Welcome to another riveting installment of my multitool saga series, today’s put it
on in a background tab type entertainment is a detailed examination of each of revision
of the Leatherman super tool, uh tools.
In order to draw it out as long as possible I’d need all three revisions right?
You’re in luck because That means we’ll be looking at the original Super Tool, it’s
exciting revision the Super Tool 200, and what we’re at now- the Super Tool 300.
The reason why I find older Leathermans still relevant other than they’re cheap channel
content, is that they basically have that 25 year warranty and eBay is a great place
to score a lightly used, heavily abused, or even a broken Leatherman at a decent price.
If it’s broken just send it in and they’ll fix or replace it.
Or just ask them to tune it up if it’s loose.
All you’re out is shipping.
This is still much cheaper than a lot of the folding knives I review on the channel- and
also the Victorinox Swiss Tool- which no one seems to want to let a used one go for under
$60 or so.
Which is understandable because apparently they’re unbreakable, way lighter, have more
tools, and feel better in the hand then any Leatherman.
Trust me bro.
I want to say I paid about $60 for all three of these.
This review, other than taking two hours to upload and 7 hours to edit, will examine mainly
the current model the 300, and we’ll start out my doing some basic dimensions of the
Super Tool 300, and not any of the others, although if I did that I could probably make
it a full 20 mins- which would make it my best review yet!
First let’s look the the weight, and weight of the leather sheath that I have for this.
There are quite a few sheath options available- this is an all leather black one.
The closed Length, width, and thickness.
Note this is a much bigger tool than the PST and Wave.
Now the open length, and the grip area for the pliers.
Kinda Surge sized.
Remember when Surge came back.
Yeah that was stupid.
Blade size, cutting edge, spine, and uhh total length.
Are soda reviews a thing.
I’m sure they are.
I mean people spend 15 minutes talking about pocket knives.
Sorry I meant pocket knife.
And the length of the other blades- this is not the cutting edge.
Alright so somewhere in 1994 Leatherman says this is America we need to make a tool to
reflect American values.
Which is bigger and more of something.
I want people who carry Swiss army knives to feel some goddamn shame.
Plus the Swiss are communists.
Uhh…
Mr Leatherman.
I assume Tim Leatherman talks like the Disney charter Pete.
They came up with the original Super Tool, which was the first Leatherman, correct me
if I’m wrong and I know you will, the first Leatherman tool with all locking tools.
And finally something America sized.
Although the way they locked was kind of awkward compared to the more advanced mechanisms nowadays…
It was larger than the PST but had that nice clean look when closed.
As such the basic formula was set into stone for all future super tool revisions.
Big, all stuff locks, it’s uhh plier based, and the tool needs to be opened to access
any of the internal tools.
So looking closer at the first generation...
you have pliers of the needle nose persuasion with wirecutters, and a crimper underneath.
The internal tools are as follows- to new viewers I am in fact married.
And not to a real doll.
A 3 inch ish standard blade, actually a slightly smaller cutting edge over the Leatherman Wave.
An awl, a medium flat head, a large flat head, and a double sided file with also an edge
file…
Other side you get a serrated blade that’s kind of pointy, a beer slash can opener…
I mean not a beer can opener, a bottle and steel can opener, which on a Swiss army knife
that’s two different tools and 2 is better, on a Leatherman it’s the same tool, philips
head, small tweaker screw driver, and a Goddamn saw.
If there’s a bastard file their should be a goddamn saw.
Of course all of my tools are goddman when I can’t remember where I laid it.
So let’s look at how it locks up… click… and to unlock you need to bring a second tool
out and it raises the lock mechanism to close it.
If you’re stupid and open all the tools at once- like someone filming a youtube video
might, you’ll need a separate flathead screw driver to raise the lock bar like this, to
close it.
Now on the second revision the super tool 200.
the biggest change was an improved locking mechanism, that has a slight rattle to it...
sorry tactical bros.
It made the tool thicker and added these side locking things that kind of stick out and
may catch on your sheath.
But basically you take the tool out it locks, and when your done playing with said tool,
pull back on the lock thing a ma jigger with your hand, unlock and close.
It’s a sort of strong pull back.
There are a few tool differences too, which sadly I'll point out.
All tools are laid out the same in the 200 as the original.
The tools on the side with the file and straight edge blade are identical on the 200 and original
(nerd voice could you go over them again anyway), however th are 2 differences on the other
side for example…
the serrated blade does not have a pointy tip and more like a sheeps foot style... meaning
it's safer for cutting close to humans or inflatable humans when removing something
like a seatbelt... you aren't going to accidentally deflate your girlfriend if you remove her
from a burning car and have to remove her seatbelt.
The only other difference in tools is this one adds a lanyard ring... you have to open
from the inside push it through the handle because it goes the opposite way as the other
tools.
This tool when using the pliers is more comfortable than the original Super Tool because the tops
of the internal tools are rounded better as are the handle edges.
