Lightweight Slip-Jaw Pliers?

[Calum]

Any suggestions on where to find a pair of lightweight slip-jaw pliers for carrying on longer tours? Mine are cheap and loose (bit like myself actually). Time to upgrade.
With thanks,
Lachlan

[DaveB]

The smaller size pliers by any of the name tool makers should fit your requirements.  Channel Lock, Snap On, SK Wayne, Craftsman, etc.  are all good.  As to "light weight", they are all steel and won't be particularly light but the smaller sizes will minimize the weight penalty.  Avoid Harbor Freight and similar tool sources if you want quality.

[staehpj1]

Avoid Harbor Freight and similar tool sources if you want quality.

Harbor Freight overall can be kind of hit or miss, but some of their Pittsburgh line and most of their Pittsburgh Professional line is pretty good.  I have  a couple sizes of their Groove Joint Pliers that have served well in fairly hard use for years.

OTOH, I have a hard time imagining carrying slip joint pilers on tour.

[John Nelson]

OTOH, I have a hard time imagining carrying slip joint pilers on tour.

+1

[RussSeaton]

OTOH, I have a hard time imagining carrying slip joint pilers on tour.

Agree.  Slip joint pliers in the mechanical world, tool world, are sort of the Leatherman tool.  They work usually, but are rarely the first choice to accomplish a job.  I have several Channel Lock pliers of various sizes, but rarely use them.  I usually use the right tool given a choice.  On a bike the slip joint pliers could be used to tighten bolts holding racks, bottle cages, stems.  But it would be easier and better to just carry the right size Allen wrench or open ended wrench.

[Pat Lamb]

On a bike the slip joint pliers could be used to tighten bolts holding racks, bottle cages, stems.  But it would be easier and better to just carry the right size Allen wrench or open ended wrench.

You could carry a multi-tool (and probably should) with a couple of smaller open ended wrenches and it'd still be lighter than the slip joint pliers.

Better to go over the bike carefully a week or so before leaving and get everything "just so."  Then you won't need the Snap-On tool chest on the road.

[canalligators]

Pliers are generally the tool of last recourse.  The only use I could think of would be to lift a hot pot when cooking.  And there are much lighter aluminum handles for that.

You can get a lot of different opinions on what tools to take, but I recommend only taking tools for the likely repairs: flats, broken spokes, broken cables, lost mounting bolts.  But along with this advice, I add that you should never tour on a bike where replacement tires can't be bought at WalMart.  And always make sure everything is in good working order before you leave: no "iffy" wheels, no old chain/cassette, properly broken in seat, etc.

[hon_cho]

Much more refined (and expensive) than slip-jaw pliers is the Knipex Pliers Wrench.   They have two small sizes  125mm and 150mm that aren't exactly lightweight but not particularly heavier than common slip-jaw pliers.  The 125mm model weighs 105g and the 150mm model weighs 175g.  You can see all their Pliers Wrench models at the following URL   

http://www.knipex.com/index.php?id=1216&page=group_detail&groupID=1500

I think the lightest slip-jaw pliers I have seen are some smaller ones that came with tool kits from one of the japanese motorcycle makers.  I'll try to find a pair and weigh them, now that you've piqued my curiosity.