Leatherman has announced 2 new tools for 2016 – a knifeless Rebar, and a rescue version of their awesome Skeletool.
First up, the knifeless Rebar. Right away, I should mention that the knifeless Rebar is NOT TSA compliant. It still has a saw and a somewhat sharp awl.
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The knifeless Rebar was designed for workplaces, jobsites, and other environments where you’re not allowed to carry a knife blade.
I dug up a press release that says:
“Whether it’s a coalmine or a breakfast cereal factory, more and more restrictions are being put in place prohibiting knives in the workplace,” said Leatherman Product Manager Jason Carpenter.
Check out my review of the Leatherman Rebar multi-tool for a closer look at the tool this one is based off of! The only difference I can tell is that the knifeless Rebar trades the serrated blunt-tipped knife for a small pair of scissors, and that some of the tools are switched around, possible to make things work.
If you’re used to some of Leatherman’s other multi-tools, such as the Skeletool CX, Wave, or OHT (one handed tool), and are seeing the Rebar or knifeless Rebar for the first time, you might be surprised that its tools cannot be opened from the outside.
To access the Rebar’s tools, you’ve got to first deploy the pliers.
I don’t carry my Rebar often, but when I do, it’s usually with a better knife alongside it.
The best part of the Rebar multi-tool is the pliers, and its heavy duty wire cutter blades, which are user-replaceable.
It’s a good tool, and I just might take a closer look at the knifeless Rebar. I don’t use the Rebar’s knife often anyway, but those scissors might come in handy.
Street Price: Probably ~$50-60
Compare(Leatherman Rebar via Amazon)
Next up, there’s the new Skeletool RX, which is a new variation of the popular Skeletool multi-tool designed specially for EMTs, first responders, and other rescuers.
Let’s just call it a rescue tool. I’m guessing that’s what the R in the RX stands for.
Check out my review of the Leatherman Skeletool CX, and Skeletool multi-tools if you want an everyday version.
The Leatherman Skeletool RX is similar to its siblings, but features a fully serrated 154CM stainless steel knife blade with rounded sheepsfoot tip profile. This makes it quicker and safer for cutting through certain materials – I’m guessing seat belts and the clothes of someone who might be in need of medical attention.
Serrated knife blades work best on fibrous materials, such as rope, webbing, and fabric.
The Skeletool RX also features a carbide glass breaker, which attaches to the tool in the form of a removable screwdriver bit. There’s a standard double-sided bit stored in the handle in case you need it.
This version also sports a bright orange Cerakote finish, which is a durable, abrasion-resistant, and corrosion-resistant gun coating.
ETA: Jan 2016
MSRP: $102
Compare(Leatherman Skeletool Variants via Amazon)
Oh, and there will also be new Leatherman Tread bracelet multi-tool links, with Metric tools.
Here’s my Leatherman Tread Day 1 Review. I have become a little less enthusiastic about the Tread. It’s still a great concept, and the tools work reasonably well, but it’s not as much a wearable multi-tool as it is a wide and heavy bracelet. If I don’t have a purpose for wearing it, I would much rather have a naked wrist, or I wear a watch.
The Tread launched with some metric-sized tools, and so it’s unclear as to what’s actually coming out in 2016.
CS says
I’d really like to know if that glassbreaker bit could be bought separately – I already have a Skeletool and couldn’t see buying the rescue version, but that bit would be mighty nice to have in the handle.
max says
Me too!
Toolfreak says
It will be eventually, but you can bet it will be EXPENSIVE, probably nearly as much as the Skeletool RX itself. Dunno why glass breaker tips cost so much.
Dan says
I love my Skeletool CX — wish I could get all of the CX but in that RX orange!
Andrew L says
Looks like it needs a Denver Bronco icon on it and they’d sell out for the SB.