I want to say that this is even more comfortable to hold and plier things with than the super
tool 300.
Which is the current model of the super tool...
Like the prior versions...
This tool is big and locks, and the furniture has really been rearranged.
The big one being the improved lock release mechanisms.
They’re a simpler design and easier to release tools than the older versions.
Just press with the thumb.
Up top, you get those replaceable 154 Cm steel wire cutters, which is helpful if you are
putting up a fence at the ranch.
That also means the plier head is wider, and a little uglier if you ask me.
Which is a real endorsement coming from a guy putting up a review of a tool on website
with 1000s of hours of Chemtrail related content.
The tools are mostly updated although laid out the same ish.
On the straight edge side you get a blade that looks to my eyes to be a half an inch
longer than the super tool and super tool 200s blade.
The cutting edge on the older versions is about 2.55 inches, and the cutting edge on
the 300 is about 2.85 inches.
Blade steel on the 300 serrated and straight edge is 420HC like many Leathermans.
I couldn’t find solid information if that was the steel used in the original and 200.
You got an improved awl with a hole and a sharper edge.
I say it's improved because it looks like it has been, another great opinion from a
man who has used an awl on his multitools 2 or 3 times in his life, and also in his
late 30s making youtube videos.
The Large and medium flat heads are now wider with thicker edges than the prior versions.
Then you get the lanyard loop, except it opens the way all the other tools do now...
And then the file which is curvier and has updated texture.
I am not a file expert, but if you are, here are some side by side shots of all three,
one side first and then the other.
We have to be at 10 minutes right?
The other side sees a new saw with a thinner side profile and I dunno more curved.
The tiny tweaker screw driver which is a favorite tool on my original Leatherman and the Wave
bit driver has been replaced by flathead about twice as wide.
Shame on you Leatherman.
Philips head screw driver is close to the same size but a different design.
It’s a fraction of an inch longer and seems thicker in the neck on the 300.
Bottle slash can opener and then the serrated blade which has been updated again.
How about some visual comparisons of all the tools.
First closed, all laid out.
Nerd porn.
I mean tool nerd porn.
And important distinction of type of nerd.
How about the thickness... that's two Cs.
There’a a nerd for everything.
Pliers out and their home is Youtube.
Not too shabby 300 has a thicc head.
All tools open?
Nice.
I feel like we need this shot.
And the straight edge blade open.
And now each tool side by side!
Just kidding.
Cool comparisons...
yeah there's more.
We'll stick to the 300 though.
The 300 is probably the best of the 3.
However the handle isn't quite a comfortable as on the 200, even though the edge is rolled
further on the inner handle, your hand still rubs on the edge during especially vigorous
tool use sessions.
I wish it maintained the tweaker screw driver and had a deeper rounding on the handle, then
I'd like it a whole lot- not enough to carry regularly.
Because it’s too bulky on the belt and heavy.
I prefer a smaller foot print in a tool like the Wave or PST.
Now the Leatherman Surge.
This tool is better than the Super Tool in my opinion...
this is the older version without the replaceable wire cutters- that the new Surges have.
The handle has a nice rounded edge, a significant improvement in comfort over the Super Tool
300.
The blades are accessible from the outside, it has scissors, bit drivers like the Wave,
although you do have to switch out the saw and the file which is weird.
Now the Leatherman Wave... it and the surge are similar in their function, but this is
a lighter, smaller belt carry.
Since I don't own a ranch, or don't work on a big rig... you choose rig type... a smaller
pair of pliers is just dandy for me.
Functionally I don't feel like I'm losing anything.
How about the PST.
Since the original Super tool and PST were out around the same time.
Yeah how about that...
Now functionally speaking the Super Tool has more tools originally than the PST...
so other than the size I think it's a step up, plus all the tools lock brah.
That is if you need the extra tools like the saw- I’ve been told more tools is always
better.
The Supertool is missing scissors though, and i use those quite a bit.
I mean so is the original PST.
Maybe it’s not better.
Maybe that’s why I spent hours of research and arrived at the Wave and skipped the Super
Tool- until I had a Youtube channel.
Anyway, as far as what else to say I don't know.
If you need a good car multitool, one for the shop, or a spare one, or collect things
that really don’t need to be collected…
these are all good values...
many of the super tools have plenty of time left on their warranty...
check the date code on the inside of the handle...
Leatherman has been known to fix tools outside that area... but no promises.
The Super Tool on the used market is a pretty good value- if you look you can find the 100-200
for under $30…
The Super Tool 300 for about 40.
If you asked me which one I prefer...
I say probably the 300?
But since I only paid $50 for a used Surge on eBay, and if I needed a large multitool,
I'd get that one... my advice would be to shop used for a surge instead of buying a
new 300, because you might find a better price, and it would still be under warranty.
Anyway if you like this review, and wonder why I still haven’t reviewed a charge yet
subscribe to the channel- I need more subscribers to be able to afford that stuff- give the
video a thumbs up, leave a comment, thanks for watching.