Not one day has gone by since I bought my leatherman that it hasn't been on my belt. I didn't think it was possible to love an inanimate object. but I do.
I have TTI and bought my son a Wave many years ago. Also, leatherman stands by its warranty. I don't leave the house without my TTI. We both love our Leatherman knives. Forgot to mention, Excellent review. Than you.
My dad bought me a 1st gen charge TTi for my 18th birthday. The next day we went snowmobile riding and it slipped out of my bag! By some crazy token of luck, I found the knife on the return trail... it has a scrape in the titanium scale from a carbide stud, i didn't get the scale replaced because its a great story. I still have the tool 12 years later. I know have a collection, and my beat up charge is the centerpiece
Have had the charge XTi version since about 2004. Same crimper in the pliers. If i recall correctly that feature was being advertised as a nock set for archery at the time rather than an electrical crimper. I have used mine for setting a knock on my bow, it has worked just fine for the purpose, though as one might expect not as nicely as a tool dedicated to the task.
Cheers, excellent video. My Son bought this for my birthday the other day. He has the Surge and I chose the Charge + TTI. Like you I have a preference for titanium. To give you a timeline today is 16 Feb 2023. You did not like the crimping tool on the the pliers and you wished they would drop it, ... they did as mine does not have it. It also came with 18 extra bits and case and not the 12 bit case from 3 years ago. I found that the Charge + TTI with the belt clip fits just fine in the ballistic black nylon case. I also agree about replacing the micro driver an with an awl. I really like this EDC. I will probably get both the standard and the ratchet extension. Cheers!
I use the can opener as a clam shell opener and works great, just have to sharpen the point so you can penetrate easier. I also ground the end of the file to a chisel point and is super handy to have. Totally agree with your integration of the micro driver idea. I've used the micro driver as a drill to drill small holes in wood and plastic and as a scraper in tight spaces. The crimper in the plier head is useless and weakens the tips, don't know what leatherman was thinking when they designed the tti.
Interesting perspective on the crimpers. I work as an electrician, and use my charge daily. While I typically use my dedicated crimpers, I have used the ones on the charge, and found them to be just fine. I completely agree on the awl. glaring oversight in my opinion. TH-camr zZz 777 did a vid a few years ago about adding an awl. I've been meaning to do it, but haven't yet.
A great review, but a couple of points you missed: The crimp in the pliers is for crimping detonators to fuse, hence the name Charge. This information was on the website when I bought mine, but seems to have been redacted. And there's a little hidden lanyard loop in the end of the handle on the saw side. It's pretty hard to find. The easiest way is to open up the saw blade, insert one of the screwdriver inserts in the gap towards the end, and push towards the end. A little loop will emerge. This can be accessed via a tiny lug externally, too. I've had my Charge Ti since they were released in 2004 and while mine doesn't have the replaceable wire cutters, it's still my go-to multitool. It must be said that the 2004 vintage scales are much nicer than the example in your review. I use the little elastic sleeve on the side of the case to store a tungsten multi-sharpener, the handle of which I wrapped in thin waxed string to make it non-slip. It's the perfect companion.
I took my Wave, bought an S30V blade and serrated blade with rescue hook/gut hook and also upgraded the pliers to Wave+, now that is one sweet multi tool I found the blade edge on my old 420HC blade tedious to keep sharp, hoping the S30V will give me some longevity between sharpening and also hold a better edge. Time will tell Great review as always 👍
@@bobdermeister1703 I actually found them for sale on eBay by chance Been running that combo for a few months now and can report its been a great upgrade, the different grade in steel has been very noticable. Just gotta keep your eyes peeled!
Did the same and love it. I also added an awl from a rebar, blade exchanger from a surge, and scissors from a wingman. While the scissors aren’t the best, they serve my needs and are handy to have outside opening. The thing is a workhorse and gets used every day.
Charge+ TTI's price in Turkey (Turkish Lira) is almost equal to one month's salary of a full-time minimum wage person. So, if we try to interpret this price to the USA, that would be equal to 1125$ for one Charge+ TTİ. This made me smile when I hear you complaining about 170$ is being overpriced:) in Turkey we are paying a great amount of money to have one of these. Great review by the way.
If I could get the Charge serrated blade for my Wave+ I’d be happy. If they made an adapter so the micro bit would work in the bit holder and gave me an Awl instead of wasting a spot in the Wave to fix eyeglasses I’d be REALLY happy. But overall I love the Wave+ it’s hard to beat. I do a lot of crimping with it and having the scales on a TTI in the way so I could not crimp would be a non-starter for me.
That crimper is blasting caps only. Designed to appeal to military members. I did find 1000 used for it, including pulling nails, hold dowels to hammer, etc
Have a Surge coming as a Christmas gift. Will carry it every day despite the weight . Carried the Rebar for years before finally loosing it , hope it serves it's next owner as well as it did me.
This has a crimper. That and the gut hook (perfect for opening parts bags) is what sold me over the Swiss option. No regrets. With the adapter there are not many appliances I can’t repair.
The old charge tti was my first multitool, and yes it looked premium, it had gaps between the titanium handles and the inner part, the saw scraped against something when opening and closing, it had sharp edges on the thumb holes and back of the outer tools. The pliers often snagged on something inside while closing the tool. So it wasnt that premium at all besides the materials used. Sold it because one hand opening blades are not street legal here. Bought a swisstool for the money and while this one had no fancy metals in it, was machined to perfection and functions nice to this day after years of abuse. (it was made in 1998 or so)
It would be nice to get a version with the standard pliers. I remember years ago when I first saw that, I thought that was going to be a great option. Boy was I wrong.
I’ve got the TTI anI love it but I do agree with you on the points you mentioned. I’m also a big Victorinox fan as well. I’m really enjoying you videos so please keep them coming. 👍🙂
Been using the TTi now for about 2 months and while its a great multitool my pliers are still so stiff. I just feel at this price point the pilers should be butter smooth. Advice for Leatherman invest more R&D into the plier head operation they been in the business for years now and having stiff pliers should not exist.
