Talking Tools: Leatherman Surge vs. Super Tool 300 (Which Heavy Duty Tool is for You?)

Can anybody tell me what that special bit kit that he has for the supertool?

Awesome review thank you

Where can I buy the bit for the 300

You can get after market saws that fit the bosh t shank. That will be even longer than the super tool and will fit in the pouch also.

I bought a Surge. Now I want to customize one with the Surge! Soft drink colors and marketing.

Bought a surge after my ST300 fell in half after not even a year of mediocre use. Won’t settle for anything else unless it’s a MUT 😜

One more thing, when my ST 300 is folded, I can use the flat side(not the ruler one) as a hammer, which I think surge can't

I believe you can put double ended wiha bits in your leatherman bit kit card if you want 3d bits.

I was between the surge the wave+ the curl and the supertool 300 i finalized it to the two heaviest duty tools and that was ofc both in this video thank you so much for the video you helped me decide the one thats gonna be always gonna be with me on adventures and whatnot i chose the supertool 300

Either way people in the old days wish they had these tools.
All they had closely was a SAK and that was like the basic one lol

What's the hook on the medium flat tip?

My personal collection, OHT, Surge and rebar. Nice video!

I think you really overlooked the whole t-shank ability on the surge.

Nice fidget tool

Nice review. I was using the Wave+ for a good while as my work EDC and it served me well but after listening to others on the internet and watching countless videos (yours included) I bit the bullet and bought a Surge just to check it out myself and I have to say it's only been about a month but it's definitely became king as far as my work edc. I'm in aviation maintenance and I supplement it with the bit extender/ratchet and bit kit so I have everything I need for those quick last minute minor repairs on me. It keeps me from having to go back to my tool bag in many cases and when the aircraft are close to departure time the quicker you can fix an item the happier everyone is ;) That being said I've been looking at the Super Tool 300M (I like the bit exchanger & small pry bar) mainly because I like the tool set on it vs the standard 300. I don't know if it will replace my Surge. I think that would take a lot ;D but I want to give it a try and have it available if nothing else. I have the Rebar too with the bit kit you showed in your video. It's a little tank of a tool. It never replaced my Wave but it's there if I need it. Anyway, great comparison, like watching your videos, you keep it to point without being biased and just put the information out there. Looking forward to your next one.

Prefer the Super tool less moving parts less likely chance of a malfunction. Prefer the ST300s bit driver as well over the Surge.

For me the super tool been my go to for over 15yrs now. Just purchased another with the bit driver for 70 bucks and if you loose a bit it's easy to replace than the surge.

3d Philips sounds good in theory until you strip it which will leave tool useless. Atleast with surge u can replace it. Great video man🤙🏽

The supertool is honestly my favorite compared to other multi tools I’ve had. It’s opened kerosene drums that didn’t wanna uncap, kept me sane with wood carving, and helped maintain equipment. Wish the wire snipers were a bit more durable. All in all beyond worrying

the surge is chunky and capable, but i like the big swisstool x more, way better craftsmanship (fit and finish, walk and talk are in its own league)

Great video man, like the in depth comparison and also the insight on the various options each tool has for bits...

Knipex and a Gerber Armbar and SAK classic SD EDC gold!

Most of the encounters I have screws being a maintenance/hvac guy is Phillips, torx, flat, and 5/16s self tappers. Changing bits is no issue on the surge. I just worry about those springs wearing oht

I like the Leatherman super tool 300 I have one the biggest problem I have with it is it's hard to tune to tighten when it's loose but I like it the main reason I like it it doesn't have scissors I would have bought a surge but my problem with the surge is the damn scissors I think scissors are the most useless thing to put in a working man's tool I understand you can modify them but it seems to me you should be able to buy one that doesn't have the scissors in it they should have a model that doesn't have the damn scissors they are useless I don't know anybody and I know a lot of people with leathermans and multi tools of different types I don't know any of these people that have found any use for them scissors they are 90% useless they just take space I think the surge is a far better tool as far as the way is made over the super tool 300 but the damn scissors they need to do away with the scissors they're useless for a working man or make one that doesn't have them put something else in there that's more useful

Nice comparison. I’ve had carrying the ST for years. Lately I’ve been considering getting the Surge. Still debating.

