"Berret" than a Leatherman Wave?

[VorpelSword]

I have EDC'd a Leatherman Wave ever since they were introduced. An early version replaced my old, standard, first model Leatherman tool. The larger size and easy to deploy knife blades were the deal maker. It rides in a horizontal belt pouch worn at ~4:30 behind my right hip.

That transition took place back in the 1990s and I have carried one or another version of the Wave ever since. . . . currently a Wave+.

But the years have passed. We are now half way through the third decade of the 21st Century. Is there another version of the Wave, or an other Leatherman product that would be a "better Wave"? I'd look for every thing the Wave+ is now, but perhaps larger, with better scissors . . . or with better blade steel etc.

The ARC has a smaller blade, lacks a serrated blade and, I have heard that the magnet collects trash. My perception is that it is both expensive and a gimmicky fidget-widget What about the Surge? Its bigger and heavier, but is the blade also larger? In what ways is the Surge different from the Wave+?

I wish I could get out to a specialty shop and handle several models. What I seem to be faced with is gawking t shiny stuff hanging in destroy-to-open blister packs at some big-box store.

Wide open to suggestions as Father's Day approaches.

 

[mitch13]

Consider the P series, the P2 has combo blade and the p4 has a serrated blade
I've had a p4 for years and it's my favourite all rounder. I love the 1 hand option, as it sees a lot of garden use. I don't know about the magnet collects a lot of trash, hasn't failed on me and not that hard to clean.
I also have a t2 and never had any function problems with it either.
Good luck

 

[VorpelSword]

Can someone make a hands-on comparison between the Wave and Surge?

 

[DMG]

I swapped the s30v blade from a ChargeTi into my wave to make the best of both. I like my Swisstool better for most purposes.

 

[elevator man]

It sounds like your looking for a surge. I carried a wave plus for years, with an s30v blade on it. I currently carry a surge and have enjoyed the step up from the wave. Scissors are more useful as is pretty much every tool on it including the pliers. Magnacut blades for the surge are very easy to find in your choice of blade shapes. Though I will say no multitool knife I've used holds a candle to my 65ish hrc k390 knife so I carry a dedicated knife and on my surge I ground the serrated blade into a large outside accessible flatblade screwdriver and replaced the 420 knife blade with a second t shank adapter to hold a jigsaw blade. Now my surge is the perfect tool for me, able to be taken into courthouses, schools etc, has a saw and file, and I open elevator control panels all day and that instantly available extra large flathead is my most used tool. I would think for you a surge with a magnacut blade sounds like a great option.

 

[elevator man]

Can someone make a hands-on comparison between the Wave and Surge?

I can. The surge is serious tool that fits in your pocket. The waves are gentlemens tool more suited for daintyer pants like khakis or when you just want a light carry. Used both for years. For me the surge has a permanent place in my pocket. Honestly if im walking to the pool in swim trunks im more likely to skip the wave altogether and carry a juice s2. The wave lives in my wife's cars center console for emergency use

 

[VorpelSword]

Thank you for that.

From your modifications it sounds as thou you have things well in hand.

And yes, a larger blade than a Wave has, in a high performing steel is my desire. I do not pocket carry the Wave. I am not a large person and at this stage in my life (retied) I bear the weight of it in a horizontally oriented belt pouch. The Surge would travel the same way.

 

[InThePocket]

I've had an original Wave for close to 25 years. I still use it sometimes. I got a Charge TTi in 2009 and carried that on and off for 14 years before selling it off. I also have a Free T4 that we mostly keep in the kitchen as an all purpose family tool. I got an Arc when they came out and I've carried it daily since.

I think the Arc is the best of the bunch. It's not gimmicky at all. The all outside-opening, all one-handed feature is great. In practice I find it saves me a lot of hassle and just makes the tool easier to use. I like the blade a lot - easy to maintain, shape is great, length is fine, thumb stud opening is the smoothest I've had in a Leatherman. I have a couple minor gripes but overall it's my favorite multitool. Pricey compared to the Wave or Charge, not as big as the Surge, but capable and well worth it for what I've needed.

