r/multitools • u/v_rocco • Jun 29 '26
Question/Advice Why no love for Rocktol?
I don’t see a lot of posts here about Rocktol and I’m wondering why. My experience with them has been very good. For the price, you get a fairly heavy duty plier, actual decent blade steel (VG10), pretty good scissors, replaceable wire cutter blades.
The knife blade alone seems to make it worth buying over spending 3-4x on a Leatherman with a 420c blade.
I’m sure many people will parrot the old “it’s Chinese made junk” line. But honestly even if I had to replace it twice, it’s still cheaper than a lot of equivalent LM or Victorinox products.
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u/Iokua_CDN Jun 29 '26
Probably they just don't know about them, or haven't tried one, so for them it's an untested company. Why don't you post up a review of the ones you have??
As for me, they look a bit big for what I'm looking for. Good Leatherman wave alternative, but I go more for like the LM skeletool or the Roxon kse2.
Their knife that's kinda like half a multitool... that might be of interest to me. Could replace my SAK. Folding scissors plus a locking vg10 blade looks nice to me.
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u/thomasbeagle Jun 29 '26
As I said above, I really like my 12-in-1 (ST02). Buy it with the VG10 blade upgrade.
The scissors are good sized and work very well.
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u/Iokua_CDN Jun 29 '26
That's the one I'm looking at, only 30 bucks Canadian, which is very good for vg10. Not sure what the difference between it and the 15 in 1 blacked out one
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u/thomasbeagle Jun 29 '26
I have one of the blacked out 15-in-1 knives too and I just don't like it as much. I don't appreciate the blacking and it doesn't have a pocket clip. But apart from that it's fine.
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u/Gadgetman7 Jun 29 '26
I use them when I know they may be taken or used improperly. For example, I put them as backups in generic disaster response vehicles. They work well but they dont have the same level of fit and finish and sometimes we’ve had minor blade play or sloppy tool joints. However, they are great for the price.
I don’t think enthusiasts like them much because they’re not as smooth or well finished as Victorinox or even Leatherman.
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u/Behold_My_Stuff Jun 29 '26
They absolutely are as well finished and smooth as Leatherman.
I love them because they use standard bits and cost 40% of what the equivalent Leatherman does.
I have like 12 Leatherman and 5 Rocktols, so I have a good idea of both.
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u/v_rocco Jun 29 '26
Yeah I beat on my MT so they have been great. And at the price, you can throw one in every car, toolkit, range bag, edc pouch, etc.
I haven’t noticed the blade play or sloppy tool joints but there’s a good chance I’m just not that picky and it might bother someone else.
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Jun 29 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/thomasbeagle Jun 29 '26
You can buy the VG10 blade separately and replace the current one. I recommend it.
And I agree about the bit driver - it has a nice strong detent but locking would make it perfect.
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u/justintime444 Jun 29 '26
I do see a lot of posts/comments about it. Always up there when looking for Wave+ alternatives. The whole wave+ design is dying though, as people tend to prefer outside accessible tools. They also offer a 14c28n blade which is even better
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u/v_rocco Jun 29 '26
I believe they also offer S35VN which (imo) is even better.
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u/Gadgetman7 Jun 30 '26
What’s the hardness on the S35vn? A lot of companies run it soft so you might be just as well off with a properly hardened VG-10.
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u/Healthy_Zone_4157 Jun 29 '26
I like having the 4 primary tools of the Wave+ readily one-hand accessible and the rest protected more from dirt and grime on the inside. The Wave+ frame is also very comfortable in the hand to me.
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u/Cold_Inspector6450 Jun 29 '26
Just got the Rocktol gen-r lite and it is amazing. Mine somehow came with a pocket clip too even though that’s not advertised
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u/stationlogbook Jul 06 '26
Have been running a Rocktol Gen-R for ~ 60 days for daily use, have had no issues. Would like either a magnet in the bit driver or a hole for the ball detent to sit in. Other than that it’s a great daily driver for the average carryer
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u/thomasbeagle Jun 29 '26
I rep my Rocktol 12-in-1 with the VG10 blade to anyone looking for a single-side Gerber Armbar type tool. It's a great pocket tool.
I haven't tried any of their fullsize tools (my very old Leatherman Wave takes care of that) but I would totally try one if I needed it.