Leatherman Crunch: The Unique Multi-Tool

When you think about multi-tools, Leatherman comes in mind. They have innovated the multi-tool with their standard pliers design. The Leatherman Crunch introduces a different take on the standard needle nose pliers design. With the Crunch, Leather offers locking pliers as the main tool. Locking pliers are also called vice-grips. Anyone that works around tools know that vice-grips are valuable. Having a pair of vice-grips is like having a third hand. Vice-grips allow you to free your grip for other tasks.

The Leatherman Crunch is small. Smaller than the Wave. The design is very cool. The Crunch pops out and it takes a few seconds to set up the main tool. The result is a small to mid-size vice grip that is very compact and portable when closed. In hand, it feels very well built and like all Leathermans, it has a 25 years warranty. The company stands by it's products and you can see it in the build quality of the Crunch.

The Crunch is equipped with 13 tools. I won't go through them all but the tools that will be used the most are the vice grips, serrated blade, and large flat-head screwdriver. The Crunch does not have as much tools as the Wave or any standard Leatherman but the main tool makes up for it. The Crunch is what I would consider an accessory multi-tool. Multi-tools will never replace the main counterparts but what you gain is portability and capability. Think of it as having a mini toolbox in your pocket. That is the point of multi-tools and the Crunch will definitely serve me well in the years to come.

Yes, the Crunch lacks tools. It is through the function of it's design which I am sure Leatherman will improve upon. Some tools are redundant. Do I really need 3 sizes of flat head screwdrivers? One thing I did like was that all the secondary tool lock firmly and securely. It makes prying with the screwdriver possible, if needed. One neat thing is the adjustment knob for the vice-grips can be unscrewed all the way and it has an expansion for a hex drive. Very nice if you want to expand your crunch. It would be nice if the Crunch came with this but it's not a show stopper.

The Crunch is not perfect but it is a great complimentary multi-tool. You have you portable toolbox if you couple this with another multi-tool. Something small, say a Leatherman Juice would go nicely with it. It is definitely not as complete as a Leatherman Charge or Wave but it's still a gem and I recommend it. The Crunch provides something different in the big market of multi-tools. For me, the locking pliers was enough to sway my purchase. At around $50, it's a bargain.