Leatherman Skeletool vs Maxace Balance
64 facts in comparison
Based on 106 Reddit opinions. Maxace BalanceMaxace Balance leads by 11 points.
106 opinions
Maxace Balance leads by 11pts
VS

81%
B+
Based on
25 Redditors
Leatherman Skeletool
Limited Data
~$99.95
9 opinions
tldr; Reddit highly recommends the Leatherman Skeletool as a lightweight, functional multitool praised for its accessible bottle opener, pocket clip, and strong warranty.
Check pricesVS
Reddit's Pick
MB
Maxace Balance
92%
A
Based on
246 Redditors
Winner
Maxace Balance
97 opinions
tldr; Premium balisong (butterfly knife) known for smooth flipping action and quality materials. Popular in the balisong community for performance and value.
Check prices🔧STE
⚡ACT
⭐BUI
⭐LOC
✋ERG
62
Points
50
Points
Score by Category
Steel Quality
75%—
Action & Deployment
100%—
Build Quality
100%50%
Lock
33%—
Ergonomics
25%51%
Why is Maxace Balance better than Leatherman Skeletool?
- Higher Reddit score (92% vs 81%)
- Better ergonomics (51% vs 25%)
- ?? Butterfly knife design
- Smooth flipping action
Based on 271 Reddit opinions
Clear Winner
Reddit prefers the Maxace BalanceMaxace Balance
Winning by 11 points (92% vs 81%)
Better ergonomics
Butterfly knife design
Smooth flipping action
High confidence (271 mentions)
💬Reddit Sentiment
Based on 271 Reddit mentionsOverall Rating
Leatherman Skeletool
8.1/10
25 mentions
Maxace Balance
9.2/10
246 mentions
LOCK
Leatherman Skeletool3.3/10
Maxace BalanceN/A
VALUE
Leatherman Skeletool3.7/10
Maxace Balance4.1/10
ACTION
Leatherman Skeletool10.0/10
Maxace BalanceN/A
ERGONOMICS
Leatherman Skeletool2.5/10
Maxace Balance5.1/10
STEEL
Leatherman Skeletool7.5/10
Maxace BalanceN/A
BUILD QUALITY
Leatherman Skeletool10.0/10
Maxace Balance5.0/10
⚔️
Head to Head
| Topic | Leatherman Skeletool | Maxace Balance |
|---|---|---|
Lock | 33% | N/A |
Value | 37% | 41% |
Action | 100% | N/A |
Ergonomics | 25% | 51% |
Steel | 75% | N/A |
Build Quality | 100% | 50% |
Tool Selection | N/A | 50% |
Size Weight | N/A | 55% |
One Hand | N/A | 52% |
Category Wins
Leatherman Skeletool: 4|Maxace Balance: 5
Head to Head
Leatherman Skeletool: 4|Maxace Balance: 5
LockLeatherman Skeletool
Leatherman Skeletool33%
Maxace BalanceN/A
ValueMaxace Balance
Leatherman Skeletool37%
Maxace Balance41%
ActionLeatherman Skeletool
Leatherman Skeletool100%
Maxace BalanceN/A
ErgonomicsMaxace Balance
Leatherman Skeletool25%
Maxace Balance51%
SteelLeatherman Skeletool
Leatherman Skeletool75%
Maxace BalanceN/A
Build QualityLeatherman Skeletool
Leatherman Skeletool100%
Maxace Balance50%
Tool SelectionMaxace Balance
Leatherman SkeletoolN/A
Maxace Balance50%
Size WeightMaxace Balance
Leatherman SkeletoolN/A
Maxace Balance55%
One HandMaxace Balance
Leatherman SkeletoolN/A
Maxace Balance52%
Leatherman Skeletool
81%
92%
Maxace Balance
Leatherman Skeletool81%
Maxace Balance92%
Maxace Balance wins by 11 points
Key Specs
| Spec | Leatherman Skeletool | Maxace Balance |
|---|---|---|
| Brand | LEATHERMAN | — |
| Manufacturer | Leatherman | — |
| Color | Onyx Black | — |
| Weight | 0.31 Pounds | — |
| Height | 1.0 inches | — |
Key Highlights
Leatherman Skeletool
🔧 Lightweight and convenient to carry.
