“This little additional pouch…”. You are young, that’s a watch pocket.😄 I have carried Leatherman WAVE since it came out (with tool kit), but I also carry Knipex Cobra, a Proto 704 (I know, the big jaw version you can no longer find) 4 inch crescent, plus a good lockblade folder and a Victorinox Ranger. My cargo pants and belt are full, but everything has been used (except the trauma kit). Before Leatherman and Knipex, I carried 4” ChannelLock and 4” Crescent. I agree, Knipex Cobra is very useful. Carry what works for you.👍
Man after my own heart. I have never weighed my tools tosee if they are too heavy to carry. I'm only 73, but I have been living by that scout motto, "Be prepared," for over 60 years. On my belt I have 2 leather pouches which came with the Vise-Grip Toolbox about 20 years ago. One has my Toolbox and the other has my Wave with a Volty DC voltmeter in place of the reversiblebit. In my pocket is my Select-a-Bit 16 bit driver which I set up with 6 Torx rather than the stock 4. In that pocket is also a 16 ft tape measure. Then there is the zippered cargo pocket which has a gerber pouch with Knipex 125 Cobra and the 125 Knipex parallel jaw "wrench." There is also a Gerber Sportsman's Steel I purchased over 50 years ago at the PX at Ft Ord. Outside the pouch is my Victorinox Champion (same as Champ but no pliers) which also has a Firefly firestarter in place of toothpick. Then there is my 1 AA Innova billet aluminum lens focused LED light. So I carry some extra weight, I can do more things with what I have at hand.
@@grantdavis5992 I agree. As time goes by (I’m 69), you alter your EDC according to your needs. After a while, you have a lot of tools you use, none you don’t, be it the pocket voltage detector or the light that’s just right to hold in your mouth. Everyone is a bit different. But I like being prepared.👍
Been EDCing the Cobra XS since they cMe out. I never leave home without them. Great to remove staples, pulling out nails, grab unto hot things, bend sheet-metal, and work on large hose clamps and fittings.
I use these for everything, including bicycle repair. It's surprisingly easy to get the wheel nuts loose, even though I've torque'd them like a mofo using much larger spanners. They are shaped in such a way that you can focus on the turning, instead of wasting energy keeping them engaged
@@eng3d It's not a multi-tool for starters. As to the size, recently I had mine out just to do some little adjustments and the construction foreman who was working upstairs saw it and was interested in it. I said to him that I guess it would be nothing for a tradesman like him but he actually responded that he could see himself doing a lot with it. Often there are spaces where a larger water pump pliers, won't access, and this will.
Yes! I have these as well. The only other pair of knipex that I have is the 12 inch. They bite squarely at every setting instead of creating the angle bite. EXCELLENT tool for working on your pew pews
I carried a Leatherman Wave+ for many years and loved it. I recently got into SAKs and it got me thinking about why I'm carrying this Wave+ when I can carry something like a Swiss Champ which is about the same size, half the weight, and has twice the number of tools. Now I EDC a Swiss Champ and the XS pliers and I feel more equipped than when I just had the Wave+. Good video!
That's interesting. I have a Swiss Champ which I EDC and am considering buying the Cobra XS or the 125mm ones. I was using my Leatherman Wingman for a while until I fixed the scissors. So happy to have the Swiss Champ back again. The Cobra XS would be a great combo.
I have never been cut from a slip joint,(i have been cut a lot but not from that reason) i never liked modern pocket knives though. You just need to know to predict the tool. Plus when you cant carry a knife the plier is a separate tool. I made a horizontal sheath for it and it always on me(very disguised), most of time i forget its on me. You can open bottles and cans with it too, far from ideal but doable. Im still trying to find more unintended inusage for it. Over all the cobra xs and the vic classic sd are my most used tools for urban carry. Sorry for the long message :).
Also a big fan of the Knipex XS and the next size up for carrying around as a supplement to another non-plier based tool/knife. I still carry a traditional multitool more often, however as I often do more work on the go with wire and cables or fine work where I need to get into a small space than with larger nuts and bolts, so the lineman style found on LM / Swisstool / Gerber make more sense. You can break wire by bending it back and forth using the Knipex, but compared to just using wire cutters in a job where you have to do several back to back it gets tedious. I always have a medium to large tool (with a pocket clip, not on a belt, like you were carrying the Fastback in the video) and a smaller tool in case I need to use pliers and a driver. I change my carry often depending on where I will be that day and what may need to be done.
I recently started as maintenance guy for a county agency. I'v carried my Swiss Champ for over 37 years , now I also carry Knipex 125mm Cobras, 125 Pliers wrench, 6 in 1 Fastback, Kline flip bit 1/4" and 5/16" and a Craftsman 8' tape measure.
LOL im halfway tru vid and checked comments cause I was thinking "wtf am I the only one seeing this???" LOL it looks like those comparisons in shitty "call now" TV ads ^^
I've been seeing a lot of videos saying carrying one of these is unnecessary but I use mine nearly every day, both city life and camping. Between this, Griffin pocket tool, and my pocket knife it covers all my normal daily needs. My Leatherman's just live in the vehicles now.
