Yes. I think premium is the way to go. I don’t mind paying a little more for a quality tool hand made in the USA. It is one of the few American companies left. I also think it is an air loom tool that can be passed to future generations.
With the high price and premium steel, the arc seems to be aimed more at collectors and EDC enthusiasts than tradesmen. I could see them making an upgraded skeletool with the magnetic plierhead and supersteel blade around $130-$160.
I personally think it does make sense for trades. When I'm wearing my bags, I don't take out my leather man to often because it's kind of a bitch to fish for the specific tool I'd want while I'm wearing gloves. And if I'm not wearing my bags, it's still kind of annoying to open so I'd just put some more dedicated tools in my pockets. So having the magnets be able to open any tool easily, even with demo gloves on, is a pretty big deal to me. Just make sure you have a backup leatherman, that you don't lose this one, and that all damage happens on the job so you have a good excuse to warranty it.
A+ review. You’ve outdone yourself here. And shown that my previous speculation in your comments that the bit kit stock problems were because they were stocking up for Arc kits. With half a bit kit in each, that wasn’t the problem.
I can't believe that instead of a ruler they stamped an advertisement about their free technology. It seems like Leatherman of late is more concerned with form over function, although this is a step in the right direction.
Excellent, excellent review. Thank you. I fully agree that the grind and the coating on the ARC are superior but I think the overall shape and size of the 40th release is a bit nicer. I carry the first gen Wave and the only reason I was thinking of upgrading was the main blade. Not so sure now.
I also have the original Wave and considered the ARC until the $230 price was mentioned. That's more than three times what I paid for the Wave. The Arc did upgrade the two things I was looking: better pliers and a better knife. Maybe I can add this for the Christmas wishlist.
Im sure its a great tool but i dont need a premium knife blade on a multi tool. It would never leave my bedroom drawer for that price. I dont consider myself a collector. Im a user. Just got the gerber dual force for 50 bucks.... that was exciting this is not lol... but im sure many will be sold. Good for them!
I dig it. But I’m still not convinced I like magnicut over the titanium waves S30V. I use magnicut in a sloyd for wood carving about ten hours a week. It does not have the edge stability that many steels have at the thinness of a carving knife. They are put under a lot of pressure and what some might consider abuse for the geometry required. It stays sharp, but is either chippy when harder or it rolls the edge over a lot when a little softer. I have a few of them made at different rockwells for testing. There seems to be no happy medium. I can easily tell you that for a woodcarving blade, O1 is better for edge strength, or 52100. But do they rust, well ofcourse. But mineral oil is cheap and easy to apply. That brings us to S30V. It’s incredible. Takes an insane edge, and holds it well. It also doesn’t seem to rust like the carbon steel’s mentioned previously. So I’m a real fan. Now most people won’t be whittling with their multi-tool, but I feel it speaks to the overall blade choice. I’m sure the one on the ARC is a much more obtuse edge geometry than my Sloyds, so maybe for typical pocket knife angles the steel really shines. I need to get one in a pocket knife to further my research on magnicut. Do you have any suggestions on a good pocket knife in magnacut that is under $200?
I'll get one some day. These tools are expensive but last a longtime. I don't know how much money I've spent on phones and they become obsolete every few years. Apple/Google will render your phone useless so they are no investments it's like renting your own stuff. Car manufacturers want to do the same, tv sets. So this is expensive, but at least its yours.
Yeah, the surge is absolutely the best tool assortment for me. Less of the tools I never use like the mini driver. As much as I think the dedicated flat heads are a waste of space given the exchangeable driver they are at least a passable pry. The t shank is a great compromise for me, I just leave the file in and pull the appropriate wood or metal blade out of my sheath on the rare occasions I need them. Just wish they'd do a version with magncut or s30v
Just got my Arc. For those like me who like lanyards, the lanyard ring that comes with the free pocket clip works. The lanyard ring also goes on the other side of the arc pocket clip and uses the extra bolt holes which I think looks better. So far I like it.
