I EDCed the Knipex Cobra XS for 5 Weeks...
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- Опубліковано 29 кві 2024
- Urban Knife Guy shares his experience EDCing the Knipex Cobra XS for more than 5 weeks.
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Projecting one's own use case on others is always tricky. I use the Cobra XS frequently. I own restomodded 90s MTBs and I like to DIY stuff.
Would not say it is an EDC item but I have several kits (travel, outdoors, biking, home) which I carry often additionally to my basic EDC. I switch sometimes items between these kits, so they are not totally static (what has also to do with the fact that I do not have certain items in 4 numbers ...). But usually, either the 125mm version or this small baby Cobra are in the kit I carry additionally to my EDC.
My main uses for this type of pliers (and mostly I grab the 125mm version because the 100mm is often a bit too small) are
- outdoors (and gardening): grabbing pots from fire/stove (what works better with a crooked head on your pliers), removing thorns from shoes and clothes, holding small branches, pipes or other stuff when I need to work on them, pulling wires and strings, handling screws and nuts (mostly those on tools like e.g. pruning shears)
- biking (motorcycle or scooter): screws and nuts, pulling wires, bending metal, fiddling around (e.g. with the gasoline pipe)
- home: screws and nuts, pulling wires, holding small parts of any sort, repairing stuff
- travels: all of the mentioned use cases
Btw: I find it generally more practical in my life to differentiate between a very basic EDC which is more or less always on my body, and separate kits in which I carry additional items according to the actual situation, than trying to put everything what I would probably need in any given situation in one pouch only. And secondly, pliers are for me always a special case because you can always carry them on a multitool or your Victorinox, but I found me often stuck in a situation where I wanted to hold an item with the pliers and using another tool from the SAK/multitool to work on the item. Be it you hold the nut with the plier and want to screw the screw with a screw driver, or holding a small pipe with the plier and using the metal saw to cut it, a plier separate from the multitool makes in my use cases usually more sense than only having the multitool.
I love my knipex cobra 125mm. I keep it in my edc and use it regularly. The coated handles have a very comfortable grip , absolute love it
Ive got the leatherman arc also. Between them both need nothing more than a mini flashlight and a pen.
Good video 👍
And there are too many videos suggesting things people “might want” to carry vs things that are truly useful to carry. If I see one more EDC with two pocket knives and a multi-tool with a knife I’m going to cry. No one needs three knives, and only some people need two
So i carry three every day. I have what i think is a logical reason. I have a defensive blade in my right pocket and one on my belt for my left hand. My leatherman is in a belt sheath. I do it that way in case i have my dogs leash in one hand i can always get to a blade. But I'm very defense oriented though
@@ryangriffith1500 sure if you have a good reason and are skilled in knife defense, I carry pepper spray but that doesn’t cover everything
I suspect a lot of people though just carry 3 knives because pocket knives are fun and collectible but idk a multi-tool with a decent blade is good enough for me personally
@frogturtle i love my pom. Only had to use it once but worked like a dream. Any knife can be used as a "defense" blade, but i prefer one actually made for the task. You need something that is quick, and most folding knives take a long time to get into the fight. I have my leatherman because i try to keep my defense ones sharp at all times. Yes, you should have at least some basic knife defense training. I'm no expert, but i do have 1.5yrs of training so far. It's all a system, and you just need what works for you. I feel as though my system is perfect for me. It's a learning journey, and I'm far from an expert.
@@ryangriffith1500 yeah for sure dude, i carried an emerson opener for a while. great for convenience too (as long as the people around you aren’t squeamish lol.) even the arc with a one handed thumb stud opening is way slower than that. i didn’t have training so i let go of the idea of using a knife as defense and just carry pom. but with training it’s obviously a different story
carry on my friend!
@frogturtle i think you should still carry Gun or knife with the pom. It's just good to have a backup in case the pom doesn't work. If you just have some basic skill with a knife you don't need to be an expert. Definitely need to know how to retain your weapon. I just want people safe. I'm not letting me or mine get hurt. God help who thinks my cane is a sign of weakness.
So it's not for everyone or every EDC setup, it's good when you don't have a pliers, multitool, or when you need to apply more force than a multitool can do.
