SOG S60-N Powerlock Multi-Tool - Review
SOG S60-N Powerlock Multi-Tool
I’ve always been a Leatherman guy, to tell the truth. So when I took a look at the latest offering from SOG, I had to make a conscious effort to clear my mind of any bias. With that said, I was more than impressed with the feel and usability of the tool.
Let’s start with the weight – it’s definitely not a lightweight tool, weighing in at just under 10 ounces. My old Leatherman weighs just over 5, for comparison. I don’t mind the weight, personally, and actually it seems to give a sense of quality. Perception is reality, after all.
Opening the tool is smooth and even. A good flick of the wrist opens it about ¾ of the way, so it’s do-able with one hand.
The grip is comfortable, thanks to the tool covers on each side of the handle. Older multi-tools that I’ve owned didn’t have these covers and the handles had a tendency to bite into my hands when I applied heavy pressure to the pliers. Yes, gloves would have cured that, but I’m not a glove-wearer – not even in cold weather. I like to be able to feel whatever I’m working on. One drawback to the covers, though, is that they tend to come off when pulled up too far. They’re easy to snap back into place, but it’s a bit of a surprise when they come off initially. Not a biggie, but something to note.
The tools themselves are terrific. The advanced torque gears built into the handle allow you to exert roughly twice the pressure as a tool without the gears. I like this feature a lot! I’m also a fan of the tool lock. Both handles have a spring-loaded lock that prevents the tools from folding back while you’re using them. Nice safety feature that actually works!
The knife has stayed sharp for the short while I’ve used it…more to come on that later in time.
The scissors perform well enough. I’ve had some difficulty getting them to lock into place, but once they’re locked, they cut smoothly and evenly; great for those situations when you don’t have a full-sized pair handy.
I think my favorite tool of the bunch is the wood saw. I was understandably skeptical when I saw it. Then I tried it…wow! It really works…and fast! Again, it’s a great feature to have available in a pinch.
Even the socket-driver works well. You won’t be torquing down head-bolts on a 350 Chevy, but you can certainly loosen or tighten an errant bolt for the short-term.
Overall, I’d give this tool an A in performance and value for the money. The only thing keeping it from achieving A+ status are those tool covers. I can just see one of them coming off and getting bent at the worst possible moment, then not fitting back into place. True, it hasn’t happened, but you know Murphy as well as I do.
I’d add this tool to my belt any time. It comes complete with instructions and a nice fabric belt-case.
$65 on Amazon: CLICK HERE