I really dig this tool but I'm definitely bothered by it lacking a serrated blade. You're not wrong about Magnacut being expensive stuff. My cheapest Magnacut knife was about $210 and my most expensive was $1,700. I'm definitely getting an Arc when they release it for sure. I'll just have to add an extra serrated knife to my EDC to make up for the Arc's lack of one
Unfortunately, we all seem to want 5 "outside blade slot" tools with only 4 slots. Knife, file, saw, serrated blade w/ hook (Charge+) rather than just serrated blade (Wave+), and good scissors. For me, the first two are absolute must haves, the other three? It's truly a crapshoot as to which I'll need, and at various times I have needed each. That said, I think the Charge+ setup with wee scissors in the internal tools is the best for me.
@@johnsanford3596 scissors on a multitool are useless to me. I have a Leatherman Raptor on my belt and then my sewing kit has a small set of scissors as well. Plus there's a Victorinox Classic on my keys and a Leatherman Juice CS4 in my left pocket. I never use the scissors on anything but my Raptor or the ones in my sewing kit. I could dump the scissors off of the Arc and be just fine. I'm sure they'll drop a version of the Surge that has the Free technology at some point but for now the Arc will serve fine. My Surge is always in my locker at work in case I need a beefier tool anyway. I just keep a lower profile tool on my belt because people in my area see a big multitool pouch and think it's a magazine and start accusing me of having a yeet cannon at work
We just picked it up yesterday at Sail. Apparently, no notification that it was in stock and no notification it was even being released. Lets just say that my Husband is VERY Happy now and he is the owner of 35 different Leatherman tools
That awl and file looked familiar, then I opened my Victorinox Spirit lol. I think leatherman is smart to market to a Niche demographic of people who like the tools. But as far as form and function, one has to be realistic. Why such an anemic bit driver? and the need for premium knife steels on a multitool... It just makes more practical sense to do something like Gerber did with the Dual Force... Give the user access to three real tools: a legit Pliers, Screw driver...And a pry bar vis a vis, nobody is filing anything with most multi tool files... You really have to like Leatherman... I love the Leatherman full bit kit, the ratchet, and the cases you can get at Leatherman, and consider these items first rate. But I just cannot help thinking that the leatherman designs for the tools coming out are for our aesthetic judgement and not for what is needed in the field.
When I use that worthless wire stripper I make it a little less worthless by holding the wire against the other tools and "closing" the implement (wire stripper) on the wire just hard enough to make a slit and then pull the insulation of, works well enough. Stripping with the cutters is the way to go though.
Leatherman engineers said in a recent Reddit AMA no spring pliers since you have to hog a lot of material out of the jaw to make room. Significantly reduces strength could lead to more failures and warranty returns
As for the blade: if this is leatherman’s standard blade steel going forward, then this could simply be a great business decision that takes them years into the future.
Yeah, please compare it to the GOAT, especially with the mind that they gonna be used for a lifetime. Please also do some setups for "domestic use" in a city flat. Rent is rising and people have to live in smaller flats, so space for tools is rare, but those are still needed for small repairs (furniture, kitchen/bath, bicycle, household electronics), put something up the wall, renovation, ...
At the moment I wouldn't recommend the GOAT as a tool for anyone except the enthusiasts. The cutters have a flaw that needs fixing and there are a few other things that need tweeking.
For USA made, cost is always higher than those tools made in other countries. USA has higher manufacturing costs, labor costs, and premium tolerances in materials than those made elsewhere. So yeah, the price reflects this, like with anything else that is made in the USA.
Ahhh when you said at the end about something you can lose and not have your heart broken. It’s like me with my charge g10, I am still upset about losing it, but I’m probably going to get this. I’m not sure though if right now
The Chinese sheath Leatherman includes with their multi tools always cracks me up. How about including a nice made in the USA Tactical Tailor sheath, Leatherman? Thanks! Lol
Anyone else notice the lower quality gerber style tools on these and the whole free line? I mean handles and pliers look great, knife blade is a decent shape and great steel. But seriously reamer instead of awl because they cut cost at drilling a hole to make it more functional? You feel the need to add a flat blade driver when you already have a bit with that option? Why can’t the scissors be the same length as the blades in the handle? What’s with the trash gerber scissors?
