I originally bought the Leatherman Skeletool CX Black to bring on winter hikes so I’d be able to repair gear in the field, but it soon found its way into the front pockets of the trekking trousers I usually wear. The biggest selling point of the Skeletool CX for me was the weight, which at 142 grams is one of the lightest multitools with large pliers and bits. For summer hikes when I don’t need those tools, I usually bring either a Victorinox Classic SD (21 grams) or a Leatherman Micra (49 grams).
The full list of tools in the Skeletool CX is:
- Needlenose pliers
- Regular pliers
- Wire cutters
- Hard-wire cutters
- CPM-154 stainless steel knife
- Carabiner/bottle opener
- Bit driver (Phillips #1 & #2, screwdriver 1/4″ & 3/16″)
Of these, my most used tools are the pliers and the bit driver, which come in handy on an almost weekly basis. In the year and half I’ve owned it, it’s barely aged a day.
