Leatherman has been bombarding my newsletter email address, hyping up their launch of the new Arc Talos multi-tool.
According to retail listings, the new Leatherman Arc Talos multi-tool is described as having “a striking Bronze Cerakote finish.”
Here is the Leatherman Arc in its new dark brown Talos color option.
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The new Arc color launched on August 19, and Leatherman hasn’t said whether it’s a limited edition or not.
Leatherman launched their Arc Obsidian last fall, sold out, restocked, and now it’s gone. It’s unclear whether we can expect the same for the Talos.
Here’s the Leatherman ARC in its ORIGINAL colorway.
Here’s what the Leatherman Arc OBSIDIAN looked like.
From what I can see, the new Arc Talos looks a lot like the regular Arc but with dark brown outer handle. All of the tools and MagnaCut knife blade have the same finish as the original Arc.
The price is the same – $249.95.
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Reminder: the Arc no longer comes with a sheath.
Learn more about the ARC: Leatherman Arc Review: a Nearly Perfect Multi-Tool
Nathan
Why is it called a color way now? I see that more and more. Way implies a path there is no path just a new color scheme. Or livery if you will.
PW
It’s annoying designer jargon that’s somehow bled into marketing copy. It sounds cooler than “color scheme” I guess. I find it oddly irritating as well.
Bonnie
It’s been used this way off and on since at least the 40s. But it was mostly part of the textile industry. A colorway is more specific than a scheme, often being specific shades/color codes in use in the product, and in defined parts of a pattern, versus a more general “blue and white”. For example you could get a particular floral print of fabric in different pairings of color thread, each one being a colorway.
Recently (as in a couple decades ago) it became more common to see in sneaker collecting and interior design circles, and from there has caught on with the general culture.
Pookie Woodard
Where can I get the apron???
Stuart
Colorway is on word. Technically speaking, “colorway” is more specific than “color scheme.”
A future Arc revision might have the same brown Cerakote handle finish but black-finish tools instead of plain silver-hued stainless. That would be a new colorway with a similar color scheme to the Arc Obsidian.
From what I have seen, the Leatherman Talos has a similar color scheme as the original Arc. The handles are a different color. The Talos is a new colorway.
The new sheaths are different colors. https://toolguyd.com/leatherman-tool-sheaths-sleeves-pouches-launch-2025/ Those aren’t colorways – at least not how I would consider them, as those are not multi-component.
The tool pouches have a contrasting color scheme, with main color and accent colors for the loops, zipper, and logo. Technically those would be colorways.
Mark
Why wouldn’t it just be called a color?
Walt Bordett
More buzz words for small ideas. Not what the world needs. I like the sheath my
ARC came with. It has the features to accept a bit kit and a drive extension.
Stuart
That’s now an optional separate purchase for $25.
Scott K
I received a marketing email from Leatherman a few days ago advertising the Signal and it specifically mentions that it comes with a sheath. I found this surprising since the Arc does not – their website implies the Signal does not actually come with a sheath. It seems as though the accessory changes are not being consistently communicated.
Empiric Sleeves
My Arc came with a sheath
Stuart
Within the past 2 weeks? They made changes.
https://toolguyd.com/leatherman-tool-sheaths-sleeves-pouches-launch-2025/
Scott K
In an email from 8/16, “CARRY YOUR WAY Take your pick with the pocket clip, carabiner, or
included sheath.”
Stuart
Live product page: “Sheath and accessories sold separately.”
Robert
Stuart, I followed your Leatherman links. The ARC seems to be the top of the line and most expensive Multitool. I like that it has scissors, but $250? Yikes.
Do the EDC aficionados feel that price premium is worth it? What actual advantages do you get versus a Wave for half the price?
Scott K
I believe the combination of the MagnaCut blade and magnetic/free system add to the price.
Stuart
https://toolguyd.com/leatherman-arc-review/
The Arc has Leatherman’s “FREE” pivot/opening tech for the secondary tools, and MagnaCut knife blade.
Is it better than the Wave? Yes. Whether it’s worth it or not is up to you.
Tim D.
Robert, If you’re considering the ARC (but don’t love the price tag), take a look at the Free P4($150) or Free P2($130) on Amazon. For some reason, Leatherman only sells them there now.
They don’t have all of the same features as the ARC, or the magnacut blade, but in all honesty the P2 is my favorite Leatherman.
You can buy some aftermarket bitholders and whatnot, but I’ve found the factory P2 loadout to be everything I need in a daily carry. I did swap the serrated blade out for a P4 blade though, I hate serrations for daily use. I don’t cut rope or seatbelts every day.
Empiric Sleeves
Love my Arc. But if you are value then conscious some of their other, less expensive multi-tools are also great. And occasionally on deep discount.
I don’t see it available anymore, but LEATHERMAN had their red handled Charge Plus G10 on sale for awhile for I think less than $100. I have one of these as well and that is a perfectly awesome Leatherman.
Saulac
If there’s a way to add a bit holder and a knife blade to the handles of the Knipex Cobra/water pump pliers, then. Am all set with multi tools.
Bonnie
Time to break out the tig welder.
Rawkhan
Or learn to tie a whiplashing with nano cord
J . Newell
Color (and colorways) seems to what passes for innovation these days at Leatherman, which is too bad. Even the various blade steel upgrades don’t really count as innovation. Adding MagnaCut (or, in the past, S30V or 154CM) in place of 440C is an improvement, but not an innovation.
I like the Free system, even though it may not be attractive to all multitool users – I think that was an innovation. The original Crunch was innovative (ha, arguably too innovative). The flat bit holder was innovative (and I can’t believe there aren’t clever ways to come up with some innovations there). I’m not a big fan of spring-opening pliers and take the spring out of most pliers that come that way, but that has a place, especially with a one-hand tool like the Free/Arc family, and we know they can do that. Of course, Tim Weatherman’s idea itself was a big innovation back when he introduced the PST.
Stuart
Leatherman embracing color for more tools beyond the Micra is great. Nothing wrong with giving people more options.
J . Newell
No, you’re right, but more color choices isn’t really innovation. I’m a little surprised that the few ideas that surfaced in the Garage project mostly didn’t make it to market production. By the way, it’s been a long time since we heard anything about the Garage, no?
J . Newell
New comment, sorry. I think you edited the post to add a pic showing the color – that looks a lot like the bronze color that they used on the Garage version of the Arc, which I will say is an *excellent* color. I will confess to having purchased the black version of the Arc but not sure I’d buy yet another Arc even if the color is great. I have been looking at my two Arcs and thinking about swapping the blade and a few other bits of hardware so I had a full-blackout Arc. 🙂 Warranty would be toast, but I’ve been buying these since virtually the first introduction of the PST and haven’t ever had to send anything back.