Customer Reviews
Best ever 
2008-01-23
Best multi-tool I ever had, and I had a lot.
Made partly from my most favorite material, titanium.
It's light and relatively small, with the thick leather pouch I'm expecting to still use this thing 30 years from now.
The only thing I would need the perfect tool to have as well is a corkscrew...
Perfect gift for any "guy" 
2007-05-25
The Charge Ti's greatest feature is the fact that EVERY tool actually LOCKS in place...no more busted knuckles when using the screw driver which doesn't lock(most other multi-tools do not lock).
The Titanium really does make a difference in weight.
I can suggest this item for any female who "doesn't know what to get her guy"...trust me...even if he's just slightly mechanical...he'll LOVE this!
Quality tool 2007-05-19
I think this is the best multi tool at the time I bought it. The Xti have a crimper that could be usefull, but it doesn't have the scissor which I use more.
Now there is TTI which would be the first choice if I had know about it.
If you had a few of the cheap multi tools, you'll value the quality of this.
For the love of a tool... 2006-12-07
I wont get into the merits of the tool itself - the above reviews did all that.
I love tools, good quality tools. There is someting exciting and cool about owning and holding a good quality tool, like a lie nelson plane (well at least holding - i cant afford them), or say a well machined protractor.
This is one of those tools. The inside is simply pretty to look at with the various locking mechanisms, the diamond, fine file is a pleasure to run your finger over.
is it worth $100? Well i am not sure, i.e. maybe there are other tools , cheaper tools that get the same job done, but I dunno, I am glad I bought it.
LEATHERMAN CHARGE TI 2006-08-13
Leatherman has always produced a quality product. I have owned a wave since it was introduced. Recently in Iraq my wave and I parted company. Searching the military supply stores I was surprised at the cost of the TI. But, upon searching Amazon I found exactly what I wanted at a much reduced cost. The tool is everthing as advertised. It works wonderfully and is tougher than the Wave. The nylon sheath is sturdy and has the horizontal carry configuration that works with body armor. I also like the addition of the carry clip as now the tool can be carried in a pocket if need be. The additional sockets are well thought out and yes I have already repaired my safety glasses with the small jeweler tool. The locking mechanism is strong and holds the tools in place. The knife is much better than the previous knife blades and easier to grasp and open. The scissors are much tougher and yes they do cut seat belts. Overall another big design score for Leatherman.
Absolutely Perfect 2006-03-03
ChargeTi Multi Tool With Titanium Handles & 154CM Steel Blades & Improved Pliers & Wire Cutters, Internal Locking Tools With 8 Flat 1/4" Driver Bits & Special Reversible Eyeglass Screwdriver, Inner Tools Includes Scissors, Screwdrivers Wire Strippers & Container Opener, Includes Nylon Sheath With Detachable Pocket Clip & Lanyard Attachment, Outside Tools Include Serrated Knife, Razor Edge Knife, File, Diamond Hone & Saw, All Outside Implements Have Liner Locks Ballistic Nylon Premium Sheath Included, Made In USA With Domestic & Foreign Parts.
great product ! 2006-02-23
I have had over 6-7 leathermen. This one is the ultimate. stronger and better griping than any other.many onboard tools.
The best multitool so far. 2005-09-17
After decades carrying victorinox swiss army knives, then SOG multitools, then finally the Gerber Urban Legend, I have finally ended up with the Leatherman Charge Ti - and it's the best yet. I've been carrying the Charge Ti for a month now, and I'm ready to weigh in:
Hots:
1) Single handed opening blades of excellent quality. I don't know if the "154CM steel" business is marketing hype or not, but the clip point blade is the sharpest most slickly ground blade I've ever seen on a multi-tool. It rivals a high-end pocket knife. The liner lock is easy, secure, and well implemented. The serrated blade on the other side is pretty awesome too.
2) Titanium side pieces are thinner and slicker than the the steel ones on the Wave. Others have derided this as a marketing gimmick, but the thinner profile is appreciated in my book. It helps keep this loaded tool nice and sleek. Compared to the Gerber Urban Legend, this is positively svelt.
3) Diamond file for you nails and aggresively cut file for everything else. Cross hatching goes all the way to the tip. This is the best file I've ever seen on a multi-tool.
4) Awesome saw. Ultrasharp double row dual pitched teeth are virtually the equal of the ones on a victorinox swiss army knife (or swiss tool) (they are a tad shorter) - but exceeds the victorinox's by having the teeth extend all the way to the tip.
5) Both big blades, the file and saw all all openable without opening the tool up (like with the Wave) and all lock with liner lock mechanisms.
6) The pliers are a work of art. Nicely shaped needle nose with aggresive internal teeth that truly mesh for excellent grip. Improved wire cutters are great - but still the weakest link since once they get blunt there's no fixing them.
7) Internal tools all lock with a slick push-button release mechanism. This is especially key for screwdrivers - so that you don't bear down and then have them pinch your fingers when they accidentally close.
8) True micro-sized glasses screwdriver comes in handy for a host of applications. Unlike other implimentations, this one is attached to a beefy piece of steel and locks like all the rest.
9) All tools accessible individually - with normal fingernails.
10) Interchangeable bits on the main screwdriver. While some have questioned the choice of included bits, the expansion kit isn't over expensive and the fact that extra bits are in stored in a plastic tray that is included - and has space provided in the sheath combines to make me say this is the best screwdriver bit arrangement I've yet seen.
