Leatherman is the name the associates itself with multi-tools. Leatherman have innovated tools that are high quality. The Crunch is no exception. The Leatherman Crunch deviates from standard Leatherman designs in which the main tool is not a needle nose pliers. The Crunch is equipped with locking pliers instead. Locking pliers are also known as vice-grips. Leatherman knows the value of vice-grips and offers their version to us with the Crunch. Vice-grips are great. The free up your hand for other tasks.

The Crunch is compact. More so than the Leatherman Wave. The design is well thought out. The Crunch comes apart and it takes a few seconds to put together. The result is a very portable mid-size functional vice-grip. The Crunch feels well built like all Leathermans. It is high quality. The Crunch comes with Leatherman’s 25 year warranty. The Crunch looks like it is built to last.

The Crunch is equipped with 13 tools. I won’t go through them all but the tools that will be used the most are the vice grips, serrated blade, and large flat-head screwdriver. The Crunch does not have as much tools as the Wave or any standard Leatherman but the main tool makes up for it. The Crunch is what I would consider an accessory multi-tool. Multi-tools will never replace the main counterparts but what you gain is portability and capability. Think of it as having a mini toolbox in your pocket. That is the point of multi-tools and the Crunch will definitely serve me well in the years to come.

The downside to the Crunch is the lack of complimentary tools. Through the function of it’s design, all of the other tools are smaller and limited. Also, what I did not like was the fact that it had 3 size flat head screwdrivers. The big flat head will be the most used. One thing that impressed me was the lock. All of the secondary tools lock firm and solid. You could use the screwdrivers to pry if you are in a grind. The adjusted knob for the vice grip can be removed allowing access to a hex drive. This makes it possible to expand the Crunch into a more versatile tool if coupled with a bit driver. You have to buy it separate. Do I see myself expanding this tool? No. Is it nice to have the option? Yes.

The Crunch is a great complimentary multi-tool. Having something is better than nothing and the Crunch can meet many needs from day to day. The crunch is perfect when coupled with the Victorinox Soldier. While not as complete as a Wave or a Charge, the Crunch can still hold it’s own in the sea of multi-tools. You can find the Crunch on sale for about $50.

The Leatherman Crunch coupled with the Spyderco Caly 3 makes for an excellent every day carry.