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59 of 59 found the following review helpful:
 In some respects, in a class by itself Jan 29, 2008
By Saint Richard
I was a big fan of the L-Man Wave and carried one for several years. I loved the convenience of having the blades, saw & file open from the outside. These components also featured high quality cross-locks similar to the ones on a lot of premium pocket knives. These basic design features are maintained in the Charge TTi.
The quality of these particular items - blades, files and saw - seem to me to be the things that set one multi-tool apart from the other. The quality and design of one screwdriver bit or can opener is pretty much the same as that of another. And the good multi-tools all have "decent" pliers. But it is not so with cutting blades, saws and files. Here there can be a big difference.
The L-Man Charge is NOT the largest multi-tool I own but its two cutting blades (my others have just one) saw and file ARE the largest featured on any of them (no longer true, as I now have a Swisstool X). I believe this is possible because of the fact they are accessed from the outside. Their size need not be limited to make room for the pliers to fold into the handles as with tools whose blades are all accessed from inside.
The saw, file and the blades are not only larger but also of very good quality. The saw cuts as effectively as any I have used with very little clogging or sticking. One side of the file is diamond coated, making it more versatile. There is a serrated sheepsfoot blade with an integral cutting hook (very useful) and best of all the main, straight-edged blade is of premium S30V steel. If you know knives you know this is top quality stuff (and not cheap). Most other companies - even the good ones - don't even publish what they are building their tools from. I get the feeling there is a lot of 440a (or lesser steel) out there.
The "inside" tools on the Charge TTi now have a very smooth and solid locking mechanism which was lacking on the original Wave. This is a definite improvement. And compared to the Wave the Charge TTi has a better look and feel to it.
There are extra niceties. At nearly 9 oz, the Charge TTi is (to my tastes) "slightly too big for comfy pocket carry". And using a sheath doesn't work well for me since I wear sweats a lot. The "pocket" clip is therefore a definite bonus, allowing me to tuck the Charge TTi in my waistband where I hardly notice it. The built-in lanyard attachment is nice, too, and an improvement on the Wave's. (I don't like accidentally dropping and losing my expensive tools - so a good lanyard attachment is a must for me.)
In addition to the original L-man Wave tool, I have used a Gerber Compact Sport 400 (smaller, lighter) and an SOG Powerlock S63 EOD (larger, heavier). These are very respectable tools in their own right and the SOG in particular seems a little better than the L-Man Charge TTi in a couple of respects (see the upcoming review). But on balance I feel that the Charge TTi is the best tool I own and the only one I would rate as high as a 5. And if I could only keep one, this would be it.
Post Script: See my other reviews for a head to head comparison between the TTi and Victorinox's excellent Swisstool X.
29 of 29 found the following review helpful:
Unparalleled - as close to perfect as I've found for a multitool. Dec 09, 2008
By T. Hassler
The Leatherman Charge TTi replaced my venerable Leatherman New Wave as my every day carry closing in on two years ago. I've loved everything about this gear since I got it. About the only thing I've found is that the titanium really didn't decrease the weight much. It's a near perfect instrument, and for those of us who like to keep a solid multitool handy at all times, this should be the one. I've been carrying a multitool in a sheath (and sometimes clipped in a pocket) for many years now, and I've made it no secret in my other reviews that I've come to appreciate the Leatherman line. I'm going to break down why you should be buying this tool vs. one of the many others on the market:
Pros:
1. Pound-for-pound, I've found no other gear that packs so many high quality tools in such a clean and comfortable design. Much attention was given to the layout and ease of use. It's solid when doing any task and still feels comfortable and "beefy" in your hands. Its definitely not cheap feeling in any way.
2. The S30V steel blade is one of the highest quality knives out there, and better than most dedicated knives I've used. Many manufacturers skimp on the steel quality when it comes to where it's needed the most: the knife. But this has great shape, steel, and sharpness.
