New to multi-tools and looking to buy a Leatherman but you are not sure on what model to buy? Here are my thoughts and experiences based off what I have seen.
I volunteer with a local no kill animal rescue organization & I've been able to literally save lives a few times with my Leatherman Wave! Also the scissors are invaluable when cutting the name collars we use both putting them on (cutting off the excess tabs) & cutting them off when, for example when they get adopted before I load the pet up in the crate! I LOVE mine! Had 1 stolen from me a while back & had 2 get a new 1 ASAP!
I have the Charge TTI, the Wave, The Skeletoo CXl, the Juice CS4, and the squirt PS4. My daily carry is the Wave. I make custom leather goods for a living and every time a customer orders a new pouch or sheath for a different model it gives me an excuse to buy a new one to make the fit perfect. Over 90 per cent of my customers are Wave users, that must say something.
I am a photographer, and the eyeglass screwdriver has saved many cameras during events where someone has bumped the flash and lossened the hot shoe. That little screwdriver is the magic wand that lets me get in there and fix them! A Leatherman Wave lives in my camera bag at all times!
Love my ST300. I'm a maintenance tech for a plant and it's on me 24/7 on/off work. I love having it and not always needing to run to my toolbox for small repairs.
I’m so happy to see this. This morning I decided to buy a leatherman for the 3 men in my life… my two sons and my husband. I checked out what each leatherman had to offer and I decided on the Wave. It’s great that it’s the one you recommend since I already had ordered it before seeing this video. 😊
you prolly dont give a shit but does any of you know a trick to log back into an Instagram account?? I was dumb lost the login password. I would appreciate any assistance you can give me.
@Jace Salvador i really appreciate your reply. I got to the site on google and Im waiting for the hacking stuff now. Looks like it's gonna take quite some time so I will get back to you later with my results.
They're the best. I'm 35 and I'm only on my second. I had the Wave for about 15 years and now I have the Rebar. I would still have the Wave if it hadn't been stolen. These things last forever if you don't lose em.
Yessir. They are a great little tool. Had the original Wave (which was stolen) now I the Wave +. Give it a little time they will be $120.00.....$130.00.....
I carried a large multi tool for yrs and foumd I never used the majority of the tools on it. Today being father's day I decided to treat myself to a new multi tool. I ended uo picking up a Leatherman Rev. It has all the little basics I need and is perfect for keeping it in my pocket. Of I go hiking/camping I'll take my old trusty but as a pocket carry I really like this new Rev I picked up.
Right on and I have used the file as a pry bar to open frozen vehicle doors. Great Leatherman product and it is on my person every waking moment and during some sleep maintenance!!
shit... I wish I thought of that over using the serrated blade! I snapped my blade now thinking of sending in for warranty.... my is the black oxidized with the crimp on the heads which is rare and all warn in and I see many others getting a brand new one.... mine is already new and warn in!
Hey. I get across your video today. 4 years later, and still very valid video. I went and get a Wave + . Outstanding tool, and apparently "Leatherman" saw it as well, because now, as I'm sure you are aware, the Wave has replaceable wire cutters and the pliers are somewhat lockable. Great video. Thanks for the tips.
I'm a big fan of the Leatherman Sidekick. A little smaller, like the original Leatherman from years ago, but still very useful. I've used it to work on some of my guitars in a pinch when I didn't have my tools with me.
i carry an leatherman wave black oxide with the full bit kit on my hip everyday. cant live without it. its even come in handy helping out strangers. had it for over almost 2 years now and its the best thing ever. that and my thrunite ti4 flash light. gotta have them both.
Great video. Thank you for the information. I personally use the Rebar. I work in a guitar shop and I use the wire cutters, knife, philips head driver, and ruler every single day. I also use the awI almost every day as a poker for my pipe. I thought I'd miss the scissors but I really don't so its perfect for me. I also prefer the dedicated philips over the bit system. It's much longer and easier to get into hard to reach places and tight fits.
I feel like the Rebar is the best for the average person just for the size and price alone. Need a scissor? Get yourself a keychain sized Victorinox as a companion.
The Wave Plus is a machine. my Roomba vacuum wheel was super clogged with hair etc. Between the scissors and needle nose pliers I was able to cut and grab everything out pretty easily in about five minutes. I was skeptical about the micro scissors but today they prove themselves worthy. All hail Wave 🙏 PS for context i've had the Wave Plus less than a week and it's been a dream. I've carried a pretty standard Victorinox since 2018 has come in mega handy but this thing might be replacing it in my EDC.
