Leatherman Skeletool vs Maxace Balance

53 facts in comparison

These products are from different categories (Pocket Knives vs Multitools), so direct comparison may not be meaningful.

Based on 20 Reddit opinions. Close race—Leatherman Skeletool edges ahead.

20 opinions
Leatherman Skeletool leads by 2pts
Reddit's Pick
Leatherman Skeletool
81%
B+
Based on
39 Redditors
Winner

Leatherman Skeletool

Limited Data
~$99.95
14 opinions

tldr; Reddit overwhelmingly recommends the Leatherman Skeletool. With 92% positive sentiment across 39 mentions, this is a clear community favorite.

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VS
MB
Maxace Balance
79%
B
Based on
8 Redditors

Maxace Balance

Limited Data
6 opinions

tldr; Premium balisong (butterfly knife) known for smooth flipping action and quality materials. Popular in the balisong community for performance and value.

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Action & DeploymentBuild QualityErgonomics
ACT
BUI
ERG
88
Points
Points

Score by Category

Action & Deployment
100%
Build Quality
100%
Ergonomics
50%

Why is Maxace Balance better than Leatherman Skeletool?

  • ?? Butterfly knife design
  • Smooth flipping action
Based on 47 Reddit opinions
Too Close to Call

Reddit prefers the Leatherman Skeletool

Winning by 2 points (81% vs 79%)

Higher Reddit score (81% vs 79%)
Medium confidence (47 mentions)

💬Reddit Sentiment

Based on 47 Reddit mentions

Overall Rating

Leatherman Skeletool
8.1/10
39 mentions
Maxace Balance
7.9/10
8 mentions
VALUE
Leatherman Skeletool10.0/10
Maxace BalanceN/A
ACTION
Leatherman Skeletool10.0/10
Maxace BalanceN/A
ERGONOMICS
Leatherman Skeletool5.0/10
Maxace BalanceN/A
BUILD QUALITY
Leatherman Skeletool10.0/10
Maxace BalanceN/A
⚔️

Head to Head

Head to Head

Leatherman Skeletool: 4|Maxace Balance: 0
ValueLeatherman Skeletool
Leatherman Skeletool100%
Maxace BalanceN/A
ActionLeatherman Skeletool
Leatherman Skeletool100%
Maxace BalanceN/A
ErgonomicsLeatherman Skeletool
Leatherman Skeletool50%
Maxace BalanceN/A
Build QualityLeatherman Skeletool
Leatherman Skeletool100%
Maxace BalanceN/A
Leatherman Skeletool81%
Maxace Balance79%
Close race - Leatherman Skeletool edges ahead by 2 points

Key Specs

SpecLeatherman SkeletoolMaxace Balance
Number Of Tools
7
Closed Length
4 inch
Blade Length
2.6 inch
Blade Material
420HC Stainless Steel
Locking Blade
Yes

Key Highlights

Leatherman SkeletoolWinner
Solid community reputation
Frequently recommended
Maxace Balance
?? Butterfly knife design
✨ Smooth flipping action
?? Quality bearings and pivots
?? Good value for performance
?? Popular with flippers

Topic Battles

Leatherman Skeletool: 3|Tied: 0|Maxace Balance: 0
Action & Deployment
Leatherman Skeletool wins
Leatherman Skeletool
100%
Maxace Balance
Build Quality
Leatherman Skeletool wins
Leatherman Skeletool
100%
Maxace Balance
Ergonomics
Leatherman Skeletool wins
Leatherman Skeletool
50%
Maxace Balance

Based on Reddit sentiment across 3 categories

📈Where They Rank

💬What Redditors Actually Say

What Redditors Say

Best praise vs top criticism for Leatherman Skeletool

Best Praise
+18 pts
Nebo light stays in my pocket incase my “pen” light dies, its brighter too for dark houses or barns etc The pen is just a pen that my service gave me nothing special Skeletool simply cause the blade is faster to deploy then any other ones I have, I have a tinker but I prefer the pocket clip on the skeletool
r/EDC
View
Top Criticism
+30 pts
You’re like my ghost of the past. I don’t ride an ambulance anymore so I ditched the shears. Used to carry a skeletool but the pocket clip loosened up so I just went to a folding knife. Still carry the militaur door chock.
r/EDC
View
2 more quotes available below

What Redditors Say

Best praise vs top criticism for Maxace Balance

Best Praise
+7 pts
Maxace makes solid balisongs for the price. The Balance is a great entry into quality butterfly knives.
No negative quotes found

📈Historical Price Data

Leatherman Skeletool
$88$96$104Apr '25Jun '25Jun '25Jul '25Dec '25Jan '26Jan '26Jan '26Jan '26Mar '26Low: $89.95Current: $99.95
Leatherman Skeletool
All-time low: $76.58(2024-06)

Which is Better?

Leatherman Skeletool Wins
81%
Skeletool
vs
79%
Balance

Close race, but Leatherman Skeletool edges ahead by 2 points based on 47 Reddit opinions.

Why Leatherman SkeletoolWinner
  • More discussed (39 vs 8)
Why Maxace Balance
  • ?? Butterfly knife design
  • ✨ Smooth flipping action

❤️The Love/Hate Breakdown

Sentiment Breakdown

33%Positive
Positive
33%
Neutral
64%
Negative
3%
Based on 39 Reddit opinions

Sentiment Breakdown

75%Positive
Positive
75%
Neutral
25%
Negative
0%
Based on 8 Reddit opinions

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better, Leatherman Skeletool or Maxace Balance?
Based on 47 Reddit comments, Leatherman Skeletool has a slight edge with 81% positive sentiment vs Maxace Balance's 79%. The difference is small, so both are solid choices.
Should I buy Leatherman Skeletool or Maxace Balance?
Both have similar approval ratings (81% vs 79%), so focus on specific features, pricing, and what matters most to you.
What do Redditors love about Leatherman Skeletool?
Leatherman Skeletool has 39 mentions on Reddit with 81% positive sentiment. Users consistently recommend it based on real ownership experiences.
What do Redditors say about Maxace Balance?
Reddit users highlight: Butterfly knife design. Smooth flipping action. Quality bearings and pivots. With 8 mentions and 79% approval, it remains a popular alternative.
How many Reddit reviews were analyzed?
This comparison analyzed 47 Reddit comments: 39 about Leatherman Skeletool and 8 about Maxace Balance. Data was sourced from Pocket Knives community discussions.
How accurate are these ratings?
Our sentiment analysis is approximately 80-85% accurate compared to manual review. Well-discussed products with many mentions tend to have more reliable scores than niche items with fewer data points.
Why trust Reddit over professional reviews?
Reddit users bought products with their own money and have no incentive to mislead. You're seeing hundreds of real opinions across different use cases, not just one reviewer's take. This crowdsourced approach surfaces both common praise and recurring complaints.

20 Reddit opinions analyzed · Last updated 4/16/2026