Trekking: Meet the Leatherman Tread, the Wearable Toolbox for Your Wrist

By Brandon Widder Updated December 30, 2019

Man isn’t meant to stay indoors — our weekly “Trekking” column can attest to that. It’s a column dedicated to the adventurer inside of all of us, the one pining to ditch the office humdrum for a quick surf session or seven-week jaunt in the Grand Tetons. One day we may highlight an ultra-light stove and the next a set of handmade canoe paddles. Life doesn’t just happen inside the workplace, so get outside and live it.

If you haven’t noticed already, we live in a world where modern smartwatches and other connected wearables dominate the tech and mainstream headlines alike. However, while devices like the recently-overhauled Apple Watch might excel at receiving text messages and getting you from Point A to B with your phone in your pocket, sometimes a little physical functionality is all we’re looking for when it comes to our wrist. For those instances, the Leatherman Tread ($165+) is your no-frills companion.

The minimalist Tread doesn’t utilize any apps or internal software to operate, but instead, conveniently relies upon a network of 17-4 stainless-steel links that render the multi-tool more resourceful than your typical bracelet. The hardy construction of the bike chain-like device is built to withstand unwanted corrosion, while the melange of TSA-compliant tools help you with a handful of everyday tasks you might face when at home or out and about. Embedded within the interchangeable links are 29 individual tools, including a screwdrivers, Allen wrenches, box wrenches, hex drives, and cutting hooks. Other components, such as a carbide glass breaker and a bottle opener, add to the bracelet’s out-of-the-box resourcefulness. The Tread even offers a 25-year warranty and a pick specifically designed for removing your SIM card should the need ever arise.

Best of all, the bracelet is adjustable to ¼-inch, allowing to accommodate any wrist size and shape. Now, if only Leatherman could find a way to integrate a pair of scissors and a full set of needlenose pliers into the build…

Check out Leatherman online to make a purchase, or to peruse the company’s American-made goods.

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Former Digital Trends Contributor

Brandon Widder is a journalist and a staff writer for the Manual and its brother site, Digital Trends, where he covers tech…

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