Leatherman has announced several new multi-tools at the 2014 SHOT Show – the Leap, a multi-tool for younger users, and a refreshed line of Juice multi-tools.
Leatherman Leap Multi-Tool (for Kids)
The Leap is the first Leatherman multi-tool that was designed for younger users. What is perhaps most unique about the Leap is how it can be used without a knife blade. Leatherman’s product announcement says that when the user is ready, the 420HC knife blade can be permanently added to the multi-tool.
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Jason Carpenter, product manager for the Leap, is quoted in press materials as saying:
A regular Leatherman is meant for adult hands, and isn’t comfortable or safe for smaller users. Our goal was to craft a multi-tool made explicitly with kids in mind.
Leatherman Leap Features
- Combination needlenose and regular pliers
- Wire cutters
- Wood saw
- Ruler
- Tweezers
- Soda bottle opener
- Optional 420HC knife blade
- Phillips screwdriver
- Small and medium slotted screwdrivers
- Safety locks that prevent users’ fingers from being in path of the tools
- Two-hand-opening knife blade for safer blade deployment
- Glass-filled nylon handle scales
- Ergonomic grip designed to train users to open blade away from themselves
It seems that the Leap isn’t just a shrunken-down multi-tool. It was designed for kids’ smaller hands and promotes safer operation.
What I especially find appealing is how the sheepsfoot knife blade can be added to the tool later on, depending on user’s maturity and responsibility level. That’s not to say that younger kids should be unsupervised with the Leap, as it still has pliers, scissors, and a saw.
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One more thing I find appealing is how all tools are accessible from the outside, with the tool closed.
I asked Leatherman’s contact for clarification about the knife blade, and whether it can be installed and removed by parents, and they informed me that once the knife blade is installed, it is attached for good.
The reason we didn’t want the ability to remove the blade once it’s installed is that, knowing the way things go, kids might try to disassemble the tool themselves, which wouldn’t be safe. Once the supervisor feels the child is ready, the knife blade is permanently inserted to the tool to avoid that. Installation is pretty easy and safe since it has a guard, but taking it out again would be pretty tough.
ETA: Summer 2014
Color options: red, green, blue
MSRP: $54
Leap First Impression
The Leatherman Leap seems like a good idea. It’s a smaller multi-tool designed for kids’ smaller hands, and it also boasts a bunch of safety features. The price point seems a little high, but I doubt anyone would want to trade compromises for a lower price. This looks to be a serious tool designed for younger users.
Leatherman Juice Multi-Tool Refresh
At the 2014 SHOT Show Leatherman has also announced a refreshed line of Juice multi-tools. The Juice tools are Leatherman’s compact and pocketable multi-tools.
The features and functionality of all current Juice models, C2, S2, CS4, and XE6, will be unchanged. In other words, the differences will be in the color scheme and handle scales.
The new handles are slightly textured and their colors are said to be more naturally toned. Leatherman is hoping that the new colors satisfy consumers’ need to escape from the barrage of technology, and that the new texture further drives home the natural look with a more natural feel.
ETA: Spring 2014
http://youtu.be/WXK1-Sw9Prs
New Juice First Impression
I am actually quite fond of the Juice multi-tools, and own an orange S2. It’s what I tend to carry when in urban areas, as it’s more pocketable than my other multi-tools. Plus it has a passive slip joint knife lock and two-handed knife deployment, which draws less stares in public and around people unaccustomed to knives outside of kitchen and dining areas.
I like the idea of new handle colors, although I would have to feel the wavy texture before I could decide on that.
With my S2, the color options were orange, which I do like, and a boring somewhat sterile gray. The new color options look pretty good to me, and they do seem to give the tools a somewhat earthy look. The styling is vibrant without being very ornamental or ostentatious.
skfarmer
my kids are old enough for real tools but i bet the leap would have been on the list when they were younger. maybe they should add some more “delicate” colors for the ladies. i could see where a smaller tool may appeal to them also.
one of my oldest friends is a juice user. i am sure he will be impressed with the new upgrades. he is an industrial salesman and likes the smaller size and rounded corners. it fits better in the “dockers” and not so industrial looking when he has to lay it on the desk or meeting table. the behemoth multitool just doesn’t look right strapped on your dress belt or with a tie.
Noah
I swear the blade on the Juice looks different than the one on my S2 and CS4
Stuart
Hmm, looks like you’re right.
