I called Leatherman to order the pocket clip for the P4 and they told me that they would send me one for free. Looks like they came to agreement that they should have included with the unit. They told me that they were planning on sending clips to all who purchased the P4 through Leatherman. Call them if you have questions.
TX Tool Crib no, thank you. Seriously. Watching people who obviously have no idea what they’re talking about just to see what a particular tool looks like is painful. Great reviews man. You hit all the points only somebody that actually works with tools can hit. You saved me 120+ bucks on having to get one of these myself.
Jim Bonney Well you’re quite welcome. Comments such as yours give me incentive to devote more of my spare time to helping people reach informed decisions. I, much like yourself, have become quite disillusioned with numerous reviews from people that are reviewing things outside of their scope of knowledge. It is actually the reason I began this little channel. I’m glad you were able to save some of your hard earned cash. Once again, thank you.
Who ever heard of someone actually using the tool, and pointing out the negatives? Not blindly praising the hyped aspects, but instead explaining what the real deal is. That is why I subscribed, and unlike the Free tools, you do not disappoint. Keep up the great reviews, and I can only hope your honest channel grows to rival those of the sycophants, shills, and fanboys.
Thank you very much for your subscription. Your support means a great deal as well. Hopefully my little channel can one day grow into something special. I have found that I really enjoy passing on knowledge to other people. I have plans to add how-to videos in the future that will cover everything from simple DIY projects to full on construction projects as well as covering the tools to do such projects. Thanks again for watching, and for your support.
You could join forum.multitool.org if you haven't already. Lots of information and people who appreciate honest reviews, who would increase your audience.
I mean theres plenty of videos out there that do this lol. Everyone has their tools for their own specific purposes, and find flaws and positives based on their uses.
And how ironic that he didnt even use them before doing this video lmaoo. Just theorizing. Funny to look back at these old videos and remember when people thought the magnets were going to be a problem. Turned out that was a complete myth. I've had my P2 for over 2 years now and after grinding literal tons of metal, have had absolutely no issues with the magnets. I have really tough hands so I never felt any hot spots either. I was just looking for videos comparing the 2 side by side because I was considering getting the P4 and wasnt sure how much bigger it was. Guess Ill just get the P4 and sell it if it isnt what I want.
I am a maintenance technician at a pipe fabricating shop. The P4 has proven to be my go to multitool. The one handed accessibility is everything. I dont think this model is getting enough credit. Great tool and great reviews sir. Keep up the good work
A lot of people have the same opinion as you do. One hand accessible tools is what they deem most important. For that function, the FREE series fits the bill. If that doesn’t matter to you as much, then there are far better options in multi tools out there that are easily more capable. That’s not saying your choice is wrong. Everyone should choose the multi tool that best correlates with their needs. Sounds as if you found yours.
@@profd65 He said critical, not negative. Most people who reviewed the Free series did so from a superficial perspective and not practical. TX Tool Crib takes a more practical approach and isn't as impressed by flashiness as most UA-cam tool reviewers. After hearing their glowing reviews while completely ignoring the negative aspects of the tool, it's refreshing to hear an honest take from someone who actually USES tools instead of merely collecting them.
I know some guys fuss about the little ruler, but I love little details like that--I measure brake and tire wear on commercial aircraft and would use this all the time. Also handy for taking notes on dents and minor damage that need to be documented.
You make a good point, I could absolutely see how it could be useful in that application. I guess I shouldn't complain. It is just laser etched into the tool, so if they can, why not right? It just a little bonus tool. I actually prefer the frame stamped ruler for my applications though.
Your multitool reviews are simply the best by far. Your attention to detail is outstanding. I would like to see some demonstrations especially with comparisons. Thank you for making these videos 👍
Thank you very much, I appreciate that. I do plan to get some comparisons out soon, in which I will really be putting different models head to head and testing out their capabilities on video.
Great videos. Makes me wish I hadn’t dropped my modified Free P2 to the bottom of Santa Cruz lake while fishing last month (modded with a custom bit exchanger that accepted Leatherman bit sets AND 1/4” hex bits at a 90* angle) I wanted to mention to you because i’m not sure if you noticed; but the floating tool spacers also flex and act as mini leaf springs to provide tension to the locking bar. As for my 2 cents, I had my P2 for 8 months, and as a medium duty/urban/EDC it worked perfectly for me and my daily uses. Sure I could nitpick about wishing the blade was straight edge instead of a combo straight/serrated or wishing it came in S30V or with a bit exchanger. But I either modified it or adapted how I use it like keeping the magnets clean, smoothing any hot spots, etc. Since you can already customize designs on your Leatherman, I think the next evolution for the company will be offering modular tools that can have tools easily swapped out or allow us to choose a frame style and arrange each specific tool we want to be fitted from the factory. It’s the best solution in my mind to satisfy the most people especially when their tools are averaging around $120. That’s a lot to not get exactly what you want. Anyway keep up the good work and if you have any suggestions to help me replace my Free P2 like knowing someone who may be selling or would barter, I’m willing to consider ANY model or brand of multi tool if it’s good quality and a good deal. Thank you
I was waiting for your video to take a look on the new leatherman tools. Your reviews are the best on youtube. My impression is that the new "free" line is too fancy. I prefer the good old surge, with real tools for real life, as leatherman used to say.
Thank you Miguel, that is a helluva compliment. I tend to agree with you. I feel like the new FREE series are basically fidget tools for grown men. They do have some pretty cool engineering, but on the whole they just don't work for me. Leatherman can do better.
It's like they included toy versions of some of the tools on the Surge and Wave, like how they went from an 8 inch ruler to a 1.4 inch ruler, or from a pretty large file to one that's barely a nail file.
Good review. I’m sticking with my Wave as it has proven itself over the years for me. In fact, I plan to buy a new Wave as mine is pretty old and doesn’t have the replaceable cutters. Thanks.
I still can't get with them. They just feel flimsy to me. I can see where people find them useful for lighter tasks though. The fast deploy tools are kind of what sets it apart.
Also, those spacers between the outer tools and the inner tools are the springs for the tool lock. Press and release the lock for the tools and you’ll see them flexing.
Genesis You are absolutely right. I knew that, but I forgot to mention it in the video. I don’t go off of a script when doing the few videos I have done, it is sort of off the cuff. Seems I always forget something. Maybe I should be using a script in future videos. That’s a good eye btw, nice catch.
TX Tool Crib Update on the Free P4: I’ve found that the plier head will occasionally bind up after cutting wire to the point where opening the pliers will require more force than is necessary to fold the tool. That’s kinda bothersome. Although it will go back to normal after working it back and forth for a bit.
Thank you. I know what you mean. I was pretty excited about these new tools when I first saw them as well. I thought initially that the magnets were going to be an issue, but I wanted to keep an open mind. After encountering some of the other issues, I must say I was more than disappointed. If they were half the price I would be okay with the new designs. The high cost of these multi tools and their lack of functionality clearly sets them in the no go category for me though. Thanks for you comment, and thanks for watching.
Free series is a step back also! They should build from the best (Leatherman). Leatherman surge, Rebar, Wave, supertool 300. Shouldn’t remove things like the curl and bond does. We don’t want to sacrifice quality with price like they did with the Leatherman bond and the knife scenario!
After having used both, I find that i like the p4's screwdriver over the wave more now. If i'm carrying the extra bits with me anyway, i'm using the bit extender that could also fit on the p4. so it doesn't really take way from the tool. P4 just gets some extra reach.
I’m new to the world of multi-tools and heard the free was coming out, once I saw they didn’t have exchangeable bits. I went with the wave. Great video.
so the P2 is a wingman and the P4 is a Swisstool, but with mustard on them. Got it! 100% agree with the magnet concerns. I carry an inspection screwdriver with a magnet on the handle for operating flow meters (internal magnet switches) in my breast pocket and I'll tell you right now that thing is constantly picking up metal debris from all the work we do with iron pipe and crusty old fire hydrants. I can't imagine a magnet in the inner workings of a multitool being a good idea, at least for us industrial types. I'm sure there are many environments out there for it, but certainly worth hanging a light on this one.
First day of hard use on my new P2. You hit it right on the head with how the handles dig into your hands. As well as the lock release has some very sharp feeling edges. Hate the combo edge blade. Hate the tiny file and not having the diamond coating. The wire stripper is a total joke. I love the one handed operations. I do commercial HVAC and use my Leatherman all day long. I was really excited about Leatherman’s second attempt at a one handed multi tool (first being the OHT obviously) I’ll give it some more time, but so far I’m on the fence. Great video! Thanks.
Thanks for comments. I would imagine that in HVAC work you are constantly around metal shards and shaving. Maybe you could get back with us to let us know if the magnets in the P2 pick up a lot of trash, and if so how long. It would be interesting to see how these tools perform in different industries.
I work at a hardware store right now and I have to say the Wave is by far the most useful one-does-it-all tool (customers come in with all kinds of problems; bit exchanger for hex or Robertson for furniture or license plate installs, diamond sharpener to keep our water hose cutter going, serrated blade for cutting rope, large flat head for prying open cans of paint, tiny scissors to open skillfully and then reseal packages, wood & metal sharpener to smooth edges on poorly finished products, real long ruler to see if it's a metric or sae bolt and its length, heavy wire cutters for small chain and wire jewellery screwdriver for battery compartment on watches and scales AND big curvy can opener for lunch 🤓), so unfortunately I'm disappointed that in the last few years from leatherman there has been the Signal (too much plastic IMO) the juice cs3 (half juice just to get the famous s2 scissors) and now the free (urban edc folks who don't actually use the tool daily or even monthly will love it) is very disheartening 😔
Food for thought: So, I spoke to Leatherman today and they stated that all future orders of the P4 will be sent out with the pocket clip. Also, I uploaded a new video of my P2 after a few days of hard use. My unboxing video was swayed due to anticipation and excitement. (Oops)
Great review! I have a charge tti and wanted an upgrade. For my daily use this doesn't seem like an upgrade. It's still a beautiful tool don't get me wrong, but a tool is not meant to look beautiful. It needs to be useful and practical. The bit kit is a must for me and I use the eyeglass screwdriver for many other uses. Thanks for the great review I'll stick with my charge
I have been waiting to get my hands on one of these here in Australia. I haven't seen one out yet, so your review is timely for me. It was also a nice clear presentation. Your comment about the magnets is exactly what I thought also when I first saw these tools presented. Like you, I have a collection of Leatherman's, and I use them all mostly in a fabrication environment. I also do electronics work. A magnet is bad for cleaning, and can be bad in electronics, so I'm not a fan of that part of their design. Here the P4 is $340 and the P2 is $290, so not real cheap (exchange is about 1.7 AUD = 1 USD). I haven't done the maths to compare to the prices you said. That's my 20 cents. Thanks for your review.
