Tool review: Leatherman Sidekick

Key Features:
 +   Knife opens easily from outside
 +   Good spring tension on pliers
 +   Liner locks for the knife and saw blades 
 -    Knife tip breaks easily


I've owned many lower-end multi tools over the years, some of which are good tools and others of which aren't.  However, up until recently, I'd never owned or used a Leatherman.  The rare combination of a Home Depot gift card and the Leatherman Sidekick going on sale for just $18 changed that, however.

The Sidekick usually sells for around $30-$35.  Home Depot recently had the Leatherman Wingman on sale for $20, and I stopped in one day to check that out, when I saw the Sidekick on sale for $18.  They are very similar multi tools, even though the Sidekick is usually more expensive, so since the price was right I snatched the Sidekick up.

The quality difference between a Leatherman multi tool and other brands of multi tools is readily apparent.  The Sidekick is all metal (about as heavy as a DeWalt MT16 or a Stanley FatMax T16) and the tool opens and closes very smoothly.  It's obvious that a lot of thought went into how the tool was put together, where everything is positioned, and how it all opens.  The knife and saw blades open from the outside, and the two screwdrivers are right next to each other, making them easy to find when you need them.

The knife is good quality, with a sharp edge and tip.  It can be opened one-handed (with either hand) though not as easily as the blades on some other multi tools I've used.  The saw blade also opens one-handed, and is slightly easier to open than the knife because of the position of the belt clip (which is removable).

The knife tip, however, is unexpectedly fragile.  The very first time I used the knife to pry off an e-clip -- something I've done often with my other multi tools -- the tip snapped right off.  That has never happened in the many times I've popped off e-clips with a DeWalt MT16, Gerber Mini Suspension-P, or any other multi tools that I've used.

The Sidekick's pliers are strong, with needle nose tips, good spring tension, and a wide jaw span.  The wire cutters don't touch or overlap like those on other multi tools, which could be a good or bad thing depending on what you are using them for.  The pliers open easily and snap shut with a military-esque precision.  When the pliers are closed, there is a slight amount of side to side play between the two handles, but it's not noticeable when the pliers are open.

In addition to the three "main" tools the Sidekick has -- pliers, knife, and saw -- there are many other tools as well.  There are the slotted and cross drivers, which are as good or better than any other multi tool I've used.  The cross driver isn't equal to a Phillips screwdriver, of course, but it works better than the cross driver on a Gerber Mini Suspension-P.  Decent screwdrivers combined with good pliers and a good knife make the Sidekick a worthwhile everyday-carry tool.

The other tools include a ruler, can opener, bottle opener, and file.  The tension on these inner tools (which you have to open the pliers to be able to access) is a little stronger than it needs to be.  If you have two T-10 Torx drivers, you can probably adjust the tension, but with only one driver the screw just spins in place.

Amazon.com currently lists the Sidekick for $49.99 (way overpriced) and HomeDepot.com sells it for $29.88.  You can get the DeWalt MT16 for around $20, which is a comparable tool.  (The MT16 doesn't have the saw blade, but it does have scissors.)  If you can find the Sidekick for $20 or so, I would definitely recommend trying it.