There are 2 possibilities:
1) They tweaked the blade shape of the Juice knife blade.
2) This was a prototype knife blade.
Leatherman sometimes does tweak tool designs every now and then, so it is possible the new Juices will have new knife blade shapes. It won’t be until final production models are available that we’ll know for sure.
Greg Post
This is neat. I have a much younger sibling that says she wants a multi-tool every time she sees one of mines. The problem is most schools have a zero tolerance policy towards knives. A multi-tool geared towards youth with an optional knife is a great idea.
For me I hope the Juice Xe6 is available in blue. I don’t like purple and grey is boring and not easiest color to see if you drop it somewhere you really needed it.
chrisc
not that I don’t like the current micra, (I love those scissors!!!) but I was kind of hoping for an update.
Stuart
I think that the Style CS is sort of an “updated” Micra.
Yadda
The scissors on the Style CS are great. They compare favorable with the same size scissors on almost any multitool (IMHO). The SOG Crosscut also has great scissors.
jesse
Not much new here compared with recent years. Rather disappointing.
Robert
Jesse,
I like seeing new things too, but what can they do that they haven’t done? Some of their classics like the S2 for example, are frankly hard to improve on. Aside from insignificant and costly tweaking, there apparently isn’t much reason to do so. What they continue to offer is a reflection of the current success with those offerings. In other words, the market is apparently not providing an incentive to make drastic changes to successful designs. They are obviously continuing to sell a lot of them. The major focus for them at the moment appears to be specialized pocket tools.
If there’s anything new worth offering, you can bet that Leatherman will be one of the first to produce it.
Jeff
It’s a good thing it has a bottle opener on it. I guess it’s intended to be taken with them to college.
Stuart
I believe the Leap tools are aimed at kids 8-12, or maybe even 8-14.
Adam
It’s a “Soda bottle opener.” Because soda comes in glass bottles with pry-off tops in 2014.
I’ll chalk it up to Leatherman’s tendency to cram things in to increase the tool count in their marketing documents, nothing more.
Stuart
There are plenty of glass-bottled sodas out there today. Some, like Goya’s fruit-flavored sodas, have twisty tops that are sometimes a lot easier to pry open.
Daniel
My dreamtool would be a Juice CS4 without all the screwdrivers.
On a backpack trip you don’t need them, and as a EDC its to big anyway, so there I carry a Squirt PS4.
Phil
I need (dream of a) Leatherman to make a RAPTOR – type tool geared not for the medical field, but the Electrician/telephone field. A believe that you could keep most of the RAPTOR but we need electrician’s serrated scissors, needlenose pliers that can also crimp Scotchloks, spudger & hook, strip wire, crimp solderless connectors, 110 & 66 punch-down blades, can wrench #1 & 2 Phillips drivers, 3/16″ & 1/4″ drivers, and a sheath.
Just like the ‘Field of Dreams’ build it and they will come (SELL!). I’m in line for the first two that come off the line. I’ll bet these will become very popular if you just make them! The drivers & can wrenches can even be separate, as long as they are close to the other kit.
Edo
Yes. The Raptor. 100% Superb Idea.
Just Chris
Those interested in the RAPTOR for electricians…have you looked into any of the Paladin Tools PowerPlay stuff? Seems to be more of what your after for comms stuff. It’s not leatherman, but not poor quality.
Pete
re the Juice update:
The knife is also shorter, and more sheepsfoot. Also the drivers have their nail nicks lined up, so you can clump them all out, then push the ones you don’t want back. The flat drivers were real nail busters on the old Juices, so that’s a good change. Don’t know what the impetus for the shorter knives was. I always though a pocket clip would go well on a juice, seeing as they class them ‘pocket size’.
Adam
I like the Leap. The original Pocket Survival Tool was patented as a “Boy scout knife with pliers,” and the Leap has boy scout written all over it.
I don’t really like the “update” to the Juice line. What they’re doing is fiddling. The bright colors of the Juice line, particularly the blaze orange S2 and the please-bring-it-out-of-retirement solar yellow KF4 were easy to spot if you dropped them in the woods. Not no more.
It also seems they’re retiring the Style. It competed with Victorinox’s most popular little knife and was made in America, so I’m a little disappointed there.
I guess I’ll have to buy an S2 on the quickfast while orange ones are still in stores.