Just to shed light on things, I have a Cabela’s exclusive Charge+ TTI in black coated tools & camouflage handles(I think possibly mosey oak), which is from when the model was new, and it was the only one that had upgraded steel (154 CM, later S30V, I have the 154CM), as well as the gut hook on the serrated blade, and it was referred to as a “knock crimp” for arrows. I think when they started marketing the features to everyone instead of just hunters, they change the name to wire crimpers because it would be more likely to be seen as useful. I have never used it for his intended purpose, but I have used it much more for random things than I would’ve imagined. I just thought you might like knowing how those features came about & they may make a little more sense. I hope that helps a fellow “knife nut” understand the utility of what it was meant for & why it’s not as good for other things. “Knife Nuts” gotta stick together and help each other out! 😂 thanks buddy! Best wishes to you and your family. ✌️🇺🇸
I’m good with 154cm blade on my charge plus , my favorite vintage Benchmade 9100 Stryker Knife that I been carrying with me over 7 years has the 154cm blade still going strong 💪 .
Now that the ARC is out, I’m not so thrilled. I would rather prefer a Garage #5. However, the tool I wish Leatherman made so badly is a Surge TTi with a Magnacut or even a S30V blade but with the adjustable plier pivot. I think the TTi handles on the Surge will make it SO much more carry-friendly. That would be Leatherman Apogee!
Re the semi-circular depressions in the needle nose pliers - believe it or not, those are not designed to be crimpers (as almost everyone assumes). When asked about their purpose a Leatherman company rep said this: "It is called a nocking jaw (used for archery)." Seems like a terribly specific use for a general purpose multi-tool (!) but that actually explains away the inferior crimper application.
Just a thought though about the crimper. I did some experimenting. The plier crimper sort of work like a dedicated crimper, if you put a ton of force to it. But what I actually discovered, and believe there's a design for, is that if you first do a "pre-crimp" with the plier head crimper, it will actually stay better in the main crimper. I think it was designed that way.
Christian Karhu You are correct. I believe in the video that I made comparing be Leatherman Wave to the Leatherman FREE P4, I perform the crimping task in the very same method. In some of the larger multi tools, it isn’t necessary to do a pre-crimp first. I have found that all the medium duty Leatherman tools do require using that method. The Surge and SuperTool 300 don’t require that extra step. That is to be expected though because those are both larger multi tools. Thanks for taking the time to pass on your experiences.
Love your reviews and decided to get a Charge TTI a few weeks ago. Got it from REI and the main blade sounded like it was rotating on sandpaper- very very difficult to open and close. I also noticed that the washers didn’t look like phosphor bronze(have pics), they were aluminum color. Decided to try another one and was excited until I found it was exactly the same as the first one! Impossible to open the blade with my thumb. They both seemed to have poor machining and diagonal lines on the scales instead of being smooth. I then decided to order one from Lowe’s to see if a different batch was better- and it came today. This one is so different- you can see the gold washers, super smooth opening, smooth scales....feels like a different tool. So, after all that- what do you think of this? Is REI selling a cheaper version, or factory rejects or something? Have you seen any without the phosphor bronze washers? REIs came in a display box that would hang, and Lowe’s came in a smaller box that slides open. I can provided pics if you are interested. Thanks for your thoughts!
I found out by buying multiple leathermans the best bet is to buy it directly from Leatherman themselves. I bought a Leatherman from a second hand site and the quality just felt worse. The blades were crunchy and stuck, and the lock was faulty. Worse thing about it is you don’t get the warranty.
@@shipwreck4629 you get a warranty for evers single tool no matter wjere you buy it from I think, atleast if you send it directly into Oregon to their factory
I had a charge as a present from my wife but lost it recently at work.I was absolutely gutted as i used it every day and it also had sentimental value.I replaced it with a surge and apart from the sentimental value i'm glad i lost it......the surge is in a different league altogether,far better value than the charge and far more capable.
Slight disagreement -- I think the prybar is redundant, since there are already multiple flat-head bits for the large bit exchanger. I've been thinking about grinding my prybar into an awl shape. I would also not mind if they turned the serrated blade of the Wave+ into larger, stronger scissors. If they did this, then I'd also be OK with the smooth blade changing to a combo smooth+serrated. EDIT: I also wish the file was more aggressive on its coarse side.
Great video. I just bought the charge tti and noticed that the scales move when I grip the pliers hard. Did you notice that? If so, we’re you able to resolve it?
I think the Charge+ TTi is worth the money, the S30V, Ti scales (which offer improved grip over a Wave), plus the accessories, comparing it to the retail price of knives on the market today. That being said I love Titanium, my EDC consists of Ti almost exclusively, knife, pen, box cutter, sunglasses, tape measure, multi-tool, so I love titanium. While I believe the Charge+ TTi is worth the price, for the average person it would be difficult to justify the price when the Wave+ (which has better pliers) does the same thing $70+ cheaper.
I have nodes that the plier head is different on leathermans website it doesn't have the hole for wire crimping which I like better but was just wondering if they had changed it
Great video, thank you. One thing I can’t wrap my head around though: why does apparently everyone but me use the notch in the opener combo tool for wire stripping when it’s clear to me that many multitools have a much superior alternative? In my experienced opinion has an electronics tech for many years, the hard wire cutting notch works much better. It essentially is an adjustable wire stripper. Even on multis that don’t have the notch, I can get a much better strip inside the wire cutters than I can with any little notch on an opener blade. What am I missing?
