My experience with multifunctional tools is not always positive. As a C-17 loading supervisor, I used them almost every day during my military service. I bought the Gerber multi-tool when I was training in 2003, but I have never liked it. I took that tool and used it every day for more than a year. It is a cheap thing. It doesn’t do anything particularly good, and some accessories are useless. Have you tried using a Phillips screwdriver on a multi-function tool? They are almost always frustrating to use because the tip is off-center, the handle is an unsightly rectangle, and the tip is chewed because they are usually not made of the correct metal. Most importantly, Gerber has plastic locks and circlips to fix everything, and the pliers head is retracted into the tool body with some buttons. I’m still young, 35 dollars is not the end of the world, I need something to pass the training. Sometimes convenience is the driving factor.
I have never been a fan of multi-function tools, because a good knife can meet almost all your needs for multi-function tools, and it may not break. Add a small screwdriver, a bottle opener, a pair of pliers and a cable saw to your kit, you may never need a multi-tool. But multifunctional tools also have a fatal flaw: drill bits and accessories are mounted on rods or rods, and when you use them, you will apply a lot of torque (torsion) on a very small surface area. Over time, the hole in the attachment through which the rod passes will expand due to use. They bend, twist and break at their worst. Think about it: When you are stressed and in an emergency, you are trying to pry up that panel to remove the screws. You are doing this with your best effort. Some things have to pay a price, and most of the time it is not the panel, but your multi-tool will bend or break. My cheap Gerber sucks.
When I completed my first squadron mission in 2004, I got a Leatherman Wave tool, which is a different tool from Gerber. It’s smaller, has a better shell, and it’s all metal, with no rattling at all. Its tolerances are more like tools. It should be, because the price of Wave is more than twice that of Gerber’s $80. Gerber still makes a version of the multifunctional tool that I carry and curse—MP600—and it now costs about $70 in shipping. Leatherman has a new version of the tool I carry, now called Wave+. Their shipping cost is approximately US$110.
This is where SOG Powerlock comes in. I used Wave to fly OJT for about six months before Uncle Sugar started to put down my gear. I still keep the Bianchi shoulder sleeve, my flight bag, Oregon Aero modified earphones and PowerLock that were sent to me at the time. The price of PowerLock is just over $70, which is completely between my old Gerber and Wave in price, but its features do overwhelm the competition. Although these products are not “cheap”, you will definitely be worth the money, and spending a little more money can bring great results, especially when you rely on this tool to accomplish or ruin your day in a crowd of people.
The rest of my Gucci gear has been lost over time and all the off-road sports I have done since then, but SOG PowerLock is excellent and has not lost its way in the shuffle. That’s great
Tools: gripper, hard wire cutter, crimp, blasting cap crimp, double-tooth wood saw, partial serrated blade, 3-sided file, large screwdriver, Phillips screwdriver, 1/4 inch driver, awl, can opener Screwdriver, small screwdriver, bottle opener, medium screwdriver, scissors and ruler
SOG is a unique company. It was founded by designer Spencer Frazer in 1986 and began to produce replicas of Bowie Knives that were sent to and used by a classified unit in Vietnam-Military Aid Command, Vietnam Research and Observation Group or MACV-SOG. MACV-SOG remained a secret during the Vietnam War. When Francis Ford Coppola made a movie based on Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness and set it during the Vietnam War, SOG entered Pop culture. That movie is Apocalypse Now. Yes, this is where the SOG tool got its name.
My SOG tools are packed in a normal cardboard box. Nothing special. The important thing is the inner stuff, which happens to be my excuse when my belt starts to tighten. This Powerlock is installed in a leather belt bag, but SOG today launched a new nylon version.
When holding the SOG Powerlock, the first thing you notice is the weight. It feels like it’s made of solid steel, but it’s actually like that. The only plastic you will find are three plastic spacer rings. The rest of the multifunction tool is stainless steel. This is a very good sign.
When you try to turn on PowerLock, you will find it a bit strange. It opens without swinging, it is a gear. Gears are my favorite part of PowerLock. They are the closing mechanism and force multiplier of the pliers. The jaws are full-size, which is rare in multi-function tools.
The other tools in the PowerLock arsenal are two knives, a serrated knife and a flat knife, file, awl, Phillips #1 drill, can opener, wood saw, bottle opener, pry tool, flat screwdriver and ruler .
