If its something light, I don't see why you couldn't, not every trip is a fight for survival and for a quiet weekend at the lake or in woods, you really don't need more than a swiss army knife or a multitool.
I think this is targeted at the outdoor/camping/backpacking community for use in those particular activities. And while it does have some flaws, it is actually quite useful in its intended role. As to the hammer, think tent or tarp stakes, not nails. As to the saw, its far more useful than a file in its intended role and the leatherman saw is second to none as multi-tool saw's go. While I prefer plain blades, a combo blade makes sense in its intended role as an outdoor tool. The replaceable wire cutter blades make a lot of sense given you may be cutting steel rather than copper. I would have preferred a small ceramic rather than diamond rod but maybe thats to be able to press it into secondary use as a shaper/file. The awl does need sharpening. I have the same concerns about the durability of the fero rod (but both the removable plastic parts are replaceable). Lastly, no one carries any multi tool because it's great at anything - they carry it because it does ok at a number of things and is better than nothing. I $5 hardware set of pliers does better than any leatherman pliers. A $5 hardware store knife does better than any leatherman knife. A $5 replaceable bit screwdriver does better than any leatherman screwdriver. You get the point - for far less money than any leatherman you could have a much more effective set of tools - but at a weight and bulk you would not likely usually have with you. Same in this outdoor/camping/backpacking context - its there to save size and weight or as a backup for your main tools (I use mine as a backup). So in context, this is pretty good (although I would not say "a gem")
It does make a lot more sense as a backup. Not "This is my saw and knife and hammer and driver", but "This will more or less do in the event that I lose my saw/knife/hammer/driver". Well put. And you're right, the hammer makes much more sense with 90º angle tent spikes, which a miss and hit to the hand isn't catastrophic.
I never like to have all my eggs in one basket so I prefer some degree of redundancy or overlap that a tool like this can provide in addition to my primary gear. I'd have primary gear to replace everything but the pliers and hammer aspects of the tool (and usually a rock makes a good a hammer as one is likely to need). But there is a whole class of ultra-light and lightweight backpacker that not only tries to avoid and redundancy or overlap where possible but even go to the extend of avoiding any item that doesen't have multiple functions. The weight cost of this may still be too high for those folks but they would consider the functionality this tool provides "luxurious" where we might consider it meager. They wouldn't carry another knife, or a hammer or pliers, or a saw, or whistle or fero rod - this would be all they would have. I'm not one of those folks so I can't say if this would be a legitimate tool or a gimmicky toy for them. I'd be interested to know though.
Jim Boutilier I think it's a great all rounder, and crucially it is lighter than almost everything else. When I heard the proposal of Nick wanting a 'side tap hammer' (?) I immediately knew he didn't understand/appreciate much beyond using a screwdriver.. which to be frank immediately nullified any opinions of his thereafter. Just being honest man
Jim Boutilier You make some very good points and I couldnt have said it better. Thats how I use it, as a scaled down option over my Surge and Charge multitools. Its got the tools I actually use when fishing, hiking or bikepacking with the fatbike. But with some added benefits like being a much smaller and lighter tool than the Surge that still has both awl and replacable cutters. Its easy to expand capabilities on this tool by adding a victorinox to your gear and I bet both of those tools still wouldnt be as heavy as a Surge.
You are so right on this Jim! People always see the Signal like a survival multi-tool, it's not, it's for outdoor activities and especially backpacking, there is no other leatherman outdoor oriented with carabiner carrying capability, my actual LM Rebar is great but no way to attach it to my backpack strap, that's why I'm looking for a Signal. For me the Signal clearly fill a hole in the Leatherman range.
I spend a lot of time hiking in the woods and I think the Signal makes a lot of sense. I wouldn't carry it in the office, but then I don't carry my Wave or my Skeletool in the woods.
"You're not going to cut down a tree with this" in reference to the saw. Really, do you have a multi tool that cuts down trees? You're review wasn't bad, but it seems you really nit picked at the end. Remember, all multi tools are a compromise. If you want a super saw, carry one separately, if you want the ultimate fire steel, carry one separately... you get the idea.
gotta disagree on you nick with the hammer here nick. in a wilderness setting i would use it to mash and crush, what nail would i have to strike in the wilderness.
Khalim Harris the other way that nick likes it would work but in the wilderness personally for my uses i like it where it is. But really i could just find a rock and use that. But its nice to have the ergonics and convenience of having a tool like this close by.
Multitools like this are mainly for redundancy. I don't think any of them claim to be the job as dedicated tools, because none of them do. If you lose your main tool, you'll be happy you have this. No one who is serious is just using this.
Nick, this is the only one of your reviews that I really disagree with. A multi tool is a compromise between capability and size. It is a tool first, and a tool doesn’t need to be pretty, it just needs to do what it needs to do competently. I understand being a reviewer, but please use your damn things before you start telling other people what and what not to buy.
I agree with your assessment he needs to actually "use" the tools more, but I also agree with his conclusion: if you're really thinking of using this out in the woods, you'd probably be better off with dedicated tools instead. Just from the Amazon reviews, I've seen people post photos that when the screwdriver is fully extended, the "hammer" side blocks the handles from closing fully, making the already impractical leatherman screwdriver bits downright silly to try to actually use on this one. The yellow plastic bit with the ferro rod is supposed to be removable, and have a whistle on the other end, which he never took out or tried. The ferro rod is also so small, and covered by so much yellow plastic, that other reviews have said it's downright ridiculous to try to use. Plus, a ferro rod requires a striker, I wondered if the little removable "diamond sharpener" (also impractical) could be used for that, but he never demonstrated. You can tell because ferro rods come with a black coating, but that coating won't produce sparks. You have to scrape off the black coating first before it works. Still, from other bushcraft videos, his conclusion is right. You'd want an actual full-tang knife with you to carve wood, and hammer with (and hammer on). You'd want a large, 6 inch ferro rod that's easy to operate even when you're cold, injured, or losing fine motor skills from lack of calories. And if you're not bringing a hatchet, going with a saw... why not just bring an actual folding saw? Once you do, there's no reason to carry this anymore, it's dead weight. For this type of "backwoods" survival, most multitools just aren't practical. For a different type of survival, like if you go trail riding with dirtbikes & ATVs, I'd bring a different leatherman with even more driver bits and equipment tools. My vehicle I rode in on is probably my best bet of getting out of there alive, so a small kit of repair tools becomes part of the survival kit. And this leatherman isn't even well suited for that motorcyle/ATV repair situation.
His conclusion is right, though: it's far too bulky and single-minded in its utility to be a reasonable EDC (meaning you wouldn't be likely to have it on you in case of an emergency where it could be useful, which is an area where otherwise less functional SAKs excel), and it's too low-quality to be worth taking on an intentional camping trip where you'd have significantly better tools at your disposal (other single-purpose multi tools focused on things like gardening, electrical work or gun maintenance succeed because those are predictable situations where the size and limits of a multi tool are well-suited to the requirements of the job, but backwoods survival is significantly more demanding so a single-purpose tool devoted to it is going to need far greater build quality to be of equal relative utility, and this just doesn't have that). Yes, every multi tool is a compromise, but that doesn't mean every compromise is a reasonable or useful one. To put it another way: the best tool is the one you have on you when you need it, and I just can't think of a situation where I'd have this on me. If I'm going into the woods for a while I'm bringing better tools that I can trust to properly do the job, and if I'm not going into the woods I'm carrying a multi tool that'll be more useful for day-to-day tasks. Some of the things this does COULD be useful in a pinch, but it can't flex its muscles if it's in the back of a drawer.