11) Combo bottle/can opener. Nicely done - nice to be able to open cans in a pinch. This is omitted by some.
12) Like the Wave, the arrangement of blades opening directly from the outside means that when you open the tool to use the pliers the blade liners make a thick non-pinching handle for you to hold - far preferable to the old-style multi-tool handle where you had to squeeze the thin metal edge of the handle. This is comfortable handle - and it has good useable metric and english style rulers marked out on it to boot. The rulers measure out to 8".
Nots:
1) Scissors isn't as good as the one they used to have on the Wave. It's unusual to see the quality of a component go down in a Leatherman. I wonder what the story is. The scissors is still good (very sharp), but it's very tiny and bit wimpy. Good for small jobs but can't cut anything thick - like plastic clamshell cases or more than 5 sheets of paper at a time easily.
2) As good as the pliers are I miss two features from the Gerber Urban legend: i) interchangeable wire cutter blades. ii) spring loaded jaw opening. I understand that the spring opening plier jaws of the Gerber meant that the pliers didn't open as wide - which compromised them - but it make their use for fine work really nice.
3) Flat screwdriver tool. Instead of the second bit driver of the Xti, the Ti has the scissors and a permanent flat screwdriver tool - a bigger chunkier flat screwdriver than the one on the bit. This is nice - but since there's already a flat screwdriver on the bit tool, there was an opportunity to put another kind of tool here - like an awl. This is a bit of a quibble. I prefer to have a scissors, so I give the nod to the Charge Ti over the Xti.
How would I compare it to the Gerber Urban Legend (big one)? The Charge is a far more refined beast - better engineered and layed out. The Urban Legend is comparitively big and ungainly, with dumb rubber side pieces that fall out after a while and silly tool arrangement that prevents you from opening some tools without opening others to get access. The Urban Legend also has only one blade, which they've opted to make 1/2 serrated and 1/2 (the tip half) straight; clearly a weakness. In practice I didn't mind this blade much, though. The Legend lacks rulers - has a silly arrangement for interchangeable bits (and no case to hold the bits and the knife together). No option for leather case. Inferior file. All that aside, the Urban Legend's spring loaded pliers were really memorable - the best I've yet used, and I miss them. Overall, though, the Leatherman smokes the Legend. I can't comment on how the Charge compares to the new Wave, but compared to all the multi-tools which have gone before, the Charge Ti improves virtually every area in virtually every way. This is a hot multi-tool - highly recommended.
Definitely a keeper-hard to outdo the Wave-but they did. 2005-07-23
I've had my Wave almost 5 years-it never leaves my side. I bought a Charge so I wouldn't be without while I sent the Wave in for refurb(yes, I wore it out-didn't break,just got loose after years of use). Many of the improvements over the Wave are just what I was looking for, although a detachable diamond file would be nice for emergency blade sharpening in the field. It also would be nice to get the xTi model with the scissors included. By the way, B. Wong, you don't seem understand the design purpose of the Leatherman tools. The Swiss PE323 is a multi-function pocketknife designed primarily for camping and small tasks, not a true multi-tool for heavy everyday use. Over the last 5 years I have used my Wave dozens of times a day for everything, including computer and electronics repair on the job, running fence on my farm, hunting, fire starting and cooking in the field, canoe repair on the river, vehicle and bicycle repair on the road, horse tack repair on the trail, etc. etc. It is almost part of me now, and your PE323 could never match it in utility. I will carry on with my new Charge and do the same tasks with greater ease in the future, while my retired Wave remains as standby. Come to think of it, your review shows that you must buy your tools based on how "gadgety" they are- you obviously don't have the field experience with multitools that the rest of us "biased" reviewers have. Real tools like this are worth the money to people who need them and know how to use them.
Honest Review 
2005-07-02
This tool has some major flaws. Other reviewers are totally biased without research. I borrowed the ChargeTi from a friend and compared it with a $20 sharperimage swiss army PE323 here for a few weeks.
1 - Pliers do not close all the way. Try squeezing something to paper thickness with the pliers, you can't.
2 - The screw driver stem is far too short. Compare it to the PE323 swiss screwdrivers, their stem is long and fit in tiny areas. How do you screw something when you have to fit the whole handle in the tiny area?
3 - The screw driver stem of a PE323 can lock at 180, 90 degrees. Charge Ti screw stem can't do this.
4 - The tiny PE323 has bigger scissors. Charge Ti has 2 legs. Why there is a foldout scissor from the handle is beyond me. Scissor blade should be where the plier head is.
5 - Lack of screw bits. Without, the bit kit for an extra $20 you are missing some of the key torx bits. All it comes with is torx 15, hello? The PE323 comes with all the necessary torx found in servers, specifically common among compaq.
6 - The bit pieces are uneven. 8 hex and 1 torx?!
7 - The PE323 has a mirror and a compass. Leatherman charge do not have either. Future leatherman should have at least a fold out mirror.
8 - The hardness of titanium vs stainless steel is really exaggerated in every other review. There is very little tasks that require titanium over steel. Leatherman upgraded the material, which is actually a LAZY upgrade over an area not even needing improvement.
9 - There is ZERO reason to have 2 models, XTi and Ti. The tool can easily fit both a scissor and hook.
10 - The nylon or leather sheath is a joke for a $100 tool.
11 - At $100, leatherman charge does not perform 4x better than the PE323. This price is robbery. People who don't buy tools on a regular basis are not making accurate comparisons. It should be priced around $50.
