Leatherman ARC Long Term Multitool Review & Modifications

This is a long term review of the Leatherman ARK. I have caried the tool 7 days a week for over 6 months. Along the way several modifications have been made to the tool which make it even better.

[SomethingAwesome]

The extended bit is exactly what Iv been looking for!! Doing that mod VERY soon.

[TurnipForFun]

Brilliant!! I just installed ordered the long bit from Leatherman after watching this.
Please do a video showing how to do this!

[davidkurle]

It was great to hear your thoughts on this one! Cheers, buddy!

[braixeninfection]

I love my ARC. Used it a ton at work. And it saved me many trips back to the shop. I did mod my tool to remove the saw. I replaced it with a t-shank adaptor to hold metal jigsaw blades. Much more useful and I can put a wood blade in if needed. It was a bit thicker so I deleted the can opener cause personally I hate can openers on a multitool. And I found a local guy to laser engrave it to make it much more personal! It was also just a fun tool to play with when bored lol. I liked the design of the P2/P4 but hated the tool set. I love the ARC kept the design but fixed the horrible tool set! Still trying to find a good tool to replace out the awl and micro bit driver. I lost a micro bit at one point after using the tool as a hammer lol.

Also I used a really nice leather sheath to hold the tool and bit set. That one it comes with is junk for actual work.

[Genesis]

I really like the scissor modification!

[thebodybeatdownDiTi]

I found one during one of my bike rides..its somewhere, not sure..i have another that i use all the time..good tools.

[edcgearpocketknife]

I agree the surge is heavy for edc or someone who walks a lot for work.

[penguinwithagun]

Great tool, i sadly dont have the funds to buy that tool, as it costs 2.2k in my currency, and i dont exactly earn that much just yet as i am saving money for a drivers license, but i'd love to get one of these as i am studying car mechanics, either way, great explanation👍

[kimchan]

Great modification Sir! You need to sharpen the inside of the can opener too with a rounded file, so that you can use it as a box opener.
I am using the Wave Gen1 since 1999, after I lost my Swiss Champ. Eyeing to get the Arc too. Surge is to heavy for me. Have it in the EDC toolpouch for traveling.

[amerikalast]

The ARC is the only have decent multitool ever made, but it's 2-3x more expensive than it should ever be. A big update would be to remove the can opener and put in a 1/4 sized bit driver. The flat bits are poop. I'd also prefer the blade to be shorter - I never need anything longer than a utility blade, so a bit longer is OK, excessive length is not. Keeping at 5cm or so also makes it capable of being carried on a plane everywhere outside the US

[clodvonclout]

Add the Felix Imler mod on the can opener and you will have a hook cutter and parcel opener

[paulbyland]

I like the arc well enough, but I really miss my surge's serrated blade.

[proudofyourboy]

The hole in an awl is for sewing. It's not an awl without the hole

[singingtoad]

Thanks for this excellent long-term review and I love all the clever mods you made to it. Well done! 😁👌Take care my friend and Cheers!

[Cosmos]

I got the extended driver from them and was surprized to find it was ratcheting reversal. LOL

[edcgearpocketknife]

I like the tools set on the p4 better and it’s a cheaper. You could buy a magnate for now for cheap.

[oscarbear]

Honestly i dont find scissors useful. The other tools are just better tools for cutting.
The scissors main function ive noticed is mostly a nail clippers, paper cutter sometimes.

They should just make the scissors more specialized for nail clipping, as it'll still cut paper.

[MrASM]

To me, the flat bits are the Achilles heel of leatherman. For one, they’re junk, practically disposable bits, that are ludicrously overpriced. Give me a full size bit driver. The thing I do love about the arc is, for me, there’s no need to modify, it’s my preferred tool set. I mod my waves to have the exact same tools, only better scissors from a Victorinox. My wave is my go to, cause I don’t particularly care for the extra length of the arc. I do love the arc tho, and am a leatherman die hard, just don’t like the shitty flat bits.

[MrJankert]

long term review 6 months.
i have a Gerber 400 multi-tool i use it every day on my farm for the last 26 years.
has been shit on it by pigs, trampled by horses, run over by tractors, lost in the mud for weeks, luckely got it back.
send in to have some tools replace and a broken plierhead, all 0 kost great warranty by Gerber, and still using the same Gerber 400 today.
26 years hard use and showing no sign of giving up.

that my friend is a long term review....
ps and a fair one.

[Renku]

The issue with the Arc is that they flex way too much, then you have to spend way too much money and be careful not to do heavy work cause they are like a princess and may bend horrible. I’m not a fan of those magnet system. Also, the saw, I think can only saw in one direction.