Leatherman 830160 Surge Pocket Multitool with Nylon/Leather Sheath

by Leatherman

• Surge pocket multi-tool built with tough new pliers, longer blades and easy-to-use locks
• Features a blade exchanger with saw and diamond/wood file blades that lets you switch out blades and files
• 2 knives and extra-strong scissors are easily accessed from the outside of the tool
• Contains both large and small bit drivers and comes in a leather sheath
• Leatherman's 25-year limited warranty (The item does wiggle a little as it ensures proper operation of jaws and implements.)

Product Description

Amazon.com

The Surge Extra-Large Multitool from Leatherman

The Leatherman Surge multitool is built with tough new pliers, longer blades and easy-to-use locks. This multitool features a helpful blade exchanger with the saw and diamond/wood file blades -- and with this blade exchanger, two knives and the extra-strong scissors are easily accessed from the outside of the tool. Also, there are four outside-opening blades to give you quick access to the tools you use most. The Surge boasts both large and small bit drivers, and it comes in a leather sheath. With stronger jaws for more squeezing force with less effort, plus Leatherman's strongest scissors yet, Surge is sure to make a splash at the work site.

Key Tech Specs:

• 100-percent stainless steel construction
• Includes Phillips #1-2, screwdriver 3/16-inch bits
• Includes Phillips and flat tip eyeglasses bits
• 4-1/2 inches long (closed)

Key User Features

The Surge features four blades that can be opened while the tool is closed. Open the straight and serrated knife blades with one hand by placing your thumb at the base of the blade and rotating the knife until it's fully extended, which securely engages the locking mechanism. The locking mechanism is marked with a padlock symbol on the tool, and to disengage it, just squeeze it towards the handle until the blade slides past the lock. It's a simple feature, but it's one that guarantees your safety.

To open and close the interior blades, just grip the handles and swing them open. Each interior blade can be lifted out by using the nail nicks or the thumb lifts. And if you wish to change blades, simply remove the saw or blade file from the blade exchanger by opening the exchanger to a 90-degree angle from the closed handles. The blade releases from a t-shank connector at the clasp. Changing tool bits is equally easy. Just open the bit driver, grasp the tool bit, and pull it straight out -- then snap the desired bit into place.

The Surge is a multitool powerhouse with tough new pliers, longer blades, and easy-to-use locks.

Expand your Surge's capabilities with genuine Leatherman accessories.

Multitool Capabilities:

• All-locking blades
• Needlenose pliers
• Regular pliers
• Wire cutters
• Hard-wire cutters
• Stranded-wire cutters
• Electrical crimper
• Clip-point knife
• Serrated knife
• Scissors
• Blade exchanger
• Diamond file blade
• Wood file blade
• Saw blade
• Large bit driver
• Small bit driver
• 5/16-inch screwdriver
• Awl with thread loop
• Ruler (9 inches/22 cm)
• Bottle/can opener
• Wire stripper
• Lanyard ring
• Two double-ended bits

Optional Accessories (not included)

Expand your Surge's capabilities with the Bit Kit, offering 21 double-ended bits; or add a pocket clip and lanyard ring for easier portability.

Warranty

All Leatherman products are covered by a 25-year limited warranty. If within 25 years from the purchase date of your genuine Leatherman tool you find any defect in material or workmanship, you can count on the manufacturer to make it right with fast warranty service. To obtain warranty service, return your tool to Leatherman Tool Group. Depending on the tool defect, they will decide whether to repair your tool or replace it with a product of equal or greater value. No variations, upgrades or refunds are offered.

The Leatherman Tool Group and its History of Quality

In 1975, Leatherman Tool Group founder Tim Leatherman was inspired by leaky pipes and a cranky car on a budget trip to Europe -- and thus the idea for his first pocket survival tool was conceived. Since then, Leatherman has become an internationally recognized company with hundreds of employees and a wide variety of durable, versatile, stylish products. Created with bold designs and truly rugged construction, Leatherman products are a perfect addition for tool kits, emergency sets, and glove compartments everywhere.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

99 of 101 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Right tool for the job February 16, 2008

By J. F. Washburn

I'm a rancher. I carry a multitool every waking hour. I've exercised the warranty on a Wave three times in three years. I've broken the detente that prevents the knife blades from bending beyond straight. I've broken the tips of the pliers pulling cotter pins, and I've chewed up the hard wire cutter. The Surge seems to do all these things and more with greater ease than the Wave, and it seems to be taking the day-to-day punishment. If not the fourth Wave is waiting as a backup.

As for the size aspect: I wear gloves in large size. The Surge is not too big for my hands and I can't imagine it'd be too big for medium size hands. IMO, frequent and continued use of the pliers with small hands could be tiring.

I depend on these things everyday. A Leatherman has never let me down even when they've broken. If you use one this much then I'd highly recommend the nylon sheath. The leather case and snap are not as convenient.

BTW, it may not be the perfect tool for the job, but when its the one that 's handy it gets the job done.

I've had the Surge for 6 months now. For whatever reason I took the Wave the other day. Its too small! I won't go back to the Wave. The Surge is the right size. For what I do, the Surge the best tool out there.

