Follow along as I share my final thoughts on this great EDC tool, the Leatherman Arc Multitool. Thanks for watching! #edc #knife #everydaycarry #multitool #leatherman #review
You're not only paying for the tool but you're paying for the cnc and all the presses that it takes to make the tool. Equipment for tooling isn't cheap.
Love mine had it customized with topo scales, my name and an american flag on the blade! I am very impressed with the performance and the set of tools it comes with. My only improvements to this tool would be a removable saw blade attachment that can use the different saw attachments.
Loving mine I just got it and I'm using it everyday haven't got a spot or the bit driver worked out yet but that's coming next I think I just don't want the bits hanging off my belt sheath
Thanks for the review! I have been wondering about this version of the P4. I have two Leatherman P2's and a P4. All three tools have been customized to fit my needs. I put in after market bit drivers. One P2 has a 4mm driver since I am an IT guy, the other has a flat bit driver. I took a long double ended flat bit and made it a little shorter. I made a hollow ground straight slot on it. I think you will find the same thing that a longer bit will fit in the tool. It is so handy! The P4 has a 1/4" bit driver with a double ended bit. It will also take flat bits. Several other tools on it have been customized as well. It is a great platform for mods. I carry the tool in a belt sheath and still pocket a standard knife every day. No need to replace your knife with the multitool, just carry both!
Yes, the part of multitool that most usefull is flat & philips head bit. That's why I change my EDC from LT charge to Vic spirit x because it has bit driver with long fix handle. So no need to exchange the bit driver when you want to use it.
Very thorough review and sensible advice on the wire cutters. I would have liked a hole in the awl and the chisel from the Mr Crunch, otherwise the Arc is good to go.
The issue with price is slightly more nuanced than the choice of materials. I own a Wave, a Signal and I recently bought a Surge (+ I've a few P4's and even a Tread! which performs admirably as a watch strap). My last purchase, the Surge, has it's faults, the powder based coating makes it as mobile as arthritis. It is also very heavy, but here's the thing, it works and it works brilliantly. Now I don't think for one moment Leatherman are profiteering with the arc, it's that they are victims of their own success. They've spent the last 40 years elevating the humble Pork shoulder [stay with me here] into delicious, memorable, food. With the Arc they have followed the same model but this time using the much more expensive loin. The question is am I gaining anything, operationally, by spending double the cost of brilliant? Of course if the Arc had the spring loaded pliers [as per the Batch No.5 that I wasn't able to buy, given the stock was released all at once on US time whilst here in the UK we were on snooze. Fortunately I'm not bitter, no not at all] I might be less reticent about such an upgrade.
I agree that the price comes down to more than just the materials. You do gain some great benefits from the materials, but the price jump is considerable. I think it comes down to what every individual is willing to pay. And as I’ve shown with this purchase, if the price is too high, the second hand market is always an option to save some cash! I will say though, I think the tool is excellent! Thanks for watching and sharing your thoughts!
Thanks for showing and sharing your experience with the Leatherman Arc. The Magnacut steel is incredible. It can be hardened up to 65/66 HRc and still keeps up it's remarkable toughness - unfortunately I couldn't find any claims about the actual hardness Leatherman puts on it. All Leatherman full-size multitools are a bit pricy IMHO, I got a Wave-clone for just 20€, a bit bulkier, a bit heavier, a little less hardened blade (~55HRc), no exchangeable wire cutters, but can do everything the original does. I'm not afraid of resharpening my blades, so blade hardness is no concern to me. Diamond plates are so cheap nowadays, I got a small diamond/ceramic combo for just 8€ from China, which brings any blade to razor sharpness. The cheapest Magnacut knife I found was 90$ and I would never spend that much money on just a single bladed knife. As for your problems with rust: try Ballistol gun oil (which is alkaline and neutralizes the acid from sweating), or LiquiMoly-LM40 (way better than WD-40 in every aspect) - I live near the sea and sweat a lot too, but I had never any issue with rust other than with the bits, which are not from stainless steel. As for the bit driver: the Leatherman bit-extender comes in quite long and would cost me 25€ here in Germany. I got me a cheap locking bit driver for 7€ and evenly ground two opposite sides down to fit the Leatherman holder, drilled a small hole near the end to match the opening in the holder, where I can put a pin through, and now I have a compact full-size bit-driver with a better functionality than the Leatherman's solution. Glad you have the money and get a lot out of the better blade steel.