Agree with everything you said. The Wave is the best all around multi-tool available today for the average person. If you can find one for under $100, it is worth it. Adding the $20 bit kit, it becomes a pocket sized toolbox. Although I wouldn't put it in my pocket every day (EDC). There has been numerous times in my life when I have been to single female residences, and have seen simple thing in need of repair. I had not had my Leatherman at the time, but if there was one available at the residence, I could have saved her many hundreds of dollars in repairs if she just had any tools at all, besides a hammer and broken pliers. If single women would buy this with the bit set and just threw it in a drawer for the next altruistic handyman to come along (father, brother, friend, etc.), it would pay for itself dozens of times over the years.
I've been sporting my new Surge as my EDC. It's not *significantly* more bulky than my previous EDC, the original Charge Ti, even though it's noticeably larger on the belt. It hasn't given me any trouble sitting in my office chairs or in the car, etc. One of the main reasons I replaced the Charge with the Surge was for the replaceable wire cutters and larger pliers head. Although I dulled the cutters on my Charge after many years, the nail in the coffin was when the rivet started to warp/loosen introducing play and a gap at the cutters, rendering them useless for 16 gauge and higher. I'm an IT tech by trade, a gear head by hobby, and love to tinker on gizmos and gadgets. My Leatherman gets used literally every day. The blade exchanger doesn't bother me, and I keep the file equipped with the saw in the holster since I use the file more often to finish a little part I might make, like a little bracket for a car mod or something. I also have my bit set for the bit exchanger in the holster, which doesn't get used as often as the tool itself, but used often enough to justify me carrying it. I'm very impressed with the pliers on the Surge/ST300. I'm sure my next trip to the junk yard will be a breeze. The one thing I wish is that it had the "eyeglass" driver in place of the smaller standard screwdriver. I use that often when working on laptops and electronics. I've been considering swapping it out of my Charge even though it won't fit right in the bigger body. Perhaps there's a big-body Leatherman with the mini bit driver...
I am with you on the surge. You can put the eyeglass screwdriver into the blade lock clamp, it works halfway decent, generally holds it enough for the low torque needed for eyeglass screws.
I love my Wave plus. I use it a lot when fishing. The file is great for sharpening hooks, the pliers are great for removing hooks from fishes mouths, the sissors are awesome for cutting braid or mono. The knives are obviously useful too. I attach mine to my life jacket with a retractable lanyard to make sure they don't end up in the water! A great tool and highly recommended!
Hi, nice review of the Wave. I just got one for my nephew (I feel like keeping it !👹) You were very thorough in pointing out the different functions and I learned about a couple of new tools I hadn't realized were there! I know my nephew is going to be ecstatic because he's been dreaming about this knife! Cheers~Stella
I carry the ST300 on the hip at work, I love that it doesn't have scissors, I carry a style CS on the keys for the rare occasion that I need scissors. Outside of work I carry a charge tti with a complete set of bits and an extension, I absolutely love that tool, however the wave is just as good practically speaking and financially speaking. The biggest advantage as to why I prefer the charge over the wave is because of the grip. Texturing is nice when you are actually using the tool. 3M adhesive texturing will also work to get the added grip on the wave.
I used the Wave for 6+ years, I can say this is the best multi-tool with functions that actually useable in both size and also price-wise. It's not super heavy so I can put it into my pocket, and it's not super big to scare people in the public space. Yeah, people will look at you when you open a big block of metal with a lockable blade and a full-size plier. I carry my wave to camping, hiking, road tripping, doing a workshop in college, moving in/out of my Apt., prepping the interior space for exhibition in a museum ( just open boxes for the artwork, cutting wire, and zip tie, detailing some parts left by the construction team, etc. ). I was searching for multi-tools for over a month, just want to have an extra one on my family's car. I searched rebar, surge, sidekick; also SOG PA 2001,3001. In the end, I still land on the Wave. Wave has just enough tools for me to use. Plus with the one-hand operate knives, I can open the knife with my finger, even wearing gloves. This one-hand operate blade actually becomes my first choice when considering a multi-tool. Before, I will carry a swiss army knife Hiker, but the knife requires two hands to open, and it's hard to open it when wearing gloves. It's hard for me to use in the actual working situation that I need to hold material in one hand and operate my multi-tools with another hand, often wearing gloves. Anyway, the Wave is my to-go multi-tools, and I'll 100% recommend to others.