I was an electrician for 4 years and my favorite tools are my set of Cobras. So versatile, i can use them for so many things. They're not the cheapest pliers but well worth the money. Didn't even know they made that baby version, good to know :)
it's great, but I bought a cobra 130mm, it is for big hands better and it has red plastic covered handles. That's advantegous under frozen conditions. So I sew a belt cover for it to carry it beside my Leatherman, and a LED torch.
I use the needle nosed pliers on my leatherman almost daily and I've carried a pocket knife since i was a kid. If I need pliers, I have a variety to choose from but I don't have a pair like those so I see myself buying a pair before too much more time passes.
Excellent points, after experimenting with multitools I found they are designed for camping more that repairs. Now I carry 6 in 1 + Ozark Trail 17-in-1 and might switch that to the Knipex Cobra. Good examples of using the tools to solve problems.
Great vid. I came to hate the Leatherman needle nose pliers for all the reasons you've shown. My solution though was to get the Leatherman Crunch. I like the wire cutting and stripping capability of that tool and locking pliers are a multi-tool in and of themselves.
Yesterday I handed a friend of mine this tool to remove zip ties. He was surprised not to see cutters but instead this tiny thing… told him to just squeeze the tie rib at the connector. Two seconds to remove two zip ties. He was impressed. It’s also a great defensive tool.
I quit carrying a multi tool years ago. These pliers look good, but I switched to craftsman ignition pliers as they are mire functional than the needle nose in multi tools. Good video
I carry a leatherman wave or gerbe MP for years. My buddy Is a auto tech and always carries a 5" cobra pliers and first hand can seewhat they can accomplish and is impressive, enough after decades I am wondering like others, why am I lugging a muti tool for edc since the pliers are what I use 95% of the time. I have a 5" Cresent pliers I decided to carry just to see how it would work for me.....sold. Will be picking up a few knipex pliers, especially a 4 and 5" to see which I will use along side of my other edc gear. My buddy is a big guy, and have seen him lossen nuts and bolts with the 5" that has amazed me, they do not slip and have truly amazing grip.
Have my 5" cobra for over a week now,I will not l99k back, was a diehard mutitool guy for decades, have a number of them even after giving multiples away.
Leatherman (and Knipex) would be smart to make a new multitool based on water pump plier head. It's just a better design for gripping bolts than needle nose.
Totally agree; these and the pliers wrench that comes in that little 2 piece kit - they're amazing! Not cheap, but you keep finding reasons to use them, and because they're small but really well built, sometimes you don't even need a bigger one... and they fit in tiny spaces too!
I really want both of them with the little pouch but they’re damn nearly $90 on Amazon idk if I can justify it (I’ll probably end up buying them for myself for Christmas). I own the pliers wrench and cobras in the 7-1/4 and they’re amazing. It’s a great size for just about anything. The twin grips are also great, I just got them a couple of days ago and I already got my moneys worth pulling out a bit from a nut driver that got stuck 😂
Your edc is the same as mine for a year now, the kinipex pliers are amazing, use them nearly everyday, love my leather man but only wear it if doing outdoor adventure activities
I was looking at all kinds of sheaths, even leather sheats for combs for this. Then I stumbled on a Phillips leather case for an iPod Nano for just £5 on the bay...bloody fantastic, perfect fit, means I can carry it in my main pocket without it slipping down to the bottom, or opening/closing and pinching my nads. My 5th pocket is occupied, with a Vic Swisschamp. Mostly also I clip a folder like the Spyderco Urban into the main pocket. Lots of capability and although I don't know about the file on the Champ, I do know that the woodsaw and scissors on it are better than on any Leatherman. I had tried various bit drivers as a 5th pocket addition to a folder and the Cobra XS but still I was lacking scissors, and the folding bit driver I found was almost as big as the Swisschamp. I find the Champ covers me for drivers for general EDC, the inline Phillips on it is outstanding. Going by the criteria of multitool manufacturers, the Knipex Cobra XS is a multitool, with 5 tools: needlenose pliers, regular pliers, adjustable wrench, bottle opener, and pry bar.
I will get both of them but to add to my tool bag or tool kit. Am not changing my leatherman to carry two tools. My leatherman sidekick and free p4 have helped for years without fail.
I carry channellock plyers. they're similar, they overall handle about the same size jobs but their physical bulk is much smaller and lighter. Alpha carries some three inch irwin brand vice grips that are fabulous
Needle nose is certainly different than a adjustable pliers I use a leatherman for so many things pliers are just that you can figure it out that needle nose pliers aren’t very good at nuts and bolts I carry both good little pliers
I always carry a Leathermam Surge, usually with the pocket clip in my front pocket. I got the Cobra XS to use in conjuction with the Surge because, like you said, the Surge pliers don't always cut it. These pliers along with the Surge and bit kit with the Lennox general cutting wood saw blade cover about everything I encounter.
Dang, this is an awesome review!!! I was less than a minute into the review when I subscribed. Getting the Knipex pliers wasn't even on my radar. I'm still going to get a Leatherman as it seems like the needle nose pliers will come in handy for other applications. But I'm going to also have the Knipex pilers in my go-bag as well.