I'm oriented to get stuff that I'd actually use, with the occasional "I just want it!" And to be honest if I could afford a good premium Leatherman or other good brand from the start maybe I wouldn't have a need for anything else, but that's the point, I don't want a tool that claims it does multiple stuff, and I don't want big tools unless they stay in the big tool box! I prefer small tools that have one function: to cut, to pry, to grip, to light, to disassemble!
Of course I have some small plier based multitools, like a nextool mini sailor, or sog powerpint, but they don't get much use especially the tools in them, maybe I'll cut or strip a wire, file or bend something soft occasionally, but those tools still look brand new, while my cobra xs that I had for less time than the others has tons of use scratches and dents! Grabbing, squeezing, turning, holding I used it for everything, even as a vice holding something while I file, heat or hammer to straighten a metal piece or nails them!
So the moral of the story, different tools for different people, uses or EDC setups!
I prefer the 125mm cobra pliers for EDC. I don’t carry a pliers-based multi tool, so the cobra pliers are there to supplement my victorinox outrider. I use the cobra pliers all the time. I also like the Snap On 44acf slip joint pliers and I switch back and forth between the Knipex and the snap on.
Thank you for giving the Knipex an honest try. I appreciate your assessment and quite frankly share it an extent. At the moment I carry them as part of my small kit and have not suffered any weight penalty. That said they do take up room in my pouch and if something comes along I feel would be more useful they will be replaced.
I tend to evaluate what kind of day I’m likely to have ahead of time and if it’s just going to work at the office a pair of pliers is not something I feel I will need.. unless my desk falls apart! Otherwise I have a more dedicated and more complete kit I throw in a backpack when I’m doing things outside my routine. In the end there is only the perfect EDC for you! Thanks again
Everybody needs to understand that there are levels of maintenance even around your own house and daily life. Everybody is not a lvl 3 technician performing 3rd line support. Most people perform easy tasks requiring minimal tools. Others are advanced and requiring advanced tools.
The Cobra is for those advanced. They also don't just carry a regular alox pioneer, but something that takes all bits necessary for all maintenance.
What lvl maintenance would you engage in? Choose your EDC on that basis
I'll give you reading this a hint. Deluxe tinker + leatherman ratchet driver + your bits + a cobra. When going to sea, switch dl tinker for Skipper
I have a similar pouch by Alpaka. It holds my flashlight, SAK Compact, a small combination pry bar/¼ inch driver, some hair ties, a small notebook, some bandaids, a flat magnifying glass, and eyeglass cloth. I also carry a larger folder such as the ZT0640 for easy knife access. I have a pair of Knipex that fit in the pouch but, like you, I found that I don't need them often enough to EDC them. They now reside in a Maxpedition Jumbo Versipack along with a number of other tools and items (USB cords, power pack, wipes, Kleenex, zip ties, lighter, small socket wrench kit, 1st aid kit, etc.) If I'm away from home for a whole day or weekend the Versipack goes in the car.
I absolutely agree with you. I am huge fan of knipex, they make really good tools and I have at least 10 different pliers from them, but it makes 0 sense for me to carry one around in a pocket. I get the concept of "you might need it one day", but ive been in situations where I spontaneously needed a Dremel that I didnt have on me, should I carry one of those around too? I do carry a SAK in my pocket and usually have a leatherman nearby, if those doesnt do the job then im perfectly fine with not carrying one of these on my body as long as I know I have one in a toolbox/car/backpack.
Ive said before, but I really do like your approach to EDC. I kinda lost hope in this community and its content creators because all the big ones seem like consumerist porn to me, I really hope more people get your (imo very sensible) take on things.
I carry a Leatherman crunch and a 100mm sidchrome shifter for work, victorinox handyman at home, victorinox soldiers knife and becker companion camping.
Not EDC but it´s in my car kit and there it´s a great addition to a Leatherman. Leatherman pliers are not well suited to grap bolts and nuts. Kipex here works much more better
I always carry Knipex as EDC . Just for today , its helping me to remove/install faulty fuse at my car . There is one case i can’t open the Lube oil cap for my car , and i managed to get it open by using knipex
Maybe it's not for everyone but there are plenty of people out there who have a pliers based multitool on their person all the time, either on a belt pouch or in their pocket, and for those people this is a good alternative, carried in conjunction with a SAK. I have one in my rotation. Today I'm carrying a Vic Climber and Leatherman Squirt PS4 in my coin pocket, really only for the pliers and even more occasionally the file, but although it's more compact than the Knipex Cobra XS, the Squirt is actually heavier.
