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Unbranded Chinese Multi-tools Comparison and Comment About Leatherman and Gerber

I have an old Leatherman Wave, first generation, and it has been a pretty good workhorse over the decades.  Earlier this year I was refreshing my automobile first-aid kit and thought that some additional emergency supplies were a good idea.  So I went looking for a new multi-tool to add to it.  The first brands that came to mind were Leatherman and Gerber.  I then did a bit of research and found that there is a community of multi-tool enthusiasts on Youtube.  Most of them were reviewing or modding the more expensive tools, but I started to notice that "cheap" Chinese multi-tools were being reviewed fairly positively, especially when you consider the price point.

The price point in Canada for a full-size Leatherman or Gerber starts at around $50 Canadian.  This gets you a basic Leatherman Rev or a Gerber Suspension.  Both of these are pretty good tools, with the Leatherman leading on final fit and polish.  Leatherman is the brand that kind of sets the gold standard for quality, good steel, precision and fit, and design in many cases.  They make very good tools.  A new Leatherman Wave+ costs about $133 Canadian plus tax.  This makes a high quality Leatherman pretty pricey, but both manufacturers have some additional tools in the $60 to $90 range.

Image 1. Six multi-tools with the Leatherman Rev in the bottom right hand corner.

However, this kind of pricing allows cheaper competitors to move in with multi-tools that have more features at a lower price point.  Part of the Leatherman pricing will be purely brand (and their warranty) - like buying a BMW for a premium product versus a domestic car.  There is a good argument for good enough versus the best, especially if pricing plays into it.  This is kind of like Sherman tanks versus a Panther or a Tiger Tank which isn't much of a match one on one.  You can build more cheaper Shermans though and their numbers overwhelm the more lethal tank.  The Chinese tools come out dirt cheap in the United States market and generally cost twice that in Canada, but Leathermans also cost much more in Canada.

I bought five of the Chinese multi-tools for a grand total of $170 plus tax so it was more expensive than the Leatherman Wave+, but I would get 4 tools for the same price.  This is a pretty big volume for dollars difference to get some similarities in functionality.  These cheaper tools are not better than a Wave+, and you can't compare these tools against the Wave+, you would need to compare them against the entry / mid-level products for Gerber and Leatherman.  In most situations, the cheaper tool will get the job done, but if your life depends on it, you might want to prioritize the best quality tool.  At the same time, if you are going to have a few in emergency kits or need a backup, the cheaper tools are a good option.  For myself, I like a lighter tool to carry around and the Chinese multi-tools do weigh more than an equivalent Leatherman.  A Leatherman Wingman or Rev is the weight I wouldn't mind too much, and a couple of the Chinese multi-tools are pretty close, but heavier.  Right now, my standard carry is actually one of the Chinese multi-tools due to the tool set.

These Chinese multi-tools can be bought most easily online and they seem be be made by just a few manufacturers as they have standard components that show up in the different tools.  These tools are rebranded by numerous online resellers on Amazon or other online stores and the prices fluctuate all over the place.  I ended up spending $55 on one as I couldn't find it for a cheaper price, but it should have been closer to $40.  All of these Chinese multi-tools can be found on Amazon.ca ranging from $20 all the way up to $40 or $55 in my case :(

Image 2. These two tools are $22 for the top with two main blades, and the bottom costing $35.  The blades are identical and sharp out of the factory. All of the main tools can be deployed from the tools closed position and lock.  The bottom tool is the most sturdily built out of all the tools presented.  Both pliers are spring loaded and they are decent.

Image 3. These two tools are $34 for the top and $55 for the bottom.   They have identical main sheepsfoot blades and scissors.  These scissors cut well and they deploy far more easily than what is found on many multi-tools.  I like the sheepsfoot blade design and the blades were both quite sharp from the factory, cutting paper easily.  All the to main tools deploy from the multi-tools closed position and lock.  The pliers are spring loaded again.  The tool on the bottom has a tool set that is close to a Leatherman Wave and is a pretty nice tool for the price.

Image 4.  The secondary tools on the various multi-tools.  You have the standard assortment of can openers, bottle openers, screwdrivers, and some secondary cutting tools and awls.  Again, you can see standard components on them.  The bottom right tool would be the best workman's tool with its stronger build and it has all the tools you would usually need, but no scissor.  Most importantly, it has a locking bit-driver socket that fits standard double-ended quarter-inch bits for various screwdrivers or hex bits, and it comes with four bits in its carrying case. Unfortunately you cannot carry a ready bit in the tool as the lock release handle gets in the way.  The secondary tools also lock on all these except for the tool in the bottom left.

After having used some of these tools for a bit and examining them out of curiosity, I have to say that I'm pretty impressed for the price.  These tools shouldn't fall apart with casual or regular use, but you can tell they don't have the fit and finish of a Leatherman.  They aren't ugly and don't really feel cheap or flimsy, but they have looser tolerances than a Leatherman.  The plier heads for example have just a bit of looseness to them that doesn't really affect their usefulness, but it is something you would not find on a Leatherman.  Have said all this, I actually have had Leathermans that really need to be loosened up as they are too tight and I had a new one with a slight nick in the blade which I needed to sharpen.  I've owned three Leathermans so that isn't exactly a great track record either for minor defects.

Image 5. The tools deployed on the Leatherman Rev which I really like for the size and weight, but it doesn't have scissors.  Also, the last Chinese multi-tool which looks like it was made by a different manufacturer from the other two due to the polished finish on the secondary tools and the different scissors and knife blade.  This last Chinese multi-tool is pretty good and I find that the scissors seem to be good on all of these tools.  This last Chinese multi-tool is around $25.

These Chinese multi-tools are typically in the $20 to $35 price range in Canada and they are good tools to buy in this price range.  Their stainless steel is okay (some info says 440 stainless), and the blades will need to be sharpened more often with heavier use, but they get the job done.  I'm actually using the tool below the most and carry it around the house and yard.  This tool has the blade and scissors I like with some very useful pliers and screwdrivers I've used a few times since I got it.  In the end, pick the tool you want that suits your needs and budget.  Go for high quality if that is what you need or want, but I've found that these Chinese tools are pretty good for their lower price and they work for me.

This is the multi-tool I use the most, followed by the Leatherman Rev.  I can't really name the tool as it is a unbranded Chinese multi-tool bought from a vendor I never heard of before.  The other side of this tool can be found as the top tool in Image 3.
  

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