3. The pliers deliver a lot of functionality in one nicely performing package: soft wire cutter, hard wire cutter, standard pliers, crimper, and needle nose pliers. I'm sure anyone could successfully argue that a dedicated tool for each of those jobs would perform better and have more surface area for the job. But, this is a multitool and I've used every one of these and they did the work I needed, and it's all together.
4. All of the tools lock out, and the locks are all solid.
5. The knife, file, serrated knife/gut hook, and saw are all accessible without opening the pliers. This makes the most frequent tools convenient.
6. The grip is nicely knurled, and I've never felt once that I was going to drop the pliers. In fact, I've used it quite often one handed, opening and closing the pliers as well as most of the tools when the job demanded it.
7. The tools themselves are all well designed and deliver on craftsmanship. The steel seems to be of good quality all around.
8. There's a lot of tools here: Crimper, pliers, needle nose, soft/hard wire cutters, wire stripper/bottle & can opener, the Leatherman bit interchangeable screw driver, scissors, mini screw driver (for eye glasses or small electronics), dedicated flat head screw driver, knife, 3-suface (wood, metal, diamond) file, saw (as good as any saw I've used) serrated knife with gut hook, & metric/imperial rulers. They all open fairly easily and have all proven very useful in my time with it. The gut-hook works well to cut cordage. There's also a permanent lanyard ring (though you have to take apart the handles to release it) but the quick-release lanyard ring that comes with it may prove more useful.
9. The nylon sheath has room on the sides for a penlight, pen, or other tube-like item. Over the years, I've carried a Mini-gel pen, arc light (AAA battery), mini sharpie permanent marker, and a tube lighter. There is a slot in the back to put in a set of the Leatherman bits. Two fit, but I find that carrying one pack of carefully selected bits works very well. I've yet to need the other bits, but YMMV.
Cons:
1. Not made in the U.S.A. Although I think they source parts from all over and assemble in various places (including the U.S.), I'd like to see at least their higher end models being manufactured and assembled locally.
2. I think, based on the name, that some of these tools should have been made in titanium. I don't see why a few couldn't have been. And the frame itself should have been all Titanium instead of using steel inserts. The TTi is a bit misleading here as only the exterior of the handles is Titanium as far as I can tell. They could certainly cut off a bit of weight by doing this, but Titanium is expensive, so there would be a tradeoff. Maybe someday they'll have a special edition version.
3. The file could have had a release mechanism so it could be used to sharpen the main knife in a pinch.
4. They used secure torx screws to put it together. And while I have YET to see anything come loose after near-daily use for 2 years, this was probably a mistake. Not that you would need to get into it often (see number 3 in cons and 8 in pros), but not everyone has secure driver bits handy like I do.
I couldn't be happier with my selection. It's an improvement over my LM New Wave in many ways, but most especially the much better knife. I still carry a dedicated knife, but this one is fantastic. The fact that it's part of a multi is significant. Most multis come with cheap steel knives and they aren't exactly bragging about it. If they had made more of it from Titanium, the cost would be more, but it would have shaved off some of the weight.
Without hesitation, I give this a 5. The cons are seriously nitpicking to find flaws. I have yet to need to return a tool to Leatherman, but from most postings I've read on many sites, they are prompt and courteous when it comes to replacing or repairing their hardware. I've even left feedback on design in the past. I understand the need to lower costs to compete, and that's why everything gets outsourced. Perhaps that decision could be rethought, at least for a more "professional" tool such as this. Even so, my hat is off to them. I absolutely never leave home without it unless I have to fly. I would recommend this over every multi-tool I've ever used and owned, from Gerber to SOG to Victorinox.
29 of 30 found the following review helpful:
 Excellent multi tool, but have to agree with lack of QC comment Jan 08, 2010
By M. Walkiewicz
"Mad Virologist"
I got my Charge TTi for Christmas. It is great, I find more and more uses for it wherever I go. However, it wasn't great when I got it. The main straight blade didn't lock when opened and the inside accessories on one side wouldn't budge by hand - had to PRY THEM OPEN with another screwdriver. I sent it to Leatherman for repair after calling them first and describing my problem. I also included a note with specific instructions that, whether the tool is repaired or replaced, I want it checked for being 100% operational before being shipped back to me. I received a replacement tool with all blades locking properly, but the inside accessories (this time on the other side) were still COMPLETELY JAMMED! The tool also had some cosmetic blemishes (scratches, the big flat head was chipped), so I guess my brand new item was replaced with a returned one... I decided not to send it back again, purchased a set of tamper proof bits (if anyone is interested, Charge TTi is put together using male Torx T-10 tamper proof bit), and loosened/adjusted the tool myself.