 

[Murphy Slaw]

I think the Arc is the best of the bunch. It's not gimmicky at all. The all outside-opening, all one-handed feature is great. In practice I find it saves me a lot of hassle and just makes the tool easier to use. I like the blade a lot - easy to maintain, shape is great, length is fine, thumb stud opening is the smoothest I've had in a Leatherman. I have a couple minor gripes but overall it's my favorite multitool. Pricey compared to the Wave or Charge, not as big as the Surge, but capable and well worth it for what I've needed.

I’m with this guy.

 

[Gizler00]

I’m with this guy.

I held off for a long time on the arc… I kept telling myself that it was not worth it or better than any other multi tool I had…. Eventually I stumbled onto one and completely understand all the hype…. It is good enough to replace a dedicated EDC knife at the same time. My only gripe is the weight.

 

[CSG]

For about a third of the price, I remain satisfied with the Wave+ (bought a second a couple weeks ago for $90 on an Amazon sale). Doesn't mean I haven't been tempted, however. I just have such little use for a multitool in my daily life that my three reside in the glove box of two vehicles and the kitchen junk drawer. I use the screwdriver on the one in my junk drawer more than the blades, pliers, or other tools.

 

[.577NE]

For about a third of the price, I remain satisfied with the Wave+ (bought a second a couple weeks ago for $90 on an Amazon sale). Doesn't mean I haven't been tempted, however. I just have such little use for a multitool in my daily life that my three reside in the glove box of two vehicles and the kitchen junk drawer. I use the screwdriver on the one in my junk drawer more than the blades, pliers, or other tools.

I am with this guy.

 

[Gizler00]

It’s definitely hard to justify if you do not have the daily need for one. I do not carry one on the days that I know there will be no chance of needing it. Just unnecessary extra weight

 

[Davidoff]

In my opinion, multitools are cool as a tool to have at home or in the car. I currently have one in my trip kit. Today I think I will finally purchase a second one for home. And indeed I will also agree that at home it's rare to use all the gadgets.

 

[Lesknife]

The Arc is the best yet in my opinion. And it doesn’t collect any metal debris or anything else. I was concerned about that too but after using it for a year now it hasn’t given me any problems at all.

I love the easy fluid action, all outside access tools, Magnacut blade, better pocket clip, better scissors, overall just better more user friendly and dependable.

I too have used the Wave for a long time and it is still a great tool but I think the Arc is just better in many ways.

 

[Bushleague270]

In my opinion, multitools are cool as a tool to have at home or in the car. I currently have one in my trip kit. Today I think I will finally purchase a second one for home. And indeed I will also agree that at home it's rare to use all the gadgets.

The worlds bulkiest multi-tool might get you through a very minor bicycle repair, if you've got a separate multi-driver. Counting on one to be much good in an automotive breakdown is nothing short of full-stupid. A small set of Channel Locks, a set of side cutters, a 6" Crescent, and a multi-driver trumps a multi tool every day of the week. Thats what I keep in my house and I still end up running out to my car pretty regularly... where I keep that, plus a 3/8 ratchet set, a few more sizes of Crescents and styles of pliers....

And when I'm working on my car I still end up borrowing tools out of my truck where I have all that plus, 1/4 and 1/2 ratchet sets, Metric and SAE combination wrenches, snap-ring pliers, filter wrench, screw driver set, pipe wrench, pry bar, ball peen hammer, scrapers and picks ETC. I mean, I even with a few different types of pliers in my car, I occasionally need to go get something stupid like a long-nose, 45 degree something-or-other, so theres a pretty good chance that a Leatherman wont have you covered even just for pliers.

Recently I was doing some fairly basic work on a 2002 Honda Foreman, pretty much one of the most stone-age machines still in regular use... and even with all that crap in my truck I STILL needed to go dig around in my tool shed for a few odds and ends that I didnt have in my truck... all of which is to say... If you've got a Swiss Army Knife, a flashlight, and a Bic lighter in your pocket, you've already hit the EDC point of drasticly diminishing returns.