You could add that it is better at fixing a car. But the Wave will outperform in a wider variety of tasks. I could make a video doing things the knipex is far worse at than the lm. Also the knipex can not cut wires. So it depends on the tasks. They are very different pliers and to be honest they can be both part of an edc kit.
yes because it has 10+ tools so yes it can do much more than single pliers. And thank you for acknowledging my superior mental capabilities. :) have a nice day@@vendettagrazie5653
I've gone from carying either a Leatherman Wave, or a SAK Hiker, to carrying a Case Stockman, a small 3 bit Picquick, and the Cobra Xs. I give up a small degree of versatility over the Wave, but each of these tools far out performs the Leatherman at their respective tasks. Not quite as compact as the SAK, but again, performance is improved.
There's been (rare) moments where I'm glad I had my Leatherman at work with the random tools it has but 99% of the year the Milwaukee utility knife and these Cobras would be more than enough.
I mean sure, if this suits your daily needs better, definatley go for it. The goal of any EDC is to sort out those daily problems you run into as effectively as possible afterall. I would not go as far as to say the knipex is "better" though. The whole idea behind the most common multitool plier designs is to make them as versatile as posible hence the wierd hybrid designs that does alot of jobs but none of them particularily well. The knipex is much more specialized. Gotta sat this is a really cool concept by knipex and its really cool how versatile they can be even in such a pocket friendly format and you video does a great job demonstrating that. I could definatley concider carrying one of these to compliment a standard needle nose multitool or even a SAK. I bet the knipex are alot more stable when twisting something with the nose of the pliers aswell - a move that is likely the most common cause of failure for most leatherman tools.
I carry every a Leatherman like rebar or something and the like 5 inch cobras, a kraftform kompakt a small Cresent wrench a Milwaukee box cutter ,a 21700 flashlight
I totally agree, except that I prefer the 150 mm Cobras. Sometimes I may use the 125mm, but the XS are just too small (for my big paws). There IS a very nice Leatherman compliment to this combo, though: the Style PS. By adding that small thing, one also gets the right tool for tiny spaces.
Victorinox Huntsman + Knipex Cobra 125mm + high quality splinter tweezers (Feilchenfeld) Thats's my EDC-combi for over a year know, and to me it's nearly perfect.
The knipex are much more ideal for pliers, but you pretending to not be able to turn a nut with the multi tool was hilarious. Reminded me of those 90s infomercials.
very true lol. the point of multitools is that they're not really the ideal tool for the job and you need to get creative. carrying a bunch of proper tools around feels like cheating
It was ridiculous, beside that he didnt mention all the points that leatherman is way better.. Cutting copper wires, fence wires, nails, grabing small things inside small holes, cutting with the scissors, yes the milwaukee cut too, but cuting thin ropes, and soft wires the scissor is better. The leartherman have a saw, that works fantastic with wood!
@gutierrezmoreno8974 Those little scissors will be pretty much useless after you use them to cut wires of any type. I have carried several different multitools including the Leatherman Wave and I just don't like it. So, I am biased because of this but I would much rather carry a couple of dedicated tools in my pocket/belt instead of the leatherman. My pocket knife stays razor sharp at all times so I can use that to cut anything that a blade is needed to cut. The most important feature that a multitool can have is the pliers and I'd prefer these tiny Knipex over the leatherman any day.
I’ve bought two Knipex smaller tools on Amazon and everything looked the same, as your unboxing, with one exception. Neither had the tag with the plastic loop, on them. This is part of what leads me to believe that the ones that I have, are counterfeit (I’ve seen one other video, with there tag looped to them). I have other reasons but I won’t speak on them, though I will say, I paid, full price. I’ll probably contact Knipex and see if they can test my tools. That being said, I definitely need that Cobra model and this is an excellent video of the real world applications.
Whatever works best. I carry the wave with me and it comes in handy with little things if I don't have my tool pouch nearby. I like these little Knipex pliers you're showing here. Good review
Welp, you just sold another pair. I wasn't even looking to buy new pliers, yet i now have these in my amazon shopping cart (using your link here). Thanks for the recommendation!
I am a huge fan of helping creators out that use links for Amazon. I always appreciate when someone uses my links so I used yours. Great video man keep up the great work. Btw I subbed ya. Have a great weekend
Great review man I just got my cobra xs today n already love em. I already have a 6in1 fastback n even better I can use the pouch to a leather men my buddy gave me... It fits both the fastback and cobras in it perfectly.
My mama always said to me: son, whatever it is that you do in life, always always carry a pair of pliers with you. Thank you mom for the priceless advice
Love the knipex too man! I have one too. But for everyday carry, check the leaherman skeletool. It has a spring clip that hooks to your belt loop and that makes it vastly superior to having to carry in your pocket. Plus the blade flips open with an easy thumb action.
As a pry tool you use the screwdriver on the Leatherman or Swiss Tool or SAK. IF you have the Knipex, you likely have something much better as a pry tool.
SOG power pint and Gerber dime and that's servers me well as I am never probably doing a bunch of macho stuff but if I do I definitely getting some of these!
way out of my price range. I'll "make do" with the pliers on the SAK Hercules, and LM Charge+ TTI I traded into a few years back. So far, they've done what I needed pliers for.
I have the cobra xs and the leatherman. I also have a small ratchet and a single blade Swiss army knife. All of these serve a purpose and do their respective jobs better than than each other. The leatherman should never be discounted, however, its cost has become exorbitant. Having options on a budget is fantastic.
