Pocket Tool Description:  Anything Leatherman makes is good. Sure things break, but that's why they back it with a 25 year guarantee. With this vice-grip tool you get a whole group of Leatherman tools. That can save a lot of room in the toolbox, or glove compartment. It's just a well-thought out tool.

Amazon Description:

The Crunch folds down to just 4 inches, but it packs a full range of useful tools that are ready for work.

Leatherman's Hardy Crunch Multitool
Made for the most demanding professionals and do-it-yourselfers, Leatherman’s Crunch multi-purpose tool features locking pliers that spread wide enough to clamp a 1-inch pipe, but it folds up into a tidy 4-inch, 6-ounce package for convenient storage in a pocket or bag. Remove the adjusting screw and you'll find a 1/4-inch hex-bit adapter built right in. The pliers lock into position like vise grips, leaving both hands free for other work, and all the interior blades lock too, for optimal safety and power.

Key User Features
To open the interior blades, all you have to do is partially open the handles and use the nail nick to rotate the selected blade out and into the ready position. Extend the blades fully to engage the locks, and to release a locked blade, simply push the lock release button located on the outside of the handle.

The regular and hard-wire cutters are located in the plier jaws. The hard-wire cutter is the small notch at the base of the wire cutting area. The regular wire cutters are ideal for softer wire grades, and the hard-wire cutters are great for sturdier materials like fish hooks.

The Crunch is made from 100-percent high-grade stainless steel, and it can be cleaned, dried, and re-oiled periodically -- which is recommended, especially after it's used in a damp environment.

The Crunch can clamp pipe up to 1 inch in diameter.

Leatherman makes a full range of complementary accessories and add-ons for this and other Leatherman products.

Multitool Capabilities :

• Leatherman crunch
• Locking pliers
• Wire cutters
• Hard-wire cutters
• Serrated knife
• Metal/wood file
• Ruler (inch/metric)
• Bottle opener
• Small screwdriver
• Medium screwdriver
• Large screwdriver
• Phillips screwdriver (#1/#2)
• Hex bit driver
• Wire stripper
• Lanyard attachment

Optional Accessories (not included)
Replace that worn sheath you've had on your belt all these years. Or show that you're part of the Leatherman World with a new T-shirt or cap. Leatherman makes a wide variety of complementary accessories for this Crunch and many other Leatherman products.

Warranty
All Leatherman products are covered by a 25-year limited warranty. If within 25 years from the purchase date of your genuine Leatherman tool you find any defect in material or workmanship, you can count on the manufacturer to make it right with fast warranty service. To obtain warranty service, return your tool to Leatherman Tool Group. Depending on the tool defect, they will decide whether to repair your tool or replace it with a product of equal or greater value. No variations, upgrades or refunds are offered.

The Leatherman Tool Group and its History of Quality
In 1975, Leatherman Tool Group founder Tim Leatherman was inspired by leaky pipes and a cranky car on a budget trip to Europe -- and thus the idea for his first pocket survival tool was conceived. Since then, Leatherman has become an internationally recognized company with hundreds of employees and a wide variety of durable, versatile, stylish products. Created with bold designs and truly rugged construction, Leatherman products are a perfect addition for tool kits, emergency sets, and glove compartments everywhere.

US Auctions Australian Auctions Austrian Auctions Belgian Auctions Canadian Auctions French Auctions German Auctions Hong Kong Auctions Indian Auctions Irish Auctions Italian Auctions Dutch Auctions Polish Auctions Singapore Auctions Spanish Auctions Swiss Auctions UK Auctions

No items matching your keywords were found.

6 Responses to “Leatherman Crunch (Vice-Like Grip) Multi-Tool”

1. K. Lee says:

   April 22, 2010 at 12:00 am

   The reason this gets 5 stars is because it’s in a class of its own. It’s best compared not to another multiplier, but against a Vice-Grip pliers.

   Compared to the same size Vice-Grip brand pliers, this thing weighs 30% more. But at 6 1/4 oz, it’s still just light enough to carry in a pocket and forget it’s there.

   But there are 2 significant downsides compared to normal Vice-Grip pliers. First, the handle can pop out pretty easily. This isn’t too big a deal once you’ve learned how to use them. Second, the handle width is a fair bit wider than the pliers head. So, unlike a normal Vice-Grip plier, you have to angle the pliers a bit to clamp onto a bolt that sits low on a flat surface. Other than that, the Crunch is every bit the equivalent of a comparably sized Vice-Grip pliers.

   Regarding the Gerber Grappler: The Grappler weighs about 35% more than the Crunch. So it’s in a different category, AFAIC. It looks interesting because you can deploy AND adjust the pliers with 1 hand. But the major downside is a limited array of tool for the size and jaws only open up to 5/8″.

