Customer Reviews

Leatherman 80080003 Squirt P4, Storm

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Introduction:
After having my Squirt P4 for 8 more months, I thought that I would post a follow-up to my previous review.

Good things:
After carrying it on a daily basis for 8+ months, all the tools still have their snug fit. They haven't loosened up at all, and that's a good thing. The pliers/wirecutters have been tremendously useful; it's hard to believe the number of small chores you find to do when you always have a mini-pliers available. And the blade has retained its sharpness well.

Bad things:
Two points here. The gray anodization has begun to chip off along the edges, but considering that I have been carrying it in my pocket rubbing up against my keys, it's not too bad. And because of its size, the bottle opener requires some care to remove bottle caps.

Conclusion:
I still highly recommend this tool.

Introduction:
For quite some time, I had been searching for the perfect tool to put on my keychain. I was looking to replace my old Swiss Army knife, lost to airport security. The perfect tool would have scissors, pliers, flat and Phillips screwdrivers, a bottle opener, tweezers, a toothpick like the Swiss Army knives, and more.

In a surplus store, I found a Swiss Army knife with the tweezers, toothpick, scissors, and blades I wanted. I bought it and figured that I would do without the rest. And then my girlfriend, having listened to my monologues on the subject, bought me a Leatherman Squirt P4 in Storm gray.

Good things:
All the tools (except the pliers and wirecutters) are accessible when the tool is closed. The knife, file, bottle opener, and small screwdriver all open on the end away from the lanyard attachment, so it's easy to use them when the tool is on your keyring. The pliers are spring-loaded and are delicate enough to fit into most any space, while being sturdy enough to be useful. The Squirt is only slightly larger than the small Swiss Army knife, so the two of them together fit comfortably in my pocket with my keys. The fit of the tools is snug, but not too tight. And the Squirt feels solid and just looks good.

Bad things:
The Phillips screwdriver, while effective, is on the end by the lanyard attachment and so is slightly less convenient to use. And people keep borrowing it.

Conclusion:
If you're like me and want a small, useful tool to carry at all times, I highly recommend the Squirt P4.

After carrying around various Classic Swiss Army knives on my keychain for seven years, I thought it'd be time to find a replacement. I still wanted something I can attach to my keychain, and have with me all the time, so I had to find something similar in size with my old SAK. That's when the Squirt caught my attention. The size is similar to a Classic SAK (just a tad larger in bulk), durable, well-engineered (easily accessed tools without unfolding the tool), and very attractive.
I had a choice between the P4 and S4 model, and thought to myself which tool I use more...scissors or pliers/cutters? Being a systems engineer, I used pliers/cutters more often. I took a look at the scissors on my SAK, and noticed how worn out and dull they became after years of abuse (cutting wires, cables, etc.). So my choice was the P4.
I recommend this little tool as a sidekick...a backup. I carry a full-sized multitool around, but there are times where multitools strapped to your waist are not appropriate. For instance, Christmas/birthday parties...when children receive battery-operated gifts and the toy is tied in the packaging with wires and the battery covers require a screwdriver...that's when this little tool comes in handy, but sort of ridiculous pulling out this strapped super tool from a sheath attached to your waist.
For such small, miscellaneous uses, I can't seem to find any flaws with this tool. Why I'd recommend it over other small tools is it's durable engineering. It is built as tough as any other full-sized Leatherman tool. It looks and feels like a scaled down size of a regular tool. Other brands (I won't mention which) I had experience with, the tools and blades bend and break. I've taken this little Squirt to the extremes, and it still feels I got it right off the shelf.

I have mixed feelings about this product. I gave it 5 stars because it is a top notch Leatherman product. The mixed review is whether it outpreforms the Leatherman Micra that it sort of replaces.
First, its just a tad shorter and a tad wider than the Micra. You won't notice the difference in your pocket.

Second, the reverse opening sissors is just as easy to open as the Micra. It has all the same tools, although they feel smaller they look like they handle the same set of screws. The bottle opener is a bit smaller but it still opens the lift top bottles just as well.

