Difficulties in the Review process
I am working two reviews of two very different things right now--the Leatherman Charge TTi and the Spydero Lava. Both have encountered difficulties.
The Charge is a beast of a tool. It is not for the faint of heart or those that don't wear belts. It is massive, complex, intricate, and awesome. But with 19 tools, two carry options, and lots of uses, testing it is difficult. Multitools, by there very nature, are hard to test, absent some contrived circumstances. I mean, really, when I am going to use the eye glass screwdriver? I don't where glasses of any kind. I did actually use it to tighten the pivot screw on a knife, but other than that, I am not terribly sure when it will come up. And other tools have been equally dormant, including the tool I dislike the most on multitools--a can opener. But this is a tool that deserves the attention and so instead of rushing out a review of a tool half-used, I thought I would take some extra time. So that is why there is no Charge review.
The reason for a lack of a review for the Lava is different. I craved this little knife. I liked the design, the unorthodox blade shape, and the melted to the hand look. It was, as I detailed here, a quest item. But when I ran it through the tests and normal carry I do with each blade I hated it. Not like, "Oh, it could be better," but like "I am throwing this piece of shit away." I could not square my gut feeling about how it works with its design heritage. I figured that I was not using it correctly or appreciating its subtle design. So, instead of a knee jerk reaction, I decided to put it away for a month and then carry it again. I have never done this before in any of the 42 previous reviews (in one year, how about that?), but this is a truly beloved knife. See this thread/review. But I figured two things: 1) Spyderco's consistent high quality means that I should give them the benefit of the doubt and try again; and 2) the knife's insanely devoted following deserves a bit of respect. So, I am testing the Lava again.
Bear with me, I am also working on a end of year post.
The Charge is a beast of a tool. It is not for the faint of heart or those that don't wear belts. It is massive, complex, intricate, and awesome. But with 19 tools, two carry options, and lots of uses, testing it is difficult. Multitools, by there very nature, are hard to test, absent some contrived circumstances. I mean, really, when I am going to use the eye glass screwdriver? I don't where glasses of any kind. I did actually use it to tighten the pivot screw on a knife, but other than that, I am not terribly sure when it will come up. And other tools have been equally dormant, including the tool I dislike the most on multitools--a can opener. But this is a tool that deserves the attention and so instead of rushing out a review of a tool half-used, I thought I would take some extra time. So that is why there is no Charge review.
The reason for a lack of a review for the Lava is different. I craved this little knife. I liked the design, the unorthodox blade shape, and the melted to the hand look. It was, as I detailed here, a quest item. But when I ran it through the tests and normal carry I do with each blade I hated it. Not like, "Oh, it could be better," but like "I am throwing this piece of shit away." I could not square my gut feeling about how it works with its design heritage. I figured that I was not using it correctly or appreciating its subtle design. So, instead of a knee jerk reaction, I decided to put it away for a month and then carry it again. I have never done this before in any of the 42 previous reviews (in one year, how about that?), but this is a truly beloved knife. See this thread/review. But I figured two things: 1) Spyderco's consistent high quality means that I should give them the benefit of the doubt and try again; and 2) the knife's insanely devoted following deserves a bit of respect. So, I am testing the Lava again.
Bear with me, I am also working on a end of year post.