You have to start somewhere. You realise a small multi tool (MT) would be useful, but which one? Having appreciated my first generation Leatherman Wave for some years, something smaller, suited to an office environment, seemed ideal. Besides, it was not always appropriate or convenient to carry the Wave.
The Micra is a good balance of small useful tools and compact portability. For what it is, it is well made and quite sturdy. The scissors are very good indeed. Easily as good as the larger Victorinox offerings. Carried in a pocket or suspended from a lanyard and a P7 pocket clip or similar (on a budget? Try a small bulldog clip with folding detachable handles), this certainly is a portable little tool kit. Within its limits, of course.
And it is sometimes more appropriate in situations when a Vic SAK, despite its familiar cheery appearance, would be frowned upon due to its larger main blade, compared to the tiny Micra's. A Micra is primarily a pair of small folding scissors, cute and inoffensive.
This makes a nice gift for a lady, too. On such occasions, once they understood the many uses the Micra offers, they were well pleased. So, not to be disparaging in any way, but if someone (of either gender) is unfamiliar with the multi tool concept, a Micra is a great introduction.
In honesty, before buying a Wave, I was really put off by a cheap MT by Remington, of all people, when it failed to trim a replacement clothesline. Clothesline! To be fair, you do get what you pay for more often than not. The Wave, and the Micra, are in another league entirely.
We learn as we go along in life. After happily carrying the Micra every day, I realised that small pliers would be really useful, compared to the times I actually needed scissors. A small capable file, too. A Leatherman PS4 was the logical substitute. The Micra still is used at times, and I would rather buy a friend a new one than give mine away.
In hindsight, it is worth taking your time to select your desired MT. As with pocket knives, and perhaps especially SAKs, there is no perfect choice. But some come very close.
One humble suggestion is to carry, if possible and practical, a few of the individual small tools you think you might find useful, before settling on a particular MT. For me, an eyeglass screwdriver, a radio (pen-sized) screwdriver, an ignition file, small forceps, and a stubby sturdy pair of scissors made for telephone engineers, were all at one point or another part of my EDC while at work; and all to some extent contributed to finally selecting the PS4.
Worthwhile reviews can also be informative and helpful so long as the author is somewhat balanced and impartial.
So, the Leatherman Micra. As bargains go, it's a snip!
