For developers, sysadmins, and field engineers, a multitool isn't just a convenience—it's an essential piece of kit for quick fixes, hardware tinkering, and unexpected tasks. Yet, the market is flooded with cheap alternatives promising the world but delivering frustration. Senior ZDNET Contributing Editor Adrian Kingsley-Hughes, drawing on extensive personal use and testing, delivers a hard truth: when it comes to multitools, investing in proven engineering like Leatherman’s is non-negotiable for professionals who rely on their gear.

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Kingsley-Hughes dismisses budget multitools as a 'false economy,' citing consistent failures in quality, performance, and even safety during his testing. His core argument hinges on two pillars critical to any tech professional: warranty and repairability.

"My advice is always the same: check out what Leatherman or Gerber has to offer and ignore the rest... Two reasons: warranty and repairability." - Adrian Kingsley-Hughes, ZDNET

The Leatherman Free P4, his tool of choice, boasts a substantial 25-year warranty – a promise Kingsley-Hughes confirms is genuine based on multiple personal claims for broken blades and pliers resulting from hard use. This level of manufacturer commitment is rare in the disposable gadget world and speaks to the tool's engineered resilience.

However, warranty alone isn't enough for heavy users. The real differentiator is user-replaceable components, specifically the wire cutters. "The wire cutters on every multitool I've owned get absolutely hammered," Kingsley-Hughes notes, describing their use on wire, bolts, and even screws. Cheap tools render the entire unit useless when these high-wear parts fail. In contrast, Leatherman (and Gerber) offer easily swappable cutter inserts.

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"I replaced the cutters on my Leatherman in about five minutes for about $12," he reports. This modularity extends the tool's functional lifespan potentially for decades, directly addressing the tech industry's growing emphasis on repairability and reducing e-waste – principles developers understand deeply.

Kingsley-Hughes strongly counters the notion of keeping a cheap multitool 'just for emergencies': "the last thing you want to rely on in an emergency is a cheap tool!" For the tech professional whose work often involves physical interaction with hardware, servers, or field equipment, a reliable, repairable tool like the Leatherman Free P4 isn't just a purchase; it's an investment in dependable capability, mirroring the robustness and longevity they strive for in their own technical solutions. The message is clear: tools, like technology, should be built to last and built to fix.

Source: Stop buying cheap multitools - here's the one I recommend instead by Adrian Kingsley-Hughes, ZDNET (July 24, 2025). Images sourced from original article.