For a long time, Leatherman Tools made a few multi-tools and gained a great reputation from its customers. In the new millennium though, they have introduced a wide range of new tools, knives, and accessories. Some of the classics like the PST have been retired and replaced with newer versions. They also introduced a host of smaller ones like the Leatherman Style PS, which I am going to review now.
Leatherman Style PS Review
Format
The Style PS is one of Leatherman’s newer tools and certainly lives up to it’s name. It is similar to other newer tools in that is a bit more rounded and curved than traditional Leatherman’s. Plus, you can get this one in several different colors. It is surprisingly small too, less than 3” when folded, and weighs less than 2 ounces.
In many respects, the Style PS shares attributes with the more traditional Swiss Army Knife. It is light, easy to carry, and looks cool. The Style PS has the more modern, industrial/tactical look, but the rounded and curved parts of it remind me of pocket knives by Victorinox. This is a good move by Leatherman because it makes their multi-tools even easier to carry than before when most users (myself included) used a leather sheath. Very elegant design and useful format.
Tools
Where the Style PS comes up short though is with the tool selection. It has the following ones:
- Needlenose pliers
- Pliers
- Wire cutters
- Scissors
- Flat-head screwdriver/nail file
- Tweezers
- Carabiner/bottle opener
Of these, the first four use a spring action to operate them. This is one area where Leatherman does an outstanding job, much better than Gerber and lower end multi-tools. That said, the Style PS doesn’t give you a lot of tools to work with.
Projected Costs
MSRP on the Style PS is around $25, although you can sometimes get it for a few bucks less if you shop around.
Observations
There is no doubt the Style PS is a cool-looking tool that is easy to carry around. The catch is that it doesn’t actually do much. Part of this is because it is designed to be TSA-compliant, meaning you can take it through airport security in the USA. This means that you can have a multi-tool on your person when you travel, which is good. The catch is that if you need a blade or knife of any sort, this one doesn’t offer one.
When I got mine, I was thinking about replacing my Leatherman Micra as a part of my EDC. I tried to do it for a week, but within a few days, I began to miss my Micra so much I abandoned my experiment. Even in an office environment, having a small blade of some sort comes in handy more than you would think. Plus, the scissors on the Style PS are a bit too small for regular use by me. They will do in a pinch, but that is about it.
If you need pliers with a wire cutter though, the Style PS may be a good choice. The spring mechanism is smooth and even, making it easy to use. Every time I use it around the house, it has worked well and I feel confident handling it. However, I don’t use it that much because it doesn’t have a blade of any kind. For the most part, my Style PS sits in my office and mostly serves as a conversation piece, which as a Leatherman fan makes me a bit sad.
Pros
Outstanding quality and sleek design. The spring action on the pliers is smooth.
Cons
Limited tools based upon design constraints (TSA-compliance).
Bottom Line
I wanted to become a fan of this small tool just like I did with the Micra years ago. Sadly, the TSA-compliance cuts both ways since you can take it with you when you travel…but you won’t have many of the tools you will actually need. If you don’t need a multi-tool with a blade, this one may be worth buying. But for most of us, I would only recommend it if you like collecting cool-looking tools with limited functionality.
Overall Rating 6/10
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