Customer Reviews

Leatherman 831078 Freestyle Multi-tool

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

I've been carrying a Leatherman Tool for well over two decades, and have used it at least once every day I've carried it. I've carried a Leatherman Wave for the last ten years, and it's served me rather well that entire time.
When they came out with the Skeletool, it looked too awkward for me with the large carabiner clip, so I decided against trying to upgrade to it. This appeared to be approximately the same tool minus the clip, so I pulled the trigger on buying it.
The knife blade is well placed and easy to open, which has always been a major failing of the Wave series and I'm rather happy with it.
The pliers on the other hand are kind of awkward and thin looking. Unlike the previous Leatherman tools, I don't feel as comfortable using them as casually on tough jobs. While their design does lend more toward a more comfortable carry the handles are too short and the curve makes for a clumsy handhold on them.
I would have preferred that they retained the bit driver that was on both the Wave and the Skeletool.
Overall, I do occasionally carry this, but view it more as a pocket knife than anything else, and that's just not why you carry a Leatherman. It tends to stay on my nightstand more often than not and I've gone back to my Wave almost exclusively.
I realize they can't all be winners, and I'll still look forward to the next tool they release.

I love Leatherman, and when I first heard about this product, I thought it would be for me. I own/have owned several LM tools, including the Skeletool. I thought that a product that was a one-handed opening knife along with pliers would be perfect. In reality, it was too bulky for the limited functions that it offers. I much prefer my Skeletool because of the carabiner/bottle opener and bit driver. If the Freestyle wasn't so bulky, maybe I would have liked it better. But it's not much of a size increse to go with a Skeletool, Juice, or even a Charge/Wave. And those tools have so many more functions.

I purchased the leatherman freestyle mainly as a fishing tool for cutting line, attaching sinkers, and removing fish hooks. This tool works for all these uses and folds up into a nice small size.

The metal is very strong and the knife is exceptionally sharp. The knife takes effort to get the liner lock to lock, but once it does it seems pretty sturdy. The belt clip is firm enough without being unnecessarily firm.

I would have rated it 5 stars if it ended here, but sadly it doesn't.

Leatherman advertised this tool as having 420HC stainless steel. After using it twice for light saltwater fishing the tool started to rust like crazy. It wasn't until I checked leatherman's support website that they mention their stainless steel is not truly stainless, it is only a little corrosion resistant. This came as a big shock to me.

Despite my best efforts to remove the rust with an abrasive pad and WD40, it still has rust spots I can't get out.

I'm going to have to find something more corrosion resistant for salt water use.
For this reason I give this product 2 stars for falling short of my expectations.

I don't like giving low ratings on a product that doesn't deserve it but this will get people to read the review and realize that the Leatherman pictured is not the Leatherman being sold by amazon. I should have read the description more carefully and I would have realized that the options that are shown on the picture are not the options on the Leatherman being sold, so shame on me. But, Amazon needs to correct the product photo. The Leatherman shown is the Skeletool, not the Freestyle Multi-tool. Two reasons I bought the knife where the screw driver bit and carbiner/can opener, neither are on the Freestyle Multi-tool that is actually for sale. If you don't need those options the knife is very nice and everything you would expect from a Leatherman, solid and backed by a great warranty. Amazon's service was exceptional as usual and paid for return shipping and refunded the full amount though this was over a month ago and they still have not fixed the photo.

Bought these as groomsmen gifts. Awesome price and well made. My own broke, sent back to leatherman, and had a replacement tool in no time. USA made too.

I was looking for a lightweight multi tool to take on long hikes. On the whole, I'm satisfied. The tool is smaller than I expected, but is is very well built and the blade is excellent. Although Leatherman claims that the Freestyle is a combination of 5 tools, any reasonable person will find 2: A knife and pliers.

Contains the two most used tools: pliers and blade (with liner lock). But wish the pliers were spring-loaded.

This tool reminds me of the alien when folded. For me it has two tools (1) pliers (2) knife. Both work well, but the pliers doesn't have a spring action when unfolded. Now the pliers has muliple features in it.

i love this tool!-so handy with pliers and a knife and fits right in your pocket typical leatherman quality-can't beat it!!!

I thought it was great; the only things I didn't like were things I already knew would be there. minor complaints were that the handle can hurt if you hold the curved side palm-in. As for the knife, it was razor sharp and very useful. However the semi-serration is not practical for such a small blade.