A Multi Tool is not supposed to replace or be better than the single purpose tools you have at home in your tool box - they are intended to be the Tool you have on you, at a time when you need a job done and you don't have a Tool Box. Expecting these Tools to out perform single purpose items like a Camp Axe or a Silky Saw is unrealistic and totally misses the point of what a Multi-Tool is and intends to be. To anyone who says the Signal is not a Survival Tool ... then you just decided to lay down in the Bush and die! As for myself and anybody else who values their life, I'd take the SIGNAL over every other Leatherman Tool in a Survival Emergency. The Ferro rod is small but it is intended to be there as a last resort - you would certainly start fire with this item and be damn glad you had it. The sharpening stone would absolutely be worth its weight given the work you may need to perform in getting wood for fire and various camp chores for shelter - a dull blade will make all this work 10x harder! Being able to keep a keen edge on your primary blade is vital to getting you where you need to be and conserving energy and resources. These two items alone make the Signal ( Along with the emergency Whistle! ) an absolutely stellar Multi Tool for Hiking - Bushcraft and Camping ... AND SURVIVAL>
I use this as my primary blade in Search and Rescue and I absolutely agree with you for the most part. For EDC (urban/ suburban use) it’s far to survival oriented to be practical and exotac makes better products that slip on a keychain for starting a fire. For backpacking it’s too urban oriented I think. As pliers are the main tool I don’t think it earns it’s keep against SAKs, how often have I needed pliers in the woods camping? Also the combo edge sucks for most outdoor tasks. For my niche use of it for SAR of missing persons and aircraft in the Midwest it’s actually rather suiting as a jack of all traits tool. It has the backup whistle and ferro rod which helps mission safety and the other tools help me do the random tasks I run into on missions. While it’s not a fixed blade it would get me through the night should I have to process wood to make shelter/ fire.
while i generally like your reviews i really gotta disagree with you on this one. as a hiker, backpacker, camper, hunter and general outdoorsman i found this knife to be fantastic. ive used the saw to cut down trees on my property while hunting and needing to create last minute shooting lanes. ive used the hammer to drive in stakes and straighten out bents hunks of metal. ive used the knife and bits many times and havent NEEDED the ferro rod but have used it to create fires to test it out and it worked well. as far as the SOLUTION no its not the end all be all. but it serves really well in a pinch and could work perfect for things like a bugout bag and situations of the sorts
Survival means "you weren't prepared".... if you go all prepared with all your tools in the woods it's called camping ! The signal ain't a gimmick... it was made for situations that you were not looking forward for and the only thing you have on you is the Signal.... a lot of people are misunderstanding the concept of "survivalism"
I bought this a few months ago. I use it for "lazy Sunday yard work". IE. while I'm mowing the lawn, I may use the Leatherman Signal to trim a bush, tighten a screw, re-hammer in a lawn ornament, open a bottle. It's great for light duty lazy Sunday yardwork. In this context, the Leatherman Signal is pretty darn great.
I agree, it is a gimmick. I don't know why they refuse to include a scissor in sooo many of Leatehrsmans offerings. I know someone will say that a scissor isn't a survival tool, but I have to disagree. Unless you are planning to use the knife to slice your or someone else pant legs off to get to a wound (to survive), I would rather limit my damage with a scissor than a knife blade. There are just some things that a scissor will do that only a scissor does well, and even if it includes clipping a torn nail thats really irritating your hand or foot, and you'd rather not think about it getting in your way or not or even minor surgery if needed, I think that the scissor stands alone. They clearly know how to make scissors and they they make damn good ones too, and I would be tempted to consider this if it included it. But it doesn't. And like you said, at only an ounce heavier and several times the utility with a $15 less expensive tool in the Wave, who would opt for the Signal? If they can make a lighter weight Wave, that would be a nice option! Why cant they make it with aluminum handles or perforated handles? It shows they are thinking with their designs, but not thinking outside the box well enough. I still really like their stuff, but Im not impressed with their latest offerings and think its a sign that they are on a bad path.
Hey Nick! This tool is actually pretty brilliant when out in the woods. Its got the basics, but those tools are the only ones I actually use. Ferro rod and sharpener is a bit gimmicky but its a bonus and it adds some color. I like how its got the 154cm cutters because these will cut fish hooks without getting damaged (unlike the regular cutters on wave/charge). The awl is a nice addition that is missing on the Wave/Charge and its been very useful to me. The pommel is a neat design feature that I feel they made the most of: Carabiner, bottle opener, hex drive and hammer. As for the knife I dont really use that alot on my leatherman so having it serrated just makes it more useful... or even actually useful assuming you have alot of other knives at hand. I feel they really thought this one through and that its its designed very specifically for a certain activity rather than EDC but that its tolerable as an EDC option. But as any gentleman would, I of course carry the Charge TTi so owning both feels pretty motivated. My one complaints are that it has alot of small parts compared to the classics and that some tools cant be omused with the knife closed because of the pommel.
@@genoburgess6817Well, Geno while you've no doubt been on your ass commenting on things you have no first hand experience with I've been using the Signal for going on almost 3 years now. It's been with me mountain climbing on Kalymnos, Snowboarding, skiing and kayaking in northern Sweden, Bowhunting in Finland and on various other camping, fishing, hunting, bikepacking and hiking trips. I've had zero issues with and its done what I've expected it to and then some. Wether its been lighting a gas stove, dissassembling firearms, making adjustments to my compound bow or other gear, cutting rope, hammering out rusted pins to disconnect my bike cart, getting ice out of my ski or snowboard bindings its performed all tasks admirably. This tool has disadvantages and advantages to other leatherman tools just like the rest of them do but because it lacks the bells and whistles of my other tools (I have several surges, waves, gerbers and vix) its not a gimmick. If the concept of the Signal is beyond your comprehension, think of it as "skeletool+" uppgraded with the rebar head a hammer/hexdrive and some other minor features that is there if you need them. Its a quality tool and it wont break on you.
7:02 - I like the clip on the CX because I can wear the skeletool on the inside of my pocket closer to the groin, and most pants pockets have a fairly useless bit of pocket up high/inside anyway. This allows me to have a dedicated knife with a clip in the same pocket riding normal/outside. The only issue I see is if you run something like a p'kal already inside/right, in which case the clip location helps bury the CX way outside on the left pocket, either way I like the clip. I'm watching this to see if I want a signal, and all I really want is a combination of the two aimed at tech/it/office environment. The signal clip makes sense, if you were pocket clip carrying this instead of using a belt pouch, you'd likely try to make it your only carry, rather than still carrying a folder as well.
I believe that a pummel tool is an absolute necessity for a multitool, and the signal along with the MUT are the only ones that have that. As for the unnecessary tools, that is a relative point. How often do you need a can opener or an awl? I do agree a second blade would have been a great idea. In the final analysis, if you depend on this, or any multitool to survive, then you most likely will not. The utility of a multitool is in helping you in an urgent or emergent situation. Multitools are auxiliary means and they promote a lifestyle you want to advertise about yourself. I find it useful (especially having a pummel tool) and stylish.
This doesn't seem like a good primary backpacking tool, but might be a good backup for a handful of things, in case your primary fire/whistle/whatever falls into a ravine or something. May pick one up just to stick in my pack and forget about.