Since I served as a first-class pilot, my PowerLock has been with me for more than 20 years, and has traveled around the world in American military aircraft many times. I use it as a student, coach, armorer, stevedore, and now as a grumpy, angry veteran. Canned food, twisted the fuse, sawed wood, opened so much beer. This list goes on forever. This thing looks (mostly) brand new.
Recently, it accompanied my Coast G20 to Alaska to participate in a 5,000-mile road rally. When I had to check it (and my carry-on luggage), it almost killed me because it had a sharp knife in it. I had to decide whether to leave it in Gomi (the brave dustbin that survived the Alcan 5000 rally I drove) and risk returning to the barge and sinking, or take it and risk the airline losing it. Always bet on sea travel.
SOG’s PowerLock is better than half of the ordinary pliers used in my life. The transmission makes you feel like a superman, you just need to clamp something. You can use gears to crush and destroy metal. Considering that I have trimmed metal pieces with them, they chew metal directly. No matter what you need to grasp, PowerLock gear pliers can do it. There is a file attachment, so you can even deburr after cutting.
The locking mechanism makes SOG tools so special. Each handle has a metal cover, once your tool is locked, it will swing up and return to place to protect your hands. The locking mechanism is patented and consists of a leaf spring riveted on each handle to push the tongue and groove lock. This is a sturdy, simple and reliable design.
One of my favorite things about multi-tools (except for the quality of the pliers) is the saw. For me, a saw is something you can’t easily carry with you. If you have a little extra space, you can take a decent survival knife like Mora and a pair of your favorite pliers, but you may not have packed a full-size saw. However, the saw is really convenient. If you need to quickly evacuate or do anything that requires cutting a large number of small branches, a saw is 100 times better than a knife. The PowerLock saw is great, the large alternating serrations stay sharp.
I usually carry another knife with me, but SOG’s knife attachment is more useful than I thought. If I have turned on PowerLock, pulling the blade is faster than closing the tool and reaching for another knife. It also remains sharp and has a useful length.
Usually the knife becomes round or loose first, because this is our most commonly used tool, and it is also the most powerful tool. This has not happened on my SOG tool, and at this rate, it may never happen. The locking mechanism of the tool’s name is great. The lock is strong but easy to operate with one hand, which is important for most EDC equipment, whether it’s a knife, flashlight or multi-function tool.
My only real complaint about SOG Powerlock is that it is still a multi-function tool, so the design features are limited. Using a screwdriver is still awkward, I would rather have a better version of the individual tool. When this is not possible, such as when I am not at home, PowerLock is the best alternative.
There are also a few sharp corners on the handle, which may be uncomfortable according to the standards of pliers, but then again, these are not pliers. This is a SOG tool.
So far, PowerLock is my gold standard for multifunction tools, so I compared all the other multifunction tools I have used. Others have better personal tools, or novel locking mechanisms, or they are only half the size or weight. Some have colder storage options or better one-handed operation. Some even have better pliers or more comfortable grip. What others lack is combining the total package with proven longevity.
PowerLock is an excellent all-rounder. Everything it does is good enough that you won’t miss four-fifths of the real thing. Then there is durability. Mine is as strong as the day I got it, and many others feel the same way. If you lose you, you just need a new one-and you won’t, because you will like it and make it an heirloom.
A: I was lucky that I didn’t see the receipt for this pair, but you can buy the gloves by yourself, and the shipping cost is about US$71.
Answer: SOG is famous for its warranty service-PowerLock has a limited lifetime warranty. If your tool looks like you have been maintaining it, SOG will repair or replace your tool.
A. SOG’s PowerLock is manufactured in the United States. SOG’s headquarters is more than an hour away from the joint base Lewis McChord in Washington State.
We are here as expert operators for all methods of operation. Use us, praise us, tell us that we have completed FUBAR. Leave a comment below and let’s talk! You can also yell at us on Twitter or Instagram.
Drew Shapiro has served twice in the Air Force in a C-17. Thanks to the GI Act, he is now sitting on his desk in the Pacific Northwest. When he is not wearing a suit, Drew usually gets his hands dirty. He tests gadgets the hard way, so you don’t have to do this.
If you purchase products through one of our links, Task & Purpose and its partners may receive commissions. Learn more about our product review process.
We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program that aims to provide us with a way to earn money by linking to Amazon.com and affiliate sites. Registering or using this website signifies acceptance of our terms of service.