Every guy needs a good wingman
You might remember a week or so ago I wrote a post about a concert that @mrsbozz and I recently attended. While it ended up being a really good show, it was a quite traumatic night for me. I told this story once already, but I was 100% sure I emptied my pockets when we got home from work that day.
Unfortunately, that wasn't the case, because when we got to the venue to see the concert and we started going through the security line, I realized my trusty Leatherman Juice S2 which I had for close to 20 years was still in my pocket.
I had to make the quick decision to leave @mrsbozz standing alone and take it all the way back to the car, or have security toss it. It's possible I could have asked them to just hold it for me, but I doubt they would have. My heart dropped as I heard the rattle of it landing in the trash bin.
I'd been through a lot of scrapes with that multitool, and I was a bit despondent sitting there waiting for the concert to start. My wife could feel it too and she tried to make me feel better by pointing out it was all beat up and pretty dull anyway. As I said in my other post, it isn't like it had extreme sentimental value to me. I have a knife I got from my buddy when he first got married that holds a lot more meaning for me than that Leatherman did.
It's just that I'd had that Leatherman for pretty much my whole career and I used it nearly every day. I can't tell you the number of times at one of our family gatherings my wife or someone else has said "uncle bozz, do you have your knife?" or "go see uncle bozz, he has a knife". I'm pretty sure I am the designated package opener at Christmas time when the kids get all those little vacuum packed toys.
Despite the ridiculous cost, @mrsbozz seemed to be on board with me buying a replacement tool. Like I said, Leatherman's aren't cheap, so I did a bit of research as we were sitting waiting for the conference to start. The brand Gerber came up, as well as Victorinox, and a few other ones I have never heard before.
Since I already have a Swiss Army Knife, I didn't want to get that. The Gerbers seemed nice, but the reviews were a bit spotty. I think my biggest issue besides the cost was the size. That old Juice S2 was quite small. Honestly, if it was still available, I probably would have bought another one of those. They do have an updated model of it, but at $110, that seemed a bit steep.
For reference, the top of the line Leatherman is something like $350.
After doing a bit (I lie, it was a lot of research), I ended up settling on the Leatherman Wingman. It's still a bit larger than my old Juice, but you can at least fit it in your pocket without walking around like you are happy to see everyone.
Some of the larger ones you are pretty much resigned to having to wear it in a holster on your belt. Sorry, but I'm not ready to be "that guy" yet.
While the Wingman doesn't boast as many features as some of the other tools, it still packed enough in that I thought it would work well for me. The blade is definitely sharper than my old one. I have already had a near miss with my thumb!
Scissors were a must, I use those pretty much every day and the Wingman has a good set of them. Unlike my last Leatherman, the blade and the scissors both lock into place on this one. That makes them a bit more safe to use in my opinion.
At right around $70 USD, the price was quite attractive for the Wingman too. In fact, I was willing to compromise on a couple of features because I like the price so much. Like my old model, this one also has a can opener which believe it or not I have been known to use a time or two. Additionally, it has a file which my old one didn't, but I can see it coming in handy, and at the very end there is a package opener. As I mentioned above, that will definitely get a lot of use, especially around the holidays!
Finally, one of the most important tools are the screwdrivers. I probably use those the most of anything else on my old Leatherman. Unfortunately, this model only has one size of each. My other model had three sizes of flat head screwdrivers and the smallest one was nicer for tightening eye glasses and things like that.
I had thought about getting one of the models that have the replaceable bits, but like I said, the cost was pretty prohibitive on them. Likewise, many of those models come with a bunch of other features that I would never or rarely ever use. I wish Leatherman made a model geared towards computer techs with a couple of the common Torx heads, but I am guessing their bit system is the solution for that.
I was looking quite hard at the Leatherman Signal since my wife and I do so much camping, but I wasn't fond of the $140 USD price tag. It's got some cool features though. Maybe one day after the bull run I will buy one just to keep in the trailer!
The important thing is, I have a new multitool to put a lot of miles on. You better believe I will be double checking my pockets before I get out of the car next time we go to a concert!
Sports Talk Social - @bozz.sports
Haha, nice one! i have thesame one and it's just one of the best leatherman's i ever had.