I carry a multitool on my belt and a knipex in my edc pouch. My Arc comes in handy multiple times a day, pliers not so much. A stubborn water hose or as a backup tightening a bolt, nut.
I use crutches to get around, and I occasionally use a wheelchair, so I'm the 1% of the EDC community who does use piers fairly often to tighten, loosen, or grab things. I bought a pair of these thinking they'd be super useful, but they're so small l found it hard to get a good grip or to use them to grab anything. Now, they sit in my toolbox and I carry Channellock needle nose pliers, and they're perfect.
I tried the 125 Knipex, they were ok, just depends what kind of work you do. For me the 4 or 5" vise grips work great along with my Spirit MX clip that i carry every day. Thanks for your reviews!
Yea I'm totally with you, with the exception of people in the trades I just can't see why anyone needs to EDC pliers.
Ironically I had perhaps the first time ever recently where I thought to myself 'I wish I had a pliers on me'. I was at a family members house and they'd had a light bulb break inside a lamp, so the glass was gone but the connector was still jammed in place. Fast forward about 5 seconds and I just jammed the awl on a pioneer x through the leftover bulb connector and twisted it out that way, no bother at all. So that was my 1 time 'almost' needing an EDC pliers.. but not quite!
This is why I like needle nose pliers, yes they are pliers but their skinny profile makes them much more useful for many more things, I seldom need to use pliers to tighten stuff
As a regular cyclist, the adjustable wrench is something I would EDC in some cases.
Strangely, to my knowledge there arent any multitool variants of the adjustable wrench, I could imagine one with a bit driver and 1 or 2 more tools that fold out from a pivot perpendicular to the handle at the rear, the hanging ring at the rear would need to be reworked or removed but such a tool I can very well imagine carrying regularly…
I paired it with a topeak pocket ratchet bike tool. I dont really carry it on me(except when cycling) but i always have it in a bag either in a car or at home. Very usefull in adjusting/fixing furnitures and my nephews wheelchair. Rather than hauling a toolbox whenever i need to adjust things.
Tip for making it slimmer to carry, take the slip joint down about two notches. Closes up but the handles are slimmer. I use mine almost daily. The tips are so fine I can use them instead of tweezers at work etc. I am an optician and do a significant amount of repairs on spectacles and these work really well for tiny screws and parts. Would love a needle nose version too!
When I need plyers when I'm out in public best thing to use is my teeth, works great.
Nice video, I have always worn an MT and the pliers were the most used item of the MT and then 95% the gripping part. The saw and file have only been used very rarely and the screwdrivers are not pleasant to use, which resulted in me going to my toolbox for them. But I do carry that weight with me, and here in the Netherlands people freak out if you have a knife. So I exchanged my MT for a SAK Climber (a gentleman's knife) together with a 125mm Cobra (1 size larger than the XS). Together with my flashlight, it fits perfectly in the Knipex holster. For me, my EDC doesn't feel complete without pliers and the WaPu (water pump pliers) are the most versatile of them all. Perhaps this stems from my love for technology, I also have a mini toolkit in my EDC bag.
I side with those that believe the Knipex are stronger than any pliers on multi-tools. I've actually rarely carried full-sized multi-tools because I don't care for their weight/bulk. To each their own. I also don't personally have a need to carry eye drops or micro glo sticks, however the author does and this is perfectly fine. I live in a really cold climate so a chapstick is more highly regarded/used. 👍
Where can I learn to tie the lanyard knots you are showing here? Do they have a name I could search?
These are snake knots. Try 'Weavers of Eternity' (Tibetan Part 2) for easy way to tie the knot.
Nice one UKG…..completely agree…..the Cobra 125s are in my toolkit pouch…..and they’re fantastic….but I don’t need a pair on my person all the time
Knipex is a nice plier tool, and for some it's useful. I don't need pliers often so for me it's not needed. I pocket carried a Leatherman Wave (original) for several months and then decided which tools I actually used on a daily basis. Honestly a Victorinox Classic SD (2") pocket knife does 95% of what I need on a regular basis. I think the Knipex is good for an auto tool kit or excellent for a motorcycle toolkit.
