Leatherman 830849 Skeletool CX Stainless Steel Multi-Tool

Throughout history, there have been various approaches to design – and two of these might be dubbed the intricate and the minimalist. Minimalism has appeared in many different places throughout time and culture, and has sought to capture the essence of the thing while making it as spare, direct, and streamlined as possible. Often minimalism and intricate design have existed side by side as part of the same culture and even the same genre. For example, medieval Europe saw the creation of both smooth, efficient, highly-articulated plate armor which gave the wearer almost total protection while scarcely lessening their ability to run, jump, climb, and fight, and baroquely-detailed parade armor with grotesque helmets and deep etching that would catch a weapon point and be likely to result in the wearer’s fall if it were actually used in combat.

Minimalism in the contemporary multitool market is exemplified by the Leatherman Skeletool line --  a group of multitools which reduce weight to a minimum through both a perforated design and the removal of many onboard tools that other multitools are certain to include. You will find no saws, corkscrews, diamond-grit files, or similar items on a Skeletool – these are eschewed in favor of a few basic, but very frequently-used, functions.

As such, some users will be enthusiastic about the Skeletool because it dispenses with weight-building items that they never use. A bicyclist, for example, will have plenty of use for a set of pliers and an interchangeable bit set, but will not find as many uses for a wood saw or a pair of tweezers. On the other hand, there are many potential users who would prefer – or are even unable to do without – the items that the Skeletool line spurns, and who therefore need an entirely different multitool.

The Leatherman 830849 Skeletool CX Stainless Steel Multitool, which weighs 5 ounces and measures 4” when closed, is one of the flagship items in this line. Like all Skeletools, it dispenses with all tools except for a pliers head with a wire cutter built in, a bit holder than can accommodate any Leatherman bit to allow you to handle any sort of screw you might encounter, and a knife blade. It is in the knife blade that this specific model differs from the other Skeletools.

The Leatherman 830849’s knife is a smooth-edged blade, unlike the previous hybrid smooth and serrated knife blade found on earlier CX Skeletools. This is because the high-quality stainless steel used in the CX line is incompatible with a proper hybrid knife – the change to a smooth blade was in response to feedback from knife enthusiasts. The blade is highly effective, however, and for those who do not need serrations on their knife, this Skeletool is a good choice for minimalist design.