Leatherman Raptor Shears Review

By Kit Perez

Shears are a necessary item for anyone who carries or stocks a medical kit. All the bandages and Quik-Clot in the world won’t help if you can’t get to a wound, and that means having something that can cut through clothing quickly and safely. Sure, you can use your knife if you have to, but in the chaos of a trauma, waving your blade around and using it to cut an injured person’s clothes off might not be your best idea ever.

The next question is which shears to use. Do you grab that $12.99 Amazon special? Use the cheap ones that came with your pre-stocked medical kit that might not work in the clutch? Or do you buy something that is worth the money and has more than one use, all while still holding up to whatever you can throw at it? Enter the Leatherman Raptor Shears.

Durability

The Raptor is what you’d expect from Leatherman — rugged design and great craftsmanship. As an EMT, I typically used whatever shears were in the go bag. Then I bought the Raptor and realized what I’d been missing. I immediately bought another set for my personal vehicle bag as well.

While typically you can find several different brands of an item that will work, the Raptor is in a class by itself. I’ve done everything but run mine over with a truck.

Function

If you’re a first responder, the Raptor’s many tools are fairly apparent; even if you’re not, however, it’s a worthy purchase. The adage that it’s better to have and not need comes into play here; while you might never use the oxygen tank wrench, for instance, you might find yourself in need of a seat belt cutter. It also sports a ring cutter and carbide window punch. That’s over and above the 420HC stainless steel shears themselves, which glide through just about any kind of fabric with zero issue.

Storage is easy; the Raptor can go on your belt in its holster or folded up with the touch of a button and carried in your pocket like your knife.

At $69.99, the Raptor might seem like an overpriced pair of scissors. It’s not. With all of those tools in one, plus the Leatherman design and strength, it’s a solid price and well worth the money. If you have to crack open your medical bag in a trauma — whether that’s on the side of the road or anywhere else — you’ll be glad you have them.

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