Just an observation on carrying tools in a belt pouch: they can be awkward with loose shirts, causing them to rise over the pouch, and they need careful positioning if you're sitting, or working on your side. If you have to take the tool and the pouch off to work then you don't really have a benefit over having traditional tools.
I was never leaving without these, until I had to argue for 45 minutes with three different security guards/police at the airport, telling me that it was a tool regardless and that all tools were forbidden to take to plane, which almost made me miss my flight by 2 minutes, regardless of it's size. And they told me after allowing it first for 10 consecutive flights. So when it's your time, it's your time, these metal pieces draw attention, no matter what you think of it. Now I'm leaving without them (for carry bag only international flights). Other days, either Cobra100 or Cobra125 is in my backpack. Despite the convenience of carrying Cobra100, in two-three instances, I wished I had Cobra125 instead. Because in that very ackward position, the Cobra100 was losing it's adjustment, due to me trying to hang in that ackward situation, with the off hand, upside down, trying to work the piece. The Cobra125 wouldn't have had that problem, because it would maintain it's adjustment during the hassle. Therefore, I would say, Cobra125 is the smallest Knipex Cobra, Cobra100 is smaller sure and it's the next best thing, but it's a slightly different tool. More practical, for smaller things. But it has it's difference, which makes you wish you had the Cobra125 instead. Where it fails however, shines with other advantages. It's basically the keychain version of Knipex Cobra. If you can't take any bigger Cobra, at least take Cobra100, it's small enough to be not a burden, and it's still 90% Knipex Cobra.
Good combo, I will still carry a leatherman tho. The wave+ has an option to add a lanyard and a pocket clip, making the sheath not required for carrying comfortably, for me EDC is less items to remember to carry = better carry, adding two items instead of just one item that can do both things is a no brainer for me
The fastback flaw I found is the ball bearing that’s supposed to hold the bit in place, falls out over time. I think I may have applied too much torque on the screwdriver, which makes me wish they had made the bit holder magnetic,
I've used the same combo for almost a year, and I can't agree with you more. FANTASTIC combo!!!
Same. No better EDC out there.
“This little additional pouch…”. You are young, that’s a watch pocket.😄 I have carried Leatherman WAVE since it came out (with tool kit), but I also carry Knipex Cobra, a Proto 704 (I know, the big jaw version you can no longer find) 4 inch crescent, plus a good lockblade folder and a Victorinox Ranger. My cargo pants and belt are full, but everything has been used (except the trauma kit). Before Leatherman and Knipex, I carried 4” ChannelLock and 4” Crescent. I agree, Knipex Cobra is very useful. Carry what works for you.👍
Man after my own heart. I have never weighed my tools tosee if they are too heavy to carry. I'm only 73, but I have been living by that scout motto, "Be prepared," for over 60 years.
On my belt I have 2 leather pouches which came with the Vise-Grip Toolbox about 20 years ago. One has my Toolbox and the other has my Wave with a Volty DC voltmeter in place of the reversiblebit. In my pocket is my Select-a-Bit 16 bit driver which I set up with 6 Torx rather than the stock 4. In that pocket is also a 16 ft tape measure. Then there is the zippered cargo pocket which has a gerber pouch with Knipex 125 Cobra and the 125 Knipex parallel jaw "wrench." There is also a Gerber Sportsman's Steel I purchased over 50 years ago at the PX at Ft Ord. Outside the pouch is my Victorinox Champion (same as Champ but no pliers) which also has a Firefly firestarter in place of toothpick. Then there is my 1 AA Innova billet aluminum lens focused LED light. So I carry some extra weight, I can do more things with what I have at hand.
@@grantdavis5992 I agree. As time goes by (I’m 69), you alter your EDC according to your needs. After a while, you have a lot of tools you use, none you don’t, be it the pocket voltage detector or the light that’s just right to hold in your mouth. Everyone is a bit different. But I like being prepared.👍
Been EDCing the Cobra XS since they cMe out. I never leave home without them. Great to remove staples, pulling out nails, grab unto hot things, bend sheet-metal, and work on large hose clamps and fittings.
Good examples of the Cobra XS
Are you real? You sound like a bot
@@quartqwertbudisgood hmmmmmmmm. How are you hearing him?
I use these for everything, including bicycle repair. It's surprisingly easy to get the wheel nuts loose, even though I've torque'd them like a mofo using much larger spanners.
They are shaped in such a way that you can focus on the turning, instead of wasting energy keeping them engaged
I love these little pliers. I put some heat shrink tube on the handles of mine. They are a tad more bulky but much more comfortable to use now.
I read this comment yesterday. Did the same thing when I got to work today. Absolutely GOATED idea
The Knipex Cobra Wurth edition has tubes on the handle.
@@damienmidanik9680 that’s a great idea I’m going to try this out. Thanks!
For the prying, flip the pliers around and use the handle tip that has the flatter end. I'd try that instead of using the jaws.
Great review man. You're the only guy who's shown them in use being tested versus a conventional multitool, to convince the skeptics.
all pocket multi tools are horrible
@@eng3d It's not a multi-tool for starters. As to the size, recently I had mine out just to do some little adjustments and the construction foreman who was working upstairs saw it and was interested in it. I said to him that I guess it would be nothing for a tradesman like him but he actually responded that he could see himself doing a lot with it. Often there are spaces where a larger water pump pliers, won't access, and this will.
