the go

While Master Rainer swears by heavy equipment, Rebecca loves it as compact as possible in the little black dress. But not all multitools are the same. MOTORRAD took a closer look at ten pocket tools.

Jorg Lohse

08/19/2010

Who invented it? The Swiss parliamentary group should hold back for a moment on this question. Because first the Americans can decorate themselves with the laurels: The idea of the universal multi-function tool comes from Tim Leatherman from Oregon / USA – whose name, similar to that of the Tempo handkerchief or the Tesa film, gave rise to an entire product category. Amazingly, Tim’s success story isn’t that old. In 1975 he toured Europe with his wife in a Fiat 600. Numerous breakdowns and the inadequate on-board tools left the engineer so desperate that he thought about a tool that would be in his pocket in an emergency.

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The idea: to combine the broad spectrum benefits of pliers with the advantages of a pocket knife. In 1980 the inventor was able to use the name for his first multitool “Mr. Crunch” patent. Thirty years later, there are multitools in abundance, as our test shopping trip through motorcycle accessory shops, various outdoor stores and gun shops revealed. The only exception: in relevant, well-known hardware store chains you won’t really find anything when it comes to multitool: “The junk”, says the tool manager in a Globus store near Stuttgart, “Fortunately, I was able to throw them out again!”

Indeed: In the cheap league of multitools there is more suffering than joy. Especially since the unfolding of the tools with an unfocused approach can result in nasty cuts or painful bruises. Without strong fingernails you are almost always lost – or you would need a second pocket tool to open the first one. Many Leatherman replicas follow the classic model right down to the icing on the cake. This is particularly evident in the arrangement of the tools. To get a knife, saw or screwdriver, the multitool must first be opened and then closed again after unfolding the desired tool.

Which is why at this point we can admirably tie in with the initial question: And who did it better? The Swiss! Of course, the Swiss army outfitter Victorinox did not let the American advance sit on them. After all, with the legendary officer’s knife, a practical multifunctional tool was created as early as 1897, which is still known and loved around the world today.

In any case, the successors of the Victorinox founding couple Karl Elsener and mother Victoria also took up the Leatherman approach, but improved it in one crucial detail: The tools of the Swiss Tools can be unfolded with the body closed, which makes handling a lot easier in practice. And the fact that the blade of the knife or the saw blade merge flush with the handle in this design also increases the utility value considerably.

There is one point where the expensive branded tools differ from the cheap replicas: One looks in vain for a tool lock in the low-cost league. Correspondingly, the tool can fold in quickly when it is applied to screws and the like, which usually brings tears to the eyes of the user. It is solved in an exemplary manner in this test with the Victorinox Swiss Tool and Gerber Suspension.

Finally, let’s come back to the multifunctionality: With most of the tools, it would not be a problem to properly loosen a freshly caught fish from the hook and prepare it for the campfire with a scraper. But it is possible to professionally uncork a suitable bottle of wine. Well then cheers…

Gerber suspension

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Gerber suspension

providers: Gerber, phone 06171/9128501, www.gerberdeutschland.com; bought at Woick
price: 49.95 euros
Country of Manufacture: China
Dimensions (LxWxH, folded): 100 x 45 x 22 mm
Weight: 252/276 grams (tools / with accessories)
Functions: 11

Furnishing:
Needle-nosed pliers, wire cutter, knife with smooth blade and serrated blade, saw blade, scissors, Phillips screwdriver, small and medium-sized screwdriver, can opener, bottle opener and fastening eyelet, nylon bag with belt loop

Quality:
Cleanly and nicely processed. The stable suspension and solid storage of the tools go well with this. The needle-nose pliers hold well and cut with a clean cut. Small drawbacks: The spring on the scissor joint jumps over quickly, and the Phillips screwdriver is a bit puny.

Handling:
Very well. The tool lies comfortably in the hand, all tools can be folded out and locked securely when closed. Unlocking does not cause any problems either. Only with the tools in the middle is a little fiddling when unfolding.

