Leatherman has been a trusted name in multi-tools for years, and when it comes to everyday carry (EDC), the ARC Obsidian is nothing short of the mother of all EDC tools. At Yanko Design, we appreciate practical and well-designed gear, and this multi-tool hits the mark. Made in the USA, the ARC Obsidian is built to handle everything from routine tasks to more demanding situations, making it an essential piece for anyone serious about their everyday carry.

Designer: Leatherman

A Thoughtful Blend of Functionality and Durability

Right away, the ARC Obsidian’s matte black PVD-coated handles catch your attention. The coating gives it a refined, professional look and helps protect the tool from corrosion and wear over time. The combination of the PVD coating with DLC-coated components makes this tool highly durable and able to withstand everyday use and more challenging environments.

At the center of it all is the MagnaCut steel blade. Known for its toughness and excellent edge retention, this steel gives the blade strength and longevity. Whether you’re dealing with small, precise cutting tasks or something more demanding, the blade stays sharp and resists corrosion, a must for anyone who needs reliability in their EDC.

Despite being packed with tools, the ARC Obsidian maintains a compact form. With a closed length of 4.25 inches and a weight of around 8.6 oz., it’s easy to carry without feeling cumbersome. The balance between size and functionality makes it a perfect fit for those who need a tool they can rely on for everyday tasks and in more challenging environments.

Easy Access and Ergonomic Design

One key aspect of the ARC Obsidian is its user-friendly design. Leatherman’s technology makes it easy to access many tools with just one hand, which is a huge plus when you’re multitasking or in a situation where one hand is occupied. The tools open smoothly and lock into place securely, giving you confidence in their stability during use.

The locking mechanisms are beneficial with tools like the pliers and bit drivers, ensuring that they won’t accidentally fold or shift once they’re in use. Every tool, from the scissors to the file, is strategically placed for easy access, meaning you won’t waste time hunting for the right one. The convenience of grabbing the tool you need quickly makes it a versatile option for any EDC setup.

How the tools are arranged also helps reduce hand strain during extended use. Whether you’re tightening a screw with the bit driver or cutting through material with the saw, everything is positioned in a way that feels intuitive and ergonomic, making the tool easy to handle over time.

Built for Versatility with 20 Tools

Leatherman has packed 20 useful tools into the ARC Obsidian without sacrificing usability or portability. It comes equipped with everything from a large and small bit driver to needlenose pliers and a saw. The MagnaCut blade, as expected, performs flawlessly across different applications, retaining its edge even after extended use.

One of the most requested features—bit drivers—has been integrated into the design with both large and small options and nine double-ended bits. This means that no matter what kind of fastening task you encounter, the ARC Obsidian has you covered. The variety of bits, including Torx, hex, and Robertson, ensures you’re prepared for almost any situation.

Additionally, the replaceable wire cutters and hard-wire cutters mean that heavy use won’t wear the tool down over time. These components can be easily swapped out, prolonging the tool’s life without needing an entirely new multi-tool. Other features like the diamond-coated and wood/metal files add to the tool’s versatility, handling everything from sharpening to smoothing rough edges.

Despite the range of tools, the ARC Obsidian remains slim and easy to carry. This balance between function and portability is one of its greatest strengths, ensuring that you always have the right tool without adding unnecessary bulk to your gear.

Ready for the Toughest Conditions

Durability is one of the ARC Obsidian’s key strengths. The MagnaCut steel blade offers exceptional corrosion resistance, toughness, and long-lasting sharpness. This material is well-suited to handle everyday tasks, but its reliability becomes even more valuable in harsher environments. Whether you’re working through routine jobs or tackling more rugged conditions, the blade is designed to maintain its edge and perform consistently over time.

The PVD-coated handles and DLC-coated components further reinforce the tool’s durability. These coatings help protect against corrosion and wear, ensuring the tool remains functional and looks sharp even after heavy use. Whether in a humid, wet environment or used daily, the materials chosen for the ARC Obsidian keep it going strong over time.

For anyone who values a tool that can handle a bit of everything—from cutting and fastening to filing and crimping—the ARC Obsidian is built to last. It’s designed with durability and functionality, making it stand out from other multi-tools, no matter the conditions it faces.

Ready for Everyday Tasks or the Unexpected

The ARC Obsidian isn’t just about extreme environments or specialized tasks. It’s also built to handle the little things you face daily. Whether you’re cutting rope, fixing gear, or just tightening a loose screw, this multi-tool is versatile enough to cover a wide range of everyday tasks.