Love the tool set but I can’t justify the price was waiting for this to drop. I was planning to switch from my rebar. But I just can’t swallow the price so I’m gonna go for the wave.
I guarantee...they wont add it....sigh. Because they will sell out...they will take that as a sign that they did everything right and wont change it. Especially since they are making bigger profit by no including the adjustable pivot which is super dumb.
Sir, thank you !!! Great review. Almost sold me, but i just a bit more in love with wave. Agree on the owl on this new knife, but still like my serrated blade, as a spare and a gut hook - get to use zap-straps a lot and gut hook is the best for cuting them off, especially when rubbing against cables. Also love my removable (on the go, without screws) bell clip on the wave Thanks
Ehh they always did a good enough job with the 420hc they use. This seems to be a "safe queen" collector item at that price..... Just get a regular Leatherman and a good main knife with super steel
Need to make a poor man’s carry edition which all the same tools, a cheaper knife (and just be cheaper all together), and no bit kit but you get to pick what 2 bits you want
A few things, holes in files are not good, why not put a lock on the bit holder like skeletool? No ruler? Eyeglass driver still takes up a slot, crappy one trick pony can opener, instead of classic 3in one
now I'm not sure on what to get, a GOAT or the arc, do I want a really solid tool with a good tool set or a great platform which they'll be developing on and I can easily swap tools (but maybe a bit sketchy locking system and spring plier)
Wouldn’t you think the Arc would collect metal filings with the magnets ? I carry my Wave everyday and use a die grinder at times and my phone speakers are stuffed with fine metal and it’s in my pocket. The Arc would be worse and a pain to clean metal filings out of I think.
This is good. What doc ordered. Other comparison reviews are emotion involved and not logical side by side user observations. Keep up the good work. Next garage is tomorrow so less sleep more vids!
I want Leatherman to make a standard Leather Sheath with the same through hole snap they have on their nylon sheaths. If I want an Ainsworth quality leather sheath, I will probably go aftermarket so I can choose color, and get some accessory slots.
Leatherman keeps slowly adding nicer and nicer blades to their top tier models... Meanwhile, I have been waiting decades for a bladeless top tier model 😭
the price is making it hard to pull the trigger. hoping they drop it when it gets on the website. also kinda wish they kept the hole in the awl and the v stippers but both are easy mods for a over all better awl. thanks for the share stay awesome!
Great review. Bottom line, at the end of the day no one is going to replace their carry blade with a multi-tool; decent toolset, I like a few things on it for sure, but LM has left me with a bad taste in my mouth in recent years. At this point, I'd rather see a SOG PowerPint competitor. Will I buy one, probably, will I actually use it daily, that question remains to be seen.
I have a Free P4 with a few aftermarket modded implaments. The only thing I was looking for was a damn spring powered pivot on the pliers. COME ON GUYS! Why is it so hard for Learherman to get it right? I work with a few others who have almost the same mods and were hoping for the exact same thing. Ive had almost this identical set without the magnacut main blade for a while now. I wish they would do an official poll or somthing next time they make an ultimate model like this. This product will be good for people who don't know how or want to mod their Free P4, but without the upgraded pliers, nothing special, hard pass.
Im not claiming to be a genius but arent Cerakote, DLC and PVD all different things? I grabbed one for me and one to send to my grandpa this chirstmas because he has been without a multi tool for about a year or so.
