Leatherman Skeletool CX Multi-Tool

Comments about Leatherman Skeletool CX Multi-Tool:

The Skeletool Cx is an excellent knife. Good quality and good design. Everything on this tool works well.

I had an old Leatherman Wave and sadly lost it. I replaced that with a Leatherman Charge TTi, which I also lost. Shortly after purchasing the Skeletool Cx, I found both my Wave and Charge (and celebrated), but that also means I now have to decide between which of these very good tools to carry with me.

The advantages of the Skeletool Cx include having a combination straight and serrated blade.
Serrated blades need less force to cut and continues working when somewhat dull. Straight blades are easier to sharpen, can be field sharpened, are better for whittling, and are better for fine cuts. To give the best of both worlds, the Wave and Charge have one of each blade (which also gives you a backup blade). The Skeletool Cx’s single combo blade gives you the best and worst of both worlds. The Skeletool Cx has a good quality blade, with a good locking mechanism, opening and closing easily and smoothly with one hand (even while wearing glove liners). Unlike the Wave and Charge (which have an awkward boxy feel), the Skeletool has a well designed contoured grip that feels comfortable and natural in the hand (as a knife should) both when using the blade and the pliers.

The Skeletool at 5 oz is light and small enough to carry comfortably in my hip pocket or GPS shoulder pouch. I can’t comfortably do that with the bulky and boxy 8+ oz Wave and Charge, which I therefore carry either in a belt sheath or somewhere out of reach in my backpack.

The plier head in the Skeletool is only about half as thick as in the Wave and Charge, which makes it lighter, but also means you can’t use as much torque. However, since I’m using it mostly for backpack and stove repairs, I don’t need much torque. When the Skeletool is closed the screwdriver bits are on the outside, so if they come loose you risk losing them. A better design would be for the bits to be on the inside when closed. When the Charge is closed, the bits are in the inside, so you can’t lose them if they come loose. The Skeletool’s belt clip snags when inside a mesh pocket, which has frustrated me a number of times when in the dark and/or when trying to get my knife out quickly. Although the clip is advertised as removable, you need a Torx #8 driver to do so, which isn’t a common tool, and does not even come with the Leatherman Bit-Kit (ironically, you can’t use a Leatherman tool to fix this Leatherman tool).

There are some things I believe are missing in the Skeletool. It lacks scissors, which is helpful for first aid applications (cutting second skin, first-aid tape, creating butterfly bandages, trimming a torn nail, trimming dead skin, etc.). It also lacks a can opener, which I consider a basic tool in a multi-tool knife. However, if doing minimalist backpacking, you aren’t as likely to carry canned food. Unlike the Charge, the Skeletool lacks a bit small enough to repair sunglasses or eyeglasses. As in most pocket knives, the Wave, Charge, and Skeletool lack a hilt guard, which would protect your hand from sliding forward and being cut.

Before my first Leatherman tool, I used to carry swiss style pocket knives, but not any longer. For backpacking, day hikes, and as an everyday pocket knife, the Skeletool Cx is usually my knife of choice. I prefer the Charge for base camping, some backpacking trips, and mountain biking (bike repairs can require a stronger pair of pliers). I keep the Wave in my car’s glove box as a dependable, durable tool. When choosing which knife to carry on a backpacking trip I consider what my hiking partner is taking. For instance, my wife’s pocket knife has a can opener and scissors, and as such I don’t need to double up by also bringing those tools, so I can go with the lighter Skeletool Cx.

I like my Skeletool Cx so much that I bought the Skeletool for a friend for Christmas. I have recommended the Skeletool and Skeletool Cx to other friends, as well.

Comments about Leatherman Skeletool CX Multi-Tool:

Initially, the knife was very stiff; I had to loosen the torx screws and oil the joints before the knife moved like I wanted. Now it moves perfectly. The blade was not as sharp as I'm used to seeing from Leatherman tools, but that can be corrected too.

I own a Blast and a Juice S2. The knife is not immediately accessible on the Blast, and the screwdrivers on the Juice collapse on me. Neither of these tools have a belt clip. The bit driver and knife access on the Skeletool are both superior to that on the other tools. The bit "hook" is not extremely strong; I can still remove the bits from the driver without pressing the button. I'm sure I could grind down the bit groves to fix this problem.

