SOG Flash MT Review
Moves are complex and unpleasant affairs. I posted some of my favorite moving tips here. But no matter how organized you are, there is no way to guarantee that everything makes the transition. To my surprise I lost one of my longest owned pieces of kit—the Leather Skeletool CX. I had been super careful, but we had three days between arrival of people and arrival of stuff AND we moved amidst COVID, so I am surprised that is all it was.
I was really sad, the CX was the first piece of kit that I really researched, but it was also an opportunity to wade back into the MT waters, something I haven’t done in a long time, in large part because I was so satisfied with the CX. Should I just re-up and get another or should I go on a hunt form something new? When I started I was skeptical that I would find anything that was even theoretically close to being as good as the CX. Then, thanks to MaxLVLEDC, I learned that a new MT was on its way from SOG and it looked like a true competitor to the CX. Given my need for an EDC (as opposed to Toolbox Replacement) MT, the SOG Flash MT was perfect. I waited a few weeks for it to be released and then bought a review sample.
Here is the product page. There are a pair of different colorways—blue and gray. The retail price for the SOG Flash MT is $70. In case you are unaware, SOG was sold and is now part of the outdoor brand stable that includes Cold Steel. I was worried this would negatively impact SOG, but the Flash MT does not appear to be worse for wear design- or materials-wise. Here is MaxLVLEDC’s unboxing. Here is the review sample:
Quick Review Summary: Finally…a Skeletool challenger.
Design: 2
The Flash MT has one design trick after another to keep the size and weight down in a way that makes it an excellent EDC MT. I have carried mine for a large percentage of the summer of 2022 and it has been great. I installed new locks on three outside doors (I would never use an MT on an inside door lock—there is no home improvement process more unexpectedly difficult than installing a door lock set). I attached a downspout to a rain barrel. I also took the Flash MT fishing quite a bit. In all of these roles it performed decently. In some it excelled. Obviously it is never going to be better than a full sized tool, but it could do everything I asked of it, albeit with some compromise—which is pretty much the definition of an MT.
Fit and Finish: 1
Leatherman’s trick, insofar as it is a trick, has been to constantly punch above its price in terms of fit and finish. Sure, the design chops are critical, and remain the best in the business, but as the SOG Flash MT proves, they are no longer alone on the design front. It is here that the SOG feels lesser. There is a good bit of folded sheet metal and plastic. Unfortunately a large amount of it can be found in the handle, where rounded, high quality surfaces would be nice. There is also a bit of play in the blade, which is not surprising given the assist.
The pliers are worth a special note. They are, of course, the power assist pliers that SOG uses as a difference maker. I am not so stoked on the compound leverage thing, but it doesn’t seem to be a large added weight, so that’s not a drawback. The pliers have no slop or play which is rare for a multitool. They are also very finely ground and nicely pointed. If you are going to spend time and money focusing on a single implement in a multitool, pliers are the right choice and here the pliers are excellent.
Theme: 2
One of the ways that companies have sold variations is by claiming they are aimed at a specific task or type of work (see: Swiss Army Knife Farmer…). In recent years we have seen hunting and survival MTs with features that I will assume are useful, as I do neither of these things (though Sartre would contend we all engage in the struggle of survival everyday, problem is, I don’t think any multitool includes an implement to deal with Sartre’s radical notion of personal freedom unless you count the cap lifter).
The Skeletool was the first plier-based MT focused on EDC and it has, for years, remained the only full sized, EDC-focused MT. The Flash MT has changed that, and it carries the exact same set of tools, with the addition of a pry. Overall, these are the tools I would pick first. If I were to add one more it would probably be a pair of scissors, but they aren’t strict necessary, so I am glad they were omitted. I also like the over-the-top deep carry clip—a first, I think, on a full sized MT. The broadly utilitarian theme even influenced the blade shape—this is as useful a drop point as you can find, the perfect choice. Overall, SOG did a really good job selecting tools and features to make a true EDC multitool.
Grip: 1
The asymmetric grip is strange, but not a bad thing. It actually works pretty well in the hand and does not bother me. It also aids with deployment of the pliers. Over the months I have figured out how to snap open the pliers using the skinny handle as a grip and the fatter handled as a weight. This way I can open the pliers one handed, like say, when I have to remove a hook from a fish I have my other hand and two little boys staring at me hoping beyond hope I do not drop the fish. Talk about tense.
My bigger problem is with the skinny side when engaging in high pressure grips. Because there is a bit of folded sheet metal close to your fingers, it can great pretty serious hotspots when using the pliers. Its not a dealbreaker, but definitely noticeable and something that Leatherman has avoided for about two decades now. This is a beginner mistake that SOG shouldn’t be making because they aren’t beginners.
Carry: 2
Thanks to the size and weight of the Flash MT and its amazing clip (and clip placement) no full sized MT carries as nicely as the Flash MT. It is absolutely no worse than carrying a large-ish folder and as a result, the Flash MT often came with me for around the yard chores this summer. If I was on the mower, the Flash MT was very likely in my pocket. Never underestimate the benefits of superior carry. After all, 90% of the time that is all we are doing with our tools.