*THE TOOLS POPPING OUT CAN BE EASILY FIXED BY TIGHTENING THE SCREWS.* *I DID AND I CAN FLING THE DAM THING OPEN AS HARD AS I WANT AN NO TOOLS POP OUT ANYMORE 8)))* *ITS de wAy.*
Will this be widely available next Monday (Sept. 25th) or will I have to drive to the next town over to a REI - oh wait REI sold out already 😢. Hopefully Dick's Sporting Goods or Big 5 will have it - they're local. I never notice if Hardware stores or Walmart/ Target carry Leatherman anymore.
Hey brother what is going on! I love this tool i don't care about the price i am going to treat myself to something nice i have the money right now ready to purchase it i called REI but they were sold out already so that sucks but did you say it is coming out on September 25¿?
@@maxlvledc awesome Dominic I am so excited for this multi tool it is pricey but to me it is a one and done type of tool I don't have ever buy a great pocket knife because I will already have it so the search for the perfect tool and knife so thank you
I actually want one of these While I do have some experience with the free series with the red t4, (love that tool tanks for the tip) I've not used a 0lier based free unit While I do love my GOAT it still has teething problems of its own
I will not switch. My modified Wave + is better (SAK scissors, 2 blades (plain+ serrated), tshank adaptor, Rebar awl). Even my Titanium Charge is better. They are clearly aming for the high end knife customer with more purchasing power, their market is not the tradesman/diy'er that buys a Surge/Wave +.
Thanks for the detailed video. Lots of great information. But there's a gap. The sheath has pockets for a bit extender and a ratchet driver. How do the bit extender and the ratchet driver work with the Arc's bit driver? I have tried the Leatherman bit extender with my Wave, my Skeletool and my Charge. I've been disappointed with the bit extender in all three cases. Yes, it fits all three multitool bit drivers. It seems to work OK initially. But when I use the bit extender for a long screw horizontally in tight quarters, the bit extender falls out of the bit driver before I'm finished. The bit driver on the Arc looks beefier than previous Leatherman bit drivers. Does this mean a firmer grip on the bit extender or the ratchet driver?
hey brother could you please atleast look at the gerber MP600 and make a small review on it and let me know if its really worth buying or not becuase it saposably has a lifetime warrenty and its saposably used by military and its saposably really good but i dont know anything about these thing
They are good, the blunt nosed version is the best one..and you can buy speed steel cutters for them. It's just outdated when it comes to deployment of the inner tools.
Good file can do a lot of things. I use one to cut old, rusty lock, sometimes find nails going all way through and you cut tip with a file, then take nail off. Also file can be a good sharpening tool.
For me that was the only thing I thought the free P4 was missing. I almost never use the serrated blade, But use the scissors and double tooth saw regularly. I used the file all the time on my Leatherman surge (till I lost it) but didn’t like that I lost the saw.
Ben from Tx Tool Crib has already confirmed that the Free series gets really caked with metal filings, so the Diamond file is an odd choice. But from a business perspective, I think they’re smart to go with magnacut, targeting the crowd that buys Spyderco and Benchmade. It might even improve sales of other products, since it makes them look like a comparatively good value.
I’ve never heard Ben say they get caked with shavings, he just always says it’s a bad idea in his opinion. I work in a machine shop, I have zero issue with shavings sticking to the magnet. I wouldn’t even know it had magnets in it. Worst case scenario is needing to blow it out with the air hose now and then.
In a world of increasing competition, the arc definitely bolsters Leatherman's brand image of 'the king of multitools'. Not much to say in that wasn't mentioned in the video, but I'm glad Leatherman is at least raising the bar and not just standing still and increasing the price of their tools with no upgrades. Living in Europe, the price is gonna be extra large on these. However, if I don't get one for Christmas, I will definitely try to snag one up at a good price. Already owning spare bits and the full bit kit really just makes it a slight annoyance that they included it. And not just a full bit kit, but half. Can't even gift the full kit to a friend ;-;
One can argue the exact opposite. "In a world of increasing competition" you don't make a super expensive tool while the ones you're already selling don't worth half the price they cost. It's just riding the wave and giving a bone to knives geeks who are using their stuff once a week.
