Best Leatherman for ‘Alone’
We’ve enjoyed watching ‘Alone’ on Channel 4, the UK version of the longstanding American survival show. 11 contestants were left alone on land around the Mackenzie River, in the Dehcho region of Northwest Territories, Canada. They arrive with no food and have to see how long they can last by hunting, fishing and snaring before using the Sat phone to get returned to civilisation.
We’ve particularly enjoyed watching the progress of Eva. She joined us for her Mountain Leader Training earlier this year.
One feature of the show is that participants get to choose only ten pieces of equipment from a list of 53 items. It’s interesting that many contestants both here in the Uk and in the USA pick a Leatherman rather than a fixed blade knife so beloved of survivalists and bush crafters.
So what is the Best Leatherman for ‘Alone’ ? We narrowed down the selection to three possibilities. So if we were lucky (or unluckily!) enough to be dropped off Alone in the wilds of Eastern Canada which Leatherman would we choose?
The Surge has the biggest blade, the Signal the fattest, the Charge the sharpest.
Leatherman Surge
Big and strong. Yes it’s really heavy but on Alone you wouldn’t be carrying it for long distances. It’s got the biggest blade of the three compared here, the scissors are excellent and are surprisingly useful. You can detach the diamond file and use it to sharpen the knife and the file is big enough to keep an axe sharp as well.
Leatherman Surge
Leatherman Signal
This is my favourite Leatherman and despite it being specifically designed for outdoor use this wouldn’t be my first choice. It does have a ferro rod for firelighting but it’s very small and wouldn’t last long enough for the extended use expected on Alone. It contains a detachable Diamond file but it’s quite small and is only big enough for a quick sharpen of the Signals blade.
Read Hati’s Review of the Leatherman Signal
Leatherman Signal
Leatherman Charge +
The top of the range Leatherman model with a similar design to the Surge, however the Charge + is smaller which may suit some users. It has the smallest knife in this test but definitely the sharpest out of the box, the blade is razor sharp. The scissors are much smaller and not as robust as those on the Surge. Beautifully engineered and perfect for everyday use.
Leatherman Charge
Conclusion
The Surge is King! It has the biggest blade, the best scissors, and a long sharp awl. Also the diamond file can be detached to sharpen the knife. This would my first choice for a stint of Canadian wilderness survival.
A close 2nd in this review is the Charge +. Beautifully made and a great tool. Lighter than the Surge and perfect for everyday use.
The Signal is a brilliant tool but it’s come third in this test. This lives in my climbing pack and I use it surprisingly often but this wouldn’t be my first pick for ‘Alone’.
Alex
Beyond the Edge Ltd is based in the Peak District, easily reached by train from London and within easy travelling distance from Sheffield, Manchester, Leeds, Nottingham and other Northern towns and cities.
We are one of the UKs most experienced providers of climbing, walking, scrambling, mountaineering and navigation training courses.
Most of our courses are run in the Peak District National Park which has some of the finest rock climbing, bouldering, walking and hiking in the world.
