In 1975, Tim Leatherman found himself travelling through Europe with a tight budget and a cranky car. His trusty 'scout knife' just wasn't up to the challenges he faced during his 10 month journey. Tim wished he had a compact knife with full sized pliers. When Tim returned to the USA, he put his engineering skills to work and after seven years, the original Leatherman® tool was perfected. The Leatherman® brand name is synonymous with quality and innovation and is the World leader in multi-tools.

Leatherman® tools are made from 100% stainless steel to provide years of dependable service. Each 400-series stainless implement is heat treated to optimal hardness for its function. For example, their knives and files are typically tempered to Rockwell C 57 to achieve excellent edge retention and their plier jaws and most screwdrivers have a Rockwell C hardness of 49-53 for better durability.

The Rivers of Ice team will be taking 2 Leathermans on the expedition. By taking 2, there is not only a reserve in case one is lost, but more importantly both Katie-Jane and Tarka will be able to carry their own providing easy access to a knife if they became tangled in the ropes and needed to cut themselves loose for any reason. The first of which is a Charge TTi, and provides the workhorse tool for the expedition due to its range of features and the Skeletool, which provides the most used features without the bulk and weight.