It's not everyday that you find yourself wanting to pickup a new multi-tool, because most of the time they last a long time - and that's exactly the case with the particular one I'll be reviewing today.
Before deciding to write this review, I took a few months to play around and really put the tool to use - to really gauge it's quality and overall usefulness. I mean a multi-tool screams utility, but sometimes you get one and then you completely forget about it - so what's the point in that?
Before stumbling upon Leatherman, I had an older DeWalt multi-tool that I got as a gift from an older job. I mean it got the job done, but it was beginning to rust a little bit since I had taken it into various elements over the years. When I came across the brand at a preview, I was excited to see the variety of tools that existed, along with the wonderful story that embellished the brand.
Needless to say, I was very interested in giving the products a shot - and I didn't want to be the sole judge of them - so I picked up Wave+ for my dad. My father is the type of guy who loves working with his hands, so I thought he would be making the most out of it - and would ultimately give me an honest opinion about the tool. As an ex-car mechanic and engineer, he sort of had his biases and opinions on stuff like this.
Surely enough - he's been enjoying it after many months, and I feel great knowing that I picked up a gift that was more than just a placeholder. But now I wanted one.
Even though I wasn't as crafty with my hands, I wanted a better multi-tool that could last me a lifetime (as long as I didn't lose it). However, I wanted something a little more stylish and compact, so I opted for the Skeletool CX. I'm very grateful for the Leatherman team for hooking me up with this great multi-tool, as it's become one of my go-to's for almost anything - whether that's around the house or the outdoors.
The Skeletool CX has only the most necessary of multi-tool features, because sometimes that's all you need. With a 154CM stainless steel blade, pliers, bit driver, pocket clip and carabiner/bottle opener, you're set. Lightweight, low volume, perfect size. The Skeletool CX: who says more is better?
https://www.leatherman.ca/en_CA/skeletool-cx-19.html
At home, anything that needs some maintenance is easily taken care of with the Skeletool multi-tool. I recently decided to put up my Undergraduate diploma (it's been a little while, I know), and it was handy for something as simple as that. On the other hand, I was out for a road trip not too long ago, when I needed to remove something that got stuck under the hood - and my Leatherman came in handy without getting my hands too dirty. My stories are basic-everyday-guy type of stories, but there are some really great ones you can read about other Leatherman owners here.
If you want the TL;DR: it's a product that goes beyond utility and ends up becoming an essential part of your daily life. Anything that needs fixing or figuring out can often be dealt with using your handy Leatherman. I'm looking forward to seeing how far the Skeletool CX takes me - as well as the stories that will come along with it. As long as I don't lose it, I'm sure that this tool will last for many more years to come.
This post was written in partnership with Leatherman Canada.
All photography is courtesy of Julie Yeh (@julie_yay).