The only flaw on the Skeletool that cannot be corrected that I can see is the pliers. They are better than those on the Juice but not as tough as on the Blast unfortunately. They also have a new design that causes them to only touch at the very tip. I don't know if this innovation will prove better or not.

The carabeaner/bottle opener clip is surprisingly convenient for quickly placing the knife somewhere, and the belt clip is also great.

Overall, this is easily the best pocket knife I've ever used.

Comments about Leatherman Skeletool CX Multi-Tool:

Loved the design of this tool and happily bought one, then a couple of weeks later while trying to straighten a thin wire D ring, the pliers broke. This was surprising because I was using very little pressure.[...]I took it back, exchanging it for a Wave tool instead. Hopefully it'll last, though even its pliers look a little thin above the hinge...we'll see. Glad I still have my second generation Leatherman - it's bomb proof.

Comments about Leatherman Skeletool CX Multi-Tool:

The thing that sets this apart from other multitools is that I actually carry it all the time. I have a shirt and tie job, and it is still in my pocket every day. It was so impressive that another person in the office bought one after seeing it. I've used it for everything from opening a Guinness to changing license plates to working the medical tent at the Boston Marathon. I'm planning on taking it to Honduras in a couple of weeks, and my biggest concern is that it gets "appropriated" in customs.

Comments about Leatherman Skeletool CX Multi-Tool:

Brilliant, just brillant! This is the perfect tool. It's a combo of all the tools I seem to need most of the time. And it fits in my pocket just as comfortably as Leatherman's E301 and E305x. But, in addition to just a knife and bottle opener/caribiner I get pliers, cutters and screwdrivers. Brilliant! I also went with the CX because it has a combo blade and the CM154 holds it's edge longer as experienced by owning both previously listed Leatherman knives. I unfortunately must mention one possible issue regarding the bit holder. In some knives the bit holder does not work. If you receive one of these as I did you will know it. The bits just pull out and even fall out. I contacted Leatherman about it and they are aware of the issue. They immediately sent out a prepaid envelope and said they would repair it and return it also prepaid. However I just received another CX I ordered and it works brilliantly! Leatherman is a great company and makes cleaverly designed products. And if they should fail, Leatherman stands behind their warranty. Brilliant, just brillant!

Comments about Leatherman Skeletool CX Multi-Tool:

I thought this tool will last for years but I was very disappointed when pliers broke when I was trying to fix something on the bicycle (pulling on the cable I think) I did not even apply that much pressure. It looks cool, it's fairly light and the blade is very sharp but it's not reliable in all situations. I'll have to look for different multitool

Comments about Leatherman Skeletool CX Multi-Tool:

I like this product. I bought it for backpacking and have used it on several trips. It has all of the tools you need in a multi-tool. My only concern: I took it fishing as my pair of pliers and it wasn't really suited for this purpose. When I brought it home from the day trip, the pliers had rust marks around the center ring. I oiled it and hopefully that is that, but it was a little alarming.

Comments about Leatherman Skeletool CX Multi-Tool:

This is a great every-day-carry tool that replaced the standard pocket-knife. It's light enough to fit in my work pants yet still very useful. The caribiner/bottle opener is more handy than I thought it would be.

I've used the Phillips head bit several times to change batteries in kids toys and gear. The only complaint is the flathead bit went missing from the spare bit holder shortly after purchase. The holder could be improved in future models.

Comments about Leatherman Skeletool CX Multi-Tool:

Overall I really like the skeletool design. It incorporates the functions I mostly use in the field.

Having used earlier Leatherman tools and found them to be ruggedly constructed, I am keenly disappointed in the method of retaining the small screwdriver bits in the handle. I have had to exchange the tool twice since purchase to get one that actually holds the bits in place without them falling onto the ground in use. The problem is in the design of the spring and bit latch, which causes the spring to separate from the bit latch and no longer function. It needs to be revised for this tool to ultimately succeed. I actually contacted Leatherman about this and their response was to "bend the spring". Leatherman does not really appreciate the problem here. I would not recommend this to others until this bit retention issue is truly resolved.

Comments about Leatherman Skeletool CX Multi-Tool:

I really like the look and feel of the CX, but I've only had it for 3 days and the clasp that holds the bits in place has lost it's spring, and now a bit. [...]It's just disappointing to pay good money for something that's supposed to be durable and last a long time just to be let down when I'm on the road with it and have nothing else.