Tools like the spring-action scissors, the bottle opener, and the wire stripper add to the tool’s usefulness in routine situations. The MagnaCut blade makes quick work of cutting tasks, from slicing through thick material to handling more delicate jobs, and the one-handed operation adds convenience, particularly in moments when you need to act fast.

Versatile for Any User

While it’s a strong choice for professionals who need a reliable tool for demanding jobs, the ARC Obsidian works just as well for those who value having a high-quality multi-tool in their everyday carry. It includes replaceable wire cutters, hard-wire cutters, and various bits, making it practical for many users.

The ARC Obsidian’s versatility means it’s not limited to one type of user. It’s equally useful for outdoor enthusiasts, DIYers, and anyone who values a reliable tool they can carry daily. With 20 integrated tools, all in a slim and durable package, this multi-tool proves that you don’t have to compromise between functionality and portability.

Leatherman’s ARC Obsidian redefines what an EDC tool can be. Whether it’s the MagnaCut blade, the durable coatings, or the carefully arranged tools, every detail is designed to provide the best in everyday use and more demanding situations. It’s the kind of tool that’s always ready, no matter what’s ahead.

The post Leatherman ARC Obsidian: The Ultimate Everyday Carry Multi-Tool first appeared on Yanko Design.

Multitool meets a la carte dining – say hello to ZEN, an EDC multitool that lets you choose which tools you want to have on you. Unlike a Swiss Knife or any other multitool where you don’t really get to choose which tools get included, ZEN focuses on versatility and customization. It comes with an ’empty’ holder that lets you add the tools of your choice, giving you a Swiss Knife that feels truly DIY. Carry the tools you need, and swap them out at any time if you find yourself wanting a change. You shouldn’t be stuck with a multitool that is only 30% usable because you don’t use or need 70% of the tools included in the design… right?

Designer: Ant Design

Click Here to Buy Now: $49 $69 (29% off) Hurry! Only 4 of 70 left.

There’s a distinct appeal to ZEN’s a la carte approach. It gives you the freedom of being able to design your own EDC like you would a desktop. A lot like picking a motherboard, CPU, GPU, and storage based on your choice, ZEN lets you add the tools of your choice to its open framework. The design offers 7 tools to choose from, and you can either add all of them to the ZEN’s holder, or stick to just the basics and keep the tools you find yourself using the most often.

The 7 tools that come with the ZEN cater to a variety of needs and requirements. You’ve got a bottle-opener, a rope cutter (which also works as a flathead screwdriver), a wood/metal file, an awl or pry-tool, a jagged toothed saw, a drop-point knife, and a screwdriver that lets you load hex-bits of your choice into its design. There’s probably never a time when you’re going to need all these tools at once, so you can choose exactly the tools you may end up requiring and carry just them instead of having a bulky heavy EDC on you all the time.

In fact, the creators of ZEN have even more tools in the works that you can buy as add-ons and attach them to your multitool. Available as separate accessories, you’ve got a ruler, comb, diamond file, scalpel blade, scissor, fish hook, bicycle spoke wrench, can opener, or box cutter, with many more tools in the works. Attaching them is as easy as hooking them into the ZEN, where they secure firmly until you need to remove them. You can build your own multitool to serve a precise scenario or series of scenarios – a camping-specific multitool would have a rope-cutter, knife, and bottle opener, while a tinkerer would require the bike spokes, screwdriver, file, and pry tool. The possibilities are as endless as your needs and requirements.

Using the ZEN is just about as simple as a Swiss Knife. The tools fold open when you need them, and slide shut into their holder when they’re done. The tools sit inside the holder in a stacked fashion, and the topmost tool can be opened with a single hand, which means it’s best to have the drop-point knife or the rope-cutter at the top, letting you singlehandedly flip it open like you would any EDC.

The ZEN’s holder or outer shell comes in one standard size that fits multiple tools inside it, but offers 3 different materials to choose from. The most obvious (and budget-friendly) is stainless steel, but right after that is G10 fiber, which most EDC enthusiasts will love for its grippy tactile feel. You can also opt for a titanium holder, which makes your ZEN virtually indestructible, although the tools on the inside are all 440C high-carbon stainless steel.

The ZEN is entirely CNC machined, from the holder down to the tools themselves. The entire multitool measures 3.54 inches in length when closed, and comes with a sturdy yet lightweight design (the weight depends on how many tools you add to your ZEN). Finally, a pocket clip on the side lets you attach your custom multitool to the lining of your pocket for easy access. The ZEN DIY Multitool ships globally and starts at $49 for the stainless steel variant, while the G10 and Titanium versions start at $55 and $69 respectively.

Click Here to Buy Now: $49 $69 (29% off) Hurry! Only 4 of 70 left.

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