A reader wrote in, asking about my favorite multi-tool. I didn’t even have to think about this – Leatherman’s Wave is at the very top of my list. Is it my best multi-tool? No. But that doesn’t stop it from being my favorite.
In some cases, my best tools/accessories/stuff are also my favorites. This makes sense, right? The better something is the more it usually costs. And the more something costs, the more inclined we are to favor it to help psychologically justify the expense. In some cases, not necessarily just about tools, pricier products are not always better.
Advertisement
Even though the Wave is my favorite, it’s not exactly my best multi-tool. To be more precise, it not my most expensive multi-tool. I also have a Charge ALX and more recently purchased a Charge TTi. The TTi is twice the price of the Wave, but I don’t quite like it as much, and definitely not twice as much. It could be that I’m more attached to the Wave and its simpler, cleaner aesthetics.
Just to clarify, I have a number of multi-tools: several Leathermans, two Gerbers, one Sog, and several non-plier Victorinox Swiss Army knives. I did not try out all the available brands and models, so there’s a chance that I haven’t yet met my favorite multi-tool.
The Wave wins my favor with clean looks, an affordable [replacement] price point, reasonable quality knife blades, functional tools and accessories, and it doesn’t weigh me down.
Do you have a favorite multi-tool? Which one, and if you don’t mind elaborating, what makes it your favorite?
John
Leatherman wingman. You can’t beat the price point and quality, and it has just the right number of tools I use the most: blade, screwdrivers, pliers, scissors, can opener. Any other options I hardly use – that is, I’m not paying and extra $40 for that hole punch, wood saw, metal file, rasp that I use once every 2 years.
Charles parsons
I use my leatherman surge daily, I have big hands and like the size of it, the others just feel too small, I use most the saw, rasp/file, knives, screwdrivers and of course the pliers. I do have to say there are some weak links in this tool, I have to get is repaired or replaced one to two times a year. I miss my supertool I used to have, I would probably get the supertool 300 if I ever loose this one. Learherman is great at repairing or replacing broken tools, super fast turn around.
Clayton
I LOVE my Leatherman Skeletool CX. It is a nice balance of small size, great steel (the CX uses 154cm for the blade, which is why I prefer it over the base model), and limited, but useful functionality. I don’t usually need all the files, scissors, saws, ect on the larger tools. The simplicity of this tool with a blade, pliers, and 4 sizes of screwdrivers is what I find absolutely handy. Also, I prefer clipping it into my pocket instead of using a belt-sheath (like the larger tools), though I have had to bend the clip back into place a few times.
I do have an original Leatherman Supertool that I have loved for many years, but it is something I now keep in a vehicle or take camping. Someday, I will definitely upgrade to a new-series Supertool as those tools are awesome and can take quite the beating.
susano
I’ve been a big fan of leatherman. I own the original supertool (now in car with bit adapter), original wave, blast, wingman, skeletool, and micra. My EDC is the skeletool, although i’ve already lost the 2nd bit and the micra. I really like the package opener on the wingman, that stays in my kitchen. I still think the philips on the blast is probably the best and this is what i take when i go on vacation. And the wave stays in my tool box. I’d probably say the pliers on the wave is the best. Charge is just too expensive and heavy to justify a purchase. I believe for most ppl are looking for something in the $50.
Carol
Seems that it’d be good to try the Leatherman tool — I haven’t used one yet. I’ve been using, and loving, my Swiss Army knives!
Stuart
If you’re a fan f the smaller Swiss Army Knives, you might like the LM Juice series tools instead of something like the Wave. I often carry a Juice or SAK when I want to carry light and don’t need full-size pliers, or pliers at all. There’s a definitely a loss in functionality, but my pocket and belt thank me those days.
t1r2u3s4t
Fit and finish go to Victorinox Spirit, but my favorite is the Wave too. It feels rougher, more like a tool and I ain’t hesitant to use it. Plus one handed open tools almost eliminate a pocket knife from my daily carries…
Noah
I’ve had three favorites: A Leatherman Blast, then a Leatherman Core, and now a SOG PPP.
