ToughBuilt Reload Utility Knife Evaluation

ToughBuilt has launched a brand new utility knife, the Reload, and it’s totally different from another utility knife I’ve ever used earlier than.

I’ve been utilizing a take a look at pattern for a short while now (thanks, ToughBuilt!), and have already got a variety of ideas and suggestions to share.

To start out off, I really like the thought behind this knife. It’s a utility knife that’s reloaded through blade magazines. This permits for quick blade modifications, and likewise fast swapping between blade kinds.

I exploit 3 varieties of utility knife blades – normal objective, heavy obligation, and safety-tip. There are extra, equivalent to hook blades and drywall blades.

The ToughBuilt Reload utility knife comes with the deal with, 2 refillable blade magazines, 5 customary utility blades, and 5 hook-style blades.

(Hook blades are used for chopping roofing supplies, linoleum, carpet, and different such supplies.)

Every journal can maintain as much as 5 blades for rapid entry, and as much as 10 blades in its separate storage compartment. This offers you built-in storage for as much as 15 blades per detachable journal.

The journal has a sliding indicator with 3 settings with the intention to shortly establish totally different loadouts.

ToughBuilt Reload Knife Execs

Blade modifications are extraordinarily handy.

You may swap blades the traditional means. Or, take away a uninteresting blade, retract the blade holder, and a contemporary blade will robotically be grabbed and dropped at the entrance.

Whenever you retract the blade once more, it returns to the journal, permitting for fast journal modifications. This implies altering from one sort of blade is way faster than swapping blades from the entrance of the knife, and your fingers additionally get to keep away from sharp edges.

The Reload knife is straightforward and cozy to make use of. For those who overlook in regards to the ejectable blade journal, it’s a superb auto-reloading knife.

It’s additionally enjoyable to make use of, which shouldn’t be vital, however does add to the person expertise.

Additionally, the knife comes with ToughBuilt’s particular utility knife blades that work with their scraper utility knife, however I’ve confirmed that it does work with customary off-the-shelf utility knife blades. I examined it with ToughBuilt and Milwaukee utility knife blades.

ToughBuilt Reload Knife Cons

The knife has a really well-polished design, but it surely’s not with out its faults and potential points.

Eradicating blades out of the entrance of the knife, for reversal or discarding, was a problem till I discovered a trick. Absolutely prolong the blade, after which gently pull again on the thumb-lever. Now you possibly can depress the blade lock lever to launch the blade.

For those who skip that step, and the blade is in its forwardmost place, the blade launch button received’t work. That possibly 1mm shift makes all of the distinction.

Keep in mind that minor step, and blade elimination and reversals are a cinch.

There’s no lanyard gap, not that I ever use such a function.

The place do you place a spare journal the place it received’t get soiled?

Impartial Opinions

The auto-reloading facet is unbelievable! However swapping blade kinds? I typically have totally different knives for various duties, and don’t see this knife altering that tendency anytime quickly.

The knife is perhaps somewhat massive, but it surely doesn’t really feel cumbersome to me, which I suppose is a professional, however it’s bigger than different non-folding knives.

It could maintain as much as 15 blades. Shifting blades from the storage compartment to the auto-loading compartment is straightforward. I’ve saved at most 5 blades within the holder to this point, and haven’t utilized the rear storage compartment. I suppose this can be a “higher to have and never want” function.

I don’t know what number of utility knife blades different individuals undergo in a day, however 5 tends to be loads of on-board storage for me.

Issues

The knife has carried out fairly effectively for me to this point, however I do have issues.

Each time you totally retract the blade, it re-enters the auto-loading blade cartridge. That is nice for shortly altering loadouts, equivalent to if you need to swap blade kinds. However what occurs when you may have a unclean, dusty, oily blade?

The blade magazines are intricately however not delicately constructed, and appear to be simple to wash.

Nonetheless, what occurs if you reduce by a variety of tape, glue, or different such supplies and retract the blade, returning it to a stack of as much as 5 blades?

Most knives self-clean fairly effectively, and this one’s no totally different, however the auto-load performance creates potential hard-use or use-on-anything limitations.

It’s not that the saved blades would possibly get gunked up, however how this would possibly have an effect on auto-reload performance.

However, there are a variety of considerate design points right here, equivalent to a window for checking what number of blades are saved within the lined rear storage compartment.

Abstract

There’s usually a high quality line between innovation and gimmick. Frankly, the ToughBuilt Reload utility knife is each.

On the modern facet, its auto-reloading facet is sensible and efficient. I sometimes don’t care about built-in blade storage, however this modifications my thoughts.

I don’t see myself utilizing each blade magazines, however I determine the spare is sweet to have. There are occasions when it’d come in useful, but when we’re speaking about carrying two kinds of blades, I’d quite carry two differently-equipped knives in my pocket, pouch, or device field.

Eradicating blades from the entrance of the knife requires just a bit extra consideration, the identical as another knives, however is a simple course of. If that is your daily-use knife, there’s nothing to fret about. For those who’re like me, and use totally different utility knife kinds frequently, it’d take barely longer to develop the muscle reminiscence.

I are likely to mock merchandise the place “fidget issue!” is a promoting level. Instruments aren’t toys, and shouldn’t be enjoyable to make use of, proper?

That is an modern knife with a enjoyable design, and it backs that up with objective and helpful performance.

Ignore the quick-change firearm-type journal loading mechanism. The Reload is an automatic-loading utility knife that’s well-made, snug to make use of, and it has loads of built-in blade storage.

And, primarily based on my testing to this point, it’s appropriate with customary utility knife blades.

It appears to endure tough dealing with and drops, and has been nice for day after day chopping duties. I’ve some issues about whether or not sure work environments would possibly gunk up the blade journal or inside elements, equivalent to after I drop a knife in gritty mud when chopping twine within the backyard.

However, for me, the professionals outweigh the cons and issues.

It’s enjoyable, however when you get previous that novelty, it’s nonetheless purposeful.

I just like the Toughbuilt Reload. It received’t be my solely utility knife, however its auto-loading performance provides worth and comfort to my package.

Worth: $22.98

Thanks to ToughBuilt for offering the evaluation pattern!