Jerry says
I would also be curious to see if the glass breaker bit will be available separately. Also, the pliers of the Rebar tool is one of two of its best features. The second is the sheath. I bought the Rebar partly because I wanted as compact of a multi tool as I could get that still had heavy pliers, and I wanted it tonne s easy and compact to carry as possible. The sheath truly is as minimal as it can be, while still being strong and secure. The same design as toe one that came with my PST sized to the Rebar. A pet peeve of mine is a multi tool that packs as many tools as can fit into a compact package that comes with a sheath bigger than my cell phone holster.
Jerry says
Please excuse the typos. I got a new tablet and the keyboard size is new to me and the auto correct has a lot to be desired.
Dave L. says
The Rebar is quite satisfactory-it’s become my EDC and I use it all the time.
Don says
I just cant see buying a leatherman without a blade. I would be irritated every time I pulled it out looking for a knife like any other leatherman I own. Why cant everyone just learn that a knife is nothing more than a tool.
I do really like the orange on the skeletool. I would love to see them use the orange on the Signal. If you’re out camping its real easy to put a tool down and lose track of it but that orange would stand out against anything.
firefly says
I also got irritated when I see the comment about more and more work place restrict having a basic knife. Personally I don’t think it make any sense at all. But I also understand why as a business owner since the US have because the land of trivia lawsuit… So that forced a lot of business to have a CYOA policy in place…
Toolfreak says
So….Leatherman is well aware of the “need” for knife-less tools, but they make the Rebar knifeless and don’t bother making a newer version of the Rev, just with the scissors of the Wingman rather than the blade.
I guess that would make too much sense and might actually sell well. Better to release an old tool design without a blade, yeah, that’s the ticket.
That Sheepsfoot blade tip isn’t very rounded, either. Needs to be a blunt tip for EMT’s using it to cut seatbelts, clothing, etc.
In a medical emergency, you have such things so you don’t have to mess with getting a sharp tip knife oriented the correct way to avoid slicing the person open, having a sharp tip like the one pictured might be ok for non-critical “rescue” uses, but EMTs probably aren’t going to risk having it on their person, then using it like a blunt tip blade and “OOPS” accidentally stabbing or slicing someone and making a bad situation much, much worse.
Stuart says
The Rev is still relatively new, and it exists because of rising Wingman and Sidekick costs that made their previous entry-level price points impossible to maintain.
The Rebar has been considered somewhat of a more industrial design, and is the smallest and least expensive tool to have replaceable cutter jaws. Doesn’t seem like a bad idea for the next knifeless model to be a Rebar variant.
Toolfreak says
I know why the Rev exists, but that price point thing comes and goes, sometimes the Rev and Wingman are the same price, the Rev actually cost more than the Wingman on Amazon during the holidays.
My point was that the more casual user/customer, the one likely to get a Rev/Wingman, or maybe even the Sidekick, is more likely to need and buy one of those, but in a scissors-only configuration, for a work environment where they can’t possess a knife. They aren’t likely to want or buy the older industrial design like the Rebar.
I’ve also read on plenty of multitool forums about those who bought the Wingman and removed the blade to achieve this, another reason the Rev-with-scissors variant seems like a winner to me.
Robert says
I’m a little puzzled as to why Leatherman chose the Skeletool format for a rescue tool. I have to assume they’ve done their research ahead of time. I get the one handed blade and lightweight aspect of the tool. What I don’t get is this. The tool by general design is not built for the type of aggression that is needed for a true rescue tool. That’s at least true in my opinion.
I’m sure there are some rescue oriented readers who can chime in on this. I was a paramedic and firefighter for 9 years. Regardless of the fact that the bit is designed for glass breakage, it takes much more than a casual whack and mild stress on the tool to be effective in those situations. The tool also has somewhat of a history of losing the bits. That’s way too iffy for a tool with that much responsibility riding on it.