Great review. I carry the Surge daily. Seems like I use it constantly. All are good tools and you should find what works best for you. Thanks for an awesome video.
I bought a few year the surge to replace the first gen wave and I considered it a upgrade and I cary it every day in my pocket to go to my jop at the office. Then they stole it and I bought it back a few years later and I can say the new version is the best multi tool. First I have the file always on it you can take the file out and use the daimond side to sharp it. Second I bought bosh saw which are larger than the surge saw and cary it in the pouch. Third I bought the bit set and there is a bit that bought side are phillips size #1 and #2. The surge self has tree size flat so the origonal bit one side flat and the other side phillips is not nesary to cary replaced with bought side phillips.fourth buy the bit extender and the replacment wire cutter.Sixth put a lang yard with a flint to make fire on the removable pocket clip so you can remove it easly when need it. Sevent buy the moly caring pouch with the side carying holders. One side is for a flash light and the other side w40 no mess pen to lubricate the bade ect. Best survival mod.
I've carried a Wave for may years on the job that has saved me thousands of steps not having to walk hundreds of feet to a tool box to get the "right" tool for a quick repair. Now that I've retired and off duty most of the time I now carry a Leatherman Skeletool CX that clips inconspicuously in my pocket and takes care of most things that I need it for.
Good video. Don't forget about the retractable lanyard that pushes out from the bottom the saw slot. I've had my Wave for 16 years and it's still my favorite multi-tool. The Wave just has a certain charm to it that will not disappoint most people. The allure for me when I purchased mine, was the ability to open and lock the blade(s) with one hand.
I love the 300. I do hvac and when I don’t want to get a tool out of the truck it works perfect. Wire strippers knife and players also the screwdriver. Use everyday.
Leatherman “Wave +” They added replaceable wire cutter blades to the pliers. Got mine yesterday. I used it for a small job the first day and then used the scissors for something later. I can’t stop playing with it.
The rebar is the most versatile for me. It's small and light has the good screwdriver not the flat one in the wave. I do like the ability to get to the blades without opening and the small replaceable screwdriver. Tiny Scissors aren't that important in my everyday usage I make due with the knife blade.
Daniel Wimberly ,I agree with you. The rebar is a scaled down super tool 300. I will get a new one ASAP. Also, I don't consider scissors a necessary tool.
I carry a rebar, it's nice & small in the pocket which suits me. I also have a micra on my keys which covers a nice small & more robust pair of scissors to the silly ones you get on the wave, I also have the bit kit for this usually in my rucksack too; which is nice for driver versatility. I have found this to be my personal ideal set up and it as a whole sees lots of activity & hasn't let me down yet.
I also can't do without an awl and saw on an MT and actually use them pretty frequently. I also wear glasses and find use for scissors from time to time but not nearly as often as a blade, so I also keep a Victorinox Minichamp on my keychain as well. That coupled with the Rebar covers just about all the bases for me.
Or the knifeless version of the rebar is even better in my opinion. Looking into one of them maybe. I carry a decent pocket knife and have a few in the car. I really would rather have scissors for precise cuts and important materials than two little knives. I have a Victorinox Champion Plus (stopped production in 2016) and it has all the tools I need and I'd rather carry a separate set of pliers for comfort and hard use. Especially for the price. However, Rebar is a good all over option. I think I prefer leatherman vs Victorinox spirit.
One of the best EDC tool videos I've seen: It's way too honest and really speaks to the average guy. 👍👍 Let me know if you have an updated video on this topic.
I own three Leathermans. I am an avid outdoorsman and an aircraft mechanic by trade - I use multi-tools every day. I have a Surge, a wingman, and a Sidekick that I think I received as a promotional gift (it lives in my truck bag). I use the wingman the most. It is used everyday in my job and has been on several outdoor adventures to include a 10 day /60 mile hike in the New Mexico mountains. The Surge is great. It’s a beast. I would like to say its my favorite but it is too big for me to carry everything day - even on a belt pouch. I am a big fan of multi tools and Leatherman brands are the best.
