SOG PowerAssist S66 Review

The SOG PowerAssist Multi Tool is a hard-working, no compromises utility device. It's a complicated piece of machinery made to tackle regular and heavy tasks.

Performance Comparison

Check out the following chart to see where the Top Pick award winning SOG PowerAssist ranked in our lineup of multi-tools.

Functions

First of all, the most stand-out feature of the SOG PowerAssist is the geared pliers. The gearing and linkage joining the plier handles to the jaws increases the amount of force your hands can apply. No set of pliers, whether included in a multi-tool or stand alone, is intended for use in extended bolt or nut turning. However, the SOG squeezes hard enough to tackle the occasional wrench task without too badly “buggering up” the head of the bolt. The deep wire cutters in the jaws of the pliers can cut through the largest of wire. In our testing the handles and pivots all held up to very rugged use. Additionally, this brute tones it down out at the tips of the plier jaws. The needle nose plier surface joins precisely and closely, and tapers to a tip far pointier than any else in our test. Even the diminutive co-Top Pick winning Leatherman Squirt PS4 has blunter plier tips. While the SOG pliers are very well made, there are no wire-stripping notches.

Behind the pliers, nesting smartly into the handles, is a small suite of nearly full-size tools. On one arm rests two blades. SOG equips you with a straight edged drop-point cutter and a sheeps-foot serrated edge. These blades are both accessible from the “outside” (without opening the pliers) and lock securely open and closed. The lock and opening mechanism is a bit fiddly. However, anyone who chooses the SOG PowerAssist will be mechanically inclined and use it enough to figure out the sequence. A primary reason for the locking and opening mechanism is the assisted-opening feature of these two blades. This tool is the only one in our test that has assisted opening blades. In our pocket knife review testers almost unanimously preferred the knives with assisted opening blades. On the SOG tool, it's handy, but feels unnecessarily complicated at first. It grew on basically all of our testers with time.

In the other arm of the pliers is a pair of openers, some screw drivers, a file, and a v-style cord and webbing cutter. This lattermost tool, also featured in our Editors' Choice Leatherman Charge TTI, is a specific tool that proves to be very useful when needed. The small Phillips head driver, unlike the improvised and flattened versions included on the Best Buy Leatherman Wingman and tiny Gerber Bear Grylls Compact Multi-Tool, is full size and constructed of hardened cast steel. It appears different from the other tools on the SOG because it has a different function. Kudos.

Ergonomics

In our test, the enhanced pliers and assisted opening blades of the SOG PowerAssist stand out. Once a user is accustomed to these, the utility advantages are significant. Deploying either blade is a snap, and applying a great deal of pressure through the pliers is a joy. The other tools, however, are a bit cumbersome to get at. Not only must the user open the pliers to access them (and close the pliers before using these other tools), one has to lift a spring-loaded plate. This plate serves to pad the sharp edges when using the pliers, but it makes deploying the screwdriver or bottle opener more time-consuming. The SOG has a more “industrial” feel to it. For instance, it has far more sharp corners than something like the Victorinox SwissTool Spirit X. However, in usage, none of these sharp corners interfere.

Portability

This is the heaviest tool in our test, and in most dimensions, is tied for the largest with the Gerber Multi-Plier 600. It is a tool that will live in your toolbox or in the included belt holster. It does come equipped with a lanyard/keychain loop, but is far too bulky to carry that way. Additionally, in the applications for which it excels, having string or keys dangling will get in the way. The belt sheath is well designed and durable. A small patch of velcro engages a flap that holds the sheath closed. Our testers had some concern about the durability of such a small patch of velcro. Additionally, the belt loop portion of the sheath is actually a plastic clip. This means that you can clip it on without unthreading your belt. But it also means that it could come unclipped while crawling under your house. It never did in our testing, but it is still possible.

Construction Quality

SOG has a reputation for making beefy tactical knives. They've brought that same construction quality to the PowerAssist. The tool is steel where it needs to be, with plastic spacers in one arm of the plier handles. The primary blades can be replaced, as well as the spring-loaded handle cover. All rivets and hinges arrive from the factory with just the right amount of friction. The pliers can be deployed with a flick of the wrist, but tension in the hinges hold them where you want them to stay. All the tools can be opened easily and lock securely in place every time.

Best Application

This is a tool for the professional. Or for someone with professional level tasks to tackle. Whether you work on your home or car, the SOG is for hard labor in heavy tasks. Complement it with a full, dedicated toolbox and you'll be prepared for any repair or maintenance task. Carrying the SOG is a commitment, as the weight and bulk are greater than any other tool in our test. However, the functionality, for the hardest working pros out there, is well worth it.

Value

This is an expensive tool for he or she that will use it to its maximum advantage. It is unique in many ways, and therefore it is difficult to compare its value to other tools. If you need the tools included on the SOG, you will justify the cost. The construction and materials will hold up for years and years, especially in the fastidious care that most consumers of a product like this are capable of.

Conclusion

Avid home-improvement and car-repair types will find daily use for the SOG PowerAssist S66. It is well-made and solid. Anyone working with their hands and with wire, on a daily basis, basically can't afford to not have this tool in their arsenal. The suite of excellent features is comprehensive and each function is effective and taylor-made.