The Leatherman Signal multi-tool is designed for the outdoors, camping, and survivalists.
Read More: Leatherman Signal Multi-Tool Preview
The Signal has been a well-regarded outdoors-oriented multi-tool, and it has a couple of features not found on the brand’s other multi-tools, such as a hammer, whistle, ferrocerium fire-starting rod, and 3/16″ and 1/4″ box wrenches.
Advertisement
Now, it’s available in new bright and bold colors.
Leatherman says: Brighten Your Adventure.
Here’s what the original leatherman Signal looks like.
The black, stainless, and yellow color scheme worked well, in my opinion.
Advertisement
Of the new colors, I think that the blue/red and grey/yellow colors look good. The “aqua” color scheme is my least favorite.
Leatherman also has two other colors, and all-black tool, and coyote tan with black-finish tools.
List Price: $120
Street Price: ~$99
Buy Now(via Amazon)
Buy Now(via Leatherman)
Discussion
I have a Signal test sample that I’ve used quite a bit, but not enough yet for a full review. I have a favorable opinion of it, but there is no mistaking its intended audience and use. It’s an outdoors tool, for campers, enthusiasts, overnight hikers, and other such users. If you were to be stuck on a desert island, this is probably one of the better multi-tool choices.
It’s not for everyone.
If I were buying one today, it would be for the blue and red model. Or maybe grey and yellow?
The new colors look bright and bold, and Leatherman might not have made the best photo-staging choice placing the aqua blue tool on a similarly colored background.
The aqua Signal multi-tool actually looks better in their “lifestyle” imagery. Still, this particular color scheme is a little too bright for me.
Leatherman has been gradually adding more color options to some of their other multi-tools, and so far I think it’s a good direction.
While I am tempted to say that the new colors might help the tool stand out better should you drop it on the forest floor, it’s probably just for aesthetics – and that’s okay.
Releasing new Signal multi-tool colors ahead of Father’s Day is also a great idea, and I should add that I believe them to be permanent additions to the Signal line-up, rather than limited editions.
Greg
I like the look of that aqua one (sorry, stuart). I’m not a big signal guy though.
I’m curious how durable these colors are, how quickly are they going to scratch up into something that’s even more assaulting on the eyes?
Stuart
To each their own. Honestly, I think it’s more the black finish that I don’t like about that scheme, as I generally love lighter blue colors.
I have limited experience with Leatherman’s colored finishes, but they seem to be very durable from what I have seen. That said, it is a surface coating. Given the size of the tool, sheath-carry is more likely than pocket-carry, which should help prevent undue carrying wear.
Wayne R.
Maybe it’s not color schemes but color coding: Bumblebee for radiator hose repair, turquoise for strawberries?
How much wear & tear does a picnic basket inflict?
Hilton
They’re probably trying to attract Millennials with the aqua colour but I like the grey/yellow combo.
Stuart
Everyone is targetting millenials these days.
Evadman
They better be, there’s something like 72 million millennials depending on how you count, and millennial age range is center in the prime retail marketing age ranges of 18 to 34. Gen Z is starting to move into that range now.
Baby Boomer Generation (born 1946-1964): 73M
Generation X (born 1965-1980): 66M
Millennial Generation (born 1981-1996): 72M Age 23 to 38
Generation Z (born 1997 and later): 86M
Gordon
Millennials are a lot older than most people think. The youngest, depending on how it’s split, are in their early 20’s. Most people seem to have this preconceived idea that Millennials are just kids. In the next few years Gen X will start retiring, and the last Millennials will graduate from college, making them the potentially largest voting, working, and spending group.
Anyone that thinks businesses appealing to Millennials is a bad thing isn’t paying attention. Businesses that don’t appeal to us are dying off. Just look at all the businesses Millennials have already “killed”.
James R.
Why do you think aqua is targeted at people in their 30’s?
Promit
Hey, have you seen our hair? It’s really just common sense at this point.
James C
34 year old Millennial here. I don’t think they’re targeting me with that. It must be Generation Z. You know what’s wrong with that generation? They are too… hold on, I see some of them outside on my lawn! Hold that thought while I yell at them!
Corey Moore
Thank you both lol 31 year old millennial, here. Complete with 2 military contracts, and two children. Millennial has been appropriated to reference any dissatisfactory youth, and its annoying.
Michael Veach
67 years and I kinda like it but would prefer silver to black
Mike
The millennial wouldn’t know how to use this tool
Big Adam
This is a ‘must buy’ for me.
Otherwise, how else am I going to slice strawberries?
Wayne R.
Man up & eat ’em as God made ’em.
