Sunday, August 30, 2009

Leatherman Crunch: Multi-Tool Review

By Richard D. Stanley

Leatherman is the name the associates itself with multi-tools. Leatherman have innovated tools that are high quality. The Crunch is no exception. The Leatherman Crunch deviates from standard Leatherman designs in which the main tool is not a needle nose pliers. The Crunch is equipped with locking pliers instead. Locking pliers are also known as vice-grips. Leatherman knows the value of vice-grips and offers their version to us with the Crunch. Vice-grips are great. The free up your hand for other tasks.

The Leatherman Crunch is small. Smaller than the Wave. The design is very cool. The Crunch pops out and it takes a few seconds to set up the main tool. The result is a small to mid-size vice grip that is very compact and portable when closed. In hand, it feels very well built and like all Leathermans, it has a 25 years warranty. The company stands by it's products and you can see it in the build quality of the Crunch.

The Crunch is equipped with 13 tools but I will only mention a few. The main tools you will be using are the vice-grips, the serrated blade, the flat-head screwdriver, and the file. The rest of the tools are slightly redundant. The Crunch does not have nearly the amount of tools as a Charge but I would consider the Crunch as a complimentary multi-tool. It is best coupled with another small multi-tool. Some people do not need certain tools so it's best to get the tools you only need. For instance, some people do not drink wine often and they do not see the need for a corkscrew.

The downside to the Crunch is the lack of complimentary tools. Through the function of it's design, all of the other tools are smaller and limited. Also, what I did not like was the fact that it had 3 size flat head screwdrivers. The big flat head will be the most used. One thing that impressed me was the lock. All of the secondary tools lock firm and solid. You could use the screwdrivers to pry if you are in a grind. The adjusted knob for the vice grip can be removed allowing access to a hex drive. This makes it possible to expand the Crunch into a more versatile tool if coupled with a bit driver. You have to buy it separate. Do I see myself expanding this tool? No. Is it nice to have the option? Yes.

The Crunch is a great complimentary multi-tool. Having something is better than nothing and the Crunch can meet many needs from day to day. The crunch is perfect when coupled with the Victorinox Soldier. While not as complete as a Wave or a Charge, the Crunch can still hold it's own in the sea of multi-tools. You can find the Crunch on sale for about $50.

About the Author:

No comments:

Post a Comment