Most of us do not use pliers a lot in our everyday life. I do use a flashlight a lot, and I use a knife every day. I could not see EDC-ing that thing, Esp. at the price (Waaay Overpriced). I carry a pretty complete tool kit in my car, and I have a hammer and a couple of screwdrivers in my desk at work. Its tool small to be effective, and too useless to EDC (I have a Leatherman in my EDC).
I have one, but I do not need it as an EDC. But I found it to be an excellent tool in my motorcaravan! Particularely the waterinstallation is usually placed in some hidden corner where you cannot work with a large tool. For MY purpose an excellent Tool.
i carry the 150mm cobra they fit perfectly in my sling bag, in a road trip i needed to remove a cover on the engine bay knipex cobra to the rescue, at home changed a faucet, but same result a you not much use as an edc, still carry them and i don't know why 😂😂 nice to have i think, good video on a real experience and real carry
I use pliers everyday. Well, almost anyway. Totally agree with your video, or at least I’ll say this, I own some of these, but i find my leatherman tool much more what I need. The needle nose pliers and cutters on them is just more versatile. This is more a task specific need. I do construction, and I cut wire, bend over random poky things, tighten small bolts on the fly. And I can do it all with my leatherman. Plus gives me a backup knife and all the other tools included. The kinipex has a place though I agree. Nice pouch set up by the way!
pliers are EDC just for plumbers ^-)))
So U are right about that hysteria about knipex mini pliers!
Maybe military has use of it too
It really depends on your daily routine. I agree that for most people (including myself for most of my life) this is useless. But I use it a lot, even when there are tool boxes around, because of its unique dimensions. It fits between two wooden beams to secure a nut while you use your driver on the other nut.
Well, if you don't use pliers often or working with nuts and bolts then you wouldn't need it, obvious :) I carry Knipex as a lightweight replacement for pliers, and I do use for that. Cometimes regular pliers are better but in some situations Knipex wins, in others they are more or less the same. I did use them the couple of times to tighten some nuts, but mostly use as pliers replacement. I don't like pliers based multitools and Knipex weight almost nothing, so I think that is a good thing to carry. Not for everyone obviously :) The whole EDC thing is quite personal, there is no "one kit fits all" kind of thing :)
I'm a dentist and I use the knipex every day :)
🤣🦷
I've had the same experience. I think they are cool and they are a good product but I can't see a reason for me to carry it because they just don't get used.
I don't find that I need to carry any sort of pliers on my person as a rule. Pliers are definitely a part of my Tier II EDC though; they are never any further away from me than my vehicle. Cobra pliers of one size or another are a great supplement to my pliers based multitool.
Get a bigger pouch ...include the knipex pliers.
Best pliers on earth .
It has worked well for me in a pouch
interesting theory you have about the Knipex Cobra tool.
Nice video
needle nose pliers just make way more sense as a general use tool, I’ve used them to remove splinters or grab things in spaces with minimal clearance, something specialized for tightening bolts is inherently limited
Leatherman Arc with tweezers and ratchet driver has covered all of my use cases, honestly I could even leave the ratchet driver at home and it would still be amazing
I agree about needle-nose /combo pliers, and they make much better tweezers than those flimsy things in SAK handles. Knipex do a great combination model, the 08 21 145
I couldn’t agree with you more. Stand alone tools belong in a tool belt or tool bag. Multitools are all you need on a daily basis. You guys are getting way too carried away with lugging around a bunch of heavy junk on your pockets that you just don’t need. As a carpenter/tradesman of almost 20 years, even I don’t pocket carry a bunch of tools. A good Swiss Army Knife or multi tool is more than enough. Everything bigger than that is on the truck. You guys are fanatics!
I carry these all the time and use them often, but I work with my hands a lot doing things like manual labor and remodeling. I have large cobras and pliers wrenches and so on, but plenty of times this is enough to save time and extra trips to the truck. Theyre so small that I might as well keep them on me
I carry the Knipex in my wallet, I don’t even notice they are there. I do carry pliers based multitool too, are the Knipex used daily? No, probably once every one or two weeks, tight bolt/nut, limited access? Knipex outperforms multitool pliers by a mile.