Materials: 2
Sheet metal, rubberized plastic, and D2 are pretty decent materials. I also like the hardened steel for the plier jaws. D2 is leagues better than 420HC, but still a bit behind S30V and 154CM found on the best Leatherman multitool blades. Still, as compared to the average MT, this is better than average even if it is a smidge below the best.
Deployment/Accessibility: 2
Combining the assisted opening blade and the aforementioned snap open move on the pliers the Flash MT is one of the best, if not these best, deploying multitool I have used. And yes, I have tried the Gerber slide-out pliers on something like the Gerber 600. They are awful and that remains one of the lowest scored items I have ever reviewed. The Flash MT, on the other hand, is just as quick but has the quality to back up the speed.
Retention: 2
The clip is, I think, the only over-the-top deep carry clip on an MT and it is superb. This multitool doesn’t get lost or snagged on stuff even when walking through high grass and brambles that seem to grab just about everything. In fact, I was walking through the brambles out behind our new house and they grabbed one of my work gloves, but didn’t grab the Flash MT. Fortunately, my youngest son found the missing glove. I think I will review the gloves. They are from Geier and they are superb.
Tool Performance: 2
The pliers are better than the pliers found on any Leatherman and the thin, drop point blade is a great slicer. I also like the cap lifter here. Only the screwdriver is a bit underwhelming, with the cavaet that all MTs have janky screwdrivers.
The problem is that they opted for a micro driver instead of a full sized bit or a flat bit like on the Skeletool. You remove the bit from the storage box on the handle and then close up the multitool setting the bit on a retention magnet at the base of the pliers.
As you close the pliers and the MT, they grip the microbit. It allows for on-center screw driving, but the microbit can’t handle the largest screws. Anything over a 8D screw is somewhere between a bit fiddly and nigh-impossible.
Tool Selection: 2
The tools here are both exactly what you would expect and the first 7 or so tools I would choose for an MT. You get the standard pliers/cuttings with the Power Assist mechanism, a good knife reminiscent of the knife found on the original Flash I, a pry/cap lifter, and the two-sided microbit driver. The tools are the same as those found on the Skeletool, so the competition is very obvious.
Other Considerations
Fidget Factor: Very High
The assisted blade, which, for some reason I LIKE on an MT, gives you tons of snappy action and the pliers can actually be opened one handed, so there is that….
Fett Effect: Moderate
Its an MT, so it will take some abuse, but the plastic, coated blade, and gray sheetmetal won’t show a ton of wear.
Value: High
You get a lot of tool for the money here and the blade is definitely above average in the MT segment of the market.
Overall Score: 18 of 20
It has been a long time since I reviewed a full on mutlitool. The return to the MT space was great as I found a new-to-me YouTuber—MaxLvLEDC—and got a good survey of the state of the industry. It is clear that the magnet-based Leatherman line has not hit as intended. They look good, but the fidget friendly designs don’t seem like a necessary upgrade from the Skeletool/Wave group of tools. The SOG stuff IS innovative and worth the upgrade, especially compared to their larger tools (with internally mounted implements—yuck). This is a really great design. I know that there is earlier compact MT from SOG with the same bit mounting system, but the Flash MT is more compact and carry-friendly. If you are looking for an EDC MT, you absolutely MUST look at the Flash MT. It is excellent.
Competition
The Skeletool is a better made tool with less play and less touch points that feel cheap. There is less visible folded sheet metal and very little in the way of plastic. I’d probably take the Flash MT over the baseline Skeletool as D2 is a better steel than 420HC and I like the pliers more on the Flash MT. Compared to the Skeletool CX, things get very close. I think the clever design of so much of the Flash MT allows it to hang with the Skeletool CX despite a slightly inferior finish and build quality. Would I buy a Flash MT if I had a Skeletool CX? Probably not. Would I buy a Skeletool CX if I had a Flash MT? Again, probably not.
But the real question is which I would buy if I had neither. Leatherman’s warranty and reputation are worth a lot. I also like the bit driver on the Leatherman more than the clever but limited bit driver on the Flash MT. The knives are about even (a thinner D2 blade versus a thicker 154CM blade), while the Flash MT has a sizable lead in terms of carry and pliers. Here is how I would decide. An MT is just a knife about 60% of the time, but a pliers about 30%, and a screwdriver about 9%. The knives are basically a draw, so if pliers matter more go with the Flash MT, but if the screwdriver matters more go with the Skeletool CX. Be aware that both drivers are substandard, but the Skeletool’s is a smidge better than the one found on this tool. If that doesn’t break the tie, choose at random.
As a side note there is still space for improvement in the EDC MT design space. I want an MT under 5 ounces (both the Flash MT and Skeletool CX are 4.9 ounces…remarkable coincidence or targeting one’s competition?) that allows for a center drive screwdriver that uses AND stores full sized bits. And it has to be better made that the Gerber multitools.
Amazon Links