Darren of Photos I estimate your prices in Australia to be about 40 percent higher than the US when adjusting for the exchange rate. I would assume, but can’t be certain that the prices are reflective of the extra cost of shipping. Seems a bit much, but then I have never had the occasion to ship anything to Australia. I think these two multi tools will find their place among the younger crowds who are not blue collar workers. I think the fact that they are one handed operable has disillusioned quite a few people to the fact that the tool sets are a bit of a step backwards. I guess time will tell. I have noticed that some of the people that had posted early videos and were singing the praises of these new multi tools are starting to take a step back though. I just hope that Leatherman does not see this magnetic architecture as the future of multi tools and try to incorporate the design into existing and future models. Thanks for your comment and for taking the time to watch my rather lengthy video.
Your video is very informative. I collect the multi tools, for fun and conversational purposes. I have the Leatherman surge, and Gerber truss, my favorites, especially the Gerber Truss as it's loaded with plenty of tools, but the Gerber truss is for display purposes only, the tolerances are so close and the frame so weak, that it would get bent out of shape quite easily. Leatherman surge is the one I would rely on if I had to, I have many other varieties such as Grandway Swiss Army products, all of them junk, that is unless you consider, that's some of them are really interesting and make good conversational pieces when passed around to friends, just before bringing out the quality pieces. Conclusion, Leatherman surge is the only practical one on the market today. You confirm my position, which is no to magnets, and lack of tool options such as a real metal file and exchangeable saw as well as the exchangeable bits as is the case with the leatherman surge. Of course I will still buy the P2 and P4, because I collect these things and it's always good conversation around the coffee table. Thanks very much, for your information.
Good review. I’ve had mine for a week. I think your opinion is going to be based on your trade. I’m an exterminator by trade and I use mine to hang fly lights while on ladders, set traps and adjust my sprayers among other things out in the field. They are best multi tool I’ve ever owned. The weight is right and the tools are easy to deploy. I’ve owned a Surge and it was too heavy and clunky for my use. There is a multi tool to fit every trade out there. Don’t discard it over someone else’s opinion. Test it out. You might like it... or not.
You're right about looking at things from your own point of view. I try to keep my opinions as open as possible, but it is hard not to evaluate multi tools, and tools in general, from your own trade and perspective. Of course, watching reviews on UA-cam for years myself, I always felt like there was a lack of reviewers that actually do work in the trades giving the reviews. I wish I had more time to do it, because I enjoy passing along my knowledge and experience with others who are willing to hear my opinions on what I think are the most quality products. I try to tell people that what works for me, may not work for you. People have seemed fairly receptive to hearing what I have to say so far, for the most part. Thank you for your compliment and for taking the time to comment.
Yes, I agree with the topic of the video because it's the first generation of that kind of new multitool so, can be so many kind of negative things. Better wait for the consumer reports and maybe with that feedback they will improve their tools.
I’m looking at getting a multi tool for work I’ve always been a knife guy but these videos are so informative and answer every question I have. Great job brother!
Informative review; I purchased the P4 b/c of the 1 handed operation of all tools including closing. I ordered the LM driver b/c it should fit over the Phillips tool and store in extra pockets of the LM holder. If and when the magnets draw too much carbon I’ll return it for refurb under the 25 year warranty. In short, this is the tool for me.
My P4 came with a scale that says “P2”. . . I wish the file got rid of the single cut side in favor of a diamond side. Or that they put a diamond file on the other side of the ruler tool. The philips/bottle opener and flathead/package opener/pry tool are better than I thought they’d be. . . I thought they’d be lifted from the Sidekick/Wingman. Ruler should’ve been along the frame like the Surge. Would’ve been nice to have some gimping on the spine of the serrated blade like nearly EVERY other Leatherman. They COULD give FREE access to the Bit Kit by making an attachment with a quarter inch socket that would slide over both of the drivers (when they are opened together). Also, GIMME a pocket clip, dammit.
Genesis I have heard of a couple of other people getting the P4 with P2 stamping as well. Leatherman really needs to step up their quality control. I agree with the stamping on the frame for the ruler. I was curious why they didn’t add the gimping to the serrated blade spine as well. You have some excellent points.
TX Tool Crib Leatherman has ignored me on Twitter when I have tried telling them about the messed-up scale. I was super surprised when I saw it. Not something I expected from them. I made sure to mention it in my review on their website. I have a pretty large collection of pretty much every model they have ever released with the only exceptions being E.O.D. Tools. The Juice Pro (I have 6 of them) and Surge are probably my favorite tools, and I carry them pretty much every day.
Thanks for the lengthy introductory review (in the last week there have been 2 dozen really long videos on the free series, but unfortunately no one seems to have actually used the tool, too scared to due to price or still in the ooh, aww stage - I don’t know). You had lots of great points (hot spot just like on Rebar, way too much flex like on cheap multitools that can cause plier heads to separate (try pulling a nail with a leatherman compared to a swisstool - night and day), spot where magnets are is where wood shavings in addition to metal filings will gather, no bit exchanger which means no Robertson or square bits or any other hex, torx, or special bits and the plier head area seems too small relative to the size of the gerber mp600 blunt nose or Surge, ... Thank you very much for taking one for the team as I think I and many others who can’t justify the price are grateful for yours and many other youtubers detailed use of the tool over the longer term 👏
You're quite welcome. I think you hit the nail on the head when you said the "oooh, aaaah stage". Sometimes people don't want to admit they made a bad purchase and try to justify it. Others, I get the impression that they don't actually use their multi tools sometimes. Rather, they have them as collector pieces or just because of the "cool" factor. At any rate, thanks for your comments, and thanks for watching.
I really appreciate your video! I had my P2 for less than 24 hours before I tried to swap the blade and the scissors. Blade worked great, but the scissors seemed a little sticky. But I like the P2 overall. And I found a way to open the blade left handed.
Chris Davis You are quite welcome. Do you have any insight on why the scissors were not working properly when you switched its location. I would really be interested to know.
@@txtoolcrib Not sure. The locking mechanism wanted to stick a little, and I tried to loosen or tighten the screws. I wonder if it's because the handle portion of the scissors is now on the opposite side. I thought about trying it again..... but I'd hate to lose my warranty. Not sure if that would void the warranty. I've gotten used to opening the knife part way with my middle finger and then the test of the way with the thumb, all left handed.
*I'm sending my " free p4" back to them. It does not operate as smooth or as easy as they claimed it would. The pliers aren't spring assisted. It weighs alot. I'm happier with my older broken in leatherman. I don't feel like this was worth the $139 I spent.*
feedback for Leatherman: When the pliers are activated, there needs to be a locking feature (heavyduty) that prevent the handles from closing partiallyy or fully. Also please make P4 lighter than the Wave? thx
So the tools are not as good as on the wave,charge or Surge,but they are very proud of a gimmicky , one handed opening system; are you sure this isn't made by gerber?
Id trust mp600 over this any day. The tool lineup on these guys is a joke. They could have put their fancy magnet system on a rebooted wave but nooOOoo... We get wingman/rev stupid shit.
Speaking of Gerber, I have their new updated version of the CenterDrive on the way. I'm actually looking forward to reviewing it. It looks like it may be a major improvement over the first model.
Quentin Ham Unfortunately, that is the one thing they didn’t change. I feel ya on that. They did improve it overall though from what I can tell. Look for it in about a week or so.
I switched from my Surge to the free p2 and then picked up the Gerber Strong arm for the driver. I carry extra bits in my back pack. For me that set up works better then the big Surge with extender and bits but all around the Surge is still the best it’s the most durable
This was a fantastic review, I'm a technician and use my Charge and Surge on a daily basis and I love them. I can almost do an entire service call with these tools and was considering the Free P4 as an addition to my daily use. I work around toner and developer which consist of tiny metal particles, therefore it wouldn't work too well at work because of the magnets. My Charge will open with one hand, no problem although it did take a few years to get to that point. I still love the Leatherman tools for the quality and design; I may get the Free P4 for after work and fun.
Jeff Judy The P4 is actually kind of fun to operate. I think if it is in a light to medium duty application where they will not normally be in contact with metal particulate, then they will be just fine. They do actually have some pretty cool engineering built in.
The butterfly thing is a gimmick. I have a wave and surge too but i’m enjoying the p4 all the same. Its not better but it’s different enough to be enjoyable
A very descriptive and detailed professional review, I am about to review surge and wave plus. I always carry wave plus since it's not as heavy as surge, but by far Surge is beast of all multi tools on my viewpoint and I believe you will agree with me too. Keep the good work as you gave me enough details on free series (e.g. locking mechanism "Elastomer spring") and many more technical specs that I know how fidgety the tool really is. Keep up the good work.
sean bradshaw I am personally a big fan of Leatherman tools, but I couldn’t in good conscience rave about these multi tools as the next best thing when I don’t believe that. I believe in speaking the truth at all times, even when it isn’t in your own best interest. In Texas, we call that integrity. Thanks for watching.
I've heard a number of reviews all say they wish the bit kit from the Wave+ had carried over. I feel that if the Free had this, and the package opener off the Wingman, it would be a far more ideal took. I would be okay without the various tools that "include" screwdrivers, as well as can opener, the ruler, and the awl, in order to gain these tools. Really appreciate your detailed look at the Free, and your insight.
great review, i personally am a leatherman surge guy myself. i have the leatherman skeletool cx that i carry out side of work but personally the surge, wave and the OHT are the only ones leatherman made for heavy duty work. yes their are others like the Mut, signal, and super tool 300 OED. but they have specialty tools that favor the military. all the others are just your light duty multi tools. but that's just my opinion you're a much better reviewer than i am.
Matt Wilson I think you are correct, with one exception. The SuperTool 300 is quite robust and capable in heavy duty use applications. Medium duty tools definitely have their place though. I like all styles and size categories , so long as they are useful. Some of my favorites from Leatherman that don’t get much attention are the Raptors and the Crunch. As far as being a great reviewer, I appreciate the compliment, but I often forget one or two points that I wanted to talk about. Hopefully with practice I will get better. I just want to help people make an informed decision about what tools work for them, and which don’t.
This is absolutely the best review I have seen so far about the Leatherman free P4. I pretty much watched all the reviews in UA-cam because I wasn’t sure if I want to get the Charge or this new Free P4. After watching this I think I’ll just go ahead and purchase the charge. I just subbed to ur channel, thank you for this awesome review.
I hope you could consider making a video of the NexTool Flagship Pro multi-tool and the Convoy S2+ flashlight, and maybe consider it a part of your huge collection of gears. Thank you! 👍🏼👍🏼 for you!
An excellent overview and detailed, critical examination of the engineering. Great practical points all round particularly on the shortcomings. Thankyou for the time you invested and your well considered thoughts.
J.A Danga Thank you very much sir. I appreciate that comment very much. Hopefully, as I publish more videos, I will get better at this and be able to provide higher quality content.
Thank you for your thorough review. I was one click away from buying one of these because of the American made stamp. But you have a great points about magnets and welding/milling. It's a bad combination. Also if your pliers have slop in them then they are no good. So thats an even worse problem. Then it doesn't look like the pliers are spring loaded which isn't a big deal but when the function to fold the tool is outward pressure then I could see it being annoying. I think this specific line just happens to be over engineered. Its too bad that its the only couple still with the American made stamp. Back to considering the Surge then.