Steve
I wish they’d sell a black on black on black one (frame – blades – implements)
Stuart
They do, on Leatherman’s page. Carabiner clip is silver, whistle and ferro rod holder are orange, and everything else is black.
Razor
Just contact any certified Cerakote applicator close to you and have them coat it whatever you want. Cerakote is what they are using on these from the factory.
Wayne R.
Gonna need EDC Bandoliers for all the stuff. Pants are too droopy as it is…
Gordon Brown
?
Mike
I know it’s like starting a Ford vs Chevy conversation…..but…..The main reason I ever carry a multi-tool is for the pliers and I still think the Gerber MP600 beats every leatherman in that category. Sure maybe if the main reason you carry it is for a knife these may be better, but which one of us here isn’t already carrying a better knife then the ones they put on these tools? I’ve never actually held the Gerber version with the always accessible knife.
Of course, you make something FDE or Coyote Tan and I’m buying it. So I might pick one up. Needed a new one for the truck anyways.
Tomcat_AL200
If you are in it for the pliers, I think you might want to look at SOG PowerLocks, they are absolute beasts in their full size config and the PocketPliers aren’t bad to EDC. Made in the USA too.
Jared
That’s the pair I carry. The plier heads are excellent. All the teeth mesh, the tip comes to a fine point, cutters are sharp, there’s a crimper on the reverse side and the compound leverage works. The rest of the tool is a little long in the tooth (though still fair, especially at the price point), but I can’t knock the pliers.
Vicki Kubiak
Baby Boomer here…I love the aqua! ~MotherDaughterProjects.com
Tim D.
I guess I didn’t realize the Signal was popular enough of a model to bother with offering new colors.
Leatherman coming out with new colors and customizations is welcome in my mind.
Maybe we can convince them to start selling non-combo blades as a customization, or a slightly higher blade quality.
Yadda
I do like Leatherman tools, even the bad ones. Their paint jobs are hit or miss. On the Squirt and Micra, paint tends to wear off with use. The Ceramicote on some of their other tools has been somewhat better.
The What?
Gen Xer here. I never thought that a Leatherman would be a fashion accessory. Why else would they make an aquamarine or coyote tan colored Leatherman? I think these are targeted for people who need one to match their outfit or their Tupperware according to the picture. Leatherman fans could rock a different one every day with a spiffy new color coordinated outfit and matching shoes and purse (what millennials refer to as a manbag). And don’t forget the color matching sheath to go with it.
Tim D.
I know right? I’m not sure why they ever started making automobiles in colors other than black either.
RobbyG
To be fair I like the Aqua one. I always buy the brightest possible EDC carry items I can. I inherited the tendency to set things down in weird spots. Bright orange/chartreuse is great but fairly hideous. At least the Aqua is a little more subtle while remaining bright enough to pick up on a bumper/bench/ground.
The Baker
Bright red or orange would be best for these boomers older eyes.
I too when working in darker areas set things down and have a hard time finding them . Practicality wins out over aesthetics .
JoeM
I was going to buy one of the original Signals for my friend’s daughter, when she joined Scouting a couple years ago. Here in Canada, they had trouble writing the regulations to render Scouts Canada to be Co-Ed back between 1996 and 1999. There was a first edition of the regulations in place, but it got mixed up Provincially. So, they sent out a call for everyone of a certain, rare, rank in Scouting to help re-write it. Turns out, I happened to hold that rank, Arbiter. The equivalent of a Lawyer. I looked at the regulations, wrote up a new version with wording from the Charter, plus a neutralization of gender requirements, and a closer connection to our Sisters over in Guides.
Turns out the version I wrote for my District was forwarded on to National for consideration, and that’s the one they adopted. So, when my regulation work as an Arbiter finally came back and PERSONALLY affected my life, I wanted to commemorate with a Leatherman Signal for her.
One problem: They didn’t offer the Black Oxide edition in Canada. And by the time I could find a way to buy one… She left Scouting all together… So I never bought it. Shame, too. From a Scouting perspective, it’s THE perfect Leatherman. Like it was designed by Lord Baden Powell himself. All it’s missing is Powell’s Fleur-De-Lis logo from the global organization, and it might as well be THE Scouting and Guiding tool to have.
Tom
My son is military and works on aircraft. His biggest complaint about multitools is the tactical or dull colored (black, gray, camo, etc.) tools are easily lost when placed on a similar colored surface or in dark conditions. He wants a bright colored tool that easily draws the eye. It would be great if Leatherman would consider an orange, yellow, or fluorescent type ( or combo of same) color scheme for multitool handles. Also for myself, my age is probably the same to The Baker’s so I get the vision concerns he expressed regarding finding tools in low light / dark background conditions.