Everyone has their opinion on which leatherman is the best. It all depends on how you use them. Thats what makes them so great. For example, I use the Rebar. I tried the Surge first, then the Wave and finally landed on the Rebar which is perfect for my job. Wouldn't go to work without it.
I have about 7 Leatherman's. I agree on whole, they are the best company. They have the largest variety, and specialize in it. There are cheaper variants. I think once you decide you like the swiss army knives (as we called them in my day) then definitely upgrade to a Leatherman based on your current need...as it will fill it.
After getting a Swisstool RS and a Wave a few years ago I must say that I barely ever carry either outside of my backpack. Back then I thought that I need the potent pliers and a decent knife blade. But now a Wenger-Executive, hanging on my keychain, seems to steal all of their objectives. It is always easy to get carried away with fancy gear. Sadly, I only get to use those guys when I go camping or have a barbeque in the woods. Summa summarum: The average person is probably well off by getting a simple SwissArmyKnife or one of those little juicy Leathermans.
I've had the SAK's "Super Tinker" for years and now have the "Rebar",which I picked up a few years ago. The SAK has the scissors I need, and the "Rebar" makes up for anything else:)
I love leatherman, I have the wave, super tool 300, and micra, most of the time I carry my super tool 300, and my micra. With my super tool 300 in a black maxpedition sheath. I bought the wave first and it was to small gorgeous me that's why I went for the super tool 300. I'm a big guy so it fits me well.
Lmao, I am that guy......lost my first Wave about ten yrs ago, had it 7 or 8 yrs. Went out and got another one, then the newer one with the outside locking tools, screwdriver, can opener etc. I have to admit, the locking feature on the newest Wave is awesome, but the contour and size of the original is hard to beat. Good vid bud. Cheers
Have you seen the knifeless Rebar yet? It includes a micro screwdriver exchanger (I believe?) and mini scissors instead of the 2 blades. I carry a dedicated folder or fixed blade, so the knifeless rebar option is appealing. I like my wingman for sure. Usually pair that with a Victorinox one-hand Trekker or other model with a wood saw. Great points on the Multitool purchases. Btw: I'm new to the gear nut fb page and made my first trade today! Super excited about it. I may have you make me some kydex if possible. I'll be in touch on fb! Great channel and reviews my friend. Take care-
You're going to be disappointed, it so much more chunky in the pocket, and don't offer much back... the eyeglass screwdriver is sometimes useful, alto I can't remember last time I needed it.. And the bit exchanger looks cool and all, but often you'll find it cant reach into the narrow slots where the PST's phillips driver fits nicely... If my PST gave up I'd go get my other PST, yea, I got myself a backup.
I bought a PST several decades ago. At the time, it was the coolest thing I'd ever seen. It has been sitting largely undisturbed in the glovebox of the last four cars I've owned. I would gladly sell it to anybody for what Leatherman is now asking for them.
My wife and son both carry a Wingman and they love it. Not to mention they're pretty affordable for the average joe. Sometimes you can catch them on sale at Lowe's for about $20 bucks.
Tip on not losing it (I've lost 2 Charges and a Juice). Use the hidden lanyard hole. Braid a bright orange/yellow/green lanyard out of reflective paracord.
I'm going to throw in my 2 cents on the replaceable cutters. I own an old Supertool and an old Wave that have been with me since the late 90's. The only reason I looked for replacements for them is the wire cutters for the old ones wore out. The pliers started coming loose and the cutters won't cut wire anymore. Great tools, but they are getting close to 20 years old. If I could replace the cutters, I would have never replaced them. I do LOVE my Surge. I bought the pocket clip accessory and can pocket carry it everywhere. best Multi Tool EVER!
Heh heh, i carried a surge for a year, it kept pulling my pants down. so i got a wave 2 and a pocket clip. Lost my Wave 2 and now carry a charge TTI. The neat thing about the Surge blade exchanger is you can use the diamond file to dress the blade in an off grid situation, no stone required.
Love the Wave but it was a bit large for EDC. I found I never needed the bit kit. Wingman and Sidekick were good options, wife has one of those and I've given the other as gifts. Eventually I put my Wave in my emergency bag and went to a Juice for edc on weekends. It's now my preferred Leatherman model and good used ones can be found cheap on ebay. All that said my primary 5-days/wk work-carry edc is still my Victorinox S18. So many tools in such a tiny package. Great for thinner work slacks in an office setting.