71 of 73 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Surge on the high seas May 18, 2011

By W. Courtney

Amazon Verified Purchase

I bought the Leatherman Surge as a replacement for a Wave multitool that was tragically confiscated by TSA some time ago. Having bought a Gerber FliK in the meantime and finding it woefully inadequate, I was left needing a reliable tool to carry during a 4-month term aboard a cargo ship. I needed something with a good and sizable blade, for ropework and other miscellaneous cutting purposes, a pair of pliers for loosening shackle pins, tightening wire, wingnuts and other fasteners, and screwdrivers for light prying and tightening screws without heading 12 stories down to the engine room for a phillips head driver. Reviewing Leatherman's product line, the Surge caught my attention due to several factors. I liked its larger size, as I always thought my Wave was a little on the small side. I liked the dedicated flathead for prying, as well as the bit adapter for other driver heads. I especially liked the outside opening scissors, being bigger and easier to access than my Wave's. And I was intrigued by the awl, which really at the time presented no specific purpose as much as many interesting possibilities.

My Surge arrived the day before I headed out to sea, so it's trial was by fire. To sum up the experience, it is no exaggeration to say that I used this tool literally every one of the 107 days I was aboard. The following sums up some of the good and bad points that I noticed:

-The pliers are big, beefy and strong. They grip pretty much anything, and hold on like a vice. However, the wire cutters pretty much suck.
-The blades are excellent, as are most Leatherman blades. they do require somewhat frequent sharpening, but I used and abused this tool, so that's not really shocking.
-The scissors are AWESOME. Super sharp, and large enough to cut pretty much anything with ease. Having them on the outside is a MAJOR improvement over the other tools in the line. I used the scissors as much if not more than the knife. Keeping them lubricated does help with the unusual, but very handy, locking mechanism.
-Strangely enough, I think my favorite tool on the Surge is in fact the awl. It serves those tasks that lie in the gray area: where you need something pointy but dont want to stab what youre working on (or you); where you need an edge to scrape, but not cut, something; where you want to put a hole, rather than a gash, in something. Ive used it for everything from spearing WD-40 cans to get the last little bit out (chief mate wasnt too happy about that), to rigging chafe guards on mooring lines, to scraping paint off of a hydraulic ram, to leaving the customary "mark" of my school in waterfront bars around the world. All in all, an awesome little addition to this multitool that I cant believe I went this long without.
-The screwdrivers get mixed reviews. The large flathead is great, no complaints there. the large bit driver is good as well, although the spring that holds the bits in does break. I rigged mine with a little cotter pin, but a better design is needed. Its functional though. Im mixed about the little screwdriver. On one hand, I really have found very few uses for it, and think that it would be better replaced with something else. On the other hand, its the PERFECT size for screws on sunglasses, electrical connections, etc, so maybe it belongs there.
-The exchangeable saw/file is a pretty neat idea, although it does eat up some of the usable space of the tool. I've never used the saw, seeing as it has pretty limited uses aboard the ship. The file is pretty good, however. One of the best features of the removable file is that it can be taken off and the diamond side used to sharpen the knife blade! Which is very handy. I haven't bought any other blades for it, although jigsaw blades do fit right into the exchanger.
-Its hard to screw up a can/bottle opener, and this one is no exception. For a combination, it works very well, and as I prefer my beer in bottles, it is a necessity. It does take a bit of prying finesse to pry off a cap without punching through it; the best way is to turn it so you pry along the edge of the cap. Good reason to carry the Surge on shore leave.
-Like most Leatherman products I have used, the body and blades of the knife are prone to a bit of rust. No big deal; it says "stainLESS", not stainPROOF. A little bit of oil and a rag cleans it right up, and it doesnt hurt to keep it well oiled anyway. Its a tool, treat it as you would any other.
-The leather/nylon sheath that it comes with is absolutely terrible. the snap is hard to open, the fit is loose, and I just generally hated the look of it. I used my old Wave nylon velcro sheath at sea, which didnt really fit, and ordered a Surge velcro sheath when I got back. I cant comment on the all leather one that is offered, but alot of people seem to like it. My original Wave sheath lasted about 4 years before it wore out, which I think earns it its $10 of utility.

All in all, the Leatherman Surge is the best multitool I have ever owned. For my purposes, it is the closest to the ideal combination of any manufacturer out there, and I cant see using any other multitool with the same effectiveness. I recommend to everyone I know that is going out to sea for the first time, and you can bet that it will be on my belt for my second sea term. No matter what your application, if you need a heavy duty, well-appointed multitool that can take more beatings than you can throw at it, the Surge is for you.

33 of 35 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect multi-tool! April 2, 2007

By E. Bartoli

I dont know whats the problem with the size of the surge...seeing the reviews on here I thought that when I saw this thing I would have said "omG ITS HUGE!!" ...but...uhmm...its the size a STRONG, STURDY and DEPENDABLE multi tool should be! I hate small multi tools because I dont want to feel as if Im going to break the thing while im using it (tighten some screws, etc) or when im using the saw or something. The design is great and personally I can say that the SURGE is the best multi tool out there!