Ballistol is a great suggestion, I’ve used it on my guns and it works very well, I’ll have to give it a shot on my multitools. And great idea for the bit driver! Thanks for watching!
It's all about convenience and quality. For less than two Leatherman Arcs, I can get a kit consisting of 89 tools that will cover pretty much any situation. This comes at a cost. It won't fit in my pocket or on my belt and it weighs 32 lbs. It includes a razor blade knife, not a Magnacut blade. It's best to have both. :)
Since I've had my Arc Ive put hard in the second part before the gap supposedly,but mine doesn't have a gap really,they must have caught up to the problem,anyway,I've bail wire at work numerous times an was nervous first of them breaking an then checking the cutter an nope,no issues or breakage,which is a big relief,but I also carry my surge with me on my side for heavier duty tasks an honestly I just like switching out,but if I need my tool quickly,mam I honestly have to give it to the Arc hands down on how fast one handed opening for all my tools an closing except for if your changing out tje bits ,i love it
@@The_commonman ,ty no problem,yes I'd agree,it's just so much faster for working or needing a tool quickly,I still love my surge though an will never replace it.
I don't think $230 is too much. If that's what a man likes. It came out of his pocket. Would i buy one? Sure if i was going to get some use out of it. I have a new Rebar. I snapped the nose off one side of the pliers doing something i had no business doing with the tool. Leatherman sent me a new pair on warranty. I barely knocked the new off of em yet. But I love em. They're a great tool. I've actually considered getting a surge to prevent me from carrying an extra knife. The knives on the Rebar are great but i do like that one hand deployment. Less in my pocket
Thanks for sharing! And I agree about the price. I use the arc all the time and it’s worth the money, I think! And if you like the size of the rebar, you’d enjoy the wave plus! it’s also a little cheaper than the surge.
It’s actually got almost 10% less edge retention that my s30v charge tti. I’ve carried that every day since 2016 and yes I bought an arc too. Unless you work at a salt mine or work at sea you won’t rust much if you keep it clean every single often. As far as magnacut being tougher - knives aren’t a pry bar lol. As I typed this out I heard you talking on your profuse sweating, if you’re rusting stuff I’d recommend carrying them external of your pockets. Sheaths or holsters. I copper coated the scales on mine. Edit to add- you aren’t missing out on the rest of the Leatherman bit kit. Their steel is too soft once you get to using the hex and torx. I carry their little extension to use regular 1/4inch bits and keep a set of good bits with me. Thanks for your review on it.
I prefer a straight edge. My guess is that’s most people’s preference, which is most likely the reason it’s not partially serrated. Wouldn’t be a bad idea to have that as an option though
With the magnavut blade, a serrated blade is less necessary because the knife is likely going to be sharp enough to cut anything you would have used a serrated blade for. I think that’s the reasoning.
@@The_commonman I am fairly new to the whole EDC thing. I daily carried some items in the past, but I mean that I'm new to being specific with intention to buying items like knifes, multitools, flashlights, and other items to fit in a kit of some sort. I buy cheap stuff when I'm new, and I'm new to knives, so I was planning on getting a QSP penguin with brass handle and D2 steel, as it's $50 on Amazon, so not a huge risk. I also buy cheap multitools for now, no Leatherman for me. 😋 I beat on a cheap ($20) bibury multitool and it's held up fairly well, except when I used the file on a nail in my shed and it dulled the file a little, so now I'm carrying a small carbon steel file, and the needle nose pliers did not budge a rusted bolt on my old mountain bike, so now I carry 4 inch (10 cm) Knipex Cobra XS pliers, which are literally as small as a childs toy, yet very effective in action. 😁 I love it. Anyway, I hold the importance of carrying both (and more) multitool and knife because you never know when you'll need that extra blade. I want at least two blades on me, one for each hand. People reading this might be squinting and one eyebrow raising. Yeah. I will tell you why. 😁 I was on my mountain bike out for a ride one day and, while waiting at a STOP sign (like a good little boy scout) a pitbull got loose from someone's house, then charged at me while barking. I just sat there and waited to see what would happen. I had my multitool on me in my right pocket (I should have reached for it quick, but I did not - stupid me), and FOX Five Point Three pepper spray in my left pocket. As the dog got up to me, it stopped and just barked once or twice more, then sat in silence as I looked at it. The owner came out and yelled at it to come home and it ran home. The point is, random stuff like that could happen to anyone, and you've always got to be prepared. If it latched onto my right arm, my multitool was in my right pocket, so that'd not be good for me. Anyway, I want a blade on each side of me for such situations. To me, selfdefense is priority in EDC, then convenience for fixing things with tools is secondary. I have more of a "prepper" mindset (after 9/11 I assumed they were going to do worse the next time, so I started buying items most people would think I'm crazy for, like NBC gas masks, suits, etc.), therefore I carry items most other people might think is a waste of space or weight, but I don't care. I've been in more than 5 risky situations over the last 20+ years to know that selfdefense comes first.👍 Don't be comfortably complacent.☺️
@@Northanteus sounds like you’re dialing in on exactly what you want out of your tools, which is part of the joy of the hobby! And I love the idea of a knife/tool accessible from either hand. I can think of plenty of situations where that would be a huge benefit. Thanks for watching and sharing your thoughts!