Let us think a minute. I have the Signal in my pocket, and its all sharp and ready to go. i head out to go camping or fishing. Something happens and i need to start a fire, or sharpen a hook, or make a freaking bow or trap, the saw is good to have, the ferro rod is good to have in a pinch, the diamond stick is also good to have. The proper procedure for the ferro rod is to tie it to a longer stick using sinewy tree bark or whatever you have then strike. use the back of the saw for that. Its mainly for EDC and some outdoor activities. In a survival situation i can make a fire, but a way to sharpen a knife is HUGE. Even if its a rough sharp, its far better than a rough dull. And if you survive, send it in and have it fixed when you rejoin civilization.
Too much nit picking here. This is a tool. Not meant to be the ONLY thing you carry. I plan on getting this very soon and use it more for a hunting/camping companion. Maybe use it for processing tinder/kindling, etc. I edc a Wave and I keep a supertool 300 in my truck. Good points made with the awl yes the add ons aren’t the best, but they are perfect for a backup in an actual emergency. I really don’t believe Leatherman is marketing this as a “one tool option” and even if they were, common sense should tell you to not rely on one tool. Good review! Maybe I’ll post one when I get mine!
I replaced the blade with a plain edge knife. I picked it up for a possible pct hike. I agree with point on the awl. I tend to use to drill holes in wood. And the swiss army all is more effective in that. I also used the fire fly for the ferro rod. Ot fits into the same area as the tooth pick. Throws way better spark. They should have it spring open like the side kick resign the ferro rod whistle so it uses the firefly inter changelibly and improve the whistle. The hammer works great for smashing walnut and acorn shells. This tool works well in making traps . That all being said there is definitely room for improvement especially for the price tag
I think you are right. I’ve been using the signal for about 3 years because I was attracted by his nice look. Also for the surviving use. I like it very much but it is really for a « Sunday survivre » as we say in France. Next time, I’ll probably have a wave or a surge. Actually, I miss my old lost wave... thanks for your video
Cheers Mate! I totally agree with you. I thought at first glance it was ok but now have second thoughts on it..will wait for the plus to come on and the consider it.
The Signal gives you a capable outdoor oriented multi-tool with what is realistically a back-up to a back-up set of whistles, ferro rod, and a sharpener. Is it a bit gimmicky? Yes. But for a dedicated outdoors multi-tool (if you're willing to pay the asking price) it's a good one. The clip carry option is nice.
I think they did give you the hammer surface you want. You are just not looking at it because it seems small. The end is more for rent legs and they are rounded over. Also it matters in the way you hold it.
LOL... I dont know much about outdoors or survival in the woods but this knife I would choose... Breaks out one of the best fixed blades on the planet ESEE Laser strike... That is one HELL of a knife and I LOVE IT... Anyone that is looking for a smaller fixed blade do not look passed the ESEE Knives. If you want a Larger blade to compliment the smaller blade get the Junglas.
I have a Leatherman crunch which is the most tool like Leatherman and no one seems to review it this is a great multitool for those of us with a little more skill
This isn't survival tool, just for basic camping. Also the hammer works on tent poles, but good luck hammering even tiny nails with it. My signal seems to work nicer than yours. Don't get me wrong not an big fan of Signal either. It looks good 'thou. Also comparing Wave to Signal is fair, but kinda pointless. Wave has that handyman-style like Rebar or SuperTool, while this gimmicky Signal is more of an tool for those who want something different, maybe for those who use real tools at home but want to open those sausage packages at the camping site with this conversation piece. My experiences with this tool are limited. Had it with me at my summer cottage and it performed nicely. Sliced and sawed branches smaller to make some fire, slice meat and such. This thing can never compare to real survival knife or any other real survival tool. It is for those who enjoy modern luxury and who want just a last effort backup IF they have to actually do some work.
I was debating between this and the Swisstool X. Went for the Swisstool x because I’ve never had a Swiss made product that disappointed me or was poorly made. Not bashing leather man though because I used to carry a Charge TTi that was nice.
doesn't look like any of your leathermans have even made it outside of the box let alone the actual outdoors. subject them to use then form a review please
I keep waffling on purchasing a Signal. It is too “centric” for me, meaning it is too focused on the outdoors versus some other tools in their lineup. Also, loved the awl pun. It was awl-right by me.
I've decided to pass this one over as a gimmicky master of none, cannot see myself using this on any hikes here in South Africa. I am instead buying the Rebar as a more serious tool, and will either keep it in my car or in a get home bag. In my off body pouch, I have a Skeletool. And on me, either a Farmer (at the office) or a Nirvana, which as everyone should know, simply does not have any bad or ugly. ;-)
Well at the end of the day multitools can't replace real tools anyway. If you are saying the whistle and the ferro rods are gimmicks, why don't you just carry a big saw, a knife or a screwdriver instead of a multitool?
Ok so if your flyingbnb over the canadian wilderness and your plane crashes im willing to bet that you would be pretty thankful to have this thing in your pocket. Is the flint gonna last forever? Heck no but combined with the saw (which works very well for smaller to medium branches) this thing throws a decent spark and if you have any skill at all with making fire you gonna stay warm at night. Gimmick? I think not... the awl however does need sharpening. If you are planning on being in a survival situation u should take better tools but this is something more for the unexpected survival situation
love that esee! just wondering, did your wave come with that pocket clip or did you add it? i have a surge, may end up getting a wave as i seen them on sale from midway lately. i thought about the signal before but i dont think id use it but i probably would use the wave. the surge is a bit heavy for me, and as much as i want the mut....ill probably just wait to get that when my bday comes up. i just got a juice c2 and put a tec p7 for a pocket clip. it carries nice and slim so its been my alternative to the skeletool. BUT i am quicker on the draw to opening those beer bottles with the skeletool! haha
I really don't get what people don't understand about these tools. Nobody is going on a 3 night backpacking trip with a signal as their only tool. It's a compliment/backup/redundancy option. With that logic you could call all of these leatherman tools gimmicks. "Get a surge, get a real tool." Ok then I'll go to the hardware store and fill a canvas zip pouch with each individual tool and spend half of what a surge costs. These are not primary tools. They are a compromise between size/space/functionality. I relate it to the gun guys who say ".22's aren't good for self defense." Ok then just stand right here for a second let me try something. A .22 in your hand is better than a .45 in your safe. A signal in your pocket is better than your tools back at camp. Which you can't find. Because you're lost and injured.
You know I agree that this won’t replace all of the tools it has. But you see that isn’t the point of this tool, nor any other like it. The point is that if you wind up without those tools- these are better than nothing at all. Let me give you examples of what I mean: Say you’re out hiking all day, you’re a long, lay way out and a storm starts rolling in. You have this and your pack, which has all the larger versions of these tools etc. You turn back and realize you’re a little lost, as it begins to rain heavily. It’s dark and wet, you slip and fall, your pack goes flying; unfortunately right over the edge of the trail, which is over a hundred feet worth of drop. What’s left? Your phone and your Leatherman signal. You try your phone but have no reception, it looks like you have no option, blind and without your pack (and compass) then to wait out the storm. Deeming the conditions too dangerous, you seek shelter, lucky for you the hills are littered with shallow caves, but you are freezing now. You pull out the signal, it’s all you’ve got now. You find and saw down some of the driest wood you can find, quickly bringing it back to your shelter, along with whatever dry leaf material you could find for tinder. You set up the wood on the littered dirt floor of the barely-enough-shelter cave, and use the fire rod and the knife to light your fire. You warm up and as your eyelids grow heavy, you fall asleep. You wake up, it’s barely bright out and there’s a kink in your neck the size of Texas. You crawl out of your hole in the ground and find yourself still lost, but alive. What now? There might be other hikers around, so you begin to shout, but you’ll shred your lungs shouting like this, your throat is already sore. You pull out your signal: the whistle. A way to make noise enough to draw attention, even if not the best whistle, it’ll have to do. And just so happens your luck! Some hikers hear the whistle and come to help. They find you and take you back to the beginning of the trail, thanking them up and down you get in your car and drive home, to a most likely panicked family. Your sore, you’re throat hurts and you’re hungry and thirsty, but you are alive, you didn’t freeze to death, the whistle got you help. Now for my own application: I work in a kitchen. Sometimes the stove top won’t quite start up, and our lighters keep going missing but hey, I’ve got this handy dandy firestarter in my pocket! Spark! Spark! Ooooh! Fiiiiiree!