It is great now, and I am very happy with it. In the end I would give the tool a perfect 5 stars (if it was in 100% condition when delivered), but the company only 1 star. Hence, 3 star rating. If you're lucky, you'll get a great unit first time around. However, most likely you'll need to "finish it by yourself". Then again, if you're buying this, you're probably a DIY type, so that shouldn't be a problem!
Pros
- sturdy, good looking, good feeling, and overall excellent design (especially the scissors!)
- S30V steel blade is the "cream of the cream"
- all blades and accessories lock safely! (or at least are supposed to)
Cons
- common poor finish out-of-the-box, needs return/warranty attention/DIY to achieve 100% operational status
- the bits the tool comes with are pretty much useless (unless you work with hex a lot), need to purchase accessory bits to get some useful drivers
26 of 29 found the following review helpful:
 Leatherman Charge TTi Jul 10, 2007
By Taj
Good tool, problem Phillips bit, mediocre customer service. I chose to purchase this tool because it fit my needs better than other Leatherman models or the competition. By and large it is a good tool with enough options to keep me from climbing off of a ladder and running to the tool box/pouch so much. The first big problem I noticed with it is the stock combination #1 - #2 Phillips / slotted blade screwdriver tip. The combination Phillips end on mine would not grip a screw head without pushing the tool into the head so hard as to create a risk of slipping. I called Leatherman and told them that the design of the tip was no good and the woman at customer service told me "Well, sir, that's your opinion." Yes, that is my opinion after 36 years of using tools professionally. At any rate, I found out that I could order Phillips bits for the Charge that were dedicated sizes rather than combination so I thought I would give it a try. I ordered the set of replacement bits for $5., and to my surprise there was a redesigned combination bit in it that works just fine! Grrrrrr. I sent an e-mail to Leatherman grousing about this point and still haven't heard back.
While I was ordering replacement bits I also ordered the extension bit that will hold the flat Leatherman bits and standard hex bits. It's a real winner.
They still haven't addressed the "thumb pinch" issue if the pliers slip off of whatever you are gripping and your thumb is close to the pliers joint. Just don't choke up on the handles and you will be OK.
Bottom line: It's worth buying. If yours comes with a combination Phillips bit that has rounded milling on the business end rather than a nice sharp square cut you have a problem bit that they may have corrected by now. (My tool has a Dec. 06 manufacturing date inside of it.)
5 of 5 found the following review helpful:
The Best Multitool in the World - and why? May 18, 2009
By Anand SK
"Anand SK"
I am a post graduate mechanical/industrial engineer and a huge fan of precision engineered products. I do a lot of research, check out stuff personally, talk to peeple, then only make the buy decision. I owned a Leather Wave for the past 9 years. After checking out the Charge TTi, could'nt resist buying it. And Boy, am I happy!
The tool is an engineering masterpiece. Absolutely solid feel, precision movements/click stops, very sharp and strong tools. It could'nt get better. When compared to the Victorinox Swisstool Spirit plus, this is many times better. The swisstool does not have good strong knives like the leatherman. It looks mute and wimpy. But the leatherman tool's knives and hexbit drivers, etc. look, feel and work aggressively.
Don't miss out on the Hexbit extender. It is worth every penny. It not only accommodates the Leatherman proprietary flattened hexbits, it also accepts regular hexbits - this means, you have access to use the innumerable regular market hexbits, which is indispensable.
If you are looking for the Rolls Royce in multitools, this is it. Don't do anymore research. Buy the Leatherman Charge TTi, hexbit extender, and 40 bit kit. Happiness guaranteed!
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