@@The_commonman Yeah. The QSP penguin has a thumb stud on both sides, so I can put it in either pocket. I'm left-handed but I can use my right, no problem. This knife would go in my left pocket, as it's one of the few I've seen with double sided thumb stud, but my multitool is right hand open for the blade. I like brass for its antibacterial / antimicrobial properties, so less germs on the handle. 😁 I'm assuming it has coating on it, so I'll have to strip that off. 🤔
Christ all mighty please stop opening shutting moving it round screen etc,,, your making me bloody dizzy man,,,,,, get a fidget spinner for heavens sake buddy,,,, had to stop watching half way through
You're not only paying for the tool but you're paying for the cnc and all the presses that it takes to make the tool. Equipment for tooling isn't cheap.
Love mine had it customized with topo scales, my name and an american flag on the blade! I am very impressed with the performance and the set of tools it comes with. My only improvements to this tool would be a removable saw blade attachment that can use the different saw attachments.
Love the idea of customizing it! I agree with exchangeable saw blades, would be an incredible improvement. Thanks for watching!
Great thorough review!
Thank you! 😁
Loving mine I just got it and I'm using it everyday haven't got a spot or the bit driver worked out yet but that's coming next I think I just don't want the bits hanging off my belt sheath
Nice review of this useful tool. Hope to have one. Sending support buddy.🇵🇭❤️
Thank you!
Thanks for the review! I have been wondering about this version of the P4. I have two Leatherman P2's and a P4. All three tools have been customized to fit my needs. I put in after market bit drivers. One P2 has a 4mm driver since I am an IT guy, the other has a flat bit driver. I took a long double ended flat bit and made it a little shorter. I made a hollow ground straight slot on it. I think you will find the same thing that a longer bit will fit in the tool. It is so handy! The P4 has a 1/4" bit driver with a double ended bit. It will also take flat bits. Several other tools on it have been customized as well. It is a great platform for mods. I carry the tool in a belt sheath and still pocket a standard knife every day. No need to replace your knife with the multitool, just carry both!
A longer but would be very handy. Thanks!
Yes, the part of multitool that most usefull is flat & philips head bit. That's why I change my EDC from LT charge to Vic spirit x because it has bit driver with long fix handle. So no need to exchange the bit driver when you want to use it.
Great review.
Thanks!
Very thorough review and sensible advice on the wire cutters. I would have liked a hole in the awl and the chisel from the Mr Crunch, otherwise the Arc is good to go.
The issue with price is slightly more nuanced than the choice of materials. I own a Wave, a Signal and I recently bought a Surge (+ I've a few P4's and even a Tread! which performs admirably as a watch strap). My last purchase, the Surge, has it's faults, the powder based coating makes it as mobile as arthritis. It is also very heavy, but here's the thing, it works and it works brilliantly. Now I don't think for one moment Leatherman are profiteering with the arc, it's that they are victims of their own success. They've spent the last 40 years elevating the humble Pork shoulder [stay with me here] into delicious, memorable, food. With the Arc they have followed the same model but this time using the much more expensive loin. The question is am I gaining anything, operationally, by spending double the cost of brilliant? Of course if the Arc had the spring loaded pliers [as per the Batch No.5 that I wasn't able to buy, given the stock was released all at once on US time whilst here in the UK we were on snooze. Fortunately I'm not bitter, no not at all] I might be less reticent about such an upgrade.