I love those pliers i bought 6 pair of those i keep them in my house, my work, my vehicle's, my garage, they are very strong, and well built 👍
Yes! I have these as well. The only other pair of knipex that I have is the 12 inch.
They bite squarely at every setting instead of creating the angle bite.
EXCELLENT tool for working on your pew pews
I carried a Leatherman Wave+ for many years and loved it. I recently got into SAKs and it got me thinking about why I'm carrying this Wave+ when I can carry something like a Swiss Champ which is about the same size, half the weight, and has twice the number of tools. Now I EDC a Swiss Champ and the XS pliers and I feel more equipped than when I just had the Wave+. Good video!
That's interesting. I have a Swiss Champ which I EDC and am considering buying the Cobra XS or the 125mm ones. I was using my Leatherman Wingman for a while until I fixed the scissors. So happy to have the Swiss Champ back again. The Cobra XS would be a great combo.
Just carry a cadet and a cobra xs
You're out of your😂
The Swiss Champ does not have a blade lock. So when you get traumatized, you'll remember the Leatherman Wave+. Good luck.
I have never been cut from a slip joint,(i have been cut a lot but not from that reason) i never liked modern pocket knives though. You just need to know to predict the tool.
Plus when you cant carry a knife the plier is a separate tool.
I made a horizontal sheath for it and it always on me(very disguised), most of time i forget its on me. You can open bottles and cans with it too, far from ideal but doable. Im still trying to find more unintended inusage for it.
Over all the cobra xs and the vic classic sd are my most used tools for urban carry.
Sorry for the long message :).
Dropping them at the end is about as realistic of a scenario as you can get.
Also a big fan of the Knipex XS and the next size up for carrying around as a supplement to another non-plier based tool/knife. I still carry a traditional multitool more often, however as I often do more work on the go with wire and cables or fine work where I need to get into a small space than with larger nuts and bolts, so the lineman style found on LM / Swisstool / Gerber make more sense. You can break wire by bending it back and forth using the Knipex, but compared to just using wire cutters in a job where you have to do several back to back it gets tedious. I always have a medium to large tool (with a pocket clip, not on a belt, like you were carrying the Fastback in the video) and a smaller tool in case I need to use pliers and a driver. I change my carry often depending on where I will be that day and what may need to be done.
I recently started as maintenance guy for a county agency. I'v carried my Swiss Champ for over 37 years , now I also carry Knipex 125mm Cobras, 125 Pliers wrench, 6 in 1 Fastback, Kline flip bit 1/4" and 5/16" and a Craftsman 8' tape measure.
Nice kit
@@james_gatlin Thank you.
Why do you become 30 IQ every time you use the Leatherman?
can't finish the video after reading this comment
Hahaha. I can't stop laughing. So true
LOL im halfway tru vid and checked comments cause I was thinking "wtf am I the only one seeing this???" LOL it looks like those comparisons in shitty "call now" TV ads ^^
@@zaub1😂 So true.
👍
I've been seeing a lot of videos saying carrying one of these is unnecessary but I use mine nearly every day, both city life and camping. Between this, Griffin pocket tool, and my pocket knife it covers all my normal daily needs. My Leatherman's just live in the vehicles now.
I was an electrician for 4 years and my favorite tools are my set of Cobras. So versatile, i can use them for so many things. They're not the cheapest pliers but well worth the money. Didn't even know they made that baby version, good to know :)
Welcome I have been using those pliers for almost two years now. I use them everyday in unicine with my Leatherman crunch
I always keep a mini blue channel locks in my back pocket, I use it often. Never had fallen out climbing, crawling, skating, etc
it's great, but I bought a cobra 130mm, it is for big hands better and it has red plastic covered handles. That's advantegous under frozen conditions. So I sew a belt cover for it to carry it beside my Leatherman, and a LED torch.
I use the needle nosed pliers on my leatherman almost daily and I've carried a pocket knife since i was a kid. If I need pliers, I have a variety to choose from but I don't have a pair like those so I see myself buying a pair before too much more time passes.
Excellent points, after experimenting with multitools I found they are designed for camping more that repairs. Now I carry 6 in 1 + Ozark Trail 17-in-1 and might switch that to the Knipex Cobra. Good examples of using the tools to solve problems.
Great vid. I came to hate the Leatherman needle nose pliers for all the reasons you've shown. My solution though was to get the Leatherman Crunch. I like the wire cutting and stripping capability of that tool and locking pliers are a multi-tool in and of themselves.
Yesterday I handed a friend of mine this tool to remove zip ties. He was surprised not to see cutters but instead this tiny thing… told him to just squeeze the tie rib at the connector. Two seconds to remove two zip ties. He was impressed. It’s also a great defensive tool.
I quit carrying a multi tool years ago. These pliers look good, but I switched to craftsman ignition pliers as they are mire functional than the needle nose in multi tools. Good video
I carry a leatherman wave or gerbe MP for years. My buddy Is a auto tech and always carries a 5" cobra pliers and first hand can seewhat they can accomplish and is impressive, enough after decades I am wondering like others, why am I lugging a muti tool for edc since the pliers are what I use 95% of the time. I have a 5" Cresent pliers I decided to carry just to see how it would work for me.....sold. Will be picking up a few knipex pliers, especially a 4 and 5" to see which I will use along side of my other edc gear. My buddy is a big guy, and have seen him lossen nuts and bolts with the 5" that has amazed me, they do not slip and have truly amazing grip.