@@ANiCKiN I've had my free P4 since release and haven't had a single metal flake or anything caught in there ever. Not an issue unless your literal job is to drill holes in metal with an open leatherman beside you with all the tools fanned out.
Thanks for the great review! When they came out with the garage batch 5 and the arc was going to be the production version, I was very excited for the sprung pliers on the free base. Now that the pliers are not sprung and the price point being what it is, I'll stick with my p4. The upgraded tool set in the arc is very nice but not $230 nice. Sorry Leatherman but sadly you're slowly losing my interest.
Hard to beat the design of the Wave/Surge/Charge models. The Leatherman Arc, all it has going for it is the magnacut blade. Ive had a Free P2 and it was alright for the most part, but i still found myself reaching for a Surge or my G10 Charge. Leathermans direction with the Garage is just a quick cash grab and to me is a waste of time. Seems like they kinda followed that same direction going with the Arc...aimed at collector's and enthusiast. To me this doesnt serve a purpose to the normal handyman...but just a fancy multi tool thatll collect dust for most buyers cause they dont want to ruin a $230 multi tool.
Exactly my thoughts!!! It's not even an upgrade compared to the older models. And nobody is going to care about magnacut its brittle on the edge if u drop it and hard to sharpen in field....
It will please leatherman fans, but for 230$, not putting a standard bit driver on it when everyone else (even gerber) is capable of doing so for far less is honestly a joke. The 2d bits are super brittle and strip easily. This is just a slightly better p4, and the improvements aren’t worth the price hike imho.
I can’t justify the price when the wave+ comes so close. The file and tool improvements are a good p4 upgrade but just aren’t enough at that price when I already have a modified wave+ and a sak classic for quality scissors.
Im an Electrician and I use my Leatherman ChargeTTi+ at work all the time and I love using the Saw on it for a drywall Stab Saw! I wish Leatherman would or could make a pliers head that has full wire stripping capabilities from like 8-20gauge wire spring loaded or slightly change the replaceable wire cutter and make it a longer piece but with wire stripping holes!
Same as I. The needlenose pliers, the hook knife, the file then the ratchet driver are my most used leatherman tools at Job side. The S30V blade dulls by just looking mean at it
For my free P4 I use the bottom most part of the cutters, where it's deeper / notched (if you know what I mean) I strip cables and wires with that all the time (as an electrician myself) I have no issues, wire strippers with pre-cut holes for dimensions are the biggest layman tool there is, I've never met an electrician who uses that ever. The free P4 work exceptionally well for wire stripping and so should yours since it also has that notch in the cutter for bigger cables. Although I am not sure if the charge TTI + has the overlapping jaws for the cutter but it should.
I just don’t need it. Maybe when I was still in the Infantry but I’ll take any of the surge or wave clones over this all day now. It has everything I want but just too expensive for me.
I do like the change in toolset. This is what the P4 should have been. I really really really wanted that adjustable pivot. Every recent Leatherman I have seen has had such a sticky pivot. Keeping that would have turned a maybe into a yes for me.
The plier head pivot was the first thing I was disappointed about. Even if people complained about the supposed weaker spring-loaded head, they could still make it a screwed/adjustable pivot without the spring. Without those other improvements, I can't see how the better blade steel being the only significant improvement makes it worth the price it is.
On my Wave I grab a broom handle with the Wave pliers and twist it as if trying to bend the broom handle. I did this a couple of times in each direction and my plier action is right where I want it. The adjustable pivot would still be nice for cleaning and maintenance though.
@@cristianramirez8388 ....if the ARC had a sprung plier head like the Garage then it would be a winner.... but its a bit of a glorified P4 with the parts that the P4 should have had in the first place. Its a very expensive version at that. Like the rest of the Free series .... its not for me.
New entry should be $199.99 imo... give the customer something new, exciting, and affordable (in relation) to what is included. You could raise the price in later winter once the word gets out on how amazing it is/could be. With the other bits and extender, I agree with you...that would possibly be an easier price point to tag $230.