Great review, thanks! 👍...When it comes to the new sheath 1:30 the P2 fit better when you clip it on to the sheath, leaving the pocket clip on the outside, that way it won't be so bulky and the cover flap can be snapped in place without any issue, but why have the pocket clip on the tool if you're using a sheath?🙄 ... Anyhow, the P4 suppose to be in the sheath with the lanyard ring facing up so it can be easily pull out by grabbing the lanyard, but like you mentioned in your video, if you don't use lanyards might as well get rid of it, that way you'll be able to one hand open the outside accessible tools.
You're absolutely right about the P2 fitting much better when you clip it onto the front of the sheath. The thing I don't like about the lanyard placement on these two tools is that they are on the plier side of the multi tool instead of the bottom. It seems to me that if you did decide to use a lanyard it would be in the way whenever you were using the pliers. I should have touched on that in the video, seems like I always forget something.
@@txtoolcrib Drilling same diameter holes on the bottom side to relocate the pocket clip or lanyard ring will work, but not enough room, they will interfere with the blades opening and small tools locking tabs, that's the reason why they are on the pliers side. You can always use a lanyard with detachable lobster clip clamp though🙄
Ooof thanks for saving me 190 European Pesos my friend! I’m an electromechanic by trade, gonna start a new offshore gig soon with a dredging company. So I was looking to maybe buy some new gear like a robust backpack, Led Lenser flashlight and a new Leatherman. I was considering this one bcs I saw an ad and I wanted to know more I ended up here on this vid. I changed my mind and am most likely gonna go with a Wave+. Costs me 40€ less as well. My daily carry is a Rebar, has been so for the last 5y. Helped me out during my welding classes in college as well, bet these magnets would not have liked that 😂 I guess u could blow em out with some HPA. But then again it would indeed be annoying over time. I also have a Surge, got it as a present for my 13th bday from my dad. Who liked the model. But it made me have to constantly pullup my pants as a little boy lol. I do use it tho, has served me well. One of the very best indeed, robust, comfy and I especially like the micro-screwdriver in it. But I eventually bought the Rebar as a EDC. Paired with a Spyderco Endura 4 in purple and a Maglite Solitaire LED. Thanks for the honest no-nonsense review, subscribed! Greetings from the country of Beer, Waffles and Light Machineguns! 🇧🇪
Personally, I think that is a good choice. Although to some people the ease of access is valuable. I was talking to a vet not long ago who lost a limb, for him these new tools were game changers. In that scenario it would be totally understandable.
Basically, Leatherman is heading into an interesting future in terms of design. The Free P series tool does a lot of things right. But what we don't like is the thinner quality of individual tools. The can opener will certainly do the job, but the awl is a joke compared to standard Leatherman awls. The size of the file is also too small here. Conclusion, we can be excited to see what Leatherman brings in the future.
Great video. Extremely informative and you’re right, very similar conclusions. I’ve been going out of my way to hard use my P2 for the last 5 days or so and it’s just not good. You couldn’t be more right, when I hear diwn in the pliers it’s frankly painful. I also learned a lot from your video that I didn’t know when I opened my tool for the first time. Thanks for a great video!
I might still buy this tool strictly for fishing - three main tools are pliers, scissors and knife for this activity and being able to stream line them into a tool that has the scissors outside accessible with one hand seems great. Other than that, I'll probably use this as a fidget toy at my desk. Will probably stick with skeletool for EDC and surge in my tool bag though.
Jayjayhooks Outside of an industrial setting, it should be fine. Because of this multi tool size, I feel it should be on the high end of the medium duty multi tools. Hopefully it will work out for you.
Good video--I like your critical review of the tool. You don't sugarcoat it, at all! but I don't agree with you of how it's "a step back for Leatherman." It all depends on the end use of the tool. In my use, a Leatherman is a convenient option when I need to do something, fast. A Leatherman, generally speaking, is "jack of all trades, master of none." Heavy duty all day jobs = heavy duty, specialized tools Medium duty one-off tasks = Leatherman
TX Tool Crib but you have a really good reason to be biased. It’s a beast! I’ m a welder too and i’m hard on my tools. I use it every single day and it take it like it’s nothing!
I bought one, do not have it yet, but after watching your video I feel concerned about my impulse purchase decision. Your review was very well done and you touched on all the different areas that we need to know about, thank you for your awesome review!!!
Gustavo A. Rios You’re welcome sir. It depends what you are using it for. I come from an industrial perspective where people use their multi tools in hard use. If you are using it as a light to medium duty tool, it may very well work for you. That one handed opening is really nice, and I like a couple of the redesigned tools as well. Hopefully it will work for you. Thanks for the compliment and for watching.
Gustavo A. Rios, yes it’s a great review but I love my free p4 so far yes there are faults but there were faults with the Charge too so enjoy your p4 🙂
Hi, it seems that you acquired your Free Series right after their release. Does your P2/P4 comes with the production date stamp? Mine doesn’t have any stamp so I want to confirm it to others. They said early released doesn’t have manufacturing date. Do you know anything about it. TIA
So I’m 3 min. in and you already mentioned the lack of the clip being included on the P4 and the blade steel being 420HC at the price point. Sounds familiar, lol. Ok I’m going to finish watching now. So far so good 👍🏻.
Great honest review and you made some good points on it’s faults which I agree with you on but I love my P4 so far. On my Charge the main blade had an un even grind and lock rock as the lock doesn’t quite make contact with the tang of the blade also the file is the same on the opposite side, I haven’t sent it back yet because I re profiled the blade and tightened the screws which has made it better. So what I’m trying to say is you’re always going to get small faults with anything new on the market so I’m going to give it a chance and I’m now subscribed to this channel because it’s great. 👍🙂
David Thompson You are quite right. I have even had well established multi tools that needed to be tweaked a bit to work properly. A brand new model is sure to have some growing pains. My point of view is going to be biased towards my industry. I feel that fundamentally, magnets in a multi tool will never work well in an industrial environment. They might be fine outside of that though. I am glad you are happy with your purchase. I appreciate you taking the time to comment and especially appreciate your subscription.
Another thing I’ve been saying for years (and I’ve started seeing lots of other guys saying it), a BUILD YOUR OWN TOOL APP! They need to develop three frames/plier head sizes. Small med and large. Then you would just have a list of tools to choose from. They would literally put every other tool manufacturer out of business. Naysayers always go “yeah right, do you know how hard that would be, you really think the tools are cross compatible?” Uh, yeah! That’s why I was able to sit down at my kitchen table and retrofit my rebar with a bit driver, a pocket clip, and a clamshell opener off of a wingman (or sidekick? Idk). The parts were basically drop in. I had to spend maybe 15 minutes with the dremel on the package opener to get it to interface with the rebars lock, but that’s it. Turned the unassuming little rebar into one of my go to tools
There is not to my knowledge. I think a lot of people would enjoy seeing a video of your modifications. If you are so inclined, you may email me at txtoolcrib@gmail.com.
You mentioned steel quality. What is the best grade steel quality from all of your's (or in general) multi-tools and knifes? I mean if I wanna buy top quality build steel, what models do you suggest?
Ask 5 different people, you’ll get 5 different answers. The 420HC that Leatherman uses on its blades is fine for a general use knife. I personally like like the 154CM blades on the Charge+ the best. Better edge retention without being overly difficult to sharpen. Leatherman Charge+ TTi comes with an S30V blade. Theoretically it is better. I just prefer a slightly softer blade. Another consideration, the harder the blades steel, the less forgiving it is to bending. Victorinox uses a bit softer blade steel than the 420HC. You’ll notice that their blades have a tendency to bend instead of break under loads or misuse. Personally, I think the 420HC is a good higher end budget steel. Lots of people will criticize just to have something to criticize. Really it all comes down to personal preference, and in my case that is 154CM.
Do you think that there could be a way for this to be a one-handed accessible tool without the magnets but with another "retainment mechanism" for the external tools?
That is a very good question. I have tried to give that very ideas some thought, but I haven’t come up with a solution that I think would be viable yet. I understand why they chose to go magnetic in order to accomplish that one-handed accessibility. I think it’s actually possible to accomplish the same thing without using magnets but I don’t have the solution quite yet. Do you have any ideas on how they might accomplish that?
Honestly, I've just learned about the bushings in these tools and I wish I hadn't with the amount of time my P2 has sat at the bottom of a full oil drain pan and the few times it's been dunked in gasoline while working on the riding mower this past summer. Fact is, it's been abused so much that my P4 just came in 3 days ago because I've been so happy with it; just despised the combo blade on it. I got both of them new on fleaBay for nearly half the MSRP, otherwise, I wouldn't have any experience with them to share, though, I must confess.
Liam Sellick Thank you. It was disappointing for me to be so critical of the new FREE series, because I am a big Leatherman fan. It will be interesting to see how it does in the marketplace in the coming months.
TX Tool Crib across the Facebook groups mixed reviews the Leatherman fans are left let down massively I was misled by the blades show reviews of the free by the Leatherman staff I didn’t actually think they were bugging it up I thought it was going to be like any other that feels solid in your hands 👍
Its wierd, I agree with everything you say regarding the P4, I main a Charge+ G10, but for I tend to reach for the P4 when I know Im working in tight spaces, that genuine one handed application I guess. Everything else the charge rules supreme, but for one hand tight work, the P4 has its niche. Could be cheaper, considering tho. Great review!
I think it's important to note who this tool is marketed too. It's not for the everyday contractor or blue collar worker and the price point represents that. Just look at the website, they are targeting the 20 and 30 somethings that love to tinker and have the next new thing. It's clearly represented in all marketing imagery (hunters, trendy camper lady, guy repairing motorcycle) it's not for professionals. They will sell a ton of these, because that section of the market is growing rapidly. I think this tool is pretty cool, but man, I am part of that demographic, 26 year old full time photographer.
Alex Tourigny You have a very good point, and articulated it extremely well. I believe that you are correct, these new multi tools will find their place within the market. They have some excellent engineering design incorporated into the tools and they are the cool hip thing in the world of multi tools. I certainly don’t feel they are marketed towards the professional users either. I was not thrilled, nor did I understand, their marketing strategy. It seemed to me, that from the initial release at SHOT Show, they made it a point to bash on their own most popular multi tool, the Wave. The FREE does this better, and that better, and on and on and on..... I don’t have a problem that this is marketed towards the younger crowd. Why not say something more along the lines of, “A new tool, for a new generation! Designed to help you be more productive so you can get back to the more important things in life. When time is of the essence, choose Leatherman .” I think the way they marketed it from the beginning really irked me personally.
Alex Tourigny You’re very welcome. Again, thank you for contributing your thoughts. It is honestly one the most intelligent things anyone has commented on one of my videos.
TX Tool Crib your correct though, it’s bad practice to bash one one of your most successful tools, and he was wrong. I think that that the individual who gave the shot show demo didn’t speak for the the brand.
The alleged Hotspot problem does not exist. The leatherman free p4 is the most comfortable leatherman of all time when squeezed tight. The 2 pins do not feel at all under the hands. The best is the angle of the handles. Much narrower than other leathermen, it allows a good grip even when tightening large bolts. Similar to victorinox spirit. The quality and engineering of this free series is on another planet than other leathermen. The assortment of tools can like it or not. But the build quality is objectively HUGE BETTER than any other leatherman.