Conclusion:
Nice tool in a high quality design. The Gerber Suspension scores with its extensive and practical equipment.

MOTORRAD verdict: very good

MOTORCYCLE buyer’s tip

Herbertz multitool

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Herbertz multitool

providers: C. Jul. Herbertz, phone 0212/201061, www.herbertz-solingen.de; bought from Waffen Villing, Stuttgart
price: 19.90 / 26.50 euros (RRP / paid)
Country of Manufacture: N / A.
Dimensions (L x W x H, folded): 115 x 46 x 23 mm
Weight: 280/370 grams (tool / with accessories)
Functions: 13

Furnishing:
Combination pliers, wire cutter, knife with combination blade (smooth / serrated edge), saw blade, Phillips screwdriver, small and medium-sized screwdriver, can opener, bottle opener, file, fish scaler with hook release, square, bit holder, 11 bits plus adapter, nylon bag with belt loop

quality:
Very coarse design with a lot of processing residues. The pliers with a large light gap fail on thin wires, the knife cuts tough.

handling:
Is bulky and heavy in the hand. The unsecured tools can only be reached when they are open; there is also a risk of injury if they are difficult to unfold. Impractical detailed solutions such as the combination blade with a smooth and serrated profile or measuring scale in inches reduce the utility of the tool considerably.

Conclusion:
Heavy, unwieldy, moderately processed. Can convince the hobby and emergency screwdriver with its bit holder.

MOTORRAD verdict: Sufficient

Leatherman Skeletool

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Leatherman Skeletool

providers: Siegfried Hintz, phone 0611/186890, www.leatherman.de; bought at Polo
price: 89.00 / 89.95 euros (RRP / paid)
Country of Manufacture: USA
Dimensions (L x W x H, folded): 107 x 33 x 16 mm
Weight: 140/160 grams (tool / with accessories)
Functions: 6

Furnishing:
Needle-nosed pliers, wire cutter, knife, bit holder with two double-sided bits, bottle opener, snap hook, pocket clip, nylon pocket with belt loop

Quality:
Nicely processed, but the bit surface is extremely sensitive to scratches. The knife convinces with a sharp blade, but the side cutter fails on somewhat thicker hard wire.

Handling:
The knife can be folded out when closed. The lock is simple, but effective and easy to use. A particularly clever solution: the combination of carabiner and bottle opener integrated in the body. On the other hand, the handling of the pliers is made more difficult by a very short handle with an integrated bit holder. Folding is a bit stiff, there is a risk of crushing.

Conclusion:
The classic multitool in a modern housing pleases with clever solutions, but too little is offered in terms of functionality.

MOTORRAD verdict: good

Puma Multi Tool

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Puma Multi Tool

providers: Puma GmbH IP Solingen, phone 02851/589650, www.pumaknives.de; bought from Larca
price: 27.00 / 14.95 euros (RRP / offer)
Country of Manufacture: k. A..
Dimensions (L x W x H, folded): 104 x 46 x 25 mm
Weight: 224/258 grams (tool / with accessories)
Functions: 12

Furnishing:
Needle-nosed pliers, side cutters, knife, saw blade, Phillips screwdriver, slotted screwdriver, can opener, bottle opener, file, nutcracker, measuring scale in inches, fish scaler with hook release, nylon bag with belt loop

quality:
The knife convinces with a sharp edge, the pliers grip well. The moderately separating side cutter, the weak saw and the screwdriver with their partly rounded blades were less popular. The black surfaces of the tools are easily scratched.

handling:
The unsecured tools can only be folded out when they are open, but they are comparatively easy to reach. The light case sits comfortably in the hand.

Conclusion:
The Puma tool is very similar to the Outdoor Comfort, but offers fewer functions (no bits) and is poorly processed.