Leatherman Free P4 v Leatherman Charge TTI You cannot watch any TH-cam videos on multitools without claims that the P4 or the TTI is the best everyday carry. So, since I have both TTI + multi flat driver bit set (will call this the “set”), and the P4, I decided to carry both in leather pouches on my belt, and use them both for the same tasks. TTI: Weighs 351g with pouch and set. P4: Weighs 296g with pouch. Task 1. Walking dog in open paddock. Noticed that the screw bolt in a small shackle on collar was loose. a) TTI to rescue. 1. Step on dog lead to keep dog there. 2. Open pouch. 3. Remove TTI. 4. Use two hands to open the handles. 5. Look to see which handle had the screwdriver bit holder. 6. Use finger nail to open the (locking) bit holder. 7. Pull out flat head/phillips bit to see the FH driver on other end. 8. Note that the FH driver was too big. 9. Put this bit in pocket. 10. Extract “set” from pouch. 11. Locate small FH driver bit. 12. Extract this bit. 13. Put set into pouch 14. Insert into bit holder 15. Tighten screw. Done! 16. Remove small FH driver bit from bit holder. 17. Retrieve set from pouch. 18. Replace small FH driver in set. 19. Place set into pouch. 20. Retrieve FH/Phillips bit from pocket 21. Replace this into bit holder. 22. Two hands to unlock bit holder. 23. Fold bit holder into handle. 24. Two hands to close handles. 25. Replace TTI into pouch. 26. All done. Ready to move on. b) P4 to rescue. 1. Hold shackle with L hand. 2. Open pouch and remove P4 (One hand only. = OHO) 3. With R hand thumb flip up 4 small tools. (OHO) 4. Select small FH driver. (OHO) 5. Open fully to lock position. (OHO) 6. Tighten screw. 7. Release lock and replace small driver. (OHO) 8. Replace P4 in pouch. 9. All done. Ready to move on. WINNER FOR TASK 1: P4, by a huge margin. Task 2: Removing cloth label from towel. a) TTI to rescue 1. Open pouch, remove TTI. 2. Open handles to access tools. (Two hand operation = THO) 3. Identify handle with scissors. 4. Use thumbnail to open scissors to lock position. 5. Rotate scissors from fully open to operating position (THO) 6. Use scissors to cut label. 7. Rotate scissors to fully open position. 8. Unlock scissors, fold into handle. (THO) 9. Close handles (THO) 10. Replace TTI in pouch. 11. All done. Ready to move on. b) P4 to rescue. 1. Open pouch, remove P4 2. Identify scissors. 3. Open scissors. (OHO) 4. Open blades with thumb. 5. Cut label 6. Fold scissors into handle (OHO) 7. Replace P4 in pouch. 8. All done. Ready to move on. WINNER: P4, easily. Task 3. Opening lid of tin of contact cement. TTI went through most of the stages of Task 1 to extract the large FH driver/pry bar. This was largely a two hand operation. Steps 1-8. P4: open pry bar (OHO), use, replace. Steps 1-5, OHO. WINNER: P4. Easily. So, which one would I want to carry for all those little ordinary jobs that one encounters all day long?? In other words, which one for every day carry? ANSWER, AND EASY WINNER: P4. Briefly, why: • P4: one handed operation. • All tools accessible from outside of handles, so don’t have to open the handles to get at tools. • All tools needed are all ready to use. NO fiddling with tool set. • No tearing at little nail hooks to open the tools. Just flip up with thumb. • Both are Leatherman tools, so both have excellent build quality. • P4 much lighter. See weights at top. • TTI is 2mm narrower than P4. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ I hope that this helps you to make a decision on your everyday carry.
Owen, I can open with one hand my P4 wearing gloves. That is pretty darn nice when you are in freezing temperatures and you can perform the task without removing your glove.
I like the crimper for pulling out stubborn lynch/hitch pins and twisting tie wire. Also I can use some of the other tools in place of an awl. But when you need a tiny screwdriver....
Great video! In fact the place I live the prices of charge+ and charge+ tti don't differ much (like 10 dollars only) so I'm definitely going for the titanium one (for the blade definitely), but may I ask if there would be any changes from the Leatherman shortly? I might wait for the upgrade on the pliers and the crimpers. BTW if I got more money I might go and buy a wave+, mod it myself and exchange the blade and serrated knife with the charge+ tti. That would be the best blades combination.
My only issue with my Charge+ TTI is that the tension bar on my scissors will pop off to the side of I don’t totally alleviate pressure on them between pressing down to cut.
TX Tool Crib it has never bothered me enough to send it in as I don’t carry it very often. Maybe I’ll send it in instead of just having it sitting on my shelf
TX Tool Crib So, I grabbed my Charge+ Tti to have a look at it after I made that comment and decided to try taking the diamond file of the Juice Pro to it to see if there was maybe a small burr or defect causing the issue. A few light passes along the back of the scissors where the spring bar rests seem to have fixed the issue. . . Why didn’t I think of doing that years ago? Lol
I have seen Leatherman multitools reviews from lots of youtubers. It seems that they can't have the perfect multitool every time they explain about the different features on different models of Leatherman tools. My opinion is, the best multitool is the one you carry with you. Cause when you in a crunch, you not going to be thinking about missing things, flaws or missing elements on the tool. Trust me! I have been in that situation. And also, how many multitools do you really need huh?
I got lucky and found a 2011 model with the far far prettier Ti scales and S30V(early TTi was 154cm, indeed). Got two and carried one altering between it and the free P4. ARC has retired them to the "extra with wear, so good to test with" drawer. I know you have this older video, but definitely get the TTi year model right before this one. LM really decreased the looks with the scales shown in the video.
Pretty weird how you consider 30$ extra for s30v and TI not worth it when the average pocketknife in s30v and TI costs about 100 more or over a 440c and alu scales pocketknife.
Does anybody have any recommendations for a swiss army style companion knife/tool for this leatherman. Id love something that could compliment this and add more functionality.
