Leatherman 830685 Charge TTi with Nylon Sheath Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I was a big fan of the L-Man Wave and carried one for several years. I loved the convenience of having the blades, saw & file open from the outside. These components also featured high quality cross-locks similar to the ones on a lot of premium pocket knives. These basic design features are maintained in the Charge TTi.

The quality of these particular items - blades, files and saw - seem to me to be the things that set one multi-tool apart from the other. The quality and design of one screwdriver bit or can opener is pretty much the same as that of another. And the good multi-tools all have "decent" pliers. But it is not so with cutting blades, saws and files.Here there can be a big difference.

The L-Man Charge is NOT the largest multi-tool I own but its two cutting blades (my others have just one) saw and file ARE the largest featured on any of them (no longer true, as I now have a Swisstool X). I believe this is possible because of the fact they are accessed from the outside. Their size need not be limited to make room for the pliers to fold into the handles as with tools whose blades are all accessed from inside.

The saw, file and the blades are not only larger but also of very good quality. The saw cuts as effectively as any I have used with very little clogging or sticking. One side of the file is diamond coated, making it more versatile. There is a serrated sheepsfoot blade with an integral cutting hook (very useful) and best of all the main, straight-edged blade is of premium S30V steel. If you know knives you know this is top quality stuff (and not cheap). Most other companies - even the good ones - don't even publish what they are building their tools from. I get the feeling there is a lot of 440a (or lesser steel) out there.

The "inside" tools on the Charge TTi now have a very smooth and solid locking mechanism which was lacking on the original Wave. This is a definite improvement. And compared to the Wave the Charge TTi has a better look and feel to it.

There are extra niceties. At nearly 9 oz, the Charge TTi is (to my tastes) "slightly too big for comfy pocket carry". And using a sheath doesn't work well for me since I wear sweats a lot. The "pocket" clip is therefore a definite bonus, allowing me to tuck the Charge TTi in my waistband where I hardly notice it. The built-in lanyard attachment is nice, too, and an improvement on the Wave's. (I don't like accidentally dropping and losing my expensive tools - so a good lanyard attachment is a must for me.)

In addition to the original L-man Wave tool, I have used a Gerber Compact Sport 400 (smaller, lighter) and an SOG Powerlock S63 EOD (larger, heavier). These are very respectable tools in their own right and the SOG in particular seems a little better than the L-Man Charge TTi in a couple of respects (see the upcoming review). But on balance I feel that the Charge TTi is the best tool I own and the only one I would rate as high as a 5. And if I could only keep one, this would be it.

Post Script: See my other reviews for a head to head comparison between the TTi and Victorinox's excellent Swisstool X.

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Product Description:
Leatherman 830685 Charge TTI Titanium Multi-Tool Charge TTi Multi Tool Nylon Sheath Gift Tin 8 Double-End Bits Removable Pocket Clip Quick Release Lanyard Ring.

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