Hi Ben, this is a very good talk about the free P indeed. Thank you for your sharing. I have a "what if" question for you that I really want you to try imagine. What if Leatherman never produced the Surge line and the SuperTool line ever, what would be your #1 multitool of this brand?
That is a very good question. If the Surge and SuperTool line were not available, the larger SwissTool (original) would be my first choice. I like the larger size and capabilities of the larger multi tools. Surge SwissTool SuperTool 300 Charge+, Wave, SwissTool Spirit X (These all rank pretty close for me) Rebar Wingman Juice Series
i just dont get it '' OUR BEST MULTITOOL IN 25 YEARS " then put all the cheap useless tools in there that they can find and exclude all the good ones. how is not 1 clown at leatherman saying hey, maybe 5 flat heads and basicly nothing else is stupid ? that beeing said. very good review!
I remember thinking almost the same thing when I saw the initial release videos from SHOT Show. Most of the videos were moving pretty fast though and I couldn't get a very good look at the tools or the overall design. I gave the new FREE series the benefit of the doubt, but ultimately they came up short of what I expect from a well built multi tool.
Thanks for doing this. It was helpful to see the comparison between the two models and your thoughts on the design. Good balance of pros and cons, and really liked the diagrams u made to explain the design. It certainly shed some light on aiding my decision process on whether to buy it. For me personally, the only thing i value here is the one handed operation. Not that thats anything small; it's certainly a great design and feat of engineering. But weighing that against lack of modularity (no interchangeable bits or saw/file that you can find on the Surge or MP600) is what holds me back here. Will be interesting to see what the aftermarket world will come up with with the Free line. If this could have those 2 previous aforementioned modular tools, i may be interested...as long as they throw in that free pocket clip. Come on now! But anyways, solid overview. Looking forward to seeing u getting some jobs done with the Free. Should be fun to work with.
Thanks for you comment. I really don't like the fact that they excluded the bit exchanger on the new models either. They really took away from the capabilities of this design in my opinion. It is amazing to me that they didn't provide a pocket clip with the P4 for the price they are asking. It doesn't effect me personally, because I don't use pocket clips on larger tools, but I know a great many that do. Thanks for watching.
@@txtoolcrib yeah, or at least offer it for free with proof of purchase for P4 owners (considering the P2 comes with it and is cheaper). I think what's achieved here with the Free line is a new foundation for design. Hope Leatherman continues to run with it and make improvements.
Great review ! Does your P4 have some play/wiggle when its closed? Mine does when its closed and opened . My surge has none and is rock solid as anything.
It does have some play. The little tabs that they press into the frame do a decent job of keeping the handles together, but it is evident that there is some movement there. The reason that the surge doesn’t have that kind of movement is because of the way the handle is stamped. It has multiple breaks and bends that really strengthens the handles considerably.
I just got a skeletool off eBay for 35 bucks in excellent condition now I’m trying to decide on my second multi tool I’m torn between P-1,P2 or surge any recommendations?
depends what your looking for if you have a skeletool like you have now I'd go for the surge so that way you have your more pocket friendly compact multi tool and then you keep the surge as a more heavy duty use tool that acts more like a "compact tool kit" you can throw in a pack or keep in the glovebox of a car or anywhere else. Personally i'd not recommend any of the free series tools cause I see them as awful value for money for a few reasons as followed magnetically held in place tools just are an accident waiting to happen, the knifeblade is 420hc and at the asking price of the free series when the charge aluminum/titanium are on the market for 20$ more with a significantly better blade steel, the free series in my opinion lack a bit driver of any kind and have also poorly designed tools the 2d Phillip's screwdriver is a joke of a tool along with too many flathead screwdrivers (Seriously why in the hell did they have 4 flat head screwdrivers), the files a stubby and worthless length for any real use imo, and last but not least it just screams "Designed by an intern who doesn't use tools at all". Honestly my recommendation is a wave plus if you want a medium sized tool that's still capable.
One thing that annoys me are the people who don't understand the free p4 1. It's completely 100% usable with just 1 hand 2. It was a completely new design 3. I do wish it had a bit driver... I started out with a skeletool aswell Now I have a Crunch And Free P4 I work on cars and also do mold remediation where I spend alot of time in attic with fog heads that need adjusting and torn apart for cleaning So your career and life style may vary
Got mine. Like it so far but I think it would have been better if they just used the magnets and the new bushing pivot on the wave and others like it. And yes I am disappointed to see 420hc for the blade. The free just feels more flexible or weaker than the wave. I really hope it holds up.
Thank you. I think that the elastomer spring is going to be fine overall. Leatherman claims that they tested it to over 1 million cycles. Time will tell though.
Honest question, if you're not in a situation where you're going to be around metal shavings, do you think the magnets would still be a notable problem?
That is a very good question. The magnets will pose a problem eventually, of that I am sure. Of course the light to medium user probably wouldn't have to clean it for several months. It really depends on the user and what they do with their multi tool. Also, if it is not in an industrial setting, then cleaning the magnets off will likely be a pretty easy affair with a good shot of air from an air compressor. It will have to be cleaned eventually, it is a certainty. How often that occurs, depends on how hard and where it is used though. I hope this helps.
I wholeheartedly agree. Really well thought out overview. When I look at these, I don’t see anything I would call innovative, I would call these features “neat”, that’s it. Bells and whistles that are going to attract people who are new to multitools. Guys like us, look at these and say “what does this tool do that my charge plus can’t do?” Answer: nothing, in fact, it’s a less versatile overall tool, but in a comparable form and weight. Leatherman needs to start thinking out of the box. I’d like to see a tool, that would be like a “stripped down” surge. Like, look at your surge, and imagine if you cut it down to just that inner frame. You would end up with a multitool with just the essentials, the beefiest plier heads in the game, on a tool that’s only 1/2” thick, and would probably only weigh 4 ounces. Slap a pocket clip on it, and I would carry the fuck out of that. Lol, I always have a zt or a microtech on me anyways, I don’t need two 420hc blades flopping around , scissors I only use to trim nose hair, losing the file would suck, but it would be a decent trade off for a hyper light, ultra carry friendly tool that sacrifices nothing in the strength/beefcake category. It would be a smash hit
Marcus Grimes Thank you, and thanks for taking the time to watch my video. That is a very interesting thought on a stripped down Surge. I had never thought of something like that. I had given thought to something different though. I envision a single handle of a Surge with tool locks on both ends. One side would be a longer fold out but exchanger and the opposite side would be a pry tool and a package opener. Scale one side to house four or possibly 5 extra double head bits and put a pocket clip on the other side. Not an exact replica of a Surge handle, but something similar.
Good review.Ive been looking at all the videos trying to decide on the p2 or p4. This will be my first multi tool.Guess i should check out the wave and surge better before buying one.I dont want to collect multi tools .Just want a good one to use .Thanks for the good review.
Well it depends on you're job and/or what your intended use will be for your multi tool. In some applications the Wave may be a better option, in others the Surge, and still others a SwissTool or an SAK are better suited for the task. Thank you, and thanks for your comment.
Thank you. I think the FREE series will be just fine if it isn't used in heavy duty applications. My opinions are most biased towards heavy application use though, because that is what I do. What works for me, may not work for you, and visa versa. Thanks for watching.
Lanyard ring catching at Free P4: why don't you turn it to the inside? There's no rim to catch on. I'm not fond of that magnet. Maybe ok for EDC, but in the outdoors, being a strong neodym magnet, you have to be aware that it will affect any compass over a quite significant distance, so you can easily be mislead.
I called Leatherman to order the pocket clip for the P4 and they told me that they would send me one for free. Looks like they came to agreement that they should have included with the unit. They told me that they were planning on sending clips to all who purchased the P4 through Leatherman. Call them if you have questions.
Scott Bennett Thank you for letting us know that.
Damn, you’re the first multi tool reviewer I’ve seen who actually understands how a tool works. Great review, subscribed.
Thank you sir, and thank you for subscribing.
TX Tool Crib no, thank you. Seriously. Watching people who obviously have no idea what they’re talking about just to see what a particular tool looks like is painful. Great reviews man. You hit all the points only somebody that actually works with tools can hit. You saved me 120+ bucks on having to get one of these myself.
Jim Bonney Well you’re quite welcome. Comments such as yours give me incentive to devote more of my spare time to helping people reach informed decisions. I, much like yourself, have become quite disillusioned with numerous reviews from people that are reviewing things outside of their scope of knowledge. It is actually the reason I began this little channel. I’m glad you were able to save some of your hard earned cash. Once again, thank you.
Who ever heard of someone actually using the tool, and pointing out the negatives?
Not blindly praising the hyped aspects, but instead explaining what the real deal is.
That is why I subscribed, and unlike the Free tools, you do not disappoint.
Keep up the great reviews, and I can only hope your honest channel grows to rival those of the sycophants, shills, and fanboys.
Thank you very much for your subscription. Your support means a great deal as well. Hopefully my little channel can one day grow into something special. I have found that I really enjoy passing on knowledge to other people. I have plans to add how-to videos in the future that will cover everything from simple DIY projects to full on construction projects as well as covering the tools to do such projects. Thanks again for watching, and for your support.
You could join forum.multitool.org if you haven't already. Lots of information and people who appreciate honest reviews, who would increase your audience.
I mean theres plenty of videos out there that do this lol. Everyone has their tools for their own specific purposes, and find flaws and positives based on their uses.
And how ironic that he didnt even use them before doing this video lmaoo. Just theorizing. Funny to look back at these old videos and remember when people thought the magnets were going to be a problem. Turned out that was a complete myth. I've had my P2 for over 2 years now and after grinding literal tons of metal, have had absolutely no issues with the magnets. I have really tough hands so I never felt any hot spots either. I was just looking for videos comparing the 2 side by side because I was considering getting the P4 and wasnt sure how much bigger it was. Guess Ill just get the P4 and sell it if it isnt what I want.
I am a maintenance technician at a pipe fabricating shop. The P4 has proven to be my go to multitool. The one handed accessibility is everything. I dont think this model is getting enough credit. Great tool and great reviews sir. Keep up the good work
A lot of people have the same opinion as you do. One hand accessible tools is what they deem most important. For that function, the FREE series fits the bill. If that doesn’t matter to you as much, then there are far better options in multi tools out there that are easily more capable. That’s not saying your choice is wrong. Everyone should choose the multi tool that best correlates with their needs. Sounds as if you found yours.
FINALLY! A useful critical review for the Letherman FREE! Thanks and keep up the great work! I just subbed! Cheers!
Thank you very much, and thank you for your subscription.
"FINALLY!"
So you've been sitting around waiting for a negative review? Why? That's pretty fucking weird.
TX Tool Crib let me know what I need to do to get a deal on your P4 if you’re selling..I do leatherwork and would love to do a job for ya
@@profd65 He said critical, not negative. Most people who reviewed the Free series did so from a superficial perspective and not practical. TX Tool Crib takes a more practical approach and isn't as impressed by flashiness as most UA-cam tool reviewers. After hearing their glowing reviews while completely ignoring the negative aspects of the tool, it's refreshing to hear an honest take from someone who actually USES tools instead of merely collecting them.