I agree that the price comes down to more than just the materials. You do gain some great benefits from the materials, but the price jump is considerable. I think it comes down to what every individual is willing to pay. And as I’ve shown with this purchase, if the price is too high, the second hand market is always an option to save some cash! I will say though, I think the tool is excellent! Thanks for watching and sharing your thoughts!
Thanks for showing and sharing your experience with the Leatherman Arc.
The Magnacut steel is incredible. It can be hardened up to 65/66 HRc and still keeps up it's remarkable toughness - unfortunately I couldn't find any claims about the actual hardness Leatherman puts on it. All Leatherman full-size multitools are a bit pricy IMHO,
I got a Wave-clone for just 20€, a bit bulkier, a bit heavier, a little less hardened blade (~55HRc), no exchangeable wire cutters, but can do everything the original does.
I'm not afraid of resharpening my blades, so blade hardness is no concern to me.
Diamond plates are so cheap nowadays, I got a small diamond/ceramic combo for just 8€ from China, which brings any blade to razor sharpness.
The cheapest Magnacut knife I found was 90$ and I would never spend that much money on just a single bladed knife.
As for your problems with rust: try Ballistol gun oil (which is alkaline and neutralizes the acid from sweating), or LiquiMoly-LM40 (way better than WD-40 in every aspect) -
I live near the sea and sweat a lot too, but I had never any issue with rust other than with the bits, which are not from stainless steel.
As for the bit driver: the Leatherman bit-extender comes in quite long and would cost me 25€ here in Germany. I got me a cheap locking bit driver for 7€ and evenly ground two opposite sides down to fit the Leatherman holder, drilled a small hole near the end to match the opening in the holder, where I can put a pin through, and now I have a compact full-size bit-driver with a better functionality than the Leatherman's solution.
Glad you have the money and get a lot out of the better blade steel.
Ballistol is a great suggestion, I’ve used it on my guns and it works very well, I’ll have to give it a shot on my multitools. And great idea for the bit driver! Thanks for watching!
It's all about convenience and quality. For less than two Leatherman Arcs, I can get a kit consisting of 89 tools that will cover pretty much any situation. This comes at a cost. It won't fit in my pocket or on my belt and it weighs 32 lbs. It includes a razor blade knife, not a Magnacut blade. It's best to have both. :)
Since I've had my Arc Ive put hard in the second part before the gap supposedly,but mine doesn't have a gap really,they must have caught up to the problem,anyway,I've bail wire at work numerous times an was nervous first of them breaking an then checking the cutter an nope,no issues or breakage,which is a big relief,but I also carry my surge with me on my side for heavier duty tasks an honestly I just like switching out,but if I need my tool quickly,mam I honestly have to give it to the Arc hands down on how fast one handed opening for all my tools an closing except for if your changing out tje bits ,i love it
Glad to hear it’s working for you! I agree, one handed operation for all the tools has turned into a really big positive for me. Thanks for watching!
@@The_commonman ,ty no problem,yes I'd agree,it's just so much faster for working or needing a tool quickly,I still love my surge though an will never replace it.
I would like the cutters to be like the older style replacement but if used correctly it's not a problem
I don't think $230 is too much. If that's what a man likes. It came out of his pocket. Would i buy one? Sure if i was going to get some use out of it. I have a new Rebar. I snapped the nose off one side of the pliers doing something i had no business doing with the tool. Leatherman sent me a new pair on warranty. I barely knocked the new off of em yet. But I love em. They're a great tool. I've actually considered getting a surge to prevent me from carrying an extra knife. The knives on the Rebar are great but i do like that one hand deployment. Less in my pocket
Thanks for sharing! And I agree about the price. I use the arc all the time and it’s worth the money, I think! And if you like the size of the rebar, you’d enjoy the wave plus! it’s also a little cheaper than the surge.
I just made your subscription hit 1000
Right on, thank you so much!
I think it could be the back of the saw that you cut your finger on, just take a file and pass it on the edge.
It’s actually got almost 10% less edge retention that my s30v charge tti. I’ve carried that every day since 2016 and yes I bought an arc too. Unless you work at a salt mine or work at sea you won’t rust much if you keep it clean every single often. As far as magnacut being tougher - knives aren’t a pry bar lol. As I typed this out I heard you talking on your profuse sweating, if you’re rusting stuff I’d recommend carrying them external of your pockets. Sheaths or holsters. I copper coated the scales on mine.