@txtoolcrib Maybe update the vid or description with the fact that leatherman removed the crimper you complained about in the current version of the charge tti :)
I really enjoy your reviews. I bought a TTI and had to send it back as some of the outer tools were loose and rubbed the inside of the scales. Also when pressure was applied when using the pliers the scales would click out of place a real shame for such and expensive tool. I hope the new one they send will be better and was wondering if u any of these issues with yours.
I haven't encountered that issue with the Charges. Maybe they forgot to add in the outside washer by mistake. At any rate, Leatherman should fix you right up.
My Charge +Tti is my summer Edc. Winter is the Surge. Agree with you about it should have an awl. Much more useful than the micro driver. Not much interested in the gut hook. I find it catches on stuff. Disagree about the crimper. In your demo, you didn't even try to use the crimper in the pliers jaws.
It's funny how people are different. You said you like the Charge plus over the Charge TTI. I didn't like the feel of the aluminum scales. To each their own.
That’s so true. People also have different needs when it comes to multi tools also. A great number of people would prefer that their multi tool not include a serrated blade, where to someone like me, that is an essential tool to have. Luckily, we have a large selection to choose from.
Would you buy this if you had the g10+ Earth charge. I also own the Leatherman surge, Leatherman wave (2 ea) and supertool 300 m. Don’t see a need for this!
If you asked of hundred different people that very question, you would likely get 50 that would say the P4 and 50 that would say the Charge. From my personal perspective, I feel the Charge is the better multi tool. It’s what you think that matters most though.
the whole point of titanium is that it's lighter than steel so if it's heavier than the wave I see no reason to get the charge tti plus over the wave besides the blade steel
Only shame, that Leatherman uses home brewed flat bits. Two millimeters more, in order to use quarter inch bits, would do no difference in handling and there could be one more short tool. Otherwise great design.
I see you skipped over the pullout lanyard loop in front of the saw and against the file/scissors liner. Works better than the accessory lanyard loop, as it can't fall off when you unlock a tool like the accessory lanyard loop can.
Found it on sale for about $170. Darn that crimper, buying it anyway. My first titanium tool. Darn that red G10 with black metal would have been the best looking tool ever. Thanks for the best multitool reviews on TH-cam.
if you're using your multi tool to crimp stuff you came unprepared, a leatherman is for emergency last resort stuff, it should not be you main tool for your job.
Well I have long since improved my audio. You might want to consider investing in a decent set of headphones or pods. There are any number of videos that I have trouble hearing when I am driving down the road with my windows down. I’ll tell you what I don’t do, I don’t complain about insignificant crap. I am mean seriously, listen to yourself. I think some people complain just to complain. And while the vast majority of this world will pat you on the ass and sing you Kumbaya to accommodate your precious sensibilities, I am not one of those people.
It's all relative. Ninety five percent of people out there would say my newest truck is overpriced, and for them they would be right. For those that live and work out of their trucks though, it is worth every penny.
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Not one day has gone by since I bought my leatherman that it hasn't been on my belt. I didn't think it was possible to love an inanimate object. but I do.
& now I want THIS leatherman
Leatherman slaps
You’re super weird too
“I’m fancy!” That’s what I want everyone to think when I pull out my multi tool! Lol great review
I have TTI and bought my son a Wave many years ago. Also, leatherman stands by its warranty. I don't leave the house without my TTI. We both love our Leatherman knives. Forgot to mention, Excellent review. Than you.
Both of those models are excellent multi tools. I appreciate you watching and for taking the time to comment. You’re very welcome.
My dad bought me a 1st gen charge TTi for my 18th birthday. The next day we went snowmobile riding and it slipped out of my bag!
By some crazy token of luck, I found the knife on the return trail... it has a scrape in the titanium scale from a carbide stud, i didn't get the scale replaced because its a great story.
I still have the tool 12 years later. I know have a collection, and my beat up charge is the centerpiece
That’s a great story, and a great memory.
By far the VERY BEST REVIEW.
Have had the charge XTi version since about 2004. Same crimper in the pliers. If i recall correctly that feature was being advertised as a nock set for archery at the time rather than an electrical crimper. I have used mine for setting a knock on my bow, it has worked just fine for the purpose, though as one might expect not as nicely as a tool dedicated to the task.
Cheers, excellent video. My Son bought this for my birthday the other day. He has the Surge and I chose the Charge + TTI. Like you I have a preference for titanium. To give you a timeline today is 16 Feb 2023.
You did not like the crimping tool on the the pliers and you wished they would drop it, ... they did as mine does not have it. It also came with 18 extra bits and case and not the 12 bit case from 3 years ago. I found that the Charge + TTI with the belt clip fits just fine in the ballistic black nylon case. I also agree about replacing the micro driver an with an awl.
I really like this EDC. I will probably get both the standard and the ratchet extension.
Cheers!
I use the can opener as a clam shell opener and works great, just have to sharpen the point so you can penetrate easier. I also ground the end of the file to a chisel point and is super handy to have. Totally agree with your integration of the micro driver idea. I've used the micro driver as a drill to drill small holes in wood and plastic and as a scraper in tight spaces. The crimper in the plier head is useless and weakens the tips, don't know what leatherman was thinking when they designed the tti.
Interesting perspective on the crimpers. I work as an electrician, and use my charge daily. While I typically use my dedicated crimpers, I have used the ones on the charge, and found them to be just fine. I completely agree on the awl. glaring oversight in my opinion. TH-camr zZz 777 did a vid a few years ago about adding an awl. I've been meaning to do it, but haven't yet.
That is a very popular mod. I should do a video on that come to think of it.
A great review, but a couple of points you missed: The crimp in the pliers is for crimping detonators to fuse, hence the name Charge. This information was on the website when I bought mine, but seems to have been redacted. And there's a little hidden lanyard loop in the end of the handle on the saw side. It's pretty hard to find. The easiest way is to open up the saw blade, insert one of the screwdriver inserts in the gap towards the end, and push towards the end. A little loop will emerge. This can be accessed via a tiny lug externally, too. I've had my Charge Ti since they were released in 2004 and while mine doesn't have the replaceable wire cutters, it's still my go-to multitool. It must be said that the 2004 vintage scales are much nicer than the example in your review. I use the little elastic sleeve on the side of the case to store a tungsten multi-sharpener, the handle of which I wrapped in thin waxed string to make it non-slip. It's the perfect companion.