MOTORRAD verdict: Satisfactory

Outdoor multi-tool comfort

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Outdoor multi-tool comfort

providers: Detlev Louis, phone 040/73419360, www.louis.de; bought from Louis
price: 19.95 euros
Country of Manufacture: k. A..
Dimensions (L x W x H, folded): 100 x 45 x 22 mm
Weight: 296/388 grams (tool / with accessories)
Functions: 14

Furnishing:
Needle-nosed pliers, side cutters, knife, saw blade, scissors, awl, nutcracker, scraper, wood chisel, measuring scale in inches, slotted screwdriver, can opener, bottle opener, square, magnetic bit holder, 11 bits in the case, nylon pouch with belt loop

Quality:
Streaked. The scissors and pliers pack or cut well, and the saw also drives well through the wood. The side cutter presses more than it cuts wires cleanly, and the knife lacks the sharpness. The case is well made.

Handling:
All tools are not only accessible when they are open; fingernails are also at risk if they are extremely difficult to unfold. There is no safety device for knives, saws and the like.

Conclusion:
Inexpensive universal weapon from Louis. Particularly scores with its extensive equipment, but weakens in practice.

MOTORRAD verdict: Satisfactory

Outdoor multi-tool compact

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Outdoor multi-tool compact

providers: Detlev Louis, phone 040/73419360, www.louis.de; bought from Louis
price: 9.95 euros
Country of Manufacture: N / A.
Dimensions (L x W x H, folded): 69 x 31 x 18 mm
Weight: 88/94 grams (tool / with accessories)
Functions: 13

Furnishing:
Needle-nosed pliers, side cutters, knife, saw blade, Phillips screwdriver, slotted screwdriver, can opener, bottle opener, file, fingernail cleaner, wood chisel / scraper, awl, wire stripper, nylon bag with belt loop

Quality:
The knife with the mini blade cuts well, and the fingernails can also be cleaned well. The other tools such as pliers with side cutters, saws, can openers or screwdrivers can hardly be used in everyday life due to their size. The housing quality is okay.

Handling:
All tools are not secured and can only be folded out when they are open. The handiness is severely restricted by the small housing.

Conclusion:
Microtool with partly meaningless functions. Would fit the briefcase with scissors and corkscrew. But not like that.

MOTORRAD verdict: Sufficient

Polo multitool

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Polo multitool

providers: polo Express delivery, phone 0180/5225785, www.polo-motorrad.de; bought at Polo
price: 9.95 euros
Country of Manufacture: k. A..
Dimensions (L x W x H, folded): 105 x 49 x 20 mm
Weight: 246/322 grams (tool / with accessories)
Functions: 10

Furnishing:
Needle-nosed pliers, side cutters, knife, saw blade, Phillips screwdriver, slotted screwdriver, can opener, bottle opener, file, square, magnetic bit holder, 9 bits in the case, nylon bag with belt loop

Quality:
Acceptable. Pliers grip well, knife impresses with its sharp blade, sawing performance okay. Diagonal cutter quickly bends its knees with wire. The housing is neatly finished and the tools are stably stored.

Handling:
When unfolding the internal tools, not only a lot of skill but also a lot of strength is required, the small knife can hardly be opened without the risk of injury. All tools can only be accessed when they are open; there is no safety device. Thanks to its slightly curved shape, the tool lies very comfortably in the hand.

Conclusion:
Extensively equipped tool including a compact bit set for emergencies. But the bottom line is that it is too stiff.

MOTORRAD verdict: Satisfactory

Polo multitool LED

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Polo multitool LED

providers: Polo express delivery, phone 0180/5225785, www.polo-motorrad.de; bought at Polo
price: 14.95 / 9.95 euros (RRP / offer)
Country of manufacture: k. A..
Dimensions (L x W x H, folded): 104 x 38 x 22 mm
Weight: 244/252 grams (tool / with accessories)
Functions: 11

Furnishing:
Needle-nosed pliers, side cutters, knife, saw blade, Phillips screwdriver, slotted screwdriver, can opener, bottle opener, file, fish scraper with hook release, LED lamp, nylon bag with belt loop

Quality:
Dull knife, weak saw, screwdriver with round blades. At most, the gripping pliers can make up for something. Despite the stylish handle shells, the case is poorly processed with adhesive residue and screws that have been screwed in at different depths.

