Leatherman Skeletool CX - Camping and survival DIY multi-tool made in the USA with 7 essential built-in tools including pliers, wire cutter, and a knife, in stainless steel with a nylon holster

Product Information

Overall if you’re considering the Wingman we’d recommend the Skeletool. It’s lighter and smaller, yet provides probably 80% of the utility of the Wingman. The Leatherman Skeletool is one of those iconic multi tool designs that really stands out. It embodies a minimalist aesthetic of ‘just enough’ that many people find appealing. When used properly, the Leatherman Skeletool Multitool is safe to use. It is important to follow the instructions provided by Leatherman and exercise caution when handling the tool’s sharp edges and blades. Keep the multitool away from children and use it responsibly to prevent accidents. If your multi-tool use includes a lot of driving screws, choose the Center Drive Plus. It is the best tool we know of for that purpose. Otherwise, it's more average as a general multi-tool. The rattly construction holds up well but doesn't instill high confidence. The pliers are more prone to pinching than more sophisticated options, and accessing tools other than the blade, pliers, and bit driver requires multiple steps. A purpose-built, specialized tool for outdoor adventure and wilderness survival, while also serving purpose around the house

Lightweight and Portable: Weighing only a few ounces, the Skeletool is designed to be lightweight and compact, making it ideal for camping and outdoor adventures. I found over time that the knife is well suited to small tasks but I occasionally wished for a full sized knife for some things – like puncturing oil bottles, cutting cardboard, that sort of thing. I also found the handles on the pliers to be somewhat uncomfortable in extended use due to the odd shape and some sharp edges. But this isn’t a dedicated tool – it’s a lightweight minimalistic do-everything tool. It’s not going to work as well as the pliers on the Charge or cut things as well as a PM2. It does a good job of covering your needs at home but it’s not quite up to snuff as a dedicated work tool, which I think is what Leatherman was going for anyway.Part of the appeal of the Skeletool line is how stripped down they are. If you want to customize your Skeletool a bit there are plenty of accessories that can improve it. Yes, Leatherman offers a 25-year limited warranty on their products, including the Skeletool Multitool. This warranty covers any defects in material or workmanship, providing you with peace of mind and ensuring that you can rely on the tool for years to come.

The Freestyle is to the Skeletool what the Skeletool is to the Wave+, a stripped down version. It combines the pliers of the Skeletool with a combo 420HC blade. The Leatherman Skeletool Multitool is a versatile and compact tool designed for outdoor enthusiasts and campers. It combines multiple functions into a single tool, including pliers, a knife, screwdrivers, and more, making it a handy companion for various tasks in the wilderness.

So there are three ways to open the Skeletool CX. The first is just the blade itself. Because of the proportions of the tool, it’s very much handle-heavy compared to the length of the blade, which means you can get a full hand grip despite having a short blade. Some reviewers may bemoan a high handle-to-blade ratio but I find it to give you better control over the blade – more handle and less knife means more leverage on the knife. You’d think this would be an ergonomic mess but actually it’s a fairly comfortable knife handle. The slipjoints that hold the pliers are cut away in an arc where your forefinger sits, and the handle behind it is rounded to accommodate your other three fingers. You can easily fit your thumb on the spine of the blade for leverage as well. It’s only slightly larger and heavier than the Leatherman Freestyle yet offers several additional features, most important of which is the large bit driver. Unless you absolutely want the lightest mostly full size Leatherman the Skeletool is the way to go. Skeletool Vs Wingman It honestly might be the best multi tool on the market, and it only costs a little more than the Skeletool. When it comes right down to it there’s almost no comparison between the Wave+ and the Skeletool. Of course, the Wave+ doesn’t fulfill the same niche that the Skeletool does.

There are currently three versions of the Skeletool. The standard version which is available in a variety of colours with a knife blade that is partially serrated. The Skeletool RX is marketed as an emergency multitool which comes in a lovely red colour with a carbine glass breaking window bit attachment and a fully serrated blade. And then the CX version I own which has an upgraded non serrated blade. They will all do the job equally well. Handle Bit Storage: Conveniently store Leatherman tool bits in the handle of your multi-tool for easy access in the middle of a job, or for safe keeping when not in use Apply a small amount of lubricant to the pivot points and hinges periodically to ensure smooth operation. The main tool of all Skeletool variants is a pair of needle nose pliers with regular pliers below them. There’s also a set of regular and hard wire cutters.The Leatherman Wingman is a full size multi tool designed for the value market. It includes a selection of the most in demand tools found in multi tools but built for occasional use. The Wingman has full sized pliers, a full size combo knife, and a large pair of scissors. A multi-tool that optimizes ergonomics and portability by reducing the tool set to the most important ones for daily use and carry

This exceptional product is equipped with almost every imaginable tool, organized and optimized for compact function With premium 154cm steel, the sleek Skeletool CX has only the most necessary of multi-tool features, as sometimes that's all you needFinally, the fully open position with the pliers deployed is arguable what these tools are all about. The curvature of the handles makes sense once you’re using the pliers – the carabiner side arm is concave to locate your fingers solidly, and the other side is convex to make it more comfortable for your palm. The pliers are narrow at the tip to use as needle nose for grabbing small objects, but you can also use the middle of the pliers to tighten or loosen nuts and bolts. I’ve successfully used the inner portion of the pliers to cut and strip wires for wiring repairs before – it requires a little practice to strip wires, but it works well for smaller (18-22ga) wires like those found in car electrical systems.