I took my Wave, bought an S30V blade and serrated blade with rescue hook/gut hook and also upgraded the pliers to Wave+, now that is one sweet multi tool
I found the blade edge on my old 420HC blade tedious to keep sharp, hoping the S30V will give me some longevity between sharpening and also hold a better edge. Time will tell
Great review as always 👍
Hi Richard
That sounds like a gread idea.
Where did you got the replacement blades?
Thanks in advance
@@bobdermeister1703 I actually found them for sale on eBay by chance
Been running that combo for a few months now and can report its been a great upgrade, the different grade in steel has been very noticable. Just gotta keep your eyes peeled!
Did the same and love it. I also added an awl from a rebar, blade exchanger from a surge, and scissors from a wingman. While the scissors aren’t the best, they serve my needs and are handy to have outside opening. The thing is a workhorse and gets used every day.
@@jayandmargie Nice, sounds like you have it fine tuned. You really can't beat a good multi tool, having that S30V steel makes the world of difference
Charge+ TTI's price in Turkey (Turkish Lira) is almost equal to one month's salary of a full-time minimum wage person. So, if we try to interpret this price to the USA, that would be equal to 1125$ for one Charge+ TTİ. This made me smile when I hear you complaining about 170$ is being overpriced:) in Turkey we are paying a great amount of money to have one of these. Great review by the way.
Thank you sir.
If I could get the Charge serrated blade for my Wave+ I’d be happy. If they made an adapter so the micro bit would work in the bit holder and gave me an Awl instead of wasting a spot in the Wave to fix eyeglasses I’d be REALLY happy. But overall I love the Wave+ it’s hard to beat. I do a lot of crimping with it and having the scales on a TTI in the way so I could not crimp would be a non-starter for me.
Mannnn so many choices, they look clean, thanks for the video
You bet.
That crimper is blasting caps only. Designed to appeal to military members.
I did find 1000 used for it, including pulling nails, hold dowels to hammer, etc
Have a Surge coming as a Christmas gift. Will carry it every day despite the weight . Carried the Rebar for years before finally loosing it , hope it serves it's next owner as well as it did me.
Excellent choice, but then again I am biased. Lol
I had mine stolen in my truck. I hope it will cut his next owner's fingers off.
This has a crimper. That and the gut hook (perfect for opening parts bags) is what sold me over the Swiss option. No regrets. With the adapter there are not many appliances I can’t repair.
The old charge tti was my first multitool, and yes it looked premium, it had gaps between the titanium handles and the inner part, the saw scraped against something when opening and closing, it had sharp edges on the thumb holes and back of the outer tools. The pliers often snagged on something inside while closing the tool. So it wasnt that premium at all besides the materials used. Sold it because one hand opening blades are not street legal here. Bought a swisstool for the money and while this one had no fancy metals in it, was machined to perfection and functions nice to this day after years of abuse. (it was made in 1998 or so)
Great video. I wish they'd give us an option to have a plier head without the crimper on the Tti. But otherwise an awesome tool.
It would be nice to get a version with the standard pliers. I remember years ago when I first saw that, I thought that was going to be a great option. Boy was I wrong.
@@txtoolcrib Very true.
@@txtoolcrib You can always replace the pliers head, it's not that difficult.
Yeah, you’re right. I just wish you didn’t have to swap it.
I’ve got the TTI anI love it but I do agree with you on the points you mentioned. I’m also a big Victorinox fan as well. I’m really enjoying you videos so please keep them coming. 👍🙂
Thank you very much.
Been using the TTi now for about 2 months and while its a great multitool my pliers are still so stiff. I just feel at this price point the pilers should be butter smooth. Advice for Leatherman invest more R&D into the plier head operation they been in the business for years now and having stiff pliers should not exist.
I agree. I’ve noticed that in more than one model myself.
Remarkable review! Thank you! 😊🤙
Just to shed light on things, I have a Cabela’s exclusive Charge+ TTI in black coated tools & camouflage handles(I think possibly mosey oak), which is from when the model was new, and it was the only one that had upgraded steel (154 CM, later S30V, I have the 154CM), as well as the gut hook on the serrated blade, and it was referred to as a “knock crimp” for arrows. I think when they started marketing the features to everyone instead of just hunters, they change the name to wire crimpers because it would be more likely to be seen as useful. I have never used it for his intended purpose, but I have used it much more for random things than I would’ve imagined. I just thought you might like knowing how those features came about & they may make a little more sense. I hope that helps a fellow “knife nut” understand the utility of what it was meant for & why it’s not as good for other things. “Knife Nuts” gotta stick together and help each other out! 😂 thanks buddy! Best wishes to you and your family. ✌️🇺🇸
fantastic very detailed practical review
i hope other reviews watch yours AND LEARN
thank you
The crimper is good for split shot sinkers if you're doing alot of fishing.
Ahhh. Thanks for that. I hadn’t even considered that use.
Great Review and suggestions! There are certain aspects like wire crimpers I'd just figure worked "well" until I understood there was an alternative
Thank you sir.
I’m good with 154cm blade on my charge plus , my favorite vintage Benchmade 9100 Stryker Knife that I been carrying with me over 7 years has the 154cm blade still going strong 💪 .
Now that the ARC is out, I’m not so thrilled. I would rather prefer a Garage #5.
However, the tool I wish Leatherman made so badly is a Surge TTi with a Magnacut or even a S30V blade but with the adjustable plier pivot.
I think the TTi handles on the Surge will make it SO much more carry-friendly.
That would be Leatherman Apogee!