I think people need to stop trying to fit everything under EDC. There are valid reasons to have kits that you don't have on you every minute but you keep nearby like in your car or locker, etc.
This belongs in a kit but it's probably not necessary edc for most people.
I agree with this video. Too many fan boys go for the Knipex and a big multitool. People may laugh, but all I EDC is a Leatherman Rev. Granted, I bought 6 of them for $36, on clearance at a Home Depot. However, its small so its pocketable. It has every standard tool a Victorinox has, with the added bonus of the pliers. And I like the box opener tool. Carrying a separate wrench would be too much.
I don’t disagree with what you’re saying, but here in America many people carry firearms EVERY SINGLE DAY and will NEVER use it once in their lives. There is an aspect to EDC for some people to carry items that are for emergency or highly unlikely situations. A lot of people will say they like the corkscrew on their SAK over the philips because they can carry a little tinder bundle and ferro rod. And most of those people are carrying 2-3 layer SAKs because they only want to carry what they need. I think virtually everyone is more likely to need a Philips than a ferro rod and tinder. Unless your everyday life consists of going deep into the wilderness for hours. All I’m trying to say is all of us who are into EDC have quirks, and I don’t think carrying a well made & useful pair of 2 ounce pliers that happen to disappear into any pocket is the biggest thing to hate on. Today I used mine in my house to guide and set some tiny screws in my kids toy that I could not do with my fingers. Having some extra fine gripping power is the farthest thing from the most obscure reason for carrying something in your pocket everyday.
I agree that in your example and I was at home the Knipex is a fine tool to have and use. But... I'm at home and I don't need to EDC it, even though my place is humongous 🤣 Carrying a pair of pliers in my pocket at home is funny to me because it assumes I will be wearing pants or shorts.
@@urbanknifeguy unfortunately with kids, no pants or shorts are not an option 😒 generally I just have a victorinox pioneer as my only knife/tool on my person so I definitely hear/understand the “only what you need” approach. But I go back and forth between taking the knipex out of my pouch out of my backpack and just throwing them in my pocket. Not sure why I do it, I just kind of like them and never kills my comfort to add them to my pockets.
You'll feel like a right fool if you're stuck in a lift and need a pair of pliers to repair it🤪 haha
I agree the urban get out of trouble mini kit is the place for it. It's not tier 1 pocket carry for most except e.g. Those of us who cycle regularly on terrible roads that rattle bolts loose.
Even then the tier 2 mini toolkit is likely where it goes.
6:17 Cordage? Sewing thread and needle? Light glow-stick for getting stuck in a lift?! You’re a sewing thread fanboy!
I was with you, until you brought out the clone. So there is definitely an application for them, even in your context.
Are you joking? You're the king of clones and clone recommendations (a good thing)
@Solomon1618 I should explain. What I mean is that his argument about not needing pliers was moot once he mentioned using a multitool plier. If he didn't have the multitool the knipex would have gotten used.
@@maxlvledc I see, but I don't think using it once in 5 weeks grants justification to carry it, for him at least and 99.99% of ppl
I'm 61 years old, and i've never needed to carry anything other than my wallet .
Carry as much as you can, you may not use it but hey. Ideally have a donkey or an ass like in the good old days 😂
Can almost guarantee you'll find a need for it now youve removed it
You haven't used that Knipex for a month, so you remove it from your EDC. Fair enough.
However, what else in that EDC pouch have you also not used for a month, and yet you're keeping it in there "just in case"...............
Its a hard sell to say the tool is useless.
I agree, and that is why I never said such a thing.
@@urbanknifeguy the thumbnail says a useless edc item. Maybe it was just click bait. Apologies.
@@TheConpuentes No worries.😁 Actually, the thumbnail asked the question, not stated a fact.
Let's be honest, people don't need any EDC or any other ABCDEFG tools ever and it's all just symptoms of some troubles with mental health. Or a nice hobby, maybe.
I don't use Knipple tools.
I have tools from different manufacturers, why? Because life is a series of events... I'm not going out to purchase Knipple, Victorinox, Leatherman, Sog, whatever when I can make do with what I already own.
Also, I'm not allowed to carry a knife into Bidenflation's non-existent facility where I work. I can't even have one in my car.
Fanboy tool
It's a fad.