The Leatherman super tool 300 is my EDC probably since it came out when the original leather sheath finally wore out after many years i made a cross draw Kydex sheath with a plastic slide over the belt clip I don't even notice that I have it with me until I need it. it's not that heavy people. I have lost two super tool 300's my current one I've had for almost 10 years I once left it on the back of my bumper lost it found it a half hour later after It had been run over who knows how many times and yet it's almost perfect condition you would never even know it's been run over. I use the cutter bits to cut metal wire such as coat hangers type Gage the metal Cutters that are replaceable have never been replaced and I also use them to cut 1 inch wide metal banding (3 strong snips) from pallets and plywood in the end I will never trade my super tool 300 out for anything less. I have been carrying Leatherman's for more than 20 years now I have never need to send one in for repair but friends and family have and the warranty is perfect and trouble free. We all have our own needs choose your Leatherman wisely
I’ve had a couple skeletools. They’re pretty good! I have the Surge it’s awesome, I keep it in the glove box so I can get to it if needed. My Wave is on my hip or in my hand all the time. It’s my favorite tool!
LOVE my Surge. Got it not long after it came out. Replaced my Wave that got chewed up by my snowblower. Yes, the sheath leaves something to be desired, I'm on my second one, due for a third. But if you do belt carry it the sheath holds the extra saw/file blades.
I’m one of those average guys who carry the surge along with the buy kit and the ratchet driver all on my belt. I just got tired of needing a tool and having to go to the garage to find the right one. I absolutely love having those tools on me at all times
I have the original Wave when it first came out. I really love it. I have it on my belt every day and probably use it at least once or twice a day. Even though I'd like to upgrade to the Surge or Charge TTI, but until this one breaks (if it will ever break) then I'm perfectly happy with the Wave. Thanks for the video.
Currently, I'd point people towards the Skeletool, Wave+ or Rebar, possibly with a Micra in the case of the Rebar or Style CS with the Skeletool. For me the smaller, smoother outside and thinner profile of the Rebar makes it MUCH easier for me to carry, plus I carry a separate "main" knife. If I didn't carry a knife I'd probably go Skeletool with the Style CS. Very rarely do I really need something outside of the knife, pliers, screwdriver, tweezers, scissors, or bottle opener in my daily life when not at work.
The best first Leatherman option for the average person would be to get the Squirt PS4. A truly average person doesn't need to carry around a full sized multi-tool and that's assuming they would even want to. The Squirt is plenty capable for most of the tasks that the average person will be doing in this day and age and, can be attached it to their keys so they don't have to wear a belt sheath or clip a 8 oz. hunk of metal to their pocket. If they want something more substantial after that they will be able to find the perfect option for them because they would know what they want in a multi-tool.
Fixed my $2000.00 3D printer with the leatherman Rebar. The Rebar is good for wood working , machining Aluminum ( the file) and other repairs that have limited access space. The wave is uncomfortable to work with due to it's squared off form. The wave has a weight issue and easy to drop during a repair.
I bought free p4. A week later broke tip on main blade by dropping it on wooden bench 10 inches away. You might have better luck with 420 hc steel than I did. Got it replaced, zero problems! Decide to get another Leatherman with better steel. Don't know much about 154cm, but have Spyderco Smock with s30v steel, very happy with it. Decided to go with charge tti, haven't touch my free p4 since got my charge tti. Cheers
I bought a surge a few years back. Thought I’d carry it on my belt but it’s really heavy. So I just carry it in my edc bag. I keep longer saw blades in my bag just for fun so when I’m bored I cut 2x4s and things. But I mostly got it because it could handle almost anything I throw at it. It’s so beefy. And with the bit extender, I just can’t find one to beat it. I bought the bit kit which came with eye glass bit so I just pull out the bit and hold it with the pliers if I ever need it. Works great! Great video brother!!
It all depends on what you do day to day. I work in an office. Bought the Wave 3 years ago, used it maybe twice (at home and could've used my regular tools) before selling it. My whole set of regular tools cost me 49. The Wave currently sells for $125 + tax in Canada which is outrageous if you ask me. Bought a $3 multitool from the dollar store that has lots of tools minus pliers. It all comes down to whether you have a need to carry a multitool as an EDC. I certainly don't. I do have Victorinox Classic on my keychain.