Handling:
The unsecured tools can only be unfolded when they are open and are also very difficult to unfold. Handiness is severely restricted by the protruding LED lamp.

Conclusion:
With the noble-looking handle shells just right for the showcase. In contrast, hopelessly overwhelmed in practice.

MOTORRAD verdict: Sufficient

Victorinox Swiss Tool

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Victorinox Swiss Tool

providers: Victorinox, phone 07751/3104, www.victorinox.de; bought at Woick
price: 86.00 / 98.95 euros (RRP / paid)
Country of Manufacture: Switzerland
Dimensions (L x W x H, folded): 115 x 35 x 15 mm
Weight: 288/336 grams
Functions: 18

Furnishing:
Needle-nosed pliers, wire cutters, knives with smooth and serrated blades, saw blades (wood / metal), Phillips screwdriver, small, medium and large flat-blade screwdriver, can opener, bottle opener, wood chisel, rule (metric / inch), sleeve press, wire stripper, awl, file, leather loop

Quality:
Sharp blades, powerful saw blade, energetically gripping pliers with very good wire cutters. The whole thing is stably stored and housed in an excellently crafted housing.

Handling:
All tools can be folded out easily and – this is the highlight of the Swiss tool – when the body is closed. The automatic lock engages perfectly and can be released again using a smooth-running, always safe to use slide. Easy to handle despite its heavy weight.

Conclusion:
The compact workshop for life. Even the basic model of the Swiss Tools impresses with its high level of functionality. Impeccable finish.

MOTORRAD verdict: very good

MOTORCYCLE test winner

Walther Multitac

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Walther Multitac

providers: Walther / Umarex, phone 02932/638100, www.carl-walther.com; bought from Louis
price: 32.50 / 29.95 euros (RRP / offer)
Country of Manufacture: k. A..
Dimensions (L x W x H, folded): 112 x 30 x 25 mm
Weight: 242/342 grams
Functions: 8th

Furnishing:
Needle-nosed pliers, side cutters, knife with combination blade (smooth / serrated edge), slot screwdriver, can opener, bottle opener, square, glass breaker, magnetic bit holder plus 9 bits in case, nylon pouch with belt loop

quality:
Large knife with extremely sharp blade, powerful side cutter, solid bottle and can opener. Housed in a high-quality, relatively insensitive body. Only the crooked pliers with a noticeable light gap spoil the quality of workmanship.

handling:
All tools are easily accessible from the outside and can be easily folded out. A clever solution: the pliers, which can be folded out using a lever, are particularly easy to grip. The knife is secured, but the other tools are not. The well-balanced case lies comfortably in the hand.

Conclusion:
Practical outdoor tool under the name of the legendary armory. Can be used in a variety of ways thanks to the bit set.

MOTORRAD verdict: good

MOTORCYCLE buyer’s tip

Conclusion

Drawing: archive

The final score of the multitools.

Expensive same good? This is only partly true in this test. One thing is clear: the most expensive multitool is clearly ahead in the final table. The high purchase price has to be put into perspective, because with good maintenance the Swiss Tool will do a good job in the next generation. In terms of price-performance, the Gerber Suspension shows very good properties at an extremely fair price. And the Multitac from Walther is particularly interesting for outdoor fans who value a strong blade for the multitool.

Tried: De luxe on-board tools

Get rid of the cheap, stamped-out keys ex works: With these compact tool solutions, you are much better off in an emergency. The Hazet ratchet case, which weighs only around 700 grams (pack size 188 x 125 x 38 mm) can be stowed in the (tank) rucksack without any problems, and with some older types of motorcycles there is even enough space under the seat bench. With the high-quality tool, many small jobs on the motorcycle can be done cleanly and safely, whether brake or clutch levers have to be adjusted, adjustments to the chassis are pending or the seat, tank or fairing has to be dismantled. Ideally combined with the T-handle ratchet from Hazet, which enables sensitive work like a T-handle, but has space in your trouser pocket.

Product test: multitools for on the go

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Product test: multitools for on the go