🔧 External bottle opener & pocket clip for
🔪 Blade quality is great, superior to many
🌙 Backed by Leatherman's free
⚠️ May lack one-hand opening for blade compared
Maxace BalanceWinner
?? Butterfly knife design
✨ Smooth flipping action
?? Quality bearings and pivots
?? Good value for performance
?? Popular with flippers
Topic Battles
Leatherman Skeletool: 4|Tied: 0|Maxace Balance: 1
🔧Steel Quality
Leatherman Skeletool winsLeatherman Skeletool
75%
Maxace Balance
—
⚡Action & Deployment
Leatherman Skeletool winsLeatherman Skeletool
100%
Maxace Balance
—
⭐Build Quality
Leatherman Skeletool winsLeatherman Skeletool
100%
Maxace Balance
50%
⭐Lock
Leatherman Skeletool winsLeatherman Skeletool
33%
Maxace Balance
—
✋Ergonomics
Maxace Balance winsLeatherman Skeletool
25%
Maxace Balance
51%
Based on Reddit sentiment across 5 categories
📈Where They Rank
💬What Redditors Actually Say
What Redditors Say
Best praise vs top criticism for Maxace Balance
Best Praise
+17 pts“OK I'm a bit of a fabric nerd so I have some opinions on this (but I'd love to hear from anyone that has some specific brand they swear by!) - Unfortunately there's just a ceiling when it comes to durability in workwear. You can make something more durable by making the materials thicker and heavier, but you need to balance that with what you can actually work in without overheating or losing mobility. I'm not saying Carhartt / Dickies / Duluth are the *best* but I don't know that there are other brands that can offer significantly longer lasting garments if you're actually just wearing through these clothes from use (rather than some kind of build quality related failure like a seam unravelling prematurely). In my experience you have to "take care of" clothing that gets used like this by constantly mending and patching when needed. Barbour jackets have a lifetime guarantee but that doesn't mean they last forever, it means they have a dedicated workshop where people repair your coat over and over again as you wear it out in different ways. You can spend more money and get some nice Fjallraven or Filson pants and shirts, and they'll be incredibly well made but at some point 8oz canvas is just 8oz canvas and one company isn't going to be sourcing materials drastically different than another. That's not to say you shouldn't look around if you're not happy with what you have. It could come down to the types of materials used. Natural fiber workwear is great for a bunch of reasons, but in a lot of cases canvas won't be as durable as nylon, that might be something to consider? On this note, I mentioned them earlier but I really like Fjallraven. Looks nice, it's well made, and I think their fabric choices are good. A lot of their clothing is made using an 80/20 blend of canvas and nylon. The nylon adds to the durability, the canvas is breathable and can be waxed for waterproofing. Anian is another good company, (Canadian, so if you're in the states tariffs might be a deal breaker) reasonably priced overshirts and jackets, many of which are super sturdy wool blended with a bit of nylon. I have a few and they are super heavy and tough. They're just heavy and bulky enough that I imagine they'll last a long time but they might be best suited to colder weather.”
r/buyitforlife
ViewNo negative quotes found
3 more quotes available below
What Redditors Say
Best praise vs top criticism for Leatherman Skeletool
Best Praise
+7 pts“I gave my nephew (9) his first knife as his present for being in my wedding. Gave him a leatherman skeletool CX in his favorite color, along with a long winded speech about the responsibility needed and that it was intended to fix, learn and create, not destroy. The kid didn’t put it down for days, and has taken all his toys apart to learn how they work. Couldnt be happier (cool) Uncle.”
r/knifeclub
ViewNo negative quotes found
3 more quotes available below
Sentiment Over Time
Leatherman Skeletool
Maxace Balance
📈Historical Price Data
Leatherman Skeletool
Leatherman Skeletool
Which is Better?
Maxace Balance Wins
92%
Balance
vs
81%
Skeletool
Maxace Balance leads by 11 points based on 271 Reddit opinions.
Why Maxace BalanceWinner
- ?? Butterfly knife design
- ✨ Smooth flipping action
- ?? Quality bearings and pivots
- More discussed (246 vs 25)
Why Leatherman Skeletool
- 🔧 Lightweight and convenient to carry.
- 🔧 External bottle opener & pocket clip for
❤️The Love/Hate Breakdown
Sentiment Breakdown
38%Positive
Positive
38%Neutral
61%Negative
1%Based on 246 Reddit opinions
Sentiment Breakdown
38%Positive
Positive
38%Neutral
62%Negative
0%Based on 24 Reddit opinions
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better, Maxace Balance or Leatherman Skeletool?
Based on 271 Reddit comments, Maxace Balance is the preferred choice with 92% positive sentiment vs Leatherman Skeletool's 81%. Maxace Balance leads by 11 percentage points.
Should I buy Maxace Balance or Leatherman Skeletool?
If you want the safer choice based on community sentiment, Maxace Balance has stronger approval ratings (92% vs 81%). However, Leatherman Skeletool may still be better depending on your specific needs, budget, or use case.
What do Redditors love about Maxace Balance?
Reddit users highlight: Butterfly knife design. Smooth flipping action. Quality bearings and pivots. With 246 mentions and 92% approval, it's a well-regarded choice in the community.
What do Redditors say about Leatherman Skeletool?
Reddit users highlight: Lightweight and convenient to carry.. External bottle opener & pocket clip for. Blade quality is great, superior to many. With 25 mentions and 81% approval, it remains a popular alternative.
How many Reddit reviews were analyzed?
This comparison analyzed 271 Reddit comments: 246 about Maxace Balance and 25 about Leatherman Skeletool. 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.
106 Reddit opinions analyzed · Last updated 3/9/2026