   Design shortcomings: With practice and some dexterity, it takes all of 1 second to deploy or retract the pliers. But it is a tad suboptimal to open and use the secondary tools. On top of that, if you close the handles, the adjustment screw gets in the way of some of the tools. For instance, the bottle opener can’t even reach a bottle cap with the handles closed. Another annoyance: the only thing holding the tool in the closed position appears to be wishful thinking.

   Other problems: The spring in the pliers head broke after 1 week. But this seems to be a rare problem. The 25 year warranty should have me covered. Also, the pin in the locking mechanism fell out almost immediately. But a hammer and punch resolved the problem.

   Summary: This tool is actually a bit overpriced, for what it is, IMO. That said, it’s also the only multitool that I own 2 of the exact same model. In addition to being unique, it just has a great look and feel to it. I find myself carrying it even when I know I will likely be better served with a different MT.
2. Dave Mills says:

   February 10, 2010 at 12:00 am

   This is one of the best multi tools I’ve ever used. Has everything you need. Vice grips take hold and don’t slip. Plenty of holding power and can handle a lot of torque. I am extremely satisfied with this tool.
3. J. French says:

   July 5, 2009 at 12:00 am

   I have quite a few Leatherman’s dating back to their first release; including a couple (PST); on the market. I carried one at work for 11 years, and also away from work when appropriate.

   Pros: Compact, well made and useful.

   Cons: Expensive, but to be fair, it is a complex tool. I’d would’ve rather had a clip point or sheep’s foot knife blade instead of the scalloped edge. Finally, the adjustable jaw pliers would be more useful if they were a “needle nose” style, not the full blown needle nose but just something with a narrower nose.

   Would I buy the Crunch knowing what I know now? Yes
4. Erik Wood says:

   June 19, 2009 at 12:00 am

   I had owned the original Leatherman multitool back in the days when there was only the single model and people thought Gerber was a brand of baby food. I loved the thing to death because it was the only multitool around. One thing bothered me about it despite its usefulness.

   When the pliers were out, the inside of the frame containing the rest of the tools faced outwards, and the open frame dug into your hand terribly when trying to grip something tightly. I regularly had to take breaks when trying to twist something for longer than a few turns. This made it difficult to really put the squeeze on anything really well, if you were trying to crimp. You also couldn’t use the pliers as a hands free helper as they had no locking function.

   The Leatherman Crunch solved both problems by making the pliers a pair of practical and functional vice grips. They really did their homework in the design of these pliers, as they perform as well as a dedicated pair of vice grips of comperable size. I have a pair and I can confirm this. By not having to turn the leatherman inside out to access the pliers, you have the closed rounded side of the frame against your palm and fingers. It doesn’t dig into your flesh -quite comfortable to use. Not only can you really squeeze the pliers with all your strength should the need arise, they will stay closed at whatever width you adjust them to so you can free up your hands to work around. Again, I say, this is an extremely well implemented pair of vice grips. The jaws are beefy, but not so much that they can’t be used for smaller more delicate work. They aren’t needlenose pliers, but then again, they aren’t supposed to fill that role. Depending on your day to day uses of the tool, you would choose the Crunch or one of the other models. Personally, I carry mine around for more generalized uses like holding a bolt in place while turning its screw. I find it more useful than needlenose pliers for most applications except electrical work. But even for this, it performs very well.

   The number of screwdrivers is adequate for any work, as I’ve never found the need for a huge variety of different sizes or specialized screwdriver heads. I’d just lose the interchangeable ones, anyway. The serrated knife blade works great, and can do anything from cutting down saplings to cutting your sandwich at lunch. I’ve never sharpened it, but the serrated pattern makes it very effective. The Bottle opener was a must, and works perfectly. I am disappointed at the lack of a can opener which would make this the ultimate desert island tool if you could only choose one (and if you had cans of food on the island with you). But heck, what’s the likelihood of that? For nearly every use, I find the Leatherman Crunch is the perfect tool. I’m buying another one while they’re still for sale, so when my current one wears out, I’ll have a replacement.

   I can only hope that Leatherman has discontinued the Crunch in order to upgrade its design with the aforementioned missing can opener, and perhaps a flint and steel striker. Then it will be the modern day equivalent to a pocket lightsaber.
5. James Campbell says:

   May 15, 2009 at 12:00 am

   The “Crunch” is now an orphan, having been discontinued by Leatherman, but I consider it their most versatile tool. The locking plier expands the utility, by creating a hands-free clamp, and the expandable plier grips larger diameter items, beyond the ability of the needle-nose design. The locking feature for the knive and other fold-out tools adds safety and authority to those features.

   Amazon was one of the view sources still offering the “Crunch”.
6. Britney @ Swiss Army Boutique says:

   November 3, 2010 at 9:19 pm

   Hi there, just stopped by doing some research for my Swiss Army site. Truly more information than you can imagine on the web. Not what I was looking for, but cool site. Have a good day.