For me, it's more about how long Leathermans have been proven to last. You know it's not going to fail you or fall apart over time. If it does happen to break in 25 years or less they'll send you a new one or fix it.
This "average person" has used a wide variety of multitools over the years, and my favorite without question is the Skeletool. Sure, things like a wire stripper and eyeglass screwdriver are useful now and then, but I don't need to carry them in my pocket at all times. The Skeletool does everything I need, quickly and easily, and nothing I don't.
I found a leatherman in a gravel lot at a grain elevator. Was ecstatic. Lost it about 8 years later. Over a year back a client gave me his Gerber Suspension NXT and I never leave home without it. The Wave or P4 may be my next. Thanks for the review.
I like lots of multitools but most are way overpriced and often over featured! I personally don't need 1200 tools in 1! For me, the best multitool is an all-metal lightly used model (preferably a name brand like Leatherman, Gerber, SOG, etc)! Good info / review thanks!
I carry a Leatherman Fuse every day in a pouch on my belt. Pretty light. I never use the knife because I always have a folder with me. But the scissors, screw drivers, and pliers get used all the time. And are 3D. I love that the tools lock. That is one of the reasons I bought it. I wish I had bought a knifeless version. And I would change out the lanyard loop for a saw. It is what it is. Unfortunately they don't make the Fuse anymore. TJ
Great video, liked and subbed! For all the people complaining about weight, get yourself a gun belt. Even if you don’t carry a gun, with all the stuff an average guy carries (phone, keys, wallet, knife, multi tool, etc) it will change your life. I carry all this plus more with no issues. If your new to gun belts, just do an internet search. There’s a ton of great belt makers out there.
skeletool or wingman to start out, maybe even a juice. but yeah i agree the leatherman wave is best for the average person but dont lose it! same with the victorinox spirirt
Im an average guy, I work in retail and I carry the surge! And I love it, I figured if I was gonna buy a real leatherman, I might as well spend the money and get the big surge! (Go big or go home) lol I don’t even notice the weight on my belt! I love it!
Regarding the bit exchanger....if you have an exchanger you'll be carrying extra bits. It's not a downfall that you need to carry extra bits, it's a result of having a bit exchanger.
I have been studying up about Leatherman tools for a couple of weeks now. I am in the process of putting together a bug out bag. This tool seems like the right one for inclusion in my bag. Since it is stainless you could use it and drop it in boiling water and use it for a simple medical procedure like removing a splinter or more and at the same time disinfect the tool. Obviously that is not what it designed for but seems like it is so diverse and multifunctional that it would work on lots of situations
+Bryan Reilly That is awesome and that is a great gift. Thank you for watching my video and the comment I always enjoy hearing good news from my viewers.
I Love To Have A Leatherman Surge With Sheath, A Leatherman Wave With Sheath, A Leatherman Charge With Sheath, A Leatherman Micra Keychain, And A Leatherman Squirt.
So my Dad works at Leatherman tool in Portland, OR... suffice it to say... I own all of the Leatherman tools. I have 3 things to say... 1). Love the wave and use it a lot 2). I personally think the best EDC tool to carry is the REBAR. Based on size and functionality also slips easily in and out of your pocket. 3). Look into the CRUNCH... it has a built in vice grip instead of needle nose plier but can still work for needle nose.
Totally agree. I have several multi-tools and although none is perfect, the Wave is in my opinion, the best all around multi-tool to own. That said, everyone is different and has their own opinions. We are fortunate to have quite a number of very good multi-tools available. I very much like my Victorinox and Gerber too.
I think the wingman or the sidekick are great options. I edc a wingman myself. Also, some of the smaller ones would be great options. good video. Take Care and Be Aware
i used to edc a sidekick for four years. the file/ruler tool was useless, otherwise it was a good multitool. i dropped it into a river in the end. the next one i'll buy is going to be a rebar. i'm one of the few who need the awl, i also like the weight/functionality ratio. as for the wingman, i don't like the idea of having a serrated main blade. how do you guys sharpen them?