It's not a great survival tool but it's a great edc, light weight with the three most important tools, knife, screw driver and pliers. Just take off the whistle and sharpener. Easy
The saw isn't for cutting down trees it's for kindling and notching small tasks like that seems like a good camping tool and probably not meant as a survival tool
Survival means use anything neccesary for your survival, and trust me anything goes like a leatherman signal to stay alive, even trash is a treasure, use coca cola can as a cooking stove...sure its not a supercooker3000, but you get the point
I wish they had spent the R&D to make a light weight Charge in CF or whatever spacey alien technology with all the tools and functionality of the Charge and Surge series instead. But I get it survival is a thing and buying comfort is great for company's.
with the hammer thing, with your idea, i just cant imagine getting that much of an impact like that where with the way they have it, while slightly more dangerous, you could conceivably drive a stake into the ground or something.
If you going to hammer in a stake though, I'll probably just use a stick to pound it in. Any semi decent limb is going to do the job just fine and you can always work the wood into a better tool if so required. After all, we put in stakes with a wooden mallet, which is just a shaped stick with a heavy shaped end.
Good vid! I really enjoy you reviews you give a bias view which is nice. The signal isn't for me at all, I'm an urban guy hell I live 10 minutes from a Walmart, my go to multi tool is my charge alx serves me well and I don't mind the weight combined with my blade of the day I'm all set.
Man you review a outdoor survival EDC. Who care about a file and a prybar !!! if you get lost in the wild you need those thing like fire rod whistle and be able to refresh the edge. I agree the this is not for an urban EDC there's other model for that like wave or skeletool... This is not a good review. It like you by a pick up trick and cry that it's to hard on gaz and hard to drive in the city.
I couldn't find it, but somewhere on youtube there is a video of a dude starting a friction fire in the rain with a Swiss army knife. I suspect that sort of situation is what the designers imagined their customers would be imagining. You go out camping, but lose your backpack crossing a river. Then your survival possibles pouch gets lost in a bear attack. You're still okay, because you have your personal survival kit on your belt...or your did, because NINJA ATTACK!!! Having escaped the ninjas, all you've got is your multi-tool, and this one allows for some wood processing (small saws can be useful, I'm told), and you can get a spark. And you have a screwdriver and a can opener for...uh...reasons. I'm not saying this should have been certified as a Gem. But I can see the intent. No comment on the execution.
I've looked into this before and decided to pass. This tool reminds me of a Dyson vacuum. It looks cool at first glance and I want to like it, but ultimately it's overpriced and going to end up with plastic parts falling off. I do think the hammer and saw should both be in the "good" pile though. The hammer looks great for tent stakes as mentioned before, and the leatherman saws work very well for processing wood for small wood burning stoves.
Oh if only the blade steel were something like VG10, S30V, or S35VN! 420HC isn't going to stay sharp very long. If the blade steel were better I would buy it.
Nick Shabazz Nick, don’t get me wrong: I’ve learned a ton from you about knives, for which I’m deeply grateful. Thank you. But you have the hands of a jeweler, and I’m disinclined to believe that you can appreciate this tool, or any other for that matter, from the comfort of your studio. How about an episode where you bug out? I’d love to learn from you in that context. If I came off disrespectful, I apologize.
I agree with every thing you said, especially the flaws of the tool both in design and use. At the end of the day, this tool is a gimmick. A very badass, cool looking gimmick.. But, just a gimmick. Key word: Gimmick :D
Amazing video! I like that multi tool as every leatherman products but I completely agree with you. I carry my Fällkniven S1X or F1X for these reasons...!
100% agree. this thing is a joke. i see people talking about backup tools for survival... well, a good multitool is a good backup, but i'd much rather have the functionality of a real multitool than this. my backup is a leatherman surge and it is way more versatile than the signal. my backup ferro rod is much larger and easy to use than this little plastic-hugged sliver and i carry a real whistle. the signal really is a gimmick gone wrong. i don't understand it. this tool set seems like something you'd see in the father's day endcap at target.
I'm not sure they were thinking about hammering in nails when they designed the hammer...probably more like tent stakes.
Or stakes into a Vampire? Oh, imagine that scene in a movie.
I don't think leatherman is intending for you to go camping with nothing but this in your pocket...........
Chai Yang Unless you’re on a “survival” TV show.
If its something light, I don't see why you couldn't, not every trip is a fight for survival and for a quiet weekend at the lake or in woods, you really don't need more than a swiss army knife or a multitool.
I went backpacking/camping for 5 days last week with only this Leatherman a solid pocket knife
I can't be the only one who loves when he says, "it's a beautiful thing".
I think this is targeted at the outdoor/camping/backpacking community for use in those particular activities. And while it does have some flaws, it is actually quite useful in its intended role. As to the hammer, think tent or tarp stakes, not nails. As to the saw, its far more useful than a file in its intended role and the leatherman saw is second to none as multi-tool saw's go. While I prefer plain blades, a combo blade makes sense in its intended role as an outdoor tool. The replaceable wire cutter blades make a lot of sense given you may be cutting steel rather than copper. I would have preferred a small ceramic rather than diamond rod but maybe thats to be able to press it into secondary use as a shaper/file. The awl does need sharpening. I have the same concerns about the durability of the fero rod (but both the removable plastic parts are replaceable). Lastly, no one carries any multi tool because it's great at anything - they carry it because it does ok at a number of things and is better than nothing. I $5 hardware set of pliers does better than any leatherman pliers. A $5 hardware store knife does better than any leatherman knife. A $5 replaceable bit screwdriver does better than any leatherman screwdriver. You get the point - for far less money than any leatherman you could have a much more effective set of tools - but at a weight and bulk you would not likely usually have with you. Same in this outdoor/camping/backpacking context - its there to save size and weight or as a backup for your main tools (I use mine as a backup). So in context, this is pretty good (although I would not say "a gem")
It does make a lot more sense as a backup. Not "This is my saw and knife and hammer and driver", but "This will more or less do in the event that I lose my saw/knife/hammer/driver". Well put. And you're right, the hammer makes much more sense with 90º angle tent spikes, which a miss and hit to the hand isn't catastrophic.
I never like to have all my eggs in one basket so I prefer some degree of redundancy or overlap that a tool like this can provide in addition to my primary gear. I'd have primary gear to replace everything but the pliers and hammer aspects of the tool (and usually a rock makes a good a hammer as one is likely to need). But there is a whole class of ultra-light and lightweight backpacker that not only tries to avoid and redundancy or overlap where possible but even go to the extend of avoiding any item that doesen't have multiple functions. The weight cost of this may still be too high for those folks but they would consider the functionality this tool provides "luxurious" where we might consider it meager. They wouldn't carry another knife, or a hammer or pliers, or a saw, or whistle or fero rod - this would be all they would have. I'm not one of those folks so I can't say if this would be a legitimate tool or a gimmicky toy for them. I'd be interested to know though.