I know some guys fuss about the little ruler, but I love little details like that--I measure brake and tire wear on commercial aircraft and would use this all the time. Also handy for taking notes on dents and minor damage that need to be documented.
You make a good point, I could absolutely see how it could be useful in that application. I guess I shouldn't complain. It is just laser etched into the tool, so if they can, why not right? It just a little bonus tool. I actually prefer the frame stamped ruler for my applications though.
@@txtoolcrib Either way, thanks for the review--no doubt the free line is garnering lots of attention!
Seriously?
Thanks for the review. I'm keeping my Wave. They went 1 step forward and 2 steps back!
Thank you. Absolutely nothing wrong with the Wave. There is a reason it has been produced for over 20 years.
Your multitool reviews are simply the best by far. Your attention to detail is outstanding. I would like to see some demonstrations especially with comparisons. Thank you for making these videos 👍
Thank you very much, I appreciate that. I do plan to get some comparisons out soon, in which I will really be putting different models head to head and testing out their capabilities on video.
Great videos. Makes me wish I hadn’t dropped my modified Free P2 to the bottom of Santa Cruz lake while fishing last month (modded with a custom bit exchanger that accepted Leatherman bit sets AND 1/4” hex bits at a 90* angle) I wanted to mention to you because i’m not sure if you noticed; but the floating tool spacers also flex and act as mini leaf springs to provide tension to the locking bar. As for my 2 cents, I had my P2 for 8 months, and as a medium duty/urban/EDC it worked perfectly for me and my daily uses. Sure I could nitpick about wishing the blade was straight edge instead of a combo straight/serrated or wishing it came in S30V or with a bit exchanger. But I either modified it or adapted how I use it like keeping the magnets clean, smoothing any hot spots, etc. Since you can already customize designs on your Leatherman, I think the next evolution for the company will be offering modular tools that can have tools easily swapped out or allow us to choose a frame style and arrange each specific tool we want to be fitted from the factory. It’s the best solution in my mind to satisfy the most people especially when their tools are averaging around $120. That’s a lot to not get exactly what you want. Anyway keep up the good work and if you have any suggestions to help me replace my Free P2 like knowing someone who may be selling or would barter, I’m willing to consider ANY model or brand of multi tool if it’s good quality and a good deal. Thank you
I was waiting for your video to take a look on the new leatherman tools. Your reviews are the best on youtube.
My impression is that the new "free" line is too fancy. I prefer the good old surge, with real tools for real life, as leatherman used to say.
Thank you Miguel, that is a helluva compliment. I tend to agree with you. I feel like the new FREE series are basically fidget tools for grown men. They do have some pretty cool engineering, but on the whole they just don't work for me. Leatherman can do better.
It's like they included toy versions of some of the tools on the Surge and Wave, like how they went from an 8 inch ruler to a 1.4 inch ruler, or from a pretty large file to one that's barely a nail file.
I own a surge and waiting for my crunch. Perfect combo
Good review. I’m sticking with my Wave as it has proven itself over the years for me. In fact, I plan to buy a new Wave as mine is pretty old and doesn’t have the replaceable cutters. Thanks.
The Wave is time tested to be one of the best, no doubt. I think that is a good choice.
I wasn't excited about the P2 or P4 but after using them both for about a 1.5 months I freaking love them
I still can't get with them. They just feel flimsy to me. I can see where people find them useful for lighter tasks though. The fast deploy tools are kind of what sets it apart.
Also, those spacers between the outer tools and the inner tools are the springs for the tool lock.
Press and release the lock for the tools and you’ll see them flexing.
Genesis You are absolutely right. I knew that, but I forgot to mention it in the video. I don’t go off of a script when doing the few videos I have done, it is sort of off the cuff. Seems I always forget something. Maybe I should be using a script in future videos. That’s a good eye btw, nice catch.
TX Tool Crib Update on the Free P4:
I’ve found that the plier head will occasionally bind up after cutting wire to the point where opening the pliers will require more force than is necessary to fold the tool.
That’s kinda bothersome. Although it will go back to normal after working it back and forth for a bit.
Good honest review, highlighting both the good & bad. I look forward to watching more of your reviews. Thank you so much !
Thank you, I appreciate you taking the time to watch.
Awesome review. I had some multi-tool lust over the free series. After your review I'll be staying with my Leatherman Wave.
Thank you. I know what you mean. I was pretty excited about these new tools when I first saw them as well. I thought initially that the magnets were going to be an issue, but I wanted to keep an open mind. After encountering some of the other issues, I must say I was more than disappointed. If they were half the price I would be okay with the new designs. The high cost of these multi tools and their lack of functionality clearly sets them in the no go category for me though. Thanks for you comment, and thanks for watching.
Free series is a step back also! They should build from the best (Leatherman). Leatherman surge, Rebar, Wave, supertool 300. Shouldn’t remove things like the curl and bond does. We don’t want to sacrifice quality with price like they did with the Leatherman bond and the knife scenario!
After having used both, I find that i like the p4's screwdriver over the wave more now. If i'm carrying the extra bits with me anyway, i'm using the bit extender that could also fit on the p4. so it doesn't really take way from the tool. P4 just gets some extra reach.
This is by far the best review of the Free series I've seen. You explained the difference better than even BladeHQ. Great explanations and insight
Wow, that is quite the compliment! I never dreamed I would have seen my channel mentioned in the same sentence with BladeHQ. Thank you.
I’m new to the world of multi-tools and heard the free was coming out, once I saw they didn’t have exchangeable bits. I went with the wave. Great video.
Ryan Morales I don’t think you will disappointed with the Wave at all.
so the P2 is a wingman and the P4 is a Swisstool, but with mustard on them. Got it!
100% agree with the magnet concerns. I carry an inspection screwdriver with a magnet on the handle for operating flow meters (internal magnet switches) in my breast pocket and I'll tell you right now that thing is constantly picking up metal debris from all the work we do with iron pipe and crusty old fire hydrants. I can't imagine a magnet in the inner workings of a multitool being a good idea, at least for us industrial types. I'm sure there are many environments out there for it, but certainly worth hanging a light on this one.
First day of hard use on my new P2. You hit it right on the head with how the handles dig into your hands. As well as the lock release has some very sharp feeling edges. Hate the combo edge blade. Hate the tiny file and not having the diamond coating. The wire stripper is a total joke.
I love the one handed operations.
I do commercial HVAC and use my Leatherman all day long. I was really excited about Leatherman’s second attempt at a one handed multi tool (first being the OHT obviously)
I’ll give it some more time, but so far I’m on the fence.
Great video! Thanks.
Thanks for comments. I would imagine that in HVAC work you are constantly around metal shards and shaving. Maybe you could get back with us to let us know if the magnets in the P2 pick up a lot of trash, and if so how long. It would be interesting to see how these tools perform in different industries.
I work at a hardware store right now and I have to say the Wave is by far the most useful one-does-it-all tool (customers come in with all kinds of problems; bit exchanger for hex or Robertson for furniture or license plate installs, diamond sharpener to keep our water hose cutter going, serrated blade for cutting rope, large flat head for prying open cans of paint, tiny scissors to open skillfully and then reseal packages, wood & metal sharpener to smooth edges on poorly finished products, real long ruler to see if it's a metric or sae bolt and its length, heavy wire cutters for small chain and wire jewellery screwdriver for battery compartment on watches and scales AND big curvy can opener for lunch 🤓), so unfortunately I'm disappointed that in the last few years from leatherman there has been the Signal (too much plastic IMO) the juice cs3 (half juice just to get the famous s2 scissors) and now the free (urban edc folks who don't actually use the tool daily or even monthly will love it) is very disheartening 😔
Food for thought:
So, I spoke to Leatherman today and they stated that all future orders of the P4 will be sent out with the pocket clip.
Also, I uploaded a new video of my P2 after a few days of hard use. My unboxing video was swayed due to anticipation and excitement. (Oops)
A-Aron M. Thank you for letting us know that. If I may ask, what are the points that have lessened your excitement about the new models?
Same comment thread, up just a couple, I left you a list.
I also added a second video after a couple days and receiving several questions.
Great review! I have a charge tti and wanted an upgrade. For my daily use this doesn't seem like an upgrade. It's still a beautiful tool don't get me wrong, but a tool is not meant to look beautiful. It needs to be useful and practical. The bit kit is a must for me and I use the eyeglass screwdriver for many other uses. Thanks for the great review I'll stick with my charge
I really like the Charge. I wish they had a similar upgrade model for the Surge. I would jump all over that.
So far the charge ti is the best of the best
I have been waiting to get my hands on one of these here in Australia. I haven't seen one out yet, so your review is timely for me. It was also a nice clear presentation. Your comment about the magnets is exactly what I thought also when I first saw these tools presented. Like you, I have a collection of Leatherman's, and I use them all mostly in a fabrication environment. I also do electronics work. A magnet is bad for cleaning, and can be bad in electronics, so I'm not a fan of that part of their design.
Here the P4 is $340 and the P2 is $290, so not real cheap (exchange is about 1.7 AUD = 1 USD). I haven't done the maths to compare to the prices you said.
That's my 20 cents. Thanks for your review.
Darren of Photos I estimate your prices in Australia to be about 40 percent higher than the US when adjusting for the exchange rate. I would assume, but can’t be certain that the prices are reflective of the extra cost of shipping. Seems a bit much, but then I have never had the occasion to ship anything to Australia. I think these two multi tools will find their place among the younger crowds who are not blue collar workers. I think the fact that they are one handed operable has disillusioned quite a few people to the fact that the tool sets are a bit of a step backwards. I guess time will tell. I have noticed that some of the people that had posted early videos and were singing the praises of these new multi tools are starting to take a step back though. I just hope that Leatherman does not see this magnetic architecture as the future of multi tools and try to incorporate the design into existing and future models. Thanks for your comment and for taking the time to watch my rather lengthy video.
Your video is very informative. I collect the multi tools, for fun and conversational purposes. I have the Leatherman surge, and Gerber truss, my favorites, especially the Gerber Truss as it's loaded with plenty of tools, but the Gerber truss is for display purposes only, the tolerances are so close and the frame so weak, that it would get bent out of shape quite easily. Leatherman surge is the one I would rely on if I had to, I have many other varieties such as Grandway Swiss Army products, all of them junk, that is unless you consider, that's some of them are really interesting and make good conversational pieces when passed around to friends, just before bringing out the quality pieces. Conclusion, Leatherman surge is the only practical one on the market today.
You confirm my position, which is no to magnets, and lack of tool options such as a real metal file and exchangeable saw as well as the exchangeable bits as is the case with the leatherman surge. Of course I will still buy the P2 and P4, because I collect these things and it's always good conversation around the coffee table. Thanks very much, for your information.
You are very welcome sir.
Good review. I’ve had mine for a week. I think your opinion is going to be based on your trade. I’m an exterminator by trade and I use mine to hang fly lights while on ladders, set traps and adjust my sprayers among other things out in the field. They are best multi tool I’ve ever owned. The weight is right and the tools are easy to deploy. I’ve owned a Surge and it was too heavy and clunky for my use. There is a multi tool to fit every trade out there. Don’t discard it over someone else’s opinion. Test it out. You might like it... or not.
