We came across exclusive Leatherman multi-tool options at Costco, and not only that they’re $20 cheaper.
The Leatherman Sidekick multi-tool, a value-oriented model for both beginners and less demanding users, is now available at Costco stores in standard and exclusive colors, AND it’s also discounted by $20.
Here are the Sidekick’s tools and features:
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- Spring-action Needlenose Pliers
- Spring-action Regular Pliers
- Spring-action Wire Cutters
- Wire Stripper
- 420HC Knife
- 420HC Serrated Knife
- Saw
- Ruler (1.5 in | 3.8 cm)
- Can Opener
- Bottle Opener
- Wood/Metal File
- Phillips Screwdriver
- Medium Screwdriver
- Small Screwdriver
At the time of this posting, the Leatherman Sidekick is $69.95 at Leatherman’s store and on Amazon, and they say a sheath is sold separately.
Costco stores have the Sidekick in stainless finish, blue, and green color options for $49.99, and a nylon sheath is included.
So that’s $50 in standard or exclusive colors, plus a sheath, vs $70 in just the stainless version without a sheath.
I’ve never seen the Sidekick in these color options before – have you? The lower price reflects a discount of over 28% compared to buying the plain stainless finish tool from Leatherman directly or authorized stores.
I wonder if Costco made a Leatherman an offer the multi-tool brand couldn’t turn down, or maybe it was the other way around.
Whatever reason, if you were in the market for a Leatherman Sidekick multi-tool, head to your local Costco store. It also looks to be available online, but I’ve been having issues with the link.
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And of course, people are already selling it online at places like Walmart at inflated pricing.
Scott K
I don’t need this, but it may make a nice gift. I bought a few of these as groomsman gifts at HD a decade ago for half this price.
Either last year or the year before Costco had a combo Skeletool with nylon sheath and Skeletool KBx for around $65 which was less than the cost of the skeletool alone. I don’t love the KBx because I find the handle a little small which puts my fingers a little too close to the blade when opening it one handed. But it is super lightweight and came very sharp.
Scott F
Do you think this is the same tool (except color), or manufactured to a different specification (inferior) to meet Costco’s pricing expectations? I know Costco often gets their own products/SKUs that do not exist elsewhere, and have been under the impression that they are not always exactly comparable.
Stuart
If it were built more cheaply, Leatherman would/should have given it a new name. They’ve done that before.
https://toolguyd.com/leatherman-bolster-costco-multi-tool/
Jim Felt
With my decades long experience with both as separate clients I would second your take Stuart.
Scott K
The Skeletool I got at Costco seems to be the same one I could’ve gotten elsewhere and it came with the same warranty. To me, it seems as though they wouldn’t offer the same warranty on a cheaper version of an existing model.
I think a lot of the unique SKUs have more to do with quantity or the inclusion of exclusive accessories rather than an actually different item. A bunch of the big box stores like target, Amazon, Walmart, etc. have the same item available in different quantities which makes it harder to price match.
Al-another-Al
That may be because of their return/exchange policies and the behaviors of consumers and scammers.
I worked at a manufacturer who used a specific metal stamp for Costco products. If it didn’t have that stamp, it wasn’t sold via Costco. Each factory had to have a copy of the stamp to mark the products.
Shaun Hickey
I worked for Vitamix selling at Costco road shows. They did not lower any quality, but did use a different model number because of the negotiated price.
Joseph C
Appreciating your question..
Costco is a retailer to be trusted for their integrity and vetting their suppliers
And also, since the % discount is so high,
It’d be good to verify the blade material against the retail product
txdm
I got one. It’s the same. Better fit and finish than the Wingman I got years ago
EBT
Question: what do all ‘yall use to sharpen these? Hand stone, hand diamond sharpening tool, powered sharpened (Chef model) or belt?
I got those new Gerber’s on a past deal and the knife is great but rather dull out of the box. I packed up my Pro Chef sharpener I used on prior knives and thought of a better, smaller option for multitool knife blades. What I found isn’t cheap.
Bonnie
I always just used a regular two-sided whetstone. I’ve never gone in for all the fancy over-complicated sharpening systems, especially for a general purpose knife.
JBC
Me neither! I sharpen my Sidekick’s knife very effectively using the bottom rim of a ceramic mug.
Around 10 years ago, I was very fortunate to pickup several Leatherman Sidekicks and Wingmen at Home Depot for only $19.95 during their annual after-Christmas clearance sale. They have made for great gifts over the years.
Jack
That was the original price when they were first released. I thought it was the coolest thing ever for Leatherman to introduce an entry level tool.
Makes me sad how expensive the MSRP is now.
Stuart
The Sidekick launched at $40 in 2011. In 2013, it dropped to $30 over the holidays. HD had it bundled with a Croc mini tool for $30 in 2013. It was on sale for $25 in the holiday 2014 season.
The Rev launched in 2015 – https://toolguyd.com/leatherman-rev-multi-tool/ , because prices went up and Leatherman still wanted to offer an affordable multi-tool. The Rev increased to $40, and is now $50.
All of Leatherman’s multi-tools went up price compared to 10 years ago.
Wayne R.
I’ve got a Lansky kit that works well, keeps me out of trouble.
Jared
There’s no sharpening method that’s cheap, low-skill, fast and able to achieve a super-sharp edge.
I use diamond stones and a strop with diamond compound. It’s not that expensive (say ~$50-60 for a Sharpall dual-sided stone, $20 for a strop (or DIY) and maybe $10-15 for diamond compound – and you’re set for many, many knives. However, there’s a learning curve. Once you’re proficient, you can take a dull knife to at least hair-popping in about 2 mins (it’s FAST). I suggest Outdoors55 for instructional videos.
If you want a low-skill option, Spyderco’s sharpmaker or the WorkSharp precision adjust seem like the two cheapest options that can still achieve extreme levels of sharpness. They’re not actually “no skill”, but you only have to understand how to use them, not have any special skills yourself to be effective.
AJ
I got one of these from Costco. Plain blade is OK. serrated blade is fair. The spring operated pliers are nice . the file / ruler is junk. the interior blades are not easy to open.
Overall it is fair not nearly as good as the original tool except that it doesn’t eat your hand when using the pliers.
Scott K
Do you have any experience with older versions? I wonder if something has changed- I have a 10+ year old Wingman that I love. These aren’t in my local Costco yet but I was planning on picking up a couple as gifts. I was actually thinking of getting an extra for my son as a gift for when he’s old enough (I figure it will cost way more then).
JJ
I own 4 different styles of Leatherman tools my first one purchased when I worked at Costco in the mid 90’s and still carry it everywhere today.
I love the Wave tool because it fits every need I have or come across.