The Supertool 300M just needs the big scissors instead of two knives and it would be perfect. A combi-knife would be fine. If you need a real knife or tool in general, then I bring a dedicated tool.

A multitool is not meant to replace specialized tool, but to be something-or-nothing-tool when you need it.
I've used the Supertool300 (not the M model) and the only thing I'm missing are the scissors and a bit driver. The only complaint I have is the weight; it's getting up there - to high for being comfortable to carry around all day long at work. And the Surge is even heavier and for little extra use.

An improvement I would love to see in general is a scissor-style wirestripper. Electricians are some people who would get the most use out of a multitool I think.
I usually carry the Rebar because it's so light and capable.

A really good review/ comparison. These decisions are always a compromise. Comfort v size /bulk v tools most used and convince. When you brought out the Knipex, that dwarfs all other pliers tools . For me i have leatherman squirt on keyring always, it's thought of as a toy yet the pliers save the day, small tasks , the file on the squirt is tiny yet capable, knife tiny but can do 80-90% of jobs . Then the Knipex 125mm covers all pliers work . Living in Scotland knife laws don't permit lock blades so that rules out most multitool. For knife and screwdriver victorinox various models, but the basic Recruit or Tourist (with can opner MOD is a must giving me a good Phillips and flat with good clearance ,not so good as that 300 supertool ) is my go to .
Still i can deam about that supertool for the toolbox. Currently the leatherman skeletool cx lives there which i hate , blade is way to thick and bits fall out and get lost , worse the damn thing always nips me .

Very good comparison! I am very happy with my supertool 300 less cool factor than other multitools but a real no bs tool !

Ok so here's my take on the debate. Really, there is no world where a ST300 is beating the Surge if you're carrying the MT as a one-tool contained system. The ST300 excels in some scenarios, but the Surge can handle those adequately; however the Surge can do some things the ST300 simply can't (like replace a 1h opening knife operable with gloves on).

It truly pains me to say because I absolutely love the Bond/Rebar/ST line, but let's be honest here.. if the debate is over an MT for the sake of having an MT then just buy a Surge. Or buy a Supertool first and then a Surge 6 months later so you can glove box the ST300 and never use it again lol.

That being said, in my opinion, as soon as you start adding other tools and your MT becomes part of a multiple item system, the playing field evens very quickly between them and I imagine the decision becomes highly scenario-specific.

From my experience, millwrights, HVAC, engineers, etc. gonna go with Surge every time. Because things like bit exchangers and diamond files give you the finesse you need for highly technical work.

I work on a drinking water utility - there's no finesse and everything is big. I need a chunky file for knocking burrs off and scraping old greasy felt gaskets apart, big screwdriver for doing big screwdriver stuff, a way to manipulate heavy gauge tracer wire.. and the tool has to be something I can drop in the mud, pick up, hose out, and not worry about after. ST300 wins for me because I have a Milwaukee fastback and 10in channel locks beside it, and a truck full of tools beside that. It fits a niche in my kit that I don't believe a Surge would.

That being said, back when I worked maintenance at a hockey arena, I shelfed the Supertool on my first day and carried a Wave (baby Surge) the entire time. If I could have afforded a Surge at the time it would have been a no-brainer.. because the need for that one-tool option was very present and you can't deny the utility of an onboard bit exchanger and diamond file working inside a facility like that.

Been like a year since I posted here, but there's my thought on that! Cheers brother.

Good comparison video.
I carry the Supertool 300 with a first gen universal tool adapter to use 1/4" bits and drivers. It's awesome. I'd carry a surge if it wasn't for leathermans proprietary flat bit exchanger and the wasted space the Scissors occupy. Scissors in a multi tool- For when you need to stop what you are doing and start scrapbooking! I heard Leatherman was coming out with a new larger framed tool with a complete set of knitting needles. Lol

I have both. I will say its nice to hand the supertool to someone and say 'you'll find X in there' and they can just find a tool without instruction. The surge isn't complicated but even though all the tools on the supertool are internal it means they're also easy to find.