Have my 5" cobra for over a week now,I will not l99k back, was a diehard mutitool guy for decades, have a number of them even after giving multiples away.
Leatherman (and Knipex) would be smart to make a new multitool based on water pump plier head. It's just a better design for gripping bolts than needle nose.
Best combo indeed! Use it too. Those little cobras are surprisingly capable, I once managed to unscrew a 2 inch nut with them.
knipex is awesome, the wave+ is too-- u need the pocket clip for the wave+, sold separately
Totally agree; these and the pliers wrench that comes in that little 2 piece kit - they're amazing! Not cheap, but you keep finding reasons to use them, and because they're small but really well built, sometimes you don't even need a bigger one... and they fit in tiny spaces too!
I really want both of them with the little pouch but they’re damn nearly $90 on Amazon idk if I can justify it (I’ll probably end up buying them for myself for Christmas). I own the pliers wrench and cobras in the 7-1/4 and they’re amazing. It’s a great size for just about anything. The twin grips are also great, I just got them a couple of days ago and I already got my moneys worth pulling out a bit from a nut driver that got stuck 😂
Old saying quality remains when price is forgotten.
Your edc is the same as mine for a year now, the kinipex pliers are amazing, use them nearly everyday, love my leather man but only wear it if doing outdoor adventure activities
I was looking at all kinds of sheaths, even leather sheats for combs for this. Then I stumbled on a Phillips leather case for an iPod Nano for just £5 on the bay...bloody fantastic, perfect fit, means I can carry it in my main pocket without it slipping down to the bottom, or opening/closing and pinching my nads. My 5th pocket is occupied, with a Vic Swisschamp. Mostly also I clip a folder like the Spyderco Urban into the main pocket. Lots of capability and although I don't know about the file on the Champ, I do know that the woodsaw and scissors on it are better than on any Leatherman. I had tried various bit drivers as a 5th pocket addition to a folder and the Cobra XS but still I was lacking scissors, and the folding bit driver I found was almost as big as the Swisschamp. I find the Champ covers me for drivers for general EDC, the inline Phillips on it is outstanding.
Going by the criteria of multitool manufacturers, the Knipex Cobra XS is a multitool, with 5 tools: needlenose pliers, regular pliers, adjustable wrench, bottle opener, and pry bar.
Some people are using the Swiss card scizors to fill that scissor need
I will get both of them but to add to my tool bag or tool kit. Am not changing my leatherman to carry two tools. My leatherman sidekick and free p4 have helped for years without fail.
I carry channellock plyers. they're similar, they overall handle about the same size jobs but their physical bulk is much smaller and lighter.
Alpha carries some three inch irwin brand vice grips that are fabulous
Needle nose is certainly different than a adjustable pliers I use a leatherman for so many things pliers are just that you can figure it out that needle nose pliers aren’t very good at nuts and bolts I carry both good little pliers
I always carry a Leathermam Surge, usually with the pocket clip in my front pocket. I got the Cobra XS to use in conjuction with the Surge because, like you said, the Surge pliers don't always cut it. These pliers along with the Surge and bit kit with the Lennox general cutting wood saw blade cover about everything I encounter.
I carry the Leatherman surge, Knipex Cobra and the Milwaukee..all in the Leatherman case..plus a Olight flashlight..
Dang, this is an awesome review!!! I was less than a minute into the review when I subscribed. Getting the Knipex pliers wasn't even on my radar. I'm still going to get a Leatherman as it seems like the needle nose pliers will come in handy for other applications. But I'm going to also have the Knipex pilers in my go-bag as well.
You could add that it is better at fixing a car. But the Wave will outperform in a wider variety of tasks. I could make a video doing things the knipex is far worse at than the lm. Also the knipex can not cut wires. So it depends on the tasks. They are very different pliers and to be honest they can be both part of an edc kit.
Wait, so a multitool has wider variety of tasks that it can be used for?! And way more than an knipex?! Wow you are so smart!
yes because it has 10+ tools so yes it can do much more than single pliers. And thank you for acknowledging my superior mental capabilities. :) have a nice day@@vendettagrazie5653
I've gone from carying either a Leatherman Wave, or a SAK Hiker, to carrying a Case Stockman, a small 3 bit Picquick, and the Cobra Xs. I give up a small degree of versatility over the Wave, but each of these tools far out performs the Leatherman at their respective tasks. Not quite as compact as the SAK, but again, performance is improved.
There's been (rare) moments where I'm glad I had my Leatherman at work with the random tools it has but 99% of the year the Milwaukee utility knife and these Cobras would be more than enough.
