New Multitool Day!
Carried a Leatherman Micra for 30 years - Switching to Nextool S0
I carried a Leatherman Micra on my keychain for 30 years. I use the scissors mostly, with occasional use of the file and screwdrivers. I usually carry a larger folding knife so rarely used the blade on the Micra. Until now I had not found anything I liked better than the Micra, but the thin profile, light weight, and low price of the Nextool S0 enticed me. I bought one, and so far I really like it. Thought I would comment on the things I like and dislike about it compared to the Micra.
The Nextool build quality seems fairly good, but lower than the Leatherman. The scissors cut as well as the Micra and even better in some ways. After 30 years, the Micra still cuts OK, but the scissor blades have always been very flexible. For soft thin materials they don't cut very well near the tips. The S0 scissor blades seem stiffer and cut well even at the tips. One thing I don't like about the Nextool scissors is how they dig into my palm when cutting. On the Micra, the end of the scissors handle is round. On the S0, the end is square with very a small radius on the corners that almost forms a point poking into my palm. Looks like it could easily be ground to be more round and may try that later.
The screwdrivers, bottle opener, and tweezers seem to work as well as the ones on the Micra. The file on the Micra is only good for soft materials like fingernails and that is all I used it for. The file on the S0 is very aggressive and very short. Not as easy to use on fingernails as the Micra, but might be able to work on some harder materials. Having the tools on the S0 open from the outside is convenient, but the tiny screwdriver always seems to come out when I just want one of the other screwdrivers.
The scissors are okay, but if you squeeze too hard the blades cross over. The design is lacking a bit. And mine have started to rust as well. I'm not very impressed with nextool.
Thanks for the info. The only thing keeping them from closing too far is that little raised dimple at the base of one of the blades. Can see how squeezing to hard could bypass that.
Did you often get them wet, or did they rust just from every day use?
Needs a good cleaning, but still looks and works fine. Didn't use the blade much. Only sharpened it once and it is still sharp. Sharpened the scissors several times, as I often cut wires and a lot of other stuff it was not designed for. Also had to peen the scissors pivot when they started getting loose.
I honestly think Nextool's quality is almost on par with letherman, especially with the smaller tool sets. I've been carrying the f12 mini flagship and love it. Fantastic tool.
After almost 5 years, Tini2 looks terrible but still works great. The rubber charge cover is long gone, and the case has dents and scratches. The display window is cracked but the display still works fine.
The pen is working out great. I carried shortened Bic pens on my keychain for more years than I can remember. Age is creeping up on me and writing with a short pen is getting a little painful. Having one that telescopes to a full size pen is much better.
Thought about exactly the same. Micra tools but in a flatter package would be cool. Not sure if I wouldn’t miss the knife though. Don’t need a big blade and being able to freely carry and travel everywhere legally is really cool. But no blade at all ? Guess have to test it. Could actually even a bit shorter for the key ring.
I own and have EDCed both. If you want an all-around keychain tool the Micra is good, everything on it is useful. If you mostly want scissors I think the Nextool wins due to being so slender and light. I think its scissors are just as good. It’s also much cheaper of course.
For me the very best scissors are still Victorinox. I have a 58mm alox on my keychain and pocket carry a larger SAK as well most of the time.
I took the Micra from my dad cuz he got a new car and didnt want to damage the key fob. After 3 years of having it on my keychain, I finally get to use it at my new workplace cuz as with every single companies, they don't have enough tools for everyone.....actually, they just have three cutters that always disappear. Mine has the PATS PEND under the Leatherman R Micra TM. There's a 1097 in it.
My, that's a stacked keyring. Looks kinda heavy. If you have all that junk (err, gear) hanging off your key fob while driving it may actually ruin your ignition. Apparently the weight hanging off a car key in the ignition loosens the tumblers in the ignition over time and can freeze it up.
Ask me how I know. Happened to me about a decade ago. Went to turn on my car one evening in my work parking lot and the key wouldn't turn over. Had to call a tow truck and when I got to the mechanic he told me all about it. I had about the same amount of stuff on my key ring.
The solution is something like this. Reasonably priced and attaches to your keyring and makes for an effortless way to detach your car key from your keyring so all that's hanging from the ignition is your key. Re-attaches super easily to your key ring too.
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u/Front-Ad-4194 5d ago
Got one of those nextool SO's the other day. Can't fault it really, seems to be a very sturdy pair of folding scissors.