You're right about looking at things from your own point of view. I try to keep my opinions as open as possible, but it is hard not to evaluate multi tools, and tools in general, from your own trade and perspective. Of course, watching reviews on UA-cam for years myself, I always felt like there was a lack of reviewers that actually do work in the trades giving the reviews. I wish I had more time to do it, because I enjoy passing along my knowledge and experience with others who are willing to hear my opinions on what I think are the most quality products. I try to tell people that what works for me, may not work for you. People have seemed fairly receptive to hearing what I have to say so far, for the most part. Thank you for your compliment and for taking the time to comment.
Yes, I agree with the topic of the video because it's the first generation of that kind of new multitool so, can be so many kind of negative things.
Better wait for the consumer reports and maybe with that feedback they will improve their tools.
Wish I could have seen this video before I ordered. The handle play is a huge drawback I wish I saw pointed out elsewhere. Great review
Thank you sir.
I’m looking at getting a multi tool for work I’ve always been a knife guy but these videos are so informative and answer every question I have. Great job brother!
Happy to help, hope you find the right fit for you.
Informative review; I purchased the P4 b/c of the 1 handed operation of all tools including closing. I ordered the LM driver b/c it should fit over the Phillips tool and store in extra pockets of the LM holder. If and when the magnets draw too much carbon I’ll return it for refurb under the 25 year warranty. In short, this is the tool for me.
My P4 came with a scale that says “P2”. . .
I wish the file got rid of the single cut side in favor of a diamond side. Or that they put a diamond file on the other side of the ruler tool.
The philips/bottle opener and flathead/package opener/pry tool are better than I thought they’d be. . . I thought they’d be lifted from the Sidekick/Wingman.
Ruler should’ve been along the frame like the Surge.
Would’ve been nice to have some gimping on the spine of the serrated blade like nearly EVERY other Leatherman.
They COULD give FREE access to the Bit Kit by making an attachment with a quarter inch socket that would slide over both of the drivers (when they are opened together).
Also, GIMME a pocket clip, dammit.
Genesis I have heard of a couple of other people getting the P4 with P2 stamping as well. Leatherman really needs to step up their quality control. I agree with the stamping on the frame for the ruler. I was curious why they didn’t add the gimping to the serrated blade spine as well. You have some excellent points.
TX Tool Crib Leatherman has ignored me on Twitter when I have tried telling them about the messed-up scale. I was super surprised when I saw it. Not something I expected from them. I made sure to mention it in my review on their website.
I have a pretty large collection of pretty much every model they have ever released with the only exceptions being E.O.D. Tools.
The Juice Pro (I have 6 of them) and Surge are probably my favorite tools, and I carry them pretty much every day.
Thanks for the lengthy introductory review (in the last week there have been 2 dozen really long videos on the free series, but unfortunately no one seems to have actually used the tool, too scared to due to price or still in the ooh, aww stage - I don’t know). You had lots of great points (hot spot just like on Rebar, way too much flex like on cheap multitools that can cause plier heads to separate (try pulling a nail with a leatherman compared to a swisstool - night and day), spot where magnets are is where wood shavings in addition to metal filings will gather, no bit exchanger which means no Robertson or square bits or any other hex, torx, or special bits and the plier head area seems too small relative to the size of the gerber mp600 blunt nose or Surge, ... Thank you very much for taking one for the team as I think I and many others who can’t justify the price are grateful for yours and many other youtubers detailed use of the tool over the longer term 👏
You're quite welcome. I think you hit the nail on the head when you said the "oooh, aaaah stage". Sometimes people don't want to admit they made a bad purchase and try to justify it. Others, I get the impression that they don't actually use their multi tools sometimes. Rather, they have them as collector pieces or just because of the "cool" factor. At any rate, thanks for your comments, and thanks for watching.
I really appreciate your video! I had my P2 for less than 24 hours before I tried to swap the blade and the scissors. Blade worked great, but the scissors seemed a little sticky. But I like the P2 overall. And I found a way to open the blade left handed.
Chris Davis You are quite welcome. Do you have any insight on why the scissors were not working properly when you switched its location. I would really be interested to know.
@@txtoolcrib
Not sure. The locking mechanism wanted to stick a little, and I tried to loosen or tighten the screws. I wonder if it's because the handle portion of the scissors is now on the opposite side. I thought about trying it again..... but I'd hate to lose my warranty. Not sure if that would void the warranty. I've gotten used to opening the knife part way with my middle finger and then the test of the way with the thumb, all left handed.
Chris Davis Well if you do decide to try it again, I would appreciate hearing back from you to see what you discovered.
@@txtoolcrib will do!
*I'm sending my " free p4" back to them. It does not operate as smooth or as easy as they claimed it would. The pliers aren't spring assisted. It weighs alot. I'm happier with my older broken in leatherman. I don't feel like this was worth the $139 I spent.*
You mean to tell me that you actually bought this junk??? I guess there really is a sucker born every minute!!!
So much heavy, it will pull your pants down and that can land you in jail!!! Now'adays!!!😱
No bit driver, no go
Yeah, I think they made a big mistake there.
The bit driver is my favourite feature of the Wave, especially with the extra bits you can pick up
@@TheCarDetailingChannel the bit driver is hands down the most used tool on my Surge
feedback for Leatherman: When the pliers are activated, there needs to be a locking feature (heavyduty) that prevent the handles from closing partiallyy or fully. Also please make P4 lighter than the Wave? thx
Free P4 is my favorite EDC, works for me. Mods can do wonders
So the tools are not as good as on the wave,charge or Surge,but they are very proud of a gimmicky , one handed opening system; are you sure this isn't made by gerber?
Id trust mp600 over this any day. The tool lineup on these guys is a joke. They could have put their fancy magnet system on a rebooted wave but nooOOoo... We get wingman/rev stupid shit.
Speaking of Gerber, I have their new updated version of the CenterDrive on the way. I'm actually looking forward to reviewing it. It looks like it may be a major improvement over the first model.
@@txtoolcrib oh no way? An updated centerdrive? Is does it have non replaceable cutters instead of those brittle pieces of shit carbide inserts?
Quentin Ham Unfortunately, that is the one thing they didn’t change. I feel ya on that. They did improve it overall though from what I can tell. Look for it in about a week or so.
@@txtoolcrib lookin forward to it sir and from a fellow texan carry on and keep up the great work!
I switched from my Surge to the free p2 and then picked up the Gerber Strong arm for the driver. I carry extra bits in my back pack. For me that set up works better then the big Surge with extender and bits but all around the Surge is still the best it’s the most durable
This was a fantastic review, I'm a technician and use my Charge and Surge on a daily basis and I love them. I can almost do an entire service call with these tools and was considering the Free P4 as an addition to my daily use. I work around toner and developer which consist of tiny metal particles, therefore it wouldn't work too well at work because of the magnets. My Charge will open with one hand, no problem although it did take a few years to get to that point. I still love the Leatherman tools for the quality and design; I may get the Free P4 for after work and fun.
Jeff Judy The P4 is actually kind of fun to operate. I think if it is in a light to medium duty application where they will not normally be in contact with metal particulate, then they will be just fine. They do actually have some pretty cool engineering built in.
The butterfly thing is a gimmick. I have a wave and surge too but i’m enjoying the p4 all the same.
Its not better but it’s different enough to be enjoyable
A very descriptive and detailed professional review, I am about to review surge and wave plus. I always carry wave plus since it's not as heavy as surge, but by far Surge is beast of all multi tools on my viewpoint and I believe you will agree with me too. Keep the good work as you gave me enough details on free series (e.g. locking mechanism "Elastomer spring") and many more technical specs that I know how fidgety the tool really is. Keep up the good work.
Thank you sir, and thanks for watching. I look forward to seeing your review.
Shame the pliers aren't spring loaded. So frustrating trying to use pliers that you have to manually open
At last an honest review congrats profit maximizing cnc rubbish
sean bradshaw I am personally a big fan of Leatherman tools, but I couldn’t in good conscience rave about these multi tools as the next best thing when I don’t believe that. I believe in speaking the truth at all times, even when it isn’t in your own best interest. In Texas, we call that integrity. Thanks for watching.
@@txtoolcrib I own 9 waves 5 surges and 5 charges not counting the juices squirts or vintage models just very disappointing btw most secondary market
I've heard a number of reviews all say they wish the bit kit from the Wave+ had carried over. I feel that if the Free had this, and the package opener off the Wingman, it would be a far more ideal took. I would be okay without the various tools that "include" screwdrivers, as well as can opener, the ruler, and the awl, in order to gain these tools. Really appreciate your detailed look at the Free, and your insight.
You're very welcome, thank you for watching.
I'm hoping they finally see all the money they would make if they let us customize the tools we get
I like that you tell your opinion fair and square. You are a very talented presentation maker sir. Thank you for your videos.
Thank you very much sir.
The best review of Free series I ever see. Period.
Henrique Takami Thank you.
great review, i personally am a leatherman surge guy myself. i have the leatherman skeletool cx that i carry out side of work but personally the surge, wave and the OHT are the only ones leatherman made for heavy duty work. yes their are others like the Mut, signal, and super tool 300 OED. but they have specialty tools that favor the military. all the others are just your light duty multi tools. but that's just my opinion you're a much better reviewer than i am.
Matt Wilson I think you are correct, with one exception. The SuperTool 300 is quite robust and capable in heavy duty use applications. Medium duty tools definitely have their place though. I like all styles and size categories , so long as they are useful. Some of my favorites from Leatherman that don’t get much attention are the Raptors and the Crunch. As far as being a great reviewer, I appreciate the compliment, but I often forget one or two points that I wanted to talk about. Hopefully with practice I will get better. I just want to help people make an informed decision about what tools work for them, and which don’t.
This is absolutely the best review I have seen so far about the Leatherman free P4. I pretty much watched all the reviews in UA-cam because I wasn’t sure if I want to get the Charge or this new Free P4. After watching this I think I’ll just go ahead and purchase the charge. I just subbed to ur channel, thank you for this awesome review.
Thank you very much
I love my wave+ but I have to admit I always reach for my P4 now after buying it.
Great review. You hit on things I wanted more information on.
Thank you, I'm glad I could help.
Sir, Thank you for your quality content. You provide clear and concise info.
You have literally dissected the Leatherman Free here. Did learn a lot from this one. Great job man!
Yeah, I was extremely curious as to how it actually operated.
I hope you could consider making a video of the NexTool Flagship Pro multi-tool and the Convoy S2+ flashlight, and maybe consider it a part of your huge collection of gears. Thank you! 👍🏼👍🏼 for you!
An excellent overview and detailed, critical examination of the engineering. Great practical points all round particularly on the shortcomings. Thankyou for the time you invested and your well considered thoughts.
J.A Danga Thank you very much sir. I appreciate that comment very much. Hopefully, as I publish more videos, I will get better at this and be able to provide higher quality content.
Thank you for your thorough review. I was one click away from buying one of these because of the American made stamp. But you have a great points about magnets and welding/milling. It's a bad combination.