Davo
My favourite Multi-Tool is my Victorinox Swiss Spirit. It has all the tools I need plus it has the non-pointed blade. I work in a major University so a tool that looks as innocuous as possible is good, the Victorinox Cross logo helps too. My EDC pocket knives are much the same, a wood handled Viper and a wood handled Mcusta. Small and non-tactical looking.
I also have a Wave, Charge TTi, Crunch, both Skeletools, and an old Flair. All are very fine tools, particularly the Charge and Wave, but would likely cause a few raised eyebrows at work. Both my wife and daughter have LM Juice Multi-tools, again, because they are practical, capable, and inoffensive.
James C
Quite a few years ago, my first multi-tool was a cheap Leatherman knockoff. It was low quality and didn’t work very well. It turned me off of multi-tools for some time.
If I were to get one now, I’d definitely want one that doesn’t require you to completely open it up to use most of the tools, especially the knife. I’ve been eying the Gerber Crucial, but I just missed that deal on Amazon today.
Scottthetec
Still rockin’ the original Leatherman Supertool (14+ years) for EDC – got it as a gift from my coworkers and it’s engraved. Really haven’t had a need to upgrade. Was carrying a Victornox pocket knife before. Plan to get the Leatherman OHT when it comes out.
Anthony Sculimbrene
Leatherman PS4, hands down.
Jerry
The Original Leatherman Super Tool is my favorite. As much as anything, I like the sheath. I thought I had lost it, and bought a Super Tool 300 to replace it with, and while a good tool, which actually seems sturdier, it has what I call ‘wasted space’ in the handle. It appears they rolled the edges of the handles, to not cut into the skin of those with delicate hands. While it may or may not help some (I never had the problem of the handle edges being too sharp to be comfortable) it has the effect of making the tool ‘thicker’ than it has to be. Also, the sheath is large enough to carry more than just the tool (on the S-T 300), but so large it is bulky when all you want is the tool. Now, for the reason for my rant. Does anyone here know where I can get a simple leather sheath for my S-T 300. You know, the one that looks like a little leather rectangle, that is just big enough to hold the tool, without any excess bulk?
If I could get a sheath like that, then it would probably be a tie between my original Super Tool, and the Super Tool 300. I can put up with the extra thicknes of the 300, in exchange for the replacable cutter edges on the pliers. Mine get nicked up right away, from, how we say, trying to cut ‘alternative’ things with them.
For travel, or an ‘all in one’, I really like my Leatherman Surge. My favorite feature is the little adapter that lets me use T-shank jig saw blades with the tool, and the little pocket in the sheath, that lets me carry a couple extra jig saw blades. Makes it easy to swap out a broken or dull blade, as I use the saw a LOT in my line of work, and being able to swap a wood blade for a metal blade, for a file, is just icing on the cake.
Patrick Lucado
I’ve always carried the Gerber multi tools. I like the sliding one handed “flick” opening versus the Leatherman-style. Both of mine are the “classic” styled versions – a full size 600-series that I carry the most, and the more compact 400-series for when I’m in an office or meeting. Both are needle nose. The jaws hold up well, as do the screwdriver bits and other tools.
I do miss my original blunt-nose non-locking pair I had 15 years ago. It was a finger pincher, but it was more streamlined than the newer locking versions. I broke the jaw pivot while honking on it and twisting (definite abuse), and Walmart replaced it with the locking needle nose pair. I didn’t know the blunt was still available. Perhaps I’ll add a blunt-nose 600-series to the fold.
Benjamen Johnson
Leatherman Micra. I’ve had mine for over ten years and I carry it every day in the watch pocket of my jeans. It’s not the best or most versatile multi-tool, but I end up using it many times a day because it’s always with me.
I probably use the scissors the most — many times as a knife because it’s there when I open it and the knife requires an extra step to get at, followed be the Phillips tip, file, and mini screwdriver tip.
If I could build my own version I’d lose the tweezers (not sure what I’d replace them with, maybe an awl with a needle point) and swap the knife for one of those half serrated ones
Fred
I carried Gerber knives & one of their multitools since the early 2000’s and was going through them like crazy. The grips smoothed off the plier jaws, the blades were always dulling, the phillips bit rounded before I had it for a month. I replaced it twice and was never really happy about the fact that they were better (for my uses) than anything else, but weren’t very robust.
