Arc vs wave vs surge vs charge

Arc, Charge, surge, or wave?

  • Arc

    Votes: 16 31.4%

  • Surge

    Votes: 6 11.8%

  • Wave

    Votes: 21 41.2%

  • Charge

    Votes: 8 15.7%
  • Total voters
    51
I have a Charge TTI, that I carried daily at work as a carpenter. Now that I'm retired I have changed to more lightweight MT's, like the Bond and the Otacle P1. The tiny P1 does most of my daily chores and the Bond gets used, when a stronger MT is better. I think the Surge is too much for my needs and I gave it away to one of our boys. The Charge and ARC are too expensive to replace if lost. So out of the four I would say the Wave.
 
I have all 4. Surge is big and heavy and stays home. Wave scissors are a joke. Arc rides in my pack everywhere I go.

Correction* I have all 4
 
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For me, the Charge is my big one, I EDCed it as a work tool for three years. But if I don't need it several times a day, it's a bit of a boat anchor. That said, the cutters, file, blade and scissors were my main uses (although from time to time the bit changer was very handy). My new role needs an MT much less often, so I keep a Rebar in my teaching bag, and my skeletool just got moved over onto my new rope harness. I'd like to try an Arc, but just can't justify it right now. So not helpful at all really, but I guess that also gives you an indication of why I don't have an arc, I want one, but, there are lots of other toys on the wishlist before it.
 
When I started this thread I just wanted to read opinions, I already had mine established beforehand, if I'm to buy another leatherman it would be the wave, I've bought at least 2, including 1 charge, and a sidekick (all at separate times) and all had issues that couldn't be adjusted away, those were primarily front and back blade play on the knife, on one of them the scissors was so tight it wouldn't disengage the lock, also it was plastered in some kind of gel, still even though I'm incapable of getting a good one I won't bad mouth the company. I will try for a wave again, i just don't know when.
 
ShaiHulud said:
When I started this thread I just wanted to read opinions, I already had mine established beforehand, if I'm to buy another leatherman it would be the wave, I've bought at least 2, including 1 charge, and a sidekick (all at separate times) and all had issues that couldn't be adjusted away, those were primarily front and back blade play on the knife, on one of them the scissors was so tight it wouldn't disengage the lock, also it was plastered in some kind of gel, still even though I'm incapable of getting a good one I won't bad mouth the company. I will try for a wave again, i just don't know when.
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If You already have the Charge, what's the point of getting a Wave? Did You get rid of the Charge? I just checked mine for flaws but didn't find any. Maybe there are flaws, but for me it's a tool. As long as it works I'm fine.
 
Mikael W said:
If You already have the Charge, what's the point of getting a Wave? Did You get rid of the Charge? I just checked mine for flaws but didn't find any. Maybe there are flaws, but for me it's a tool. As long as it works I'm fine.
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I currently don't have any
 
ShaiHulud said:
When I started this thread I just wanted to read opinions, I already had mine established beforehand, if I'm to buy another leatherman it would be the wave, I've bought at least 2, including 1 charge, and a sidekick (all at separate times) and all had issues that couldn't be adjusted away, those were primarily front and back blade play on the knife, on one of them the scissors was so tight it wouldn't disengage the lock, also it was plastered in some kind of gel, still even though I'm incapable of getting a good one I won't bad mouth the company. I will try for a wave again, i just don't know when.
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I’m thinking it will be a challenge to find a wave/surge/charge without any bladeplay.. I have a Charge ti+ and a Surge, and I resently used a 7-8 year old wave I gave to my dad: all have some up and down play, the thin liner goes all the way over on all of them (but it’s built in a way that the liner doesn’t jam on the other side). The surge had play from day one, can’t remember if the other two had any when brand new, but they have had it as long as I can remember.

on the other hand, I can’t imagine it will slip/fail and cut you, the blade is locked good in place. And, for me at least, the knifeblades aren’t the main reason for carrying one, but they do work when needed
 
The correct answer is a Victorinox Swisstool Spirit.
Having owned and carried daily for years a Wave, Rebar, Blast, and a sog powerplier, the Swisstool Spirit is my hands down favorite. The SOG had my favorite plier head design, and it was made well, but I broke the head right off, all the tools on it were junk, the Leatherman tools all worked well and got years of carry and use, but all the plier heads got loose and the wire cutters deformed, the Vic plier head is still tight and the wire cutters like new.