Hmm, I bet someone somewhere has made a reamer/awl that fits into the bit exchanger. A chisel would be cool too.
I’m sure you’re right.
Re the semi-circular depressions in the needle nose pliers - believe it or not, those are not designed to be crimpers (as almost everyone assumes). When asked about their purpose a Leatherman company rep said this: "It is called a nocking jaw (used for archery)." Seems like a terribly specific use for a general purpose multi-tool (!) but that actually explains away the inferior crimper application.
Thanks for the review
I just got my Charge+ ti and it doesn't have a crimper in the pliars head any more. Interesting.
Just a thought though about the crimper. I did some experimenting. The plier crimper sort of work like a dedicated crimper, if you put a ton of force to it. But what I actually discovered, and believe there's a design for, is that if you first do a "pre-crimp" with the plier head crimper, it will actually stay better in the main crimper. I think it was designed that way.
Christian Karhu You are correct. I believe in the video that I made comparing be Leatherman Wave to the Leatherman FREE P4, I perform the crimping task in the very same method. In some of the larger multi tools, it isn’t necessary to do a pre-crimp first. I have found that all the medium duty Leatherman tools do require using that method. The Surge and SuperTool 300 don’t require that extra step. That is to be expected though because those are both larger multi tools. Thanks for taking the time to pass on your experiences.
Love your reviews and decided to get a Charge TTI a few weeks ago. Got it from REI and the main blade sounded like it was rotating on sandpaper- very very difficult to open and close. I also noticed that the washers didn’t look like phosphor bronze(have pics), they were aluminum color. Decided to try another one and was excited until I found it was exactly the same as the first one! Impossible to open the blade with my thumb. They both seemed to have poor machining and diagonal lines on the scales instead of being smooth. I then decided to order one from Lowe’s to see if a different batch was better- and it came today. This one is so different- you can see the gold washers, super smooth opening, smooth scales....feels like a different tool. So, after all that- what do you think of this? Is REI selling a cheaper version, or factory rejects or something? Have you seen any without the phosphor bronze washers? REIs came in a display box that would hang, and Lowe’s came in a smaller box that slides open. I can provided pics if you are interested. Thanks for your thoughts!
I found out by buying multiple leathermans the best bet is to buy it directly from Leatherman themselves. I bought a Leatherman from a second hand site and the quality just felt worse. The blades were crunchy and stuck, and the lock was faulty. Worse thing about it is you don’t get the warranty.
@@shipwreck4629 you get a warranty for evers single tool no matter wjere you buy it from I think, atleast if you send it directly into Oregon to their factory
I had a charge as a present from my wife but lost it recently at work.I was absolutely gutted as i used it every day and it also had sentimental value.I replaced it with a surge and apart from the sentimental value i'm glad i lost it......the surge is in a different league altogether,far better value than the charge and far more capable.
How long did you have it for?
Slight disagreement -- I think the prybar is redundant, since there are already multiple flat-head bits for the large bit exchanger. I've been thinking about grinding my prybar into an awl shape.
I would also not mind if they turned the serrated blade of the Wave+ into larger, stronger scissors. If they did this, then I'd also be OK with the smooth blade changing to a combo smooth+serrated. EDIT: I also wish the file was more aggressive on its coarse side.
All good points.
Great review. 👍 you should do a Multitool collection video and a knife collection video👍
At some point in the future I plan to.
Great video. I just bought the charge tti and noticed that the scales move when I grip the pliers hard. Did you notice that? If so, we’re you able to resolve it?
I just bought mine is on its way. Charge+ titanium. I will comment back after a month or two see how it goes.
I think you're going to like it.
Gilberto how do you like it?
I think the Charge+ TTi is worth the money, the S30V, Ti scales (which offer improved grip over a Wave), plus the accessories, comparing it to the retail price of knives on the market today. That being said I love Titanium, my EDC consists of Ti almost exclusively, knife, pen, box cutter, sunglasses, tape measure, multi-tool, so I love titanium. While I believe the Charge+ TTi is worth the price, for the average person it would be difficult to justify the price when the Wave+ (which has better pliers) does the same thing $70+ cheaper.
I have nodes that the plier head is different on leathermans website it doesn't have the hole for wire crimping which I like better but was just wondering if they had changed it
Great video, thank you. One thing I can’t wrap my head around though: why does apparently everyone but me use the notch in the opener combo tool for wire stripping when it’s clear to me that many multitools have a much superior alternative? In my experienced opinion has an electronics tech for many years, the hard wire cutting notch works much better. It essentially is an adjustable wire stripper. Even on multis that don’t have the notch, I can get a much better strip inside the wire cutters than I can with any little notch on an opener blade. What am I missing?
My Charge + TTI doesnt have a crimper build in the needle nose. Just on the back side. So it's like the Wave pliers here. Greetings from Germany :)
The premium multi tool with a hideously premium price tag!! Save yourself the cash and go the surge
Nothing wrong with the tti...just a "show off" version of a wave...i use mine everyday
They seem to have removed the crimper in the new 2023 version of the Charge+ TTI
Lol I never used the stripper, despite needing one all the time. I just made the cutter in the pliers due.
Leatherman Free P4 v Leatherman Charge TTI
You cannot watch any TH-cam videos on multitools without claims that the P4 or the TTI is the best everyday carry.
So, since I have both TTI + multi flat driver bit set (will call this the “set”), and the P4, I decided to carry both in leather pouches on my belt, and use them both for the same tasks.
TTI: Weighs 351g with pouch and set.
P4: Weighs 296g with pouch.
Task 1. Walking dog in open paddock. Noticed that the screw bolt in a small shackle on collar was loose.
a) TTI to rescue.