I carried an el cheapo Sheffield for a lot of years and the handle was really uncomfortable but it was very compact and didn’t break like the others so I dealt with it. I still have my backup one and it looks brand new.
Somewhere had a sale on SOG so I tried theirs out as my other was getting too old and raggedy to use daily. I absolutely love it, I’ve bought almost a whole tool worth of extra bits for it and may even get a second to put the others into. Theirs is a lot more beefy than any of my 3 Gerbers, and it feels more sturdy in my hand. I never forget whether it’s on my belt, although I have broken off the belt clip on the holster before. I carry nothing but SOG blades now and keep a fasthawk hatchet in my car.
daniel c
hola amigos, tengo la wave y la multitool victorinox, las dos son exelentes, aunque cada una tiene sus pro y sus contras. la wave es mas versatil con sus puntas intercambiables y la apertura de las hojas principales con una sola mano, pero tiene un defecto increible y es que no pueda cortar un cable totalmente con sus alicates, inclusive se trancan los mismos y hay que abrirlos con un destornillador u otra palanca. de la victorinox me encanta su robustez y su acabado pulido a espejo, el acceso a las herramienta sin tener que abrirla. sus contras el no tener apertura de las hojas con una sola mano, las hojas de corte si bien son excelentes tiene una forma muy simple , me gustaria un poco mas agresiva como la wave. seria bueno que hicieramos comparativas con otros modelos.
Colin
Wave (original version) = hands down the best.
When it mysteriously disappeared at a military checkpoint on a trip, I was sad to see it had gone missing.
Replaced it with a sidekick = just… Not the same.
The extra tool is a nifty addition (bottle opener/carabiner) . Doesn’t make up for the versatility of the wave
gdanonym
I had for several years an imitation of the leatherman wave. But i only brought them with me on holiday trips and left in otherwise in the car.
Finally i got tired of the non locking of the tools and the blade which was dull. So i looked for a quality Leatherman.
Looking at the wave, charge as being the most popular models, i find the exchangable bits a bit cheap. I don’t want to exchange anything, but have the most used tools at hand.
So with this at mind, i finally found the Leatherman Rebar. OK the blade is not accessed from the outside, but is it really neccessary? I carry it now every day on my belt, would miss it. Even helped some older people on the road having bike problems.
On the wave and charge there are 2-3 tools i just won’t use at all. So it’s a waist to buy it anyway.
Also have the Leatherman Core, but it’s to bulky. It’s in the toolbox, and beleave it or not, i do use it sometimes over the dedicated tools.
And for my fingernails, i have a leatherman Style CS.
James
Victorinox spirit period, I’ve used many leather man and SOG and Gerber, but my spirit hands down beats them all. I have the ratchet and extension too.
My original with the “butter knife” is fantastic. I do oil field electronics and radio work so I use this tool all the time. I’ve had coworkers ask me and I just take them for a tour of preventive maintenance on an oil field pump, whether used for tightening the hundreds of terminal block screws or removing 1/4 20 socket head caps screws this thing has been fantastic. I only wish it had a diamond file as the file on it has been worn out. The ratchet is rugged and reliable, and i used the extension sometimes with rechargeable drill. I like that it uses standard bits and i have worn out several T10s doing radio work. Wore out the belt sheath so i had to get another, I like the wrap on the belt so it cannot fall off. I climb and crouch and crawl and this tool is there all the time. It has gotten very grungy, but a few minutes in a ultrasonic and its good to go. If I could just get a sheath to keep my Streamlight Strion in with this I would be set. This tool now has 5 years on it and still going strong.
Nathan
I have a wave that stays in teh car – in the map pocket door – in a box I made. that puts it behind my other favorite thing – my FNX .40 cal
that said – I have 2. I carry the other wave some of the time. reason I put one in the car is to always have it when I go somewhere if I need it on the side of the road. (yes I also have a tool kit in the trunk but that’s a different animal)
I have a swiss army knife my grandpa gave me that I keep and don’t use anymore. for no other reason than sentimental value.
Chris
I love the leatherman free p2 ist thin compact and i like how its so quick to access the tools but my favorite leatherman would have to be the pst because its so compact and it lives at my desk