I’ve had my GOAT multitool for a couple weeks now. It’s big feature is swapping the tools, but it has other advantages as well. The spring-loaded pliers are great and they use a “frame-based” spring that should hold up to heavy use. The bit driver will hold every type of bit (standard, double-ended, Leatherman, etc.) reliably and is somewhat offset toward the center, similar to the Gerber Center-Drive. One end of the tool is flat and reinforced to act as a light-use hammer. All tools can be removed, which means you can adjust the GOAT with the built-in Allen wrench and sharpen it with the built-in metal file. It includes a replaceable-blade X-Acto tool.
An inobvious, but potentially huge innovation, is making the tool and scale templates open source. Anyone can produce additional tool implements that will work in the GOAT. That could be a game changer if it catches on. Think about specialty toolsets for different professions, for example. Likewise, optional scales can be produced in any material or design.
The downside is that the current GOAT is clearly a first-generation tool. The tools clump badly. The “tool removal levers” clump with the tools, which can be a real problem. The pivots have to be carefully adjusted so the “springs” (the frame backs) will hold them all inside properly without being too stiff to fold out. The lock release mechanisms are awkward.
I would not have been comfortable carrying mine as it came out of the box. Fortunately, most of the issues can be fixed, or at least improved, with very little effort. Maxlvledc did a wonderful video on YouTube that talks about the issues and provides suggestions on how to address them. It was a big help to me and I recommend everyone with a GOAT watch it.
The things I did to “fix” mine were fairly simple. I added a thin shim washer (5x8x0.2mm) between each of the “tool removal levers” and the other tools. I re-arranged which tools were where and removed the washer next to the wood saw. Finally, I loosened the pivots a bit to help hold the tools inside the frame. (It seems like that should work the other way, but the pivots need to be somewhat loose to let the “springs” do their jobs.) Now it works quite well.
What do the rest of you think about the GOAT?
This is great information - I have a GOAT on order but am in the 2nd wave apparently. Once I get it I will refer back to this to make the modifications.
I am not expecting much from it, to be honest - I just wanted to support the effort of someone trying to do something different, and customizable. As I am a lefty, I am hoping I can rearrange the tools, for once, to make using it more easy for myself.
You can definitely make the GOAT into a lefty tool. It’s one of several practical advantages to being able to rearrange the tools, as well as exchange them.