The tweezers do come completely out from the body of the knife which is good and bad. Good because they are easier to use, bad because they are easier to lose. On the other hand they are well integrated into the body of the knife with a small tab for removing them.

And on the Micra when I open it the tweezers always swing out whether I need them or not.

So its a toss between the two of them. So in general I'd have to go with price, and the older Micra is a few bucks cheaper.

After owning mine for a couple of months now, I have to say that I'm thoroughly pleased with this multi-tool. I had previously questioned how much use I'd actually get out of it (I've been living the first 22 years of my life without one), but I have to say that I find myself using it at least 2-3 times a week (I'm a programmer/developer, so it wouldn't seem like I'd have that much use for it).

The design is nice in that it's compact, very sturdy, and really not that heavy. The whole thing, when folded up, is barely (just barely) wider than my thumb.

It contains a total of 7 tools:
1. Blade. *Very* sharp. I often use it to cut open that annoying plastic packaging that's sealed around the edges that's popular now with electronics.

2. File. Haven't used it yet, but it's large and has two different textures. Too coarse for filing my nails ;)

3. Small Screw Driver. Perfect size for tightening screws on the frames of my glasses.

4. Letter Opener. Heh, I typically use the blade :)

5. "Single Axis"/Compact Philips Head Screw Driver. I questioned how well this design would work at first, but it saved me quite a bit of time once when I was installing a door knob and realized that I had forgotten to bring a Phillips head screw driver and my cordless drill's battery died.

6. Flat Head Screw Driver/Bottle Opener. Both very useful.

7. Pliers. I've had trouble getting myself to exert a lot of pressure on it in fear of snapping it, but it seems very sturdy. When you open the pliers, there's a nice satisfying mechanical "snap snap" :) Excellent for manipulating small objects. The "spring" mechanism has an excellent feel to it.

Overall, a great tool that you'll find yourself using more than you think you would. I think a tool of this size is better for the average Joe whereas a bigger, more comprehensive multi-tool would server powerusers better.

Although the Micra is a comperable product, at a lower price, there's a few fundamental differences -- The P4 has pliers, not scissors (the S4 has scissors). The tools are accessible from the outside, without needing to open it first. The phillips screwdriver is a #1, not a #2. The ruler is less than 2", vs. 3.5". The tweezers are detachable. The tools have a little bit of a springiness to keep them closed [but well, they're on the outside, so I'm rather glad of that]

I still think that it's a quality product, and worth the money, but if you're on the edge of deciding, or if you specifically need a #2 phillips, go with the micra. If you need scissors, go with either the S4, or the micra.

[Oh...I had a Micra on my keychain for over 5 years. I was given an S4 as a gift, and it's currently taken the place of the Micra, but mostly as it has a factory edge on the blace, so I'm giving it trial period until it needs a sharpening.]

The Leatherman Squirt P4 is an excellent mini-multitool for the demanding gadget lover/outdoorsman/hunter. Solid performance in a small package, and Leatherman's trademark durability and practicality.

Cons? I could have used a P4 while trying to open the package... :)

I gave a pair of these, with the pliers, to my husband for his birthday. He loves them! He uses them all the time and they are sturdy! The best part is Leatherman has a lifetime warranty if something happens to break.

I own the model with the pliers. This thing is a lifesaver! I work in a library - a pretty tame place, tool-wise - but no matter where you work, you seldom go very long without needing a tool of some kind. Ninety-nine percent of the time, you won't need anything that isn't on the Squirt.

All the tools on the Squirt are top quality. My favorites are the steel file and the excellent pliers. These are tools that, when you need them, you often REALLY need them, and it's great to have them in your pocket!

This is a great little tool. I've been searching for a multi to carry on my keychain and none of the other brands hold a candle to Leatherman. And this tool is much better than the Leatherman Micra tool. More solid, better tools (especially the pliers!), better looking. If you don't have one, get one. You'll be kicking yourself when you need one in a pinch.