Jim Boutilier I think it's a great all rounder, and crucially it is lighter than almost everything else. When I heard the proposal of Nick wanting a 'side tap hammer' (?) I immediately knew he didn't understand/appreciate much beyond using a screwdriver.. which to be frank immediately nullified any opinions of his thereafter. Just being honest man
Jim Boutilier You make some very good points and I couldnt have said it better. Thats how I use it, as a scaled down option over my Surge and Charge multitools. Its got the tools I actually use when fishing, hiking or bikepacking with the fatbike. But with some added benefits like being a much smaller and lighter tool than the Surge that still has both awl and replacable cutters. Its easy to expand capabilities on this tool by adding a victorinox to your gear and I bet both of those tools still wouldnt be as heavy as a Surge.
You are so right on this Jim! People always see the Signal like a survival multi-tool, it's not, it's for outdoor activities and especially backpacking, there is no other leatherman outdoor oriented with carabiner carrying capability, my actual LM Rebar is great but no way to attach it to my backpack strap, that's why I'm looking for a Signal. For me the Signal clearly fill a hole in the Leatherman range.
You completely missed the point of this multi. I get the impression going outside is rare for you
Dang lmao
He's a city guy. It's just different lifestyles
I spend a lot of time hiking in the woods and I think the Signal makes a lot of sense. I wouldn't carry it in the office, but then I don't carry my Wave or my Skeletool in the woods.
"You're not going to cut down a tree with this" in reference to the saw. Really, do you have a multi tool that cuts down trees? You're review wasn't bad, but it seems you really nit picked at the end. Remember, all multi tools are a compromise. If you want a super saw, carry one separately, if you want the ultimate fire steel, carry one separately... you get the idea.
WASRT, Nick-picking is what most people watch this channel for. oy yoy oy... a beautiful thing.
What if I want a super multitool ?? Which one to get Hmmm...
@@blizzbee The leatherman surge is great if youre looking for big tools and extreme durability
WASRT I’ve used the saw on my Rebar to break down some tree branches, as it can cut better than many other saws.
True
gotta disagree on you nick with the hammer here nick. in a wilderness setting i would use it to mash and crush, what nail would i have to strike in the wilderness.
agreed. the other way would still work for you though.
Khalim Harris the other way that nick likes it would work but in the wilderness personally for my uses i like it where it is. But really i could just find a rock and use that. But its nice to have the ergonics and convenience of having a tool like this close by.
PajamaPantsMan i was just about to comment that lol tent stakes and cracking nuts
Tent stakes were the most dense object I ever used it for, and if I didn’t have the leatherman I hope I would be able to improvise.
I agree completely. The tool was a great idea but it was poorly executed.
Multitools like this are mainly for redundancy. I don't think any of them claim to be the job as dedicated tools, because none of them do. If you lose your main tool, you'll be happy you have this. No one who is serious is just using this.
Nick, this is the only one of your reviews that I really disagree with. A multi tool is a compromise between capability and size. It is a tool first, and a tool doesn’t need to be pretty, it just needs to do what it needs to do competently. I understand being a reviewer, but please use your damn things before you start telling other people what and what not to buy.
I agree with your assessment he needs to actually "use" the tools more, but I also agree with his conclusion: if you're really thinking of using this out in the woods, you'd probably be better off with dedicated tools instead.
Just from the Amazon reviews, I've seen people post photos that when the screwdriver is fully extended, the "hammer" side blocks the handles from closing fully, making the already impractical leatherman screwdriver bits downright silly to try to actually use on this one. The yellow plastic bit with the ferro rod is supposed to be removable, and have a whistle on the other end, which he never took out or tried. The ferro rod is also so small, and covered by so much yellow plastic, that other reviews have said it's downright ridiculous to try to use. Plus, a ferro rod requires a striker, I wondered if the little removable "diamond sharpener" (also impractical) could be used for that, but he never demonstrated. You can tell because ferro rods come with a black coating, but that coating won't produce sparks. You have to scrape off the black coating first before it works.
Still, from other bushcraft videos, his conclusion is right. You'd want an actual full-tang knife with you to carve wood, and hammer with (and hammer on). You'd want a large, 6 inch ferro rod that's easy to operate even when you're cold, injured, or losing fine motor skills from lack of calories. And if you're not bringing a hatchet, going with a saw... why not just bring an actual folding saw? Once you do, there's no reason to carry this anymore, it's dead weight.
For this type of "backwoods" survival, most multitools just aren't practical. For a different type of survival, like if you go trail riding with dirtbikes & ATVs, I'd bring a different leatherman with even more driver bits and equipment tools. My vehicle I rode in on is probably my best bet of getting out of there alive, so a small kit of repair tools becomes part of the survival kit. And this leatherman isn't even well suited for that motorcyle/ATV repair situation.
His conclusion is right, though: it's far too bulky and single-minded in its utility to be a reasonable EDC (meaning you wouldn't be likely to have it on you in case of an emergency where it could be useful, which is an area where otherwise less functional SAKs excel), and it's too low-quality to be worth taking on an intentional camping trip where you'd have significantly better tools at your disposal (other single-purpose multi tools focused on things like gardening, electrical work or gun maintenance succeed because those are predictable situations where the size and limits of a multi tool are well-suited to the requirements of the job, but backwoods survival is significantly more demanding so a single-purpose tool devoted to it is going to need far greater build quality to be of equal relative utility, and this just doesn't have that). Yes, every multi tool is a compromise, but that doesn't mean every compromise is a reasonable or useful one.
To put it another way: the best tool is the one you have on you when you need it, and I just can't think of a situation where I'd have this on me. If I'm going into the woods for a while I'm bringing better tools that I can trust to properly do the job, and if I'm not going into the woods I'm carrying a multi tool that'll be more useful for day-to-day tasks. Some of the things this does COULD be useful in a pinch, but it can't flex its muscles if it's in the back of a drawer.
Guy sounds like every actor in 40s and 50s
He must be from jusey! Lol
You bad-mouthin the boss?
That’s a beautiful thing.
why i oughtta
A Multi Tool is not supposed to replace or be better than the single purpose tools you have at home in your tool box - they are intended to be the Tool you have on you, at a time when you need a job done and you don't have a Tool Box. Expecting these Tools to out perform single purpose items like a Camp Axe or a Silky Saw is unrealistic and totally misses the point of what a Multi-Tool is and intends to be. To anyone who says the Signal is not a Survival Tool ... then you just decided to lay down in the Bush and die! As for myself and anybody else who values their life, I'd take the SIGNAL over every other Leatherman Tool in a Survival Emergency. The Ferro rod is small but it is intended to be there as a last resort - you would certainly start fire with this item and be damn glad you had it. The sharpening stone would absolutely be worth its weight given the work you may need to perform in getting wood for fire and various camp chores for shelter - a dull blade will make all this work 10x harder! Being able to keep a keen edge on your primary blade is vital to getting you where you need to be and conserving energy and resources. These two items alone make the Signal ( Along with the emergency Whistle! ) an absolutely stellar Multi Tool for Hiking - Bushcraft and Camping ... AND SURVIVAL>
Absolutely correct. Carry a cx or wave and keep a toolbox with the right tools in the truck/car.
it is for camping/outdoor, not for surviving.