Especially around home or in a vehicle, where space is not exactly a comodity, I cant come up with a single good reason to be counting on a Leatherman to potentialy do you any good.

 

[Lesknife]

The worlds bulkiest multi-tool might get you through a very minor bicycle repair, if you've got a separate multi-driver. Counting on one to be much good in an automotive breakdown is nothing short of full-stupid. A small set of Channel Locks, a set of side cutters, a 6" Crescent, and a multi-driver trumps a multi tool every day of the week. Thats what I keep in my house and I still end up running out to my car pretty regularly... where I keep that, plus a 3/8 ratchet set, a few more sizes of Crescents and styles of pliers....

And when I'm working on my car I still end up borrowing tools out of my truck where I have all that plus, 1/4 and 1/2 ratchet sets, Metric and SAE combination wrenches, snap-ring pliers, filter wrench, screw driver set, pipe wrench, pry bar, ball peen hammer, scrapers and picks ETC. I mean, I even with a few different types of pliers in my car, I occasionally need to go get something stupid like a long-nose, 45 degree something-or-other, so theres a pretty good chance that a Leatherman wont have you covered even just for pliers.

Recently I was doing some fairly basic work on a 2002 Honda Foreman, pretty much one of the most stone-age machines still in regular use... and even with all that crap in my truck I STILL needed to go dig around in my tool shed for a few odds and ends that I didnt have in my truck... all of which is to say... If you've got a Swiss Army Knife, a flashlight, and a Bic lighter in your pocket, you've already hit the EDC point of drasticly diminishing returns.

Especially around home or in a vehicle, where space is not exactly a comodity, I cant come up with a single good reason to be counting on a Leatherman to potentialy do you any good.

Heck you just as well give up and hire a real mechanic to follow you around. sounds like a guy that I worked with a few years ago, he couldn’t twist the lid off a jar of vasoline without getting a pipe wrench and a vice involved. and then turning it the wrong direction.

I use my multi tools fairly regular and many times they have saved me a lot of time and trouble. They aren’t the only tool I will ever need but in a pinch they have been a great help. Sometimes it takes knowledge and skill to get the best and most of tools!

 

[Samija]

I’ve had my Leatherman Wave for a good few years (inherited it, actually), and I’ve never felt the need to replace it. Everything still works smoothly, the blades hold up well, and the spring-loaded scissors might be my favorite part. It’s more than enough for what I need.

 

[VorpelSword]

Inhereted, maintained and kept . . .I admire that.

I replaced my first model original Leatherman with a first model Wave when they came out. then replaced that with a newer model Wave when they became available. Now I have a Wave+. This evolution actually was forced when, alongy the way, I misplaced ( lost) one or two (or three) because I am me.

Retiredsince 2003, and with activity limiting life issues, my need for anEDC multitool (or any tool) has diminished somewhat. Yet, I could be induced to move on to a larger wave-like tool , if only to try it out.

 

[Bushleague270]

Heck you just as well give up and hire a real mechanic to follow you around. sounds like a guy that I worked with a few years ago, he couldn’t twist the lid off a jar of vasoline without getting a pipe wrench and a vice involved. and then turning it the wrong direction.

I use my multi tools fairly regular and many times they have saved me a lot of time and trouble. They aren’t the only tool I will ever need but in a pinch they have been a great help. Sometimes it takes knowledge and skill to get the best and most of tools!

I'm a Millwright. Among the trades we are known for exactly two things:

#1 Fixing pretty much everything with a hammer and a crescent wrench. Trust me, I can get a fair bit of mileage out of minimal tools. Having been a tradesman for most of my life however, the RIGHT tool is usually not too far away.

#2 Swearing. While Welders/ Pipefitters are noted for pure vulgarity, volume, and frequency... Millwright cursing generally has a particular witt and nuance that just makes it hit a little harder. When you can laugh off a vulgar comeback that is almost as vicious for what wasnt said as what was, your about ready to hang out in the Millwright's lunch room.

That said, I will often use my Leatherman Wave in situations where space is at a premium (flying, occasionally on road trips) where I will be doing some fishing.