There’s an excellent video that you’ve probably already seen Stuart. It’s a firefighter using the Victorinox rescue tool for extrication via the front window of a vehicle. It’s painfully obvious that the user has a clear idea of what he’s doing. When I watch that video however and visualize the Skeletool in that same scenario, I can’t imagine it holding up under that kind of usage for any length of time.
I certainly think that Leatherman is up to the challenge of making a viable and respectable rescue tool. I don’t however think that the Skeletool format is the place to start. That’s not to undermine the significance of the Skeletool. I have one and love it. I feel confident in saying however that it was never designed to handle the kind of abuse that a true rescue oriented tool would typically encounter.
BikerDad says
“I certainly think that Leatherman is up to the challenge of making a viable and respectable rescue tool.”
They do, it’s the Z-Rex. About as simple as you can get. Nothing to fall out or fall off. No opening it up. I have one in a sheath safety pinned to my seatbelt. That way, if I ever need it to bust my window for a speedy exit, it’s RIGHT THERE. If somebody comes across me unconscious in my vehicle, the necessary tool to cut me out of the seatbelt is RIGHT THERE on the seat belt.
https://www.leatherman.com/z-rex-32.html
Of course, I’m hoping that necessity of use never arises.
It is not, however, a full bore multitool. It basically does two things: breaks glass and cuts straps. Sure, they say you can use it as an oxy wrench and 1/4″ bit driver, but I find the likelihood of needing to drive 1/4″ bits AND having the 1/4″ bits without any other driver vanishingly small, and as for oxy wrench, anybody likely to be able to supply oxygen will have a wrench.
It has no knife, no file, no saw, no pliers, etc. Yet, as an in vehicle item, it’s da bomb.
Glenn B says
I have the old Skeletool (in red, 1/2 serrated blade) and have never lost a bit in the 6 years I have owned it. (Cannot find the production date stamp on it, do the Skeletools have date stamps?)
It sits in a pocket right next to my Raptor. IMO, the Raptor fits the niche for “Rescue tool” better than the Skeletool RX. It has a strap cutter, carbide striker, ring cutter, shears, measure, and O2 key.
For my POV, I have one of those keychain “ResQMe” tools attached to the turn lever.
Nathan says
I’d say blame the insurance companies not the corporations. I’ve heard from a few people that their corporate insurance is requiring them to take certain actions (like no knife policy) in order to keep their insurance.
I saw were swiss army knives have a special work place editions – usually has a thumbdrive component. I’d like to see leatherman workup something like that. I think it would sell well for office worker types. scissors, maybe the box opener thing, interchangeable screw driver – big and small, socket to hold one of those small memory card (XD I think – that has a tab for usb). Just a thought.
would like to see them offer other colors for their other tools too – yellow, red, and orange mostly.
Beat says
Bladeless Rebar = -2 blades + 1 scissor + 20$. To me that makes no sense.
Adding to this the file/saw are moved into the positions of the tow blades, but their nail nick does not match up with notch in the handles?
Sloppy, sloppy, sloppy…
RX cannot use the glass breaker while closed. Not a rescue worker here but I think that does not work well.
Berneck says
The Skeletool RX feels a bit gimmicky to me. I bet the regular bits that the CX comes with would do the job just the same. An EMT would not buy that tool, IMO. This is a Skeletool trying to be something it isn’t.
Iva Biggun says
I love the idea of a knifeless Rebar. I’ve worked on lots of oil and gas projects that prohibit knives for workplace safety reasons and lived in places that prohibit carrying knives in public. This is an excellent solution and one I’ll be purchasing.
The Skeletool RX doesn’t excite me. Day to day I need more than pliers, knife and screwdriver bits. A Resume is a far better in vehicle solution for most people and first responders require more specialized kit for extracting victims.
JAMES IRVINE says
Have you seen the Gerber Crucial?
Very compact, curved edges, fits the pocket well. Short ‘legal’ blade without a pointed tip.
Great needle nose pliers and basic flat & Philips bits. Bottle opener / hanging hook useful too – everything I need.