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Alongside all the kit that we use to enjoy our climbing, running, hiking and skiing there is also the necessity of tools to maintain and/or repair that kit. The iconic Swiss Army Knife and Leatherman multi-tools have long found a place in our packs so we were intrigued when MetMo got in touch regarding their recently released MetMo Pocket Driver.
MetMo was founded by two engineers and located in Armley, Leeds just down the road from CGR’s favourite bouldering wall; Depot Armley. As you might expect from two engineers there is a massive emphasis on the quality of design and materials but more surprisingly the products are also manufactured here in the UK. The MetMo Pocket driver is the younger and more svelte sibling of their original MetMo Driver. Both of these products were inspired by a 1920s ratchet screwdriver patented by Conrad Baumann and produced under the brand name Baumann-Weltrecord. A quick eBay search will turn up a few of these for sale as they are something of a design classic in certain circles usually fetching in excess of £100.
MetMo’s updated pocket version takes the classic design but uses modern materials and manufacturing techniques to produce an even more versatile tool as it accepts standard 1/4″ Hex Drive bits in its magnetic holder. As a result you can fit any Phillips, Posidrive, Slotted, Hex, Torx etc. bits and tailor the tool to your own requirements. The standard MetMo Pocket Driver comes with a Phillips and Posidrive No.2 bits stored in the handle. These are of decent quality and more than good enough for home use. There is an additional leather belt pack available which comes supplied with 60mm extension, 3/8″ & 1/4″ square adaptors, and 25mm & 60mm 1/4″ 4mm Micro Adaptors and has space to accommodate the Pocket Driver alongside MetMo’s bit holder (another accessory).To really make use of the Pocket Driver’s versatility you are going to need additional bits and some sort of extender to reach those awkward screws/bolts. MetMo do their own 9 piece Hex set but if you want Torx or a variety of Posi/Phillips/Slotted you will need to look elsewhere (I’d recommend Wera who do a high quality 30piece set for around the £20 mark). Buying in to the whole MetMo ecosystem for the Pocket Driver would prove quite expensive and probably not of interest to a climber or skier
The MetMo Pocket Driver is a beautifully engineered and built tool which is a joy to use. The elegantly simple ratchet mechanism is easy to operate with the forward and reverse trigger however in certain circumstances depending on how you grip the tool you can accidentally dis-engage it. To be honest this is easily avoided but a more powerful spring or some kind of lock would obviate the issue. I’d also recommend a dab of lactate to stop the brass grub screw coming loose. What functionally sets this tool apart from a more standard ratchet driver is the fold out handle enabling you to generate a tremendous amount of torque either to shift a recalcitrant bolt or drive a screw into a resistant material. Swapping picks on my beloved Grivel Tech Machines is beyond a normal ratchet screwdriver but the extra torque from the Pocket Driver’s handle makes it possible. The Pocket Driver (with an extender) would be great for tightening/replacing binding screws etc. for ski touring. The problem MetMo faces here is that Leatherman (and their ilk) have pretty much got the carry along tool market sewn up. Brilliant though the Pocket Driver is it is only a driver so really a one trick pony out in the field.
Should you buy the MetMo Pocket Driver? That depends. If you want a beautifully designed, engineered and made in the UK tool which you’ll pass down to your grandchildren then yes! However be prepared to think about the bits you will need and shop for these elsewhere as I think buying into the whole MetMo ecosystem would be for tool junkies and fan boys only. I would suggest some form of extender too as the chuck can be a little bulky when trying to access some bolts and in the standard configuration places your hand very close to the bolt head. For most climbers and skiers on the hill the Pocket Driver is too much of a specialised tool to warrant space in the pack. However it makes for a brilliant base camp or van tool to sort things once back in the valley. So far I’ve used it at home to assemble four garden chairs, assist in dismantling, replacing the syphon (after 25 years!) and re-assembling a close coupled toilet – a task worthy of the 7th circle of hell, and servicing my coffee machine; yes I did clean the Pocket Driver thoroughly first! These jobs encompassed everything from the crude and brutal to the delicate and precise and the Pocket Driver was faultless.
If you like geeking out on tools check out the MetMo website as they have a few items that may interest you though not really outdoors orientated including their latest on kickstarter here.
Pros
- High quality design and Materials
- Built to last a lifetime
- UK made
- Beautiful action
Cons
- One trick pony
- Price
SRP £99
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