Excellent video — a wealth of detail and insight.

So biyest towards the supertool

Has the scale right there but never gives the weight, what an amateur.

Awesome review! As a tradesmen in the welding and ironworker industry, the Supertool 300 has come in handy when I needed it the most especially working on highrises and the majority of the tools are on ground level. I've also purchased a Surge but for some reason the 300 is what I prefer. Once again awesome comparison! Thanks for sharing!

❤️💪🏻SUPER TOOL 300 🦾🇺🇸

THE MAIN DIFFERENCE IS THE $PRICE$ , I PREFER
🇺🇸SUPER TOOL 300

veri good comparison

If these two are the biggest and baddest why does the charge g10 and charge plus cost almost 200 bucks

Great Review, I definitely struggle between the 300 and Surge. Still couldn’t make up my mind but when you showed the 300 1/4” adapter and your point about the Phillips head and finally the longer blade length I decided my 300 is the better choice. Wanted to see the Bit Kit for the 300. Never saw the fittings. Great Video and like your Commentary it’s excellent. Thanks and God Bless.🙏🏼

Supertool 300 👍😎🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲

I have the First Version of the Super Tool, the 3D dedicated phillips screw driver is superior. I just bought a Surge at a flea market today for $10.00. I think that for myself, the Super Tool 300 has more of what I would want out of a multi tool seeing I always carry a dedicated folder. Thanx for the video my Brother 👍 ⚔️ ✝️ 🇺🇲

Imagine if the swapped all the tools around and made the 300 outside accessible I feel minus the scissors it would dominate the market

Big difference in canada super tool is $135 and surge is $202 big difference

Ive got both and for some reason the super tool 300 is the one i pick up every morning it just works very well for my needs thanks for sharing this video with us 👍

There is something about the Super Tool 300 that just works for me. I feel like the extra weight and extra cost of the Surge just isn't worth the features. I have no problem opening the blades of the Super Tool quickly and I can even do it one handed. I own several super tools that go in all of my vehicles, first aid kits, toolboxes, hunting bag, range bag, etc. Not to mention that I also EDC one with a Key Smart Nano Clip that suspends it by the lanyard ring in my pocket.

One point that I think is valid is that many people carry a Leatherman Micra or a Swiss Army knife on their keychain that has scissors on it, so that sort of fills in the gap for the lack of scissors on the super tool.

Is it normal to have very little side to side Ply on the pliers very little ? Thanks 👍

The Super tool 300 is still the King 👑. I’ve tried the Surge, Wave, Signal and none of them including the ARC and Garage are in the same Practical Realm of the 300.
What is your name ? I’m Bob and I check back with your Super Tool 300 Vs Surge Post every time I think I need to upgrade yet “ NONE “ of any of the other Leathermans or Victorinox or any other models in 2025 can beat the 300 in practicality.
Your Key Points about the Phillips attachment and 3-different Slotted attachments and the Length of all the Blades far exceeds the quick blade access or stupid Eye glass attachments and Features.
I have a huge Portfolio of experience at 68 yrs old, Married 44yr. 5-Children 2-boys, 3- girls. Home Schooled all of them 30yrs. State Tested. 36 yrs Self-Employed in Commercial Laundry/Drycleaning Equip. Installation and Sales. 4-Special Effects Movies in Hollywood and now live on 50 Acres 20 mi West of Eugene, Oregon. Raised 5 Hereford cows 1-Angus Bull, 6-Neubean Dwarf Goats, 15-Chickens, always a German Shepherd guard dog, Rabbits, Cats , Indian Runner Ducks etc. etc. 😅😅😅
My point is I carry my 300 Leatherman everywhere and have since they came out. I Repair everything and I own 10’s of Thousands of Dollars in Tools and Trucks and Service Van. I use my 300 several times a” EVERY SINGLE DAY “. I wish Leatherman made the handle rounder ( another great observation of yours👍🏼) like the Surge for bearing down hard but that’s the only change I would make.
Thanks 🙏 for your extremely thorough Video and Observations. ( Practical Engineering ) is the King 🤴 of of innovation.
May God Bless You, Fellow Engineer. 🙏✝️ ✌🏼😎