I use this as my primary blade in Search and Rescue and I absolutely agree with you for the most part. For EDC (urban/ suburban use) it’s far to survival oriented to be practical and exotac makes better products that slip on a keychain for starting a fire. For backpacking it’s too urban oriented I think. As pliers are the main tool I don’t think it earns it’s keep against SAKs, how often have I needed pliers in the woods camping? Also the combo edge sucks for most outdoor tasks. For my niche use of it for SAR of missing persons and aircraft in the Midwest it’s actually rather suiting as a jack of all traits tool. It has the backup whistle and ferro rod which helps mission safety and the other tools help me do the random tasks I run into on missions. While it’s not a fixed blade it would get me through the night should I have to process wood to make shelter/ fire.
while i generally like your reviews i really gotta disagree with you on this one. as a hiker, backpacker, camper, hunter and general outdoorsman i found this knife to be fantastic. ive used the saw to cut down trees on my property while hunting and needing to create last minute shooting lanes. ive used the hammer to drive in stakes and straighten out bents hunks of metal. ive used the knife and bits many times and havent NEEDED the ferro rod but have used it to create fires to test it out and it worked well.
as far as the SOLUTION no its not the end all be all. but it serves really well in a pinch and could work perfect for things like a bugout bag and situations of the sorts
You've used the saw to cut down trees? WTF
He's just sits in his apartment and reveiws stuff, he never actually tests stuff like thos
Survival means "you weren't prepared".... if you go all prepared with all your tools in the woods it's called camping ! The signal ain't a gimmick... it was made for situations that you were not looking forward for and the only thing you have on you is the Signal.... a lot of people are misunderstanding the concept of "survivalism"
I bought this a few months ago. I use it for "lazy Sunday yard work". IE. while I'm mowing the lawn, I may use the Leatherman Signal to trim a bush, tighten a screw, re-hammer in a lawn ornament, open a bottle. It's great for light duty lazy Sunday yardwork. In this context, the Leatherman Signal is pretty darn great.
I agree, it is a gimmick. I don't know why they refuse to include a scissor in sooo many of Leatehrsmans offerings. I know someone will say that a scissor isn't a survival tool, but I have to disagree. Unless you are planning to use the knife to slice your or someone else pant legs off to get to a wound (to survive), I would rather limit my damage with a scissor than a knife blade. There are just some things that a scissor will do that only a scissor does well, and even if it includes clipping a torn nail thats really irritating your hand or foot, and you'd rather not think about it getting in your way or not or even minor surgery if needed, I think that the scissor stands alone. They clearly know how to make scissors and they they make damn good ones too, and I would be tempted to consider this if it included it. But it doesn't. And like you said, at only an ounce heavier and several times the utility with a $15 less expensive tool in the Wave, who would opt for the Signal? If they can make a lighter weight Wave, that would be a nice option! Why cant they make it with aluminum handles or perforated handles? It shows they are thinking with their designs, but not thinking outside the box well enough. I still really like their stuff, but Im not impressed with their latest offerings and think its a sign that they are on a bad path.
traderjoes I won't buy a multi tool or SAK if it doesn't have scissors; they're one of the most useful tools invented.
Hey Nick! This tool is actually pretty brilliant when out in the woods. Its got the basics, but those tools are the only ones I actually use. Ferro rod and sharpener is a bit gimmicky but its a bonus and it adds some color. I like how its got the 154cm cutters because these will cut fish hooks without getting damaged (unlike the regular cutters on wave/charge). The awl is a nice addition that is missing on the Wave/Charge and its been very useful to me. The pommel is a neat design feature that I feel they made the most of: Carabiner, bottle opener, hex drive and hammer. As for the knife I dont really use that alot on my leatherman so having it serrated just makes it more useful... or even actually useful assuming you have alot of other knives at hand.
I feel they really thought this one through and that its its designed very specifically for a certain activity rather than EDC but that its tolerable as an EDC option. But as any gentleman would, I of course carry the Charge TTi so owning both feels pretty motivated.
My one complaints are that it has alot of small parts compared to the classics and that some tools cant be omused with the knife closed because of the pommel.
Let me add to your madness, it's a gimmick and garbage get a surge a real tool. Shame leatherman made this joke among its good stuff
@@genoburgess6817Well, Geno while you've no doubt been on your ass commenting on things you have no first hand experience with I've been using the Signal for going on almost 3 years now. It's been with me mountain climbing on Kalymnos, Snowboarding, skiing and kayaking in northern Sweden, Bowhunting in Finland and on various other camping, fishing, hunting, bikepacking and hiking trips. I've had zero issues with and its done what I've expected it to and then some. Wether its been lighting a gas stove, dissassembling firearms, making adjustments to my compound bow or other gear, cutting rope, hammering out rusted pins to disconnect my bike cart, getting ice out of my ski or snowboard bindings its performed all tasks admirably. This tool has disadvantages and advantages to other leatherman tools just like the rest of them do but because it lacks the bells and whistles of my other tools (I have several surges, waves, gerbers and vix) its not a gimmick. If the concept of the Signal is beyond your comprehension, think of it as "skeletool+" uppgraded with the rebar head a hammer/hexdrive and some other minor features that is there if you need them. Its a quality tool and it wont break on you.
7:02 - I like the clip on the CX because I can wear the skeletool on the inside of my pocket closer to the groin, and most pants pockets have a fairly useless bit of pocket up high/inside anyway. This allows me to have a dedicated knife with a clip in the same pocket riding normal/outside. The only issue I see is if you run something like a p'kal already inside/right, in which case the clip location helps bury the CX way outside on the left pocket, either way I like the clip. I'm watching this to see if I want a signal, and all I really want is a combination of the two aimed at tech/it/office environment.
The signal clip makes sense, if you were pocket clip carrying this instead of using a belt pouch, you'd likely try to make it your only carry, rather than still carrying a folder as well.
I believe that a pummel tool is an absolute necessity for a multitool, and the signal along with the MUT are the only ones that have that. As for the unnecessary tools, that is a relative point. How often do you need a can opener or an awl? I do agree a second blade would have been a great idea. In the final analysis, if you depend on this, or any multitool to survive, then you most likely will not. The utility of a multitool is in helping you in an urgent or emergent situation. Multitools are auxiliary means and they promote a lifestyle you want to advertise about yourself. I find it useful (especially having a pummel tool) and stylish.
This doesn't seem like a good primary backpacking tool, but might be a good backup for a handful of things, in case your primary fire/whistle/whatever falls into a ravine or something. May pick one up just to stick in my pack and forget about.
Let us think a minute. I have the Signal in my pocket, and its all sharp and ready to go. i head out to go camping or fishing. Something happens and i need to start a fire, or sharpen a hook, or make a freaking bow or trap, the saw is good to have, the ferro rod is good to have in a pinch, the diamond stick is also good to have. The proper procedure for the ferro rod is to tie it to a longer stick using sinewy tree bark or whatever you have then strike. use the back of the saw for that. Its mainly for EDC and some outdoor activities. In a survival situation i can make a fire, but a way to sharpen a knife is HUGE. Even if its a rough sharp, its far better than a rough dull. And if you survive, send it in and have it fixed when you rejoin civilization.
"Which is a beautiful thing"
take a shot every time he says it
Beautiful !!!
Glad to know the Scout has a side gig reviewing multitools
That saw does work. Have you ever tried this one?
