I hate lugging around a toolbox into the backcountry. For most jobs, you just don't need a 15- to 20-pound chest of wrenches and ratchets and hammers and more for the woodsy fixes you need to get yourself back to civilization when things hit the fan. You do it, just because you'd rather be safe than sorry, but for the most part, it sucks.
For me, who likes to pack light, I want something that'll save me weight. Whether that's weight on my back when I'm out riding snowmobiles or dirt bikes, or saving weight when I'm driving an ATV or side-by-side, as I need that space for other gear like camping equipment or my hunting stuff. Tools, no matter how light your setup, tend to take up a bunch of space.
And for me, I want something like a multi-tool that is a jack-of-all-trades. It might be a master of none, but like the full saying goes, it's still better than a master of one. And very much still better than a master of one that weighs an additional 30 pounds.
Leatherman, the folks who pioneered the class, have always had some of the best multi-tools around, in that respect. And while the brand's ARC isn't all that new to the space, it is getting a fancy new colorway, and that gave me the opportunity to talk about this handy-dandy tool, as RideApart hasn't covered it before, and it goes to having the right tool for the job when you're out in the woods.
Let's first talk turkey, i.e. the backbone of the multi-tool which will always be the knife in my view. Made of everyone's favorite new steel, Magnacut, the ARC Talos' (it's new colorway) blade is designed for "long-lasting edge retention with excellent corrosion resistance and toughness," and even features a diamond-like carbon (DLC) coating that ensures whatever you get on it will just wipe away.
The ARC Talos' frame, however, is stainless steel, as are many of its other tools, and comes with a cerakote finish. Again, for added durability and corrosion resistance. In total, though, the ARC Talos comes with a whopping 20 tools that you can depend on when things aren't going your way, including (deep breath): the Magnacut knife blade, needlenose pliers, regular pliers, large bit driver, diamond-coated file, small bit driver, wood/metal file, pry tool, premium replaceable wire cutters, premium replaceable hard-wire cutters, impact surface, large screwdriver, bottle opener, can opener, awl, spring-action scissors, saw, wire stripper, electrical crimper, and an edge file.
Having used a number of those as singular tools, there's so much usefulness here, it's almost too much. Almost.
What's more, Leatherman designed the ARC Talos and regular ARC with the brand's Free one-handed operation design, which allows the user to have one hand holding whatever you need to while you flip open the ARC Talos to the right tool. Hence the name. I also really like the bit driver, which allows you to swap heads when you need say a torx versus a hex versus a standard flat head driver. There's even a ratcheting accessory head for easier use.
Likewise, the ARC Talos comes with a 25-year warranty, and free sharpening services through Leatherman.
As for price, the ARC Talos is the same price as the standard ARC, which will set you back $249.95. That ain't bad for the amount of use-cases I could see this working for. And when you don't have to schlup a massive toolchest into the woods, or strap it to the back of your ATV or UTV, that's always a win. Plus, think of how much all those other tools would set you back if you bought them all individually? And again, think of how heavy they'd be.
Eww.