I mean sure, if this suits your daily needs better, definatley go for it. The goal of any EDC is to sort out those daily problems you run into as effectively as possible afterall. I would not go as far as to say the knipex is "better" though. The whole idea behind the most common multitool plier designs is to make them as versatile as posible hence the wierd hybrid designs that does alot of jobs but none of them particularily well. The knipex is much more specialized. Gotta sat this is a really cool concept by knipex and its really cool how versatile they can be even in such a pocket friendly format and you video does a great job demonstrating that. I could definatley concider carrying one of these to compliment a standard needle nose multitool or even a SAK. I bet the knipex are alot more stable when twisting something with the nose of the pliers aswell - a move that is likely the most common cause of failure for most leatherman tools.
I have a pair I bought at sema two years ago and I have carried them in my pocket EVERYDAY since. I love them!
I just got my Cobras yesterday and used it today! I literally ditched my Supertool 300 for a Cobra XS and Roxon KS2 Elite!
I loved your video. I just started to carry the same set up and it works great. I also like the leatherman skeletool cx plus swiss army manager a lot.
Perfect examples !!! I carry the Knipex cobra together with a Victorinox Compact and its a perfect combination👌
I carry every a Leatherman like rebar or something and the like 5 inch cobras, a kraftform kompakt a small Cresent wrench a Milwaukee box cutter ,a 21700 flashlight
You should make a review on what’s great about stone washed jeans! Great video sir! Knipex is awesome.
I totally agree, except that I prefer the 150 mm Cobras. Sometimes I may use the 125mm, but the XS are just too small (for my big paws). There IS a very nice Leatherman compliment to this combo, though: the Style PS. By adding that small thing, one also gets the right tool for tiny spaces.
But.. the XS has no adjustment button that sticks out, which is really annoying when you try to turn a bolt in tight spaces.
the XS are complete trash, you at least need the 5 inch ones, they are barely longer (1 inch) but provide much more
Spoken like a true pontificator :D@@escapetherace1943
I felt the first and last two seconds of this video in my soul! Great review with real world applications!
Victorinox Huntsman +
Knipex Cobra 125mm +
high quality splinter tweezers (Feilchenfeld)
Thats's my EDC-combi for over a year know, and to me it's nearly perfect.
The knipex are much more ideal for pliers, but you pretending to not be able to turn a nut with the multi tool was hilarious. Reminded me of those 90s infomercials.
very true lol. the point of multitools is that they're not really the ideal tool for the job and you need to get creative. carrying a bunch of proper tools around feels like cheating
It was ridiculous, beside that he didnt mention all the points that leatherman is way better..
Cutting copper wires, fence wires, nails, grabing small things inside small holes, cutting with the scissors, yes the milwaukee cut too, but cuting thin ropes, and soft wires the scissor is better. The leartherman have a saw, that works fantastic with wood!
@gutierrezmoreno8974 Those little scissors will be pretty much useless after you use them to cut wires of any type.
I have carried several different multitools including the Leatherman Wave and I just don't like it. So, I am biased because of this but I would much rather carry a couple of dedicated tools in my pocket/belt instead of the leatherman. My pocket knife stays razor sharp at all times so I can use that to cut anything that a blade is needed to cut. The most important feature that a multitool can have is the pliers and I'd prefer these tiny Knipex over the leatherman any day.
The Cobra 5” is superior in every way. It’s still tiny & light but has a longer reach, better grip & can fit an extra finger for more leverage
I’ve bought two Knipex smaller tools on Amazon and everything looked the same, as your unboxing, with one exception. Neither had the tag with the plastic loop, on them. This is part of what leads me to believe that the ones that I have, are counterfeit (I’ve seen one other video, with there tag looped to them). I have other reasons but I won’t speak on them, though I will say, I paid, full price. I’ll probably contact Knipex and see if they can test my tools. That being said, I definitely need that Cobra model and this is an excellent video of the real world applications.
Whatever works best. I carry the wave with me and it comes in handy with little things if I don't have my tool pouch nearby. I like these little Knipex pliers you're showing here. Good review
Agreed
Welp, you just sold another pair. I wasn't even looking to buy new pliers, yet i now have these in my amazon shopping cart (using your link here). Thanks for the recommendation!
I am a huge fan of helping creators out that use links for Amazon. I always appreciate when someone uses my links so I used yours. Great video man keep up the great work. Btw I subbed ya. Have a great weekend
Awesome, thank you!
@@james_gatlin my pleasure
Thanks for correctly producing the K sound in the Kn combination, My last name is the same combination. Cheers.
Shocking intro btw.
I can watch a quality review all day good vid thanks man
Thanks
Great review man I just got my cobra xs today n already love em. I already have a 6in1 fastback n even better I can use the pouch to a leather men my buddy gave me... It fits both the fastback and cobras in it perfectly.
For prying, don't overlook the utility of the handles 👍🏻
Wouldn't it be great if one was a slot head and the other a phillips head?
My mama always said to me: son, whatever it is that you do in life, always always carry a pair of pliers with you.
Thank you mom for the priceless advice
I bet you are her favorite daughter.
Mine should arrive tomorrow,hopefully will make a great pairing with a Victorinox Swiss army knife for edc.
The directional teeth are not a problem, because you can just flip the knipex around for loosening or tightening
I always have Leatherman Charge Knipex Cobra and Knipex XS always with me. They will be fine
Putting aside the price difference, which would you prefer between the Knipex Cobra XS and the Knipex Pliers Wrench XS, which is also 4"?