That makes me feel a lot better about my decision. There are so many different models, it's a hard call. I think the Wingman seemed to be the best choice of function versus price.
I'm glad to hear you found a somewhat acceptable replacement, the wingman looks nice. It's hard to replace an old tool you've had for so many years. The price wasn't too bad either, especially considering how expensive everything is getting these days...
Yeah, I feel like this one was a good compromise. I wouldn't be too hesitant to recommend this one to anyone so far.
It's just not quite the same as the old "friend"... I hope it works out well though. I use mine all the time around the house and yard, they are just such great tools!
I think it will work out fine. Honestly, besides the really small flat head, I can't think of anything else this doesn't have that I would need.
You know what I've been randomly wanting to buy?
A butterfly knife.
In CA you had to smuggle one in from Mexico but apparently they are legal pretty much everywhere else.
I guess I always thought they were illegal here in Michigan, but I could be wrong. High grade fireworks used to be illegal too and now they aren't so who knows! I'd definitely cut myself with one of those!
Living on the border of NY and NJ is wild because everything is illegal in those states.
Meanwhile PA is an open-carry state.
I saw this dude sporting a holster and a revolver at the grocery store once it blew my mind.
In PA you can buy the crazy professional mortar fireworks it's wild you'll go into the store and people are buying over $1000 worth of stuff for July 4th. I'm guessing some of them resell it illegally across the border. Which is a felony.
That would probably be a little unnerving. Especially these days. I have a couple of friends who have their concealed carry permit. I was driving my buddies truck one time on a road trip to Wisconsin and it wasn't until the way home that I realize he should probably move the gun under the seat to his side while I was driving.
Yeah I was looking into this as well apparently you just pay a tiny fee here and they give it to you for like zero work.
Crazy stuff.
That is pretty crazy. Here you have to take a day long class or something like that. My one friend was an instructor for a while. I don't know if he still does it though.
lol read this shit:
lol @ $20 & FIVE YEAR renewal.
Wow, that's pretty crazy. I don't know what the specific requirements are here in Michigan. I only own long guns, but I know that places are always offering 1 day CPL classes. There are usually signs on telephone poles advertising the classes :)
I remember people used to drive down to Illinois or Indiana to get the good stuff when it came to fireworks. Now you can get them anywhere. There was a time too when my brother in law worked for the fireworks distributor, he would occasionally sell some stuff out of the back of his truck. I think when the police confiscated stuff they would hand it over to them to dispose of it and a lot of times they would just resell it again :)
Congratulations @bozz! You have completed the following achievement on the Hive blockchain And have been rewarded with New badge(s)
Your next target is to reach 420000 upvotes.
You can view your badges on your board and compare yourself to others in the Ranking
If you no longer want to receive notifications, reply to this comment with the word
STOPCheck out our last posts:
I can relate I still have the first weatherman I picked up maybe twenty or more years ago well probably close to thirty years ago as it was on my belt for the thirty years I worked in the UN
I did buy other ones both weatherman’s and Gerber’s but the original ne was the one I ended up always carrying
Yeah, I am really going to miss that one, but hopefully this new one will be with me for another 20 years!
if one day I get my house, then I will buy myself a work tool box full of various such assistance tools 😅👌👌 I hope I was describe it correctly with my weak English 😅👌🛠⚒⛏🪓🔨🗝🔑🪛🔧🪚🔗⛓🧰🧰🧰🧰🧰🧰
Nah, you are good! Everyone needs a good toolbox. I have a pretty impressive one that has taken me decades to accumulate. Nothing like some of my friends though!
Ah :)) .... just now my one tool is my camera and laptop, I must look that I hold them ok and in good box :)))
To hell with any venue that takes my multi-tool. I'd go home given that option. I won't part with my Wave. The Signal looks nice though.
The Signal is really cool looking. Like I said, I wouldn't mind getting one just to keep in the trailer. To be fair, I could have walked back. Looking back now I probably should have walked back to the car. I wouldn't have missed any of the show. It is what it is though.
"It is what it is." I hate that saying. It is unjust security theater robbing innocent people of their property.