Too much nit picking here. This is a tool. Not meant to be the ONLY thing you carry. I plan on getting this very soon and use it more for a hunting/camping companion. Maybe use it for processing tinder/kindling, etc. I edc a Wave and I keep a supertool 300 in my truck.
Good points made with the awl yes the add ons aren’t the best, but they are perfect for a backup in an actual emergency. I really don’t believe Leatherman is marketing this as a “one tool option” and even if they were, common sense should tell you to not rely on one tool.
Good review! Maybe I’ll post one when I get mine!
I hammer things once in a while with my skeletool and the spare bit always goes flying somewhere and I spent 10 minutes trying to find it lol.
I replaced the blade with a plain edge knife. I picked it up for a possible pct hike. I agree with point on the awl. I tend to use to drill holes in wood. And the swiss army all is more effective in that. I also used the fire fly for the ferro rod. Ot fits into the same area as the tooth pick. Throws way better spark. They should have it spring open like the side kick resign the ferro rod whistle so it uses the firefly inter changelibly and improve the whistle. The hammer works great for smashing walnut and acorn shells. This tool works well in making traps . That all being said there is definitely room for improvement especially for the price tag
I think you are right. I’ve been using the signal for about 3 years because I was attracted by his nice look. Also for the surviving use. I like it very much but it is really for a « Sunday survivre » as we say in France. Next time, I’ll probably have a wave or a surge. Actually, I miss my old lost wave... thanks for your video
Dude great ability to see the future of my cell phones demise....you just saved me 700 dollars!
Cheers Mate! I totally agree with you. I thought at first glance it was ok but now have second thoughts on it..will wait for the plus to come on and the consider it.
I got a Coyote Tan Leatherman Signal from Cabelas...
The Signal gives you a capable outdoor oriented multi-tool with what is realistically a back-up to a back-up set of whistles, ferro rod, and a sharpener. Is it a bit gimmicky? Yes. But for a dedicated outdoors multi-tool (if you're willing to pay the asking price) it's a good one. The clip carry option is nice.
This will definitely complement with a nice fixed blade.
I think it's a great tool if you are looking to introduce some redundancy in your stock
I think they did give you the hammer surface you want. You are just not looking at it because it seems small. The end is more for rent legs and they are rounded over. Also it matters in the way you hold it.
LOL... I dont know much about outdoors or survival in the woods but this knife I would choose... Breaks out one of the best fixed blades on the planet ESEE Laser strike... That is one HELL of a knife and I LOVE IT... Anyone that is looking for a smaller fixed blade do not look passed the ESEE Knives. If you want a Larger blade to compliment the smaller blade get the Junglas.
This is how someone confuses multitool with a knife, scissors, a hammer, an opener, etc.
I agree. even though I wanted it to be way cooler in my mind.
Maybe the awl has that edge because it was designed, not only to be an awl, but to work with the ferro rod.
I have a Leatherman crunch which is the most tool like Leatherman and no one seems to review it this is a great multitool for those of us with a little more skill
+guncotton 1 The Crunch is interesting! I should check that out.
The Crunch is really well made tight and functions like a dream - cheers from southern Ontario
This isn't survival tool, just for basic camping. Also the hammer works on tent poles, but good luck hammering even tiny nails with it. My signal seems to work nicer than yours. Don't get me wrong not an big fan of Signal either. It looks good 'thou. Also comparing Wave to Signal is fair, but kinda pointless. Wave has that handyman-style like Rebar or SuperTool, while this gimmicky Signal is more of an tool for those who want something different, maybe for those who use real tools at home but want to open those sausage packages at the camping site with this conversation piece.
My experiences with this tool are limited. Had it with me at my summer cottage and it performed nicely. Sliced and sawed branches smaller to make some fire, slice meat and such. This thing can never compare to real survival knife or any other real survival tool. It is for those who enjoy modern luxury and who want just a last effort backup IF they have to actually do some work.
I was debating between this and the Swisstool X. Went for the Swisstool x because I’ve never had a Swiss made product that disappointed me or was poorly made. Not bashing leather man though because I used to carry a Charge TTi that was nice.
doesn't look like any of your leathermans have even made it outside of the box let alone the actual outdoors. subject them to use then form a review please
He reveiws them and then puts them back in the box🤣🤣🤣
@@finneassblakley1927 lol
I keep waffling on purchasing a Signal. It is too “centric” for me, meaning it is too focused on the outdoors versus some other tools in their lineup. Also, loved the awl pun. It was awl-right by me.
For a survival (take only one tool) it’s still good, could it be better yes of course but it’s still better than any other multi for that very purpose
I've decided to pass this one over as a gimmicky master of none, cannot see myself using this on any hikes here in South Africa. I am instead buying the Rebar as a more serious tool, and will either keep it in my car or in a get home bag. In my off body pouch, I have a Skeletool. And on me, either a Farmer (at the office) or a Nirvana, which as everyone should know, simply does not have any bad or ugly. ;-)
A bad review. This is a survival tool not an EDC tool.
Well at the end of the day multitools can't replace real tools anyway. If you are saying the whistle and the ferro rods are gimmicks, why don't you just carry a big saw, a knife or a screwdriver instead of a multitool?
“The diamond sharpener is gonna tear up whatever is in your pocket.”
That’s why they make a sheath!
Ok so if your flyingbnb over the canadian wilderness and your plane crashes im willing to bet that you would be pretty thankful to have this thing in your pocket. Is the flint gonna last forever? Heck no but combined with the saw (which works very well for smaller to medium branches) this thing throws a decent spark and if you have any skill at all with making fire you gonna stay warm at night. Gimmick? I think not... the awl however does need sharpening. If you are planning on being in a survival situation u should take better tools but this is something more for the unexpected survival situation
love that esee! just wondering, did your wave come with that pocket clip or did you add it? i have a surge, may end up getting a wave as i seen them on sale from midway lately. i thought about the signal before but i dont think id use it but i probably would use the wave. the surge is a bit heavy for me, and as much as i want the mut....ill probably just wait to get that when my bday comes up.
i just got a juice c2 and put a tec p7 for a pocket clip. it carries nice and slim so its been my alternative to the skeletool. BUT i am quicker on the draw to opening those beer bottles with the skeletool! haha
+jacob manalang I added the clip. Much easier for storage in packs, as well as tossing into the pocket, but a bit heavy for just EDCing clipped.
I really don't get what people don't understand about these tools. Nobody is going on a 3 night backpacking trip with a signal as their only tool. It's a compliment/backup/redundancy option. With that logic you could call all of these leatherman tools gimmicks. "Get a surge, get a real tool." Ok then I'll go to the hardware store and fill a canvas zip pouch with each individual tool and spend half of what a surge costs. These are not primary tools. They are a compromise between size/space/functionality. I relate it to the gun guys who say ".22's aren't good for self defense." Ok then just stand right here for a second let me try something. A .22 in your hand is better than a .45 in your safe. A signal in your pocket is better than your tools back at camp. Which you can't find. Because you're lost and injured.
The best part of waking up is Nick Shabazz reviewing gear. Nice work as always, my friend.
You know I agree that this won’t replace all of the tools it has. But you see that isn’t the point of this tool, nor any other like it. The point is that if you wind up without those tools- these are better than nothing at all.
Let me give you examples of what I mean:
Say you’re out hiking all day, you’re a long, lay way out and a storm starts rolling in. You have this and your pack, which has all the larger versions of these tools etc.
You turn back and realize you’re a little lost, as it begins to rain heavily.