The plier handles are more comfortable to use since they are more ergonomically shaped, and overall the tool is made phenomenally better than the others.
The tool selection is wonderful, and they are made to tighter tolerances, none are flimsy or crude.

After carrying mine daily for 3-5 years now, it still looks new and I use it daily in an auto shop. My only gripe was the Velcro closure on the leather sheath stopped being sticky so I cut it off and just tuck the flap in, works great that way but would have preferred a button snap closure over Velcro.
 
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My only gripe with the SwissTools are the ridiculously slippery handles and the overly thick pliers.
 
I've been using my Arc since Christmas. Love it.

I've carried a multi-tool since the American made SOG Paratool (mid 90's), and I like the Arc better than any I've owned. The Rebar would get me by most of the time, but the Arc is so much smoother operating. It's the pinnacle of engineering.
 
I carried a wingman for a couple years then a wave plus for many years and now for 1 year a surge. Honestly the wave feels like a toy now. The surge is a multitool that feels like a legitimate tool and still drops in my pocket. Pliers, scissors, etc all bigger and get more done for me. Use it multiple times daily.

Blade means nothing to me, I carry a main knife, multitool blade is for sacrificial tasks.

But really, if you buy anything on this list your going to be ok
 
I recently switched to a Charge+ TTi when my wife got it for me for my birthday. Up until then I had pretty much EDCed a P4 that I still really like. The Arc is on my wishlist, but I just can't see myself upgrading to one anytime soon. The Magnacut is nice to have, but I'm good with the Charge. It does everything I need.

I had a Wave years ago, and lost it at work, but it was nice. My wife got me a Surge for a wedding gift almost 19 years ago, and its a solid and HD tool, but I don't carry that chonk around much at all.

So now the P4 lives in my little travel bag, the Charge is on my belt/in my pocket, a Rebar lives in my tool bag....and then the other 20 or 30 tools i have are scattered wherever in the house :D
 
Steely_Gunz said:
I recently switched to a Charge+ TTi when my wife got it for me for my birthday. Up until then I had pretty much EDCed a P4 that I still really like. The Arc is on my wishlist, but I just can't see myself upgrading to one anytime soon. The Magnacut is nice to have, but I'm good with the Charge. It does everything I need.

I had a Wave years ago, and lost it at work, but it was nice. My wife got me a Surge for a wedding gift almost 19 years ago, and its a solid and HD tool, but I don't carry that chonk around much at all.

So now the P4 lives in my little travel bag, the Charge is on my belt/in my pocket, a Rebar lives in my tool bag....and then the other 20 or 30 tools i have are scattered wherever in the house :D
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I had a dream a few days back where I had a Leatherman sidekick and used it extensively
And I figured it was a sign that I must own one so I bought one, I did my duty. I still wish to buy a Leatherman wave and I feel my Leatherman needs will be met after that point
 
I like and carry a well-accessorrized Surge. The good news: it's big. The bad news: it's big! But, for me, big is just fine. Only with a Surge can you remove the diamond file and use it to touch up the knife edge. Also, you can use a wide variety of commonly available saw blades in the file/saw blade holder. It has both the awl and the eyeglass screwdriver (yes, mine is the original Surge), and it has fantastic scissors accessible on the outside of the tool. I also routinely use the bit driver on my Surge with one handle in the open position, giving me an extra long screwdriver handle. Try that with an Arc (or Free P3 or P4) and the handle flops around. Plus, an older model Surge (my preference) in great condition can be had for half the price of an Arc. But...someday I'll find a cheap Arc in good condition, and that will be a good day! Just my 2 cents. T-A
 
They are discontinuing the Free P2/P4. If they give the Free series the 154cm option, I think they would be better than the Arc in term of price vs use.
P4 has many tools, more useful than the Arc imo, while weighting about the same as the Arc and Wave, except for the lack of the bit driver. I used it for a while borrowed it from a workmate.
The Swiss tools series are great but the tool designs are somewhat outdated. I really like the more efficient designs of the tools on Leatherman.
My EDC is still the Wingman for the past 7 years, great lightweight tool. Nevertheless, I wish that it has some better features.
 
BJE said:
The correct answer is a Victorinox Swisstool Spirit.
[...]
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If they would put a needle nose-ish pliers on it, I would 100% agree with you. I have a lot of use for thinner pliers like the leatherman, unfortunately. But the rest of the Swisstool is great.
 
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