I have the leatherman charge tti with a bunch of bits… It’s great
Great review! Particularly comparing them to leatherman. Looking forward to more reviews with comaprison.
Knipex would do well to use these as the basis for a multitool. Just add screwdrivers to each handle-end.
Carrying exactly 6 in1 and cobra xs. Good video👍🏻👍🏻
Best comparing of pliers and multitool in favor of pliers. Thank you, I'll keep my wave.
Love the knipex too man! I have one too. But for everyday carry, check the leaherman skeletool. It has a spring clip that hooks to your belt loop and that makes it vastly superior to having to carry in your pocket. Plus the blade flips open with an easy thumb action.
The little pouch on all ur jeans is called a change pouch, iv never personally used it for change but that's just what it's called
That "little pocket" is a holdover from jeans designed over a hundred years ago. It was for a pocket watch!
Wrenches are required for bolts and nuts. Pliers are for gripping.
The knipex pliers-wrench might be an acceptable one tool compromise.
that is the most easy way to explain how to use a tool for edc, great job buddy
As a pry tool you use the screwdriver on the Leatherman or Swiss Tool or SAK. IF you have the Knipex, you likely have something much better as a pry tool.
Bro. This is what Ive been missing in my life
Great video James 👍🏻
The comparison demonstrations are very helpful.
Glad it was helpful! 👌🏼
SOG power pint and Gerber dime and that's servers me well as I am never probably doing a bunch of macho stuff but if I do I definitely getting some of these!
What I would recommend is putting heat shrinking tub on the end for safety reason and to get a better grip
Nice tip, thanks
@@james_gatlin any time man ...
Excellent review. Thank you very much
Ei cara, você produziu o melhor vídeo que já vi dessa ferramenta. Excelente trabalho mano!
Not for sure if anyone mentioned this but that little pocket on your jeans is for a pocket watch which no one has anymore
Great video! I run Leatherman Wave + pocket clip with the Knipex Cobra XS, and its awesome!
I just bought one. It is an excellent gripping tool, a complement to wire-cutting pliers.
They can even (kinda) cut wires too! I made a small vid showing that: th-cam.com/video/PGSbngf6SiI/w-d-xo.html
Totally agree mate, I carry my Knipex every day and also have some shorts planned where I show them in use too.
Thanks for sharing.
These saved me on the side of the road…..highly recommended
Every day carry pliers is ridiculous, oh like I'm running up to the jiffy store better put my pliers in my pocket😂
way out of my price range.
I'll "make do" with the pliers on the SAK Hercules, and LM Charge+ TTI I traded into a few years back.
So far, they've done what I needed pliers for.
Awesome pocket gadget , so much I bought two .. 👍👊🇺🇸
I’ll still keep my Leatherman wherever I go. It has multi functions never leave home without it.
Multitools are the jack of all trades and master of none.
I have the cobra xs and the leatherman. I also have a small ratchet and a single blade Swiss army knife. All of these serve a purpose and do their respective jobs better than than each other. The leatherman should never be discounted, however, its cost has become exorbitant. Having options on a budget is fantastic.
I learned so much in this video, love this
Great review! Thanks, Knipex ordered!
Just an observation on carrying tools in a belt pouch: they can be awkward with loose shirts, causing them to rise over the pouch, and they need careful positioning if you're sitting, or working on your side.
If you have to take the tool and the pouch off to work then you don't really have a benefit over having traditional tools.
I was never leaving without these, until I had to argue for 45 minutes with three different security guards/police at the airport, telling me that it was a tool regardless and that all tools were forbidden to take to plane, which almost made me miss my flight by 2 minutes, regardless of it's size. And they told me after allowing it first for 10 consecutive flights.
So when it's your time, it's your time, these metal pieces draw attention, no matter what you think of it.
Now I'm leaving without them (for carry bag only international flights).
Other days, either Cobra100 or Cobra125 is in my backpack.
Despite the convenience of carrying Cobra100, in two-three instances, I wished I had Cobra125 instead.
Because in that very ackward position, the Cobra100 was losing it's adjustment, due to me trying to hang in that ackward situation, with the off hand, upside down, trying to work the piece. The Cobra125 wouldn't have had that problem, because it would maintain it's adjustment during the hassle.
Therefore, I would say, Cobra125 is the smallest Knipex Cobra,
Cobra100 is smaller sure and it's the next best thing, but it's a slightly different tool.
More practical, for smaller things. But it has it's difference, which makes you wish you had the Cobra125 instead.
Where it fails however, shines with other advantages.
It's basically the keychain version of Knipex Cobra.
If you can't take any bigger Cobra, at least take Cobra100, it's small enough to be not a burden, and it's still 90% Knipex Cobra.
I use an ankle pouch. Medical, Leatherman, and the Knipex Cobra!
Good combo, I will still carry a leatherman tho. The wave+ has an option to add a lanyard and a pocket clip, making the sheath not required for carrying comfortably, for me EDC is less items to remember to carry = better carry, adding two items instead of just one item that can do both things is a no brainer for me
Plus Leatherman pliers will also cut, knipex won't cut wire, ties and other stuff too
The fastback flaw I found is the ball bearing that’s supposed to hold the bit in place, falls out over time. I think I may have applied too much torque on the screwdriver, which makes me wish they had made the bit holder magnetic,