I was planning to buy the Arc to replace my P4 but it just doesn't get enough more to justify paying this price. Sad to see the serrated blade left off, I love using it on the P4 for more dirty tasks and use the main blade for food and slicing. I think the Arc should have: serrated blade, propre bit driver, adjustable pivot and a chisel somewhere. Btw thanks for another great review and for bringing our community together!
Good thing is, you'll probably be able to swap the P4 serrated blade into this if you want. I'll probably replace the file and add the small file from the P4 on the inside, if the shapes of the tools are the same.
It’d be cool if they had a custom shop where you pick your platform then have options on what “full size edge tools” and some flexibility on interior tools. Like you said people have been asking for this tool set on the wave for years. Plus you get the striking surface, dedicated beefy pry tool, all one hand opening….. I think 420HC blade for $160 and/or 154CM for $175 and/or S30V for $190 may have taken significant numbers from the Wave/Charge. There are many tradies not dealing with metal shavings and I believe Wave is #1 seller all time because it’s #1 choice for non-tradies. I don’t think magents would’ve held it back. $230 for a premium pocket knife and the greatest multi tool set/architecture ever is a great deal imo. And I’m a big serrated knife guy and anti-bit kit. This one got me. Looking at wiha technician bit kit for use with the ratchet accessory.
They are missing the bits required to work on your knives, what a garbage approach. And when it comes to the most important part “ The pliers” the cheeped out and messed up the whole thing for big chunk of money. Now that tool must be modified , meaning buying what they messed up, and redesign it. Leading to a a very serious question are we customers or members in the design and creativity teams for Leatherman but we work for free to fix their shortcomings, which pisses me off 🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬
Way too rich for my blood. At least make it a good value by having the full bitkit and an extension. I also wish it had a full size bit socket. Also for me to be excited and consider it a true modern tool it should have the spring loaded pliers. Heck you can remove the spring with the serviceable plier head if you don't want it.
To me, I would really prefer a non magnacut version. Not that it is not a great steel, but I do not use my multitool blades unless it is something really nasty I do not want to use my main knife for. The grind looks even but like most Leatherman's it looks WAY too thick, especially at the edge. Also I am guessing there is some funkyness toward the back, the grind is almost half the length. Just going by how wide the secondary bevel is, I am guessing it was at least .050 before sharpening, assuming they didn't do 10 degrees per side or something. That's over twice what I would consider appropriate, even for a harder use knife. Doin this means you really do not get to take advantage of magnacuts properties, which allow you to have a thin edge for good edge retention and cutting ability, but also keeping its stability and toughness with a higher hardness. I have a fixed blade maker that has made knives from several different steels, including magnacut. Larren the inventor of magnacut spoke the importance of good edge geometry so you do not have to take my word for it. My point being that I really do not care if the blade is in magnacut if it is not a well designed and useful blade. It is hard for me seeing the premium price being worth it for this reason. Yes it is harder to work with, but not any harder than s30v thats on some other tools and is the same price for the raw material.
To be honest, what I really want to see is a premium keychain tool (like a new iteration of the squirt s4). I keep my full size in my pack and have never felt under-equipped with just a modified rebar, but I think the smaller tools have more room for improvement.
I was really hoping for the spring-loaded plier head and adjustable pivot to be a part of this tool. As it sits now, I think it is a cool tool with a great toolset. But I already EDC a P4, and the improvements don't justify the price hike to me. It isn't enough of a change for me to have a need for both tools. (For my use, I've often wished that the P4 had spring-loaded pliers. So I was looking forward to having an option for that). It is nice that Leatherman does seem to at least be going in the right direction with the Arc; it's the right direction, but still some missed opportunities.
I agree with 99% of your comment as I also EDC a P4 and love it. I think they went with the "safer" bet with the non-spring loaded pliers, in a perfect world they would have a spring-loaded version and non. Hurts for us that didn't get the 40th anniversary tool.