1. Step on dog lead to keep dog there.
2. Open pouch.
3. Remove TTI.
4. Use two hands to open the handles.
5. Look to see which handle had the screwdriver bit holder.
6. Use finger nail to open the (locking) bit holder.
7. Pull out flat head/phillips bit to see the FH driver on other end.
8. Note that the FH driver was too big.
9. Put this bit in pocket.
10. Extract “set” from pouch.
11. Locate small FH driver bit.
12. Extract this bit.
13. Put set into pouch
14. Insert into bit holder
15. Tighten screw. Done!
16. Remove small FH driver bit from bit holder.
17. Retrieve set from pouch.
18. Replace small FH driver in set.
19. Place set into pouch.
20. Retrieve FH/Phillips bit from pocket
21. Replace this into bit holder.
22. Two hands to unlock bit holder.
23. Fold bit holder into handle.
24. Two hands to close handles.
25. Replace TTI into pouch.
26. All done. Ready to move on.
b) P4 to rescue.
1. Hold shackle with L hand.
2. Open pouch and remove P4 (One hand only. = OHO)
3. With R hand thumb flip up 4 small tools. (OHO)
4. Select small FH driver. (OHO)
5. Open fully to lock position. (OHO)
6. Tighten screw.
7. Release lock and replace small driver. (OHO)
8. Replace P4 in pouch.
9. All done. Ready to move on.
WINNER FOR TASK 1: P4, by a huge margin.
Task 2: Removing cloth label from towel.
a) TTI to rescue
1. Open pouch, remove TTI.
2. Open handles to access tools. (Two hand operation = THO)
3. Identify handle with scissors.
4. Use thumbnail to open scissors to lock position.
5. Rotate scissors from fully open to operating position (THO)
6. Use scissors to cut label.
7. Rotate scissors to fully open position.
8. Unlock scissors, fold into handle. (THO)
9. Close handles (THO)
10. Replace TTI in pouch.
11. All done. Ready to move on.
b) P4 to rescue.
1. Open pouch, remove P4
2. Identify scissors.
3. Open scissors. (OHO)
4. Open blades with thumb.
5. Cut label
6. Fold scissors into handle (OHO)
7. Replace P4 in pouch.
8. All done. Ready to move on.
WINNER: P4, easily.
Task 3. Opening lid of tin of contact cement.
TTI went through most of the stages of Task 1 to extract the large FH driver/pry bar. This was largely a two hand operation. Steps 1-8.
P4: open pry bar (OHO), use, replace. Steps 1-5, OHO.
WINNER: P4. Easily.
So, which one would I want to carry for all those little ordinary jobs that one encounters all day long?? In other words, which one for every day carry?
ANSWER, AND EASY WINNER: P4.
Briefly, why:
• P4: one handed operation.
• All tools accessible from outside of handles, so don’t have to open the handles to get at tools.
• All tools needed are all ready to use. NO fiddling with tool set.
• No tearing at little nail hooks to open the tools. Just flip up with thumb.
• Both are Leatherman tools, so both have excellent build quality.
• P4 much lighter. See weights at top.
• TTI is 2mm narrower than P4.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
I hope that this helps you to make a decision on your everyday carry.
Owen,
I can open with one hand my P4 wearing gloves.
That is pretty darn nice when you are in freezing temperatures and you can perform the task without removing your glove.
I like the crimper for pulling out stubborn lynch/hitch pins and twisting tie wire. Also I can use some of the other tools in place of an awl. But when you need a tiny screwdriver....
I also use the crimper for Pulling wires & other things...also in planning to make an Awl like this :th-cam.com/video/WWnPTynCN6Q/w-d-xo.html
Great video!
In fact the place I live the prices of charge+ and charge+ tti don't differ much (like 10 dollars only) so I'm definitely going for the titanium one (for the blade definitely), but may I ask if there would be any changes from the Leatherman shortly? I might wait for the upgrade on the pliers and the crimpers.
BTW if I got more money I might go and buy a wave+, mod it myself and exchange the blade and serrated knife with the charge+ tti. That would be the best blades combination.
I am not aware of any changes to these models that they have planned. I would guess that the model will stay as it is for quite a few years.
My only issue with my Charge+ TTI is that the tension bar on my scissors will pop off to the side of I don’t totally alleviate pressure on them between pressing down to cut.
That sounds like a warranty issue. I have never seen that happen before.
TX Tool Crib it has never bothered me enough to send it in as I don’t carry it very often. Maybe I’ll send it in instead of just having it sitting on my shelf
TX Tool Crib So, I grabbed my Charge+ Tti to have a look at it after I made that comment and decided to try taking the diamond file of the Juice Pro to it to see if there was maybe a small burr or defect causing the issue.
A few light passes along the back of the scissors where the spring bar rests seem to have fixed the issue. . . Why didn’t I think of doing that years ago? Lol
Lol. Well that’s great. Glad to hear you were able to fix it.
TX Tool Crib Thanks! Having this video motivated me to resolve the issue finally! Haha
I have seen Leatherman multitools reviews from lots of youtubers. It seems that they can't have the perfect multitool every time they explain about the different features on different models of Leatherman tools. My opinion is, the best multitool is the one you carry with you. Cause when you in a crunch, you not going to be thinking about missing things, flaws or missing elements on the tool. Trust me! I have been in that situation. And also, how many multitools do you really need huh?
Цей обтискач- точка їхнього зламу... Дуже раджу замінити ці пасатижи на інші, зі звичайного Charge
Дякую за огляд👍👍👍
I got mine new for 145 but love it and would like it without the front crimper and wish they would back the back crimper better tho
Helpful video.
Thank you.
I put wave + plier head in my charge Tti, got rid of the crimper and gain replaceable wire cutter!
Nice! I think that combination will work better.
I can only purchase our letterman multitool, can you please help me? I would you recommend what you feel would be the best choice?thanks.
Thanks
I got lucky and found a 2011 model with the far far prettier Ti scales and S30V(early TTi was 154cm, indeed). Got two and carried one altering between it and the free P4. ARC has retired them to the "extra with wear, so good to test with" drawer.