Edit to add- you aren’t missing out on the rest of the Leatherman bit kit. Their steel is too soft once you get to using the hex and torx. I carry their little extension to use regular 1/4inch bits and keep a set of good bits with me. Thanks for your review on it.
Thanks!
I love mine it has become my everyday carry, My only complaint is the case being to big. I carry it in the wave + case
what do u think there is not serrated blade
I prefer a straight edge. My guess is that’s most people’s preference, which is most likely the reason it’s not partially serrated. Wouldn’t be a bad idea to have that as an option though
With the magnavut blade, a serrated blade is less necessary because the knife is likely going to be sharp enough to cut anything you would have used a serrated blade for. I think that’s the reasoning.
Who said it's law that one must carry one or the other? I say carry multitool and blade at the same time. 🤷♂️😁
I like your style
@@The_commonman I am fairly new to the whole EDC thing. I daily carried some items in the past, but I mean that I'm new to being specific with intention to buying items like knifes, multitools, flashlights, and other items to fit in a kit of some sort. I buy cheap stuff when I'm new, and I'm new to knives, so I was planning on getting a QSP penguin with brass handle and D2 steel, as it's $50 on Amazon, so not a huge risk. I also buy cheap multitools for now, no Leatherman for me. 😋 I beat on a cheap ($20) bibury multitool and it's held up fairly well, except when I used the file on a nail in my shed and it dulled the file a little, so now I'm carrying a small carbon steel file, and the needle nose pliers did not budge a rusted bolt on my old mountain bike, so now I carry 4 inch (10 cm) Knipex Cobra XS pliers, which are literally as small as a childs toy, yet very effective in action. 😁 I love it.
Anyway, I hold the importance of carrying both (and more) multitool and knife because you never know when you'll need that extra blade. I want at least two blades on me, one for each hand. People reading this might be squinting and one eyebrow raising. Yeah. I will tell you why. 😁 I was on my mountain bike out for a ride one day and, while waiting at a STOP sign (like a good little boy scout) a pitbull got loose from someone's house, then charged at me while barking. I just sat there and waited to see what would happen. I had my multitool on me in my right pocket (I should have reached for it quick, but I did not - stupid me), and FOX Five Point Three pepper spray in my left pocket. As the dog got up to me, it stopped and just barked once or twice more, then sat in silence as I looked at it. The owner came out and yelled at it to come home and it ran home. The point is, random stuff like that could happen to anyone, and you've always got to be prepared. If it latched onto my right arm, my multitool was in my right pocket, so that'd not be good for me. Anyway, I want a blade on each side of me for such situations. To me, selfdefense is priority in EDC, then convenience for fixing things with tools is secondary.
I have more of a "prepper" mindset (after 9/11 I assumed they were going to do worse the next time, so I started buying items most people would think I'm crazy for, like NBC gas masks, suits, etc.), therefore I carry items most other people might think is a waste of space or weight, but I don't care. I've been in more than 5 risky situations over the last 20+ years to know that selfdefense comes first.👍 Don't be comfortably complacent.☺️
@@Northanteus sounds like you’re dialing in on exactly what you want out of your tools, which is part of the joy of the hobby! And I love the idea of a knife/tool accessible from either hand. I can think of plenty of situations where that would be a huge benefit. Thanks for watching and sharing your thoughts!
@@The_commonman Yeah. The QSP penguin has a thumb stud on both sides, so I can put it in either pocket. I'm left-handed but I can use my right, no problem. This knife would go in my left pocket, as it's one of the few I've seen with double sided thumb stud, but my multitool is right hand open for the blade. I like brass for its antibacterial / antimicrobial properties, so less germs on the handle. 😁 I'm assuming it has coating on it, so I'll have to strip that off. 🤔
Christ all mighty please stop opening shutting moving it round screen etc,,, your making me bloody dizzy man,,,,,, get a fidget spinner for heavens sake buddy,,,, had to stop watching half way through
Don't buy the Arc, juste get the Wave +.
I bought the wave+ to try saving money. 2 months later, I have the arc on its way. Don’t settle, you’ll just end up paying twice instead of once.
pliers are useless, proprietary bit set is garbage, blade is no big deal, tool set is marginal, overpriced tackle box tool
Wrong