Also if your pliers have slop in them then they are no good. So thats an even worse problem.
Then it doesn't look like the pliers are spring loaded which isn't a big deal but when the function to fold the tool is outward pressure then I could see it being annoying.
I think this specific line just happens to be over engineered. Its too bad that its the only couple still with the American made stamp.
Back to considering the Surge then.
I love my Leathermans -- all l do is play with them on the couch watching movies - is that bad ? 😂
Lol, everyone has their fetishes.
Great review, thanks! 👍...When it comes to the new sheath 1:30 the P2 fit better when you clip it on to the sheath, leaving the pocket clip on the outside, that way it won't be so bulky and the cover flap can be snapped in place without any issue, but why have the pocket clip on the tool if you're using a sheath?🙄 ... Anyhow, the P4 suppose to be in the sheath with the lanyard ring facing up so it can be easily pull out by grabbing the lanyard, but like you mentioned in your video, if you don't use lanyards might as well get rid of it, that way you'll be able to one hand open the outside accessible tools.
You're absolutely right about the P2 fitting much better when you clip it onto the front of the sheath. The thing I don't like about the lanyard placement on these two tools is that they are on the plier side of the multi tool instead of the bottom. It seems to me that if you did decide to use a lanyard it would be in the way whenever you were using the pliers. I should have touched on that in the video, seems like I always forget something.
@@txtoolcrib Drilling same diameter holes on the bottom side to relocate the pocket clip or lanyard ring will work, but not enough room, they will interfere with the blades opening and small tools locking tabs, that's the reason why they are on the pliers side. You can always use a lanyard with detachable lobster clip clamp though🙄
Ooof thanks for saving me 190 European Pesos my friend!
I’m an electromechanic by trade, gonna start a new offshore gig soon with a dredging company. So I was looking to maybe buy some new gear like a robust backpack, Led Lenser flashlight and a new Leatherman. I was considering this one bcs I saw an ad and I wanted to know more I ended up here on this vid. I changed my mind and am most likely gonna go with a Wave+. Costs me 40€ less as well.
My daily carry is a Rebar, has been so for the last 5y. Helped me out during my welding classes in college as well, bet these magnets would not have liked that 😂 I guess u could blow em out with some HPA. But then again it would indeed be annoying over time.
I also have a Surge, got it as a present for my 13th bday from my dad. Who liked the model. But it made me have to constantly pullup my pants as a little boy lol. I do use it tho, has served me well. One of the very best indeed, robust, comfy and I especially like the micro-screwdriver in it. But I eventually bought the Rebar as a EDC. Paired with a Spyderco Endura 4 in purple and a Maglite Solitaire LED.
Thanks for the honest no-nonsense review, subscribed! Greetings from the country of Beer, Waffles and Light Machineguns! 🇧🇪
Biggest thing holding me back was lack of bit driver. Yeah i don't use that tool much, but why take it away, its nice to have in case i need it.
Very descriptive, convinced me to stick with Surge or Wave instead, thanks!
Milton Lin You’re quite welcome sir.
Great review. Finally an honest straight forward review buy someone who understands tools. I think I will still with my older Leatherman
Personally, I think that is a good choice. Although to some people the ease of access is valuable. I was talking to a vet not long ago who lost a limb, for him these new tools were game changers. In that scenario it would be totally understandable.
Basically, Leatherman is heading into an interesting future in terms of design. The Free P series tool does a lot of things right. But what we don't like is the thinner quality of individual tools. The can opener will certainly do the job, but the awl is a joke compared to standard Leatherman awls. The size of the file is also too small here. Conclusion, we can be excited to see what Leatherman brings in the future.
Love the honest opinion on this new leatherman, thank you!
Not a problem of all sir, you are very welcome.
Great video. Extremely informative and you’re right, very similar conclusions. I’ve been going out of my way to hard use my P2 for the last 5 days or so and it’s just not good. You couldn’t be more right, when I hear diwn in the pliers it’s frankly painful. I also learned a lot from your video that I didn’t know when I opened my tool for the first time. Thanks for a great video!
Geared Toward Gear Thanks. May I assume you intend to get an update video out with your experience with the new P2?
@TX Tool Crib - Absolutely. I’ll probably film it today actually now that I have 6 days use on it.
I might still buy this tool strictly for fishing - three main tools are pliers, scissors and knife for this activity and being able to stream line them into a tool that has the scissors outside accessible with one hand seems great. Other than that, I'll probably use this as a fidget toy at my desk.
Will probably stick with skeletool for EDC and surge in my tool bag though.
Jayjayhooks Outside of an industrial setting, it should be fine. Because of this multi tool size, I feel it should be on the high end of the medium duty multi tools. Hopefully it will work out for you.
Good video--I like your critical review of the tool. You don't sugarcoat it, at all!
but I don't agree with you of how it's "a step back for Leatherman." It all depends on the end use of the tool. In my use, a Leatherman is a convenient option when I need to do something, fast. A Leatherman, generally speaking, is "jack of all trades, master of none."
Heavy duty all day jobs = heavy duty, specialized tools
Medium duty one-off tasks = Leatherman
This was a fantastic review. I really appreciate the thoroughness.
vickersjd27 You’re quite welcome. Thanks for taking the time to watch, I know it was kind of long.
Great review! I’ll stick with my surge. Bought it a month ago and i’ll not look back for an edc
Gt Rul3s I’m biased when it comes to the Surge, but I think that is a very good decision.
TX Tool Crib but you have a really good reason to be biased. It’s a beast! I’ m a welder too and i’m hard on my tools. I use it every single day and it take it like it’s nothing!
I bought one, do not have it yet, but after watching your video I feel concerned about my impulse purchase decision. Your review was very well done and you touched on all the different areas that we need to know about, thank you for your awesome review!!!
Gustavo A. Rios You’re welcome sir. It depends what you are using it for. I come from an industrial perspective where people use their multi tools in hard use. If you are using it as a light to medium duty tool, it may very well work for you. That one handed opening is really nice, and I like a couple of the redesigned tools as well. Hopefully it will work for you. Thanks for the compliment and for watching.
Gustavo A. Rios, yes it’s a great review but I love my free p4 so far yes there are faults but there were faults with the Charge too so enjoy your p4 🙂
Hi, it seems that you acquired your Free Series right after their release. Does your P2/P4 comes with the production date stamp? Mine doesn’t have any stamp so I want to confirm it to others. They said early released doesn’t have manufacturing date. Do you know anything about it. TIA
So I’m 3 min. in and you already mentioned the lack of the clip being included on the P4 and the blade steel being 420HC at the price point. Sounds familiar, lol. Ok I’m going to finish watching now. So far so good 👍🏻.
Great honest review and you made some good points on it’s faults which I agree with you on but I love my P4 so far. On my Charge the main blade had an un even grind and lock rock as the lock doesn’t quite make contact with the tang of the blade also the file is the same on the opposite side, I haven’t sent it back yet because I re profiled the blade and tightened the screws which has made it better. So what I’m trying to say is you’re always going to get small faults with anything new on the market so I’m going to give it a chance and I’m now subscribed to this channel because it’s great. 👍🙂
David Thompson You are quite right. I have even had well established multi tools that needed to be tweaked a bit to work properly. A brand new model is sure to have some growing pains. My point of view is going to be biased towards my industry. I feel that fundamentally, magnets in a multi tool will never work well in an industrial environment. They might be fine outside of that though. I am glad you are happy with your purchase. I appreciate you taking the time to comment and especially appreciate your subscription.
Another thing I’ve been saying for years (and I’ve started seeing lots of other guys saying it), a BUILD YOUR OWN TOOL APP! They need to develop three frames/plier head sizes. Small med and large. Then you would just have a list of tools to choose from. They would literally put every other tool manufacturer out of business. Naysayers always go “yeah right, do you know how hard that would be, you really think the tools are cross compatible?” Uh, yeah! That’s why I was able to sit down at my kitchen table and retrofit my rebar with a bit driver, a pocket clip, and a clamshell opener off of a wingman (or sidekick? Idk). The parts were basically drop in. I had to spend maybe 15 minutes with the dremel on the package opener to get it to interface with the rebars lock, but that’s it. Turned the unassuming little rebar into one of my go to tools
Marcus Grimes I would love to see your modified Rebar.
Is there a way to send pics here on UA-cam? Idk, I was actually thinking about doing a video on it and posting to my other channel.
There is not to my knowledge. I think a lot of people would enjoy seeing a video of your modifications. If you are so inclined, you may email me at txtoolcrib@gmail.com.
You mentioned steel quality. What is the best grade steel quality from all of your's (or in general) multi-tools and knifes?
I mean if I wanna buy top quality build steel, what models do you suggest?
Ask 5 different people, you’ll get 5 different answers. The 420HC that Leatherman uses on its blades is fine for a general use knife. I personally like like the 154CM blades on the Charge+ the best. Better edge retention without being overly difficult to sharpen. Leatherman Charge+ TTi comes with an S30V blade. Theoretically it is better. I just prefer a slightly softer blade. Another consideration, the harder the blades steel, the less forgiving it is to bending. Victorinox uses a bit softer blade steel than the 420HC. You’ll notice that their blades have a tendency to bend instead of break under loads or misuse. Personally, I think the 420HC is a good higher end budget steel. Lots of people will criticize just to have something to criticize. Really it all comes down to personal preference, and in my case that is 154CM.
Do you think that there could be a way for this to be a one-handed accessible tool without the magnets but with another "retainment mechanism" for the external tools?
That is a very good question. I have tried to give that very ideas some thought, but I haven’t come up with a solution that I think would be viable yet. I understand why they chose to go magnetic in order to accomplish that one-handed accessibility. I think it’s actually possible to accomplish the same thing without using magnets but I don’t have the solution quite yet. Do you have any ideas on how they might accomplish that?
I just wonder how well that elastomer bushing in the pliers holds up to exposure to chemicals like gasoline, diesel, oils, etc.
Honestly, I've just learned about the bushings in these tools and I wish I hadn't with the amount of time my P2 has sat at the bottom of a full oil drain pan and the few times it's been dunked in gasoline while working on the riding mower this past summer. Fact is, it's been abused so much that my P4 just came in 3 days ago because I've been so happy with it; just despised the combo blade on it.
I got both of them new on fleaBay for nearly half the MSRP, otherwise, I wouldn't have any experience with them to share, though, I must confess.
very nice in-depth look at em.
Awesome review i returned mine it wasn’t what I was expecting from Leatherman for that price tag also the side to side play did it for me
Liam Sellick Thank you. It was disappointing for me to be so critical of the new FREE series, because I am a big Leatherman fan. It will be interesting to see how it does in the marketplace in the coming months.
TX Tool Crib across the Facebook groups mixed reviews the Leatherman fans are left let down massively I was misled by the blades show reviews of the free by the Leatherman staff I didn’t actually think they were bugging it up I thought it was going to be like any other that feels solid in your hands 👍
Liam Sellick I’m so social media inept, I didn’t even know there was a Facebook group for multi tool or Leatherman fans. I’m getting too damn old. Lol
Its wierd, I agree with everything you say regarding the P4, I main a Charge+ G10, but for I tend to reach for the P4 when I know Im working in tight spaces, that genuine one handed application I guess. Everything else the charge rules supreme, but for one hand tight work, the P4 has its niche. Could be cheaper, considering tho. Great review!