ChiefPrepper I'd probably go with a Rebar from what I've seen. it's got pretty much all the tools on a sidekick (don't know about the wingman) and more
ChiefPrepper agree with sidekick. I actually keep one in my deer hunting pack. Wood saw works great on a deers pelvic bone and if I lose it in the middle of nowhere I'm only out $35-40
Im the guy who lost his surge. Carried one for a decade, returned it once every couple years for the warranty. i rent mobile homes and often just have my edc with me when checking out a tenant complaint. i replaced the surge with the wave+ bc wave + has a better saw and file and as you pointed out the surge is just one or the other. all good so far…
The wave is a good choice I had a charge xti for 11 years main blade broke so they gave me a tti free all leatherman kit is good so choose whaT YOU WILL USE
I started out with a Wingman and quickly figured out that scissors were the most used tool for me, and I really wanted a more robust replaceable wire cutter, the Surge was the only multitool that had the bigger scissors and replaceable cutters with exterior tools
I know I'm late to the party but here is my 2 cents. I edc the skeletool and absolutely love it. I also have the wave that is in a edc backpack. I got the wave first for the similar reason in this video but I realized I didn't use half the tools has often as I thought I would. Plus carrying it in my pocket was a bit annoying. I tend to like things with pocket clips. So I switched to the skeletool and being carrying that for a while now. Currently they run about the same price so I'd recommend if someone was looking at getting a multitool to check out the skeletool or the wave. But both are great multitools.
Wave is overkill for the average person. Try a wingman. Cheaper, lighter, and with a pocketclip and package opener that's going to be used much more than a saw or metal file. It's not as nice as a Wave but for the average person is nice enough. You can pick one up used on eBay for about $30 then send it into Leatherman for a free refresh.
My present fave . , a Leatherman Charge TTI + . Classy and comfortable ! The jaw inserts , premium steel blade are a nice bonus ! My most carried however, is a Skeletool CX .
It's funny hearing people say that something is too heavy. I recently got a Super Tool 300 and have no problem carrying it. In fact, I strapped on my Crunch, Rev, and PST II. Yes it's redundant, but I wanted to try. As long as it's secured to my belt w/a sheath it's no problem. I can only see that much weight being a problem for a jogger, mountain climber, or people aiming for ultralight kits
I'm a maintenance man for a large resort company I don't leave home without my wave it's used daily I also own the juice S2 in the PS 4 squirt. The Micra has a dedicated place on my keychain. I agree with some of the comments below that the Leatherman Wave may be a bit much for normal use and I can see the justification of caring Ejuice in its place but I will tell you that you will be more limited to the things that you can do and once you get used to the weight you'll never look back I didn't if you're looking for a quality holster don't go with the Leatherman's holsters get a pancake style handmade leather holster you gave $100 for the tool you can give 30 holster once you have a place in your system will you comfortably carry something I promise you you won't leave home without it also work firing EMS I still carry my wave along with my Leatherman Raptors I am a huge fan of the Leatherman brand and they never let me down when the day that it does I know that they have a 25 year guarantee to back it up I can't complain about these products they're all awesome in their own right
Leatherman Skeletool. Minimalist, thin, light, and has only the basic tools that I really need / use. Can access the blade from the outside. I got the model with the half regular and half serrated blade. I had one of these for several years and then, sadly, I lost it. After doing some research / shopping, I replaced it with another Skeletool as it had been nearly perfect, for me.
It depends on what your needs / requirements are, for a multi-tool. The more tools & "gizmos" they have the bigger & heavier they are. For me, I know I'm not going to be building a new garage or rebuilding the engine in my truck with my pocket multi-tool. For real jobs, I'll use a real set of tools. For EDC, I just need the ability to make a quick repair or tighten something back down. Which the Skeletool is great for, plus it has a good blade. I have tried multi-tools from all of the big names and several unknowns over the years. They were either too big / heavy with tools or gizmos that I never used or lacking in quality of materials or construction. As I said before, I've found the Skeletool to be close to perfect, for my needs and after carelessly losing one, I bought another.
I have a sickness and buy a ton of multi-tools: SOG Powerplay, Swiss Army Knife, SOG Powerlock, SOG Power Plier, SOG Crosscut, Supertool 300, Rebar, Skeletool, PST II, Sidekick, Wingman, Juice C2, Juice XE6, and Wave. I agree with some others that a Juice XE6 is best for the average man. In my system, I carry the Wave, PST II, SOG Crosscut, and Juice XE6 daily.