It’s dark and wet, you slip and fall, your pack goes flying; unfortunately right over the edge of the trail, which is over a hundred feet worth of drop. What’s left? Your phone and your Leatherman signal. You try your phone but have no reception, it looks like you have no option, blind and without your pack (and compass) then to wait out the storm. Deeming the conditions too dangerous, you seek shelter, lucky for you the hills are littered with shallow caves, but you are freezing now. You pull out the signal, it’s all you’ve got now. You find and saw down some of the driest wood you can find, quickly bringing it back to your shelter, along with whatever dry leaf material you could find for tinder.
You set up the wood on the littered dirt floor of the barely-enough-shelter cave, and use the fire rod and the knife to light your fire. You warm up and as your eyelids grow heavy, you fall asleep.
You wake up, it’s barely bright out and there’s a kink in your neck the size of Texas. You crawl out of your hole in the ground and find yourself still lost, but alive. What now? There might be other hikers around, so you begin to shout, but you’ll shred your lungs shouting like this, your throat is already sore. You pull out your signal: the whistle. A way to make noise enough to draw attention, even if not the best whistle, it’ll have to do. And just so happens your luck! Some hikers hear the whistle and come to help.
They find you and take you back to the beginning of the trail, thanking them up and down you get in your car and drive home, to a most likely panicked family.
Your sore, you’re throat hurts and you’re hungry and thirsty, but you are alive, you didn’t freeze to death, the whistle got you help.
Now for my own application: I work in a kitchen. Sometimes the stove top won’t quite start up, and our lighters keep going missing but hey, I’ve got this handy dandy firestarter in my pocket! Spark! Spark! Ooooh! Fiiiiiree!
It's not a great survival tool but it's a great edc, light weight with the three most important tools, knife, screw driver and pliers. Just take off the whistle and sharpener. Easy
Is it just me or does he sound a like an Italian mob boss?
The saw isn't for cutting down trees it's for kindling and notching small tasks like that seems like a good camping tool and probably not meant as a survival tool
Hi my name is Jonathan I live in Raleigh North Carolina could you please tell me where I could get one.
North Carolina? ...just go to the leatherman.com web site.
Good review. Thanks. The only thing you missed is the wire stripper.
Survival means use anything neccesary for your survival, and trust me anything goes like a leatherman signal to stay alive, even trash is a treasure, use coca cola can as a cooking stove...sure its not a supercooker3000, but you get the point
"awl wrong" lol
I wish they had spent the R&D to make a light weight Charge in CF or whatever spacey alien technology with all the tools and functionality of the Charge and Surge series instead. But I get it survival is a thing and buying comfort is great for company's.
Maybe in a life time you might use one of the many tools so in the end if it does the job when you need the most than you paid for the best tool
You take the fire starter out.
I don’t think this is a survival tool, I see it more as like a hiker or backpackers tool.
with the hammer thing, with your idea, i just cant imagine getting that much of an impact like that where with the way they have it, while slightly more dangerous, you could conceivably drive a stake into the ground or something.
If you going to hammer in a stake though, I'll probably just use a stick to pound it in. Any semi decent limb is going to do the job just fine and you can always work the wood into a better tool if so required. After all, we put in stakes with a wooden mallet, which is just a shaped stick with a heavy shaped end.
i think surge is better for outdoor activities
Good vid! I really enjoy you reviews you give a bias view which is nice. The signal isn't for me at all, I'm an urban guy hell I live 10 minutes from a Walmart, my go to multi tool is my charge alx serves me well and I don't mind the weight combined with my blade of the day I'm all set.
Man you review a outdoor survival EDC. Who care about a file and a prybar !!! if you get lost in the wild you need those thing like fire rod whistle and be able to refresh the edge. I agree the this is not for an urban EDC there's other model for that like wave or skeletool... This is not a good review. It like you by a pick up trick and cry that it's to hard on gaz and hard to drive in the city.
Leatherman is by pdx it's in Portland Oregon
I have a surge that goes everywhere
you sound like rafael nadal, how often do you hear that? (ones a week?)
I couldn't find it, but somewhere on youtube there is a video of a dude starting a friction fire in the rain with a Swiss army knife. I suspect that sort of situation is what the designers imagined their customers would be imagining. You go out camping, but lose your backpack crossing a river. Then your survival possibles pouch gets lost in a bear attack. You're still okay, because you have your personal survival kit on your belt...or your did, because NINJA ATTACK!!! Having escaped the ninjas, all you've got is your multi-tool, and this one allows for some wood processing (small saws can be useful, I'm told), and you can get a spark. And you have a screwdriver and a can opener for...uh...reasons.
I'm not saying this should have been certified as a Gem. But I can see the intent. No comment on the execution.
I agree with you 100% bro
the Hammer is for crushing materials not driving things.
Lol just another "I hope to God Nicky has a video on this thing" moment. You always come through man, thank ya
I've looked into this before and decided to pass. This tool reminds me of a Dyson vacuum. It looks cool at first glance and I want to like it, but ultimately it's overpriced and going to end up with plastic parts falling off. I do think the hammer and saw should both be in the "good" pile though. The hammer looks great for tent stakes as mentioned before, and the leatherman saws work very well for processing wood for small wood burning stoves.
"Awl wrong", that pun is just awlful!
"if you miss the nail, it's just gonna plunge right into your hand..... and that just strikes me"
Literally.
Oh if only the blade steel were something like VG10, S30V, or S35VN! 420HC isn't going to stay sharp very long. If the blade steel were better I would buy it.
Thank you
It’s not perfect but find me another multi tool that is better for the outdoors
I wonder if you’ve ever used a knife or tool for anything other than reviews?
Nope. Not once. Wait, which end do you point at the thing that needs to get cut?
Nick Shabazz Nick, don’t get me wrong: I’ve learned a ton from you about knives, for which I’m deeply grateful. Thank you. But you have the hands of a jeweler, and I’m disinclined to believe that you can appreciate this tool, or any other for that matter, from the comfort of your studio. How about an episode where you bug out? I’d love to learn from you in that context. If I came off disrespectful, I apologize.
The hammer was designed for tent stakes.
This “most outdoor” Signal model has the most urban, downtown, even business environment look to it of all the multi tool models. Just sayin’.
I agree with every thing you said, especially the flaws of the tool both in design and use. At the end of the day, this tool is a gimmick.
A very badass, cool looking gimmick.. But, just a gimmick.
Key word: Gimmick :D
This is a tool for camping or sails for this I bought it. Survive is just marketing
Amazing video! I like that multi tool as every leatherman products but I completely agree with you. I carry my Fällkniven S1X or F1X for these reasons...!
100% agree. this thing is a joke. i see people talking about backup tools for survival... well, a good multitool is a good backup, but i'd much rather have the functionality of a real multitool than this. my backup is a leatherman surge and it is way more versatile than the signal. my backup ferro rod is much larger and easy to use than this little plastic-hugged sliver and i carry a real whistle. the signal really is a gimmick gone wrong. i don't understand it. this tool set seems like something you'd see in the father's day endcap at target.
TRUE
That's a big enough saw for your garden work
That saw will cut polls for emergency shelters for sure
I love mine..
please do a video on action types!!!!!!!
Shalom Shabazz.
Good morning Nick ^-^
Morning Matt SxC!
It's a multi tool. Not take everything from ur house like saws & knives hammer etc. It can't be everything.
Itsa beautiful thing
Is this being reviewed by Elmer Fudd?
"Shhhhhh, its wabbit season!" Lol