I think it's important to note who this tool is marketed too. It's not for the everyday contractor or blue collar worker and the price point represents that. Just look at the website, they are targeting the 20 and 30 somethings that love to tinker and have the next new thing. It's clearly represented in all marketing imagery (hunters, trendy camper lady, guy repairing motorcycle) it's not for professionals. They will sell a ton of these, because that section of the market is growing rapidly. I think this tool is pretty cool, but man, I am part of that demographic, 26 year old full time photographer.
Alex Tourigny You have a very good point, and articulated it extremely well. I believe that you are correct, these new multi tools will find their place within the market. They have some excellent engineering design incorporated into the tools and they are the cool hip thing in the world of multi tools. I certainly don’t feel they are marketed towards the professional users either. I was not thrilled, nor did I understand, their marketing strategy. It seemed to me, that from the initial release at SHOT Show, they made it a point to bash on their own most popular multi tool, the Wave. The FREE does this better, and that better, and on and on and on..... I don’t have a problem that this is marketed towards the younger crowd. Why not say something more along the lines of, “A new tool, for a new generation! Designed to help you be more productive so you can get back to the more important things in life. When time is of the essence, choose Leatherman .” I think the way they marketed it from the beginning really irked me personally.
TX Tool Crib thank you, great review though! It’s nice to see someone be more critical and honest.
Alex Tourigny You’re very welcome. Again, thank you for contributing your thoughts. It is honestly one the most intelligent things anyone has commented on one of my videos.
TX Tool Crib your correct though, it’s bad practice to bash one one of your most successful tools, and he was wrong. I think that that the individual who gave the shot show demo didn’t speak for the the brand.
I carry and older SuperTool so I'm not in the market for a new Leatherman but I did enjoy the review. Thanks!
Kelly Klaas K7SU Thank you.
The "useless ruler" would work good as a depth gauge
The alleged Hotspot problem does not exist. The leatherman free p4 is the most comfortable leatherman of all time when squeezed tight. The 2 pins do not feel at all under the hands. The best is the angle of the handles. Much narrower than other leathermen, it allows a good grip even when tightening large bolts. Similar to victorinox spirit. The quality and engineering of this free series is on another planet than other leathermen. The assortment of tools can like it or not. But the build quality is objectively HUGE BETTER than any other leatherman.
Your reviews are really great! Keep doing these reviews, it is truthful, informative and enlightening. I was waiting for your take on this.
That's a very humbling compliment, thank you sir. I appreciate you saying that.
Hi Ben, this is a very good talk about the free P indeed. Thank you for your sharing. I have a "what if" question for you that I really want you to try imagine.
What if Leatherman never produced the Surge line and the SuperTool line ever, what would be your #1 multitool of this brand?
That is a very good question. If the Surge and SuperTool line were not available, the larger SwissTool (original) would be my first choice. I like the larger size and capabilities of the larger multi tools.
Surge
SwissTool
SuperTool 300
Charge+, Wave, SwissTool Spirit X (These all rank pretty close for me)
Rebar
Wingman
Juice Series
i just dont get it '' OUR BEST MULTITOOL IN 25 YEARS " then put all the cheap useless tools in there that they can find and exclude all the good ones.
how is not 1 clown at leatherman saying hey, maybe 5 flat heads and basicly nothing else is stupid ?
that beeing said. very good review!
I remember thinking almost the same thing when I saw the initial release videos from SHOT Show. Most of the videos were moving pretty fast though and I couldn't get a very good look at the tools or the overall design. I gave the new FREE series the benefit of the doubt, but ultimately they came up short of what I expect from a well built multi tool.
Thanks for doing this. It was helpful to see the comparison between the two models and your thoughts on the design. Good balance of pros and cons, and really liked the diagrams u made to explain the design. It certainly shed some light on aiding my decision process on whether to buy it.
For me personally, the only thing i value here is the one handed operation. Not that thats anything small; it's certainly a great design and feat of engineering. But weighing that against lack of modularity (no interchangeable bits or saw/file that you can find on the Surge or MP600) is what holds me back here.
Will be interesting to see what the aftermarket world will come up with with the Free line. If this could have those 2 previous aforementioned modular tools, i may be interested...as long as they throw in that free pocket clip. Come on now!
But anyways, solid overview. Looking forward to seeing u getting some jobs done with the Free. Should be fun to work with.
Thanks for you comment. I really don't like the fact that they excluded the bit exchanger on the new models either. They really took away from the capabilities of this design in my opinion. It is amazing to me that they didn't provide a pocket clip with the P4 for the price they are asking. It doesn't effect me personally, because I don't use pocket clips on larger tools, but I know a great many that do. Thanks for watching.
@@txtoolcrib yeah, or at least offer it for free with proof of purchase for P4 owners (considering the P2 comes with it and is cheaper). I think what's achieved here with the Free line is a new foundation for design. Hope Leatherman continues to run with it and make improvements.
Really great comparison video.. Thanks!
Excellent review bud. Love an honest perspective.
Thank you
What a great review - I feel like I really understand much better how these tools work.
Warm regards
Jennie
I appreciate the compliment, thank you.
Great review ! Does your P4 have some play/wiggle when its closed? Mine does when its closed and opened . My surge has none and is rock solid as anything.
It does have some play. The little tabs that they press into the frame do a decent job of keeping the handles together, but it is evident that there is some movement there. The reason that the surge doesn’t have that kind of movement is because of the way the handle is stamped. It has multiple breaks and bends that really strengthens the handles considerably.
I just got a skeletool off eBay for 35 bucks in excellent condition now I’m trying to decide on my second multi tool I’m torn between P-1,P2 or surge any recommendations?
depends what your looking for if you have a skeletool like you have now I'd go for the surge so that way you have your more pocket friendly compact multi tool and then you keep the surge as a more heavy duty use tool that acts more like a "compact tool kit" you can throw in a pack or keep in the glovebox of a car or anywhere else. Personally i'd not recommend any of the free series tools cause I see them as awful value for money for a few reasons as followed magnetically held in place tools just are an accident waiting to happen, the knifeblade is 420hc and at the asking price of the free series when the charge aluminum/titanium are on the market for 20$ more with a significantly better blade steel, the free series in my opinion lack a bit driver of any kind and have also poorly designed tools the 2d Phillip's screwdriver is a joke of a tool along with too many flathead screwdrivers (Seriously why in the hell did they have 4 flat head screwdrivers), the files a stubby and worthless length for any real use imo, and last but not least it just screams "Designed by an intern who doesn't use tools at all". Honestly my recommendation is a wave plus if you want a medium sized tool that's still capable.
One thing that annoys me are the people who don't understand the free p4
1. It's completely 100% usable with just 1 hand
2. It was a completely new design
3. I do wish it had a bit driver...
I started out with a skeletool aswell
Now I have a Crunch And Free P4
I work on cars and also do mold remediation where I spend alot of time in attic with fog heads that need adjusting and torn apart for cleaning
So your career and life style may vary
Got mine. Like it so far but I think it would have been better if they just used the magnets and the new bushing pivot on the wave and others like it. And yes I am disappointed to see 420hc for the blade. The free just feels more flexible or weaker than the wave. I really hope it holds up.
What stood out most to me is what you mentioned, it doesn't feel as rigid. The Wave just feels stronger overall.
Nice review. I'm also concerned by the durability of the elastomer spring. Not sure how long they will last.
Thank you. I think that the elastomer spring is going to be fine overall. Leatherman claims that they tested it to over 1 million cycles. Time will tell though.
@@txtoolcrib it's more the time and the chemical than the number of use that concern me
Honest question, if you're not in a situation where you're going to be around metal shavings, do you think the magnets would still be a notable problem?
That is a very good question. The magnets will pose a problem eventually, of that I am sure. Of course the light to medium user probably wouldn't have to clean it for several months. It really depends on the user and what they do with their multi tool. Also, if it is not in an industrial setting, then cleaning the magnets off will likely be a pretty easy affair with a good shot of air from an air compressor. It will have to be cleaned eventually, it is a certainty. How often that occurs, depends on how hard and where it is used though. I hope this helps.
Don’t forget not everyone who uses these is blessed with 2 hands or 2 arms. One handed use works for some.
Yep, and people using them in work where they only have one hand free at any given time.
I wholeheartedly agree. Really well thought out overview. When I look at these, I don’t see anything I would call innovative, I would call these features “neat”, that’s it. Bells and whistles that are going to attract people who are new to multitools. Guys like us, look at these and say “what does this tool do that my charge plus can’t do?” Answer: nothing, in fact, it’s a less versatile overall tool, but in a comparable form and weight. Leatherman needs to start thinking out of the box. I’d like to see a tool, that would be like a “stripped down” surge. Like, look at your surge, and imagine if you cut it down to just that inner frame. You would end up with a multitool with just the essentials, the beefiest plier heads in the game, on a tool that’s only 1/2” thick, and would probably only weigh 4 ounces. Slap a pocket clip on it, and I would carry the fuck out of that. Lol, I always have a zt or a microtech on me anyways, I don’t need two 420hc blades flopping around , scissors I only use to trim nose hair, losing the file would suck, but it would be a decent trade off for a hyper light, ultra carry friendly tool that sacrifices nothing in the strength/beefcake category. It would be a smash hit
Marcus Grimes Thank you, and thanks for taking the time to watch my video. That is a very interesting thought on a stripped down Surge. I had never thought of something like that. I had given thought to something different though. I envision a single handle of a Surge with tool locks on both ends. One side would be a longer fold out but exchanger and the opposite side would be a pry tool and a package opener. Scale one side to house four or possibly 5 extra double head bits and put a pocket clip on the other side. Not an exact replica of a Surge handle, but something similar.
Good review.Ive been looking at all the videos trying to decide on the p2 or p4. This will be my first multi tool.Guess i should check out the wave and surge better before buying one.I dont want to collect multi tools .Just want a good one to use .Thanks for the good review.
Well it depends on you're job and/or what your intended use will be for your multi tool. In some applications the Wave may be a better option, in others the Surge, and still others a SwissTool or an SAK are better suited for the task. Thank you, and thanks for your comment.
I think the ruler is for measuring screws
Awesome video! Think I'm gonna get the P2 for an easier pocket carry and keep my Wave on my backpack.
Thank you. I think the FREE series will be just fine if it isn't used in heavy duty applications. My opinions are most biased towards heavy application use though, because that is what I do. What works for me, may not work for you, and visa versa. Thanks for watching.
Lanyard ring catching at Free P4: why don't you turn it to the inside? There's no rim to catch on.
I'm not fond of that magnet. Maybe ok for EDC, but in the outdoors, being a strong neodym magnet, you have to be aware that it will affect any compass over a quite significant distance, so you can easily be mislead.
That I hadn't even thought about. Thank you for your input.
I love the blade steel it doesn't chip it will role but its easier to fix.
You make a good point, harder steels are more likely to snap if misused.