I know you have this older video, but definitely get the TTi year model right before this one. LM really decreased the looks with the scales shown in the video.
Pretty weird how you consider 30$ extra for s30v and TI not worth it when the average pocketknife in s30v and TI costs about 100 more or over a 440c and alu scales pocketknife.
Does anybody have any recommendations for a swiss army style companion knife/tool for this leatherman. Id love something that could compliment this and add more functionality.
You have inspired me to make a video about this, because there are so many very good options.
@@txtoolcrib look forward to it
Complimenti bellissima
4yrs later $199??? I still want one those my modded wave has the awl a s30 blade if only I could get a good charge serrated blade
@txtoolcrib Maybe update the vid or description with the fact that leatherman removed the crimper you complained about in the current version of the charge tti :)
I really enjoy your reviews. I bought a TTI and had to send it back as some of the outer tools were loose and rubbed the inside of the scales. Also when pressure was applied when using the pliers the scales would click out of place a real shame for such and expensive tool. I hope the new one they send will be better and was wondering if u any of these issues with yours.
I haven't encountered that issue with the Charges. Maybe they forgot to add in the outside washer by mistake. At any rate, Leatherman should fix you right up.
my tti scales have play in them too. when I really clamp on the pliers I can feel it and its very disappointing.
I just bought a new one for 145! Didnt get it yet hope I like it!?
Do you like it?
Well it’s €250 nowadays. Think that’s overpriced too? Cuz I find it pretty hard to justify compared to a €130 surge
My Charge +Tti is my summer Edc.
Winter is the Surge.
Agree with you about it should have an awl. Much more useful than the micro driver.
Not much interested in the gut hook. I find it catches on stuff.
Disagree about the crimper. In your demo, you didn't even try to use the crimper in the pliers jaws.
Pls make Charge Plus TTI Vs Surge
It might be a while, but I will try to do just that.
It's funny how people are different. You said you like the Charge plus over the Charge TTI. I didn't like the feel of the aluminum scales. To each their own.
That’s so true. People also have different needs when it comes to multi tools also. A great number of people would prefer that their multi tool not include a serrated blade, where to someone like me, that is an essential tool to have. Luckily, we have a large selection to choose from.
Would you buy this if you had the g10+ Earth charge. I also own the Leatherman surge, Leatherman wave (2 ea) and supertool 300 m. Don’t see a need for this!
Everyone says get rid of this, get rid of that.... if you make the Charge+ one tool thicker, you can add 4 tools, 2 of them easily.
Free P4 with mods = perfect for me
found one on marketplace like new 80$ CAD really good buy
What tool is the best? A Leatherman P4 or a Leatherman Charge + AL.
If you asked of hundred different people that very question, you would likely get 50 that would say the P4 and 50 that would say the Charge. From my personal perspective, I feel the Charge is the better multi tool. It’s what you think that matters most though.
I love my Charge plus TTI. Thank you
7:00 no crimper anymore in 2022 tti Model. I bought a new one.
Very good review, i like when you use kilogram and metrics, so we in europe Will understand :)
It would be great if someone could weigh the tti vs the +
This is one of the main reasons I want the tti
Tti is 10g heavier
@@spontanmontan TTI is 17 g heavier, even. Counter-intuitive, considering the titanium. Do you know why it's heavier, @TX Tool Crib ?
@@Spurdospaerde692 the Normal charge has nylon scales not the titanium ones so its lighter
They need to bring back the Charge Ti and make a Charge Ti Plus.
Agreed.
What’s the difference with the tti and the ti?
@@michaelyoung4550 no blasting cap crimper on the ti
the whole point of titanium is that it's lighter than steel so if it's heavier than the wave I see no reason to get the charge tti plus over the wave besides the blade steel
Some people just like the look I suppose.
They are same weight
Only shame, that Leatherman uses home brewed flat bits. Two millimeters more, in order to use quarter inch bits, would do no difference in handling and there could be one more short tool. Otherwise great design.
Also make review on Wingman and Squirt ps4
I will try to get them out soon.
They now have changed the tip its like a normal neddle nose
Nowadays, it cost almost 300$ in Greece
Wow!
I see you skipped over the pullout lanyard loop in front of the saw and against the file/scissors liner. Works better than the accessory lanyard loop, as it can't fall off when you unlock a tool like the accessory lanyard loop can.
Leatherman Charge+ TTI 2024 $325 amazon.
In Sweden it’s like $230-250!!
Pricey!!!!!
Found it on sale for about $170. Darn that crimper, buying it anyway. My first titanium tool. Darn that red G10 with black metal would have been the best looking tool ever. Thanks for the best multitool reviews on TH-cam.
if you're using your multi tool to crimp stuff you came unprepared, a leatherman is for emergency last resort stuff, it should not be you main tool for your job.
When You are use to wear spyderco knives you need at least S30vn.
Basically ur only paying extra to tell people that its titanium and ouuuuu guess what the blade is s30vn lol most people wouldnt even care
Austria, amazn over the original Leatherman shop : 251€ ! = 271,55 US$ ...thats overpriced my friend XD
“Pistol grip” lol
Can't hear u over the fart fan. Bye
You’re one of the special ones, aren’t you?
@@txtoolcrib I guess? But your audio levels are too low. I can't hear you over the fart fan..truck heater..or if my windows are down so I bailed.
Well I have long since improved my audio. You might want to consider investing in a decent set of headphones or pods. There are any number of videos that I have trouble hearing when I am driving down the road with my windows down. I’ll tell you what I don’t do, I don’t complain about insignificant crap. I am mean seriously, listen to yourself. I think some people complain just to complain. And while the vast majority of this world will pat you on the ass and sing you Kumbaya to accommodate your precious sensibilities, I am not one of those people.
Tti is way overpriced
It's all relative. Ninety five percent of people out there would say my newest truck is overpriced, and for them they would be right. For those that live and work out of their trucks though, it is worth every penny.
a deeply flawed toy.