"Berret" than a Leatherman Wave?

[Davidoff]

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.

ARC is great but a bit more expensive than Wave, however. I have the ARC on my dream list, I'll probably buy it someday

 

[Davidoff]

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.

I never was keen on poking around with cars, which is why I've been driving only new cars for a long time.
But in both of them I have EDC in case something happens on the road - you can cut the belts, break the window. But also when I go somewhere away from home, on a boat, on a trip to the mountains, I don't have to look for things around the house because I always have a pre-pack in the car. I just throw it in my backpack/carry it around and hit the road.

 

[Bushleague270]

I never was keen on poking around with cars, which is why I've been driving only new cars for a long time.
But in both of them I have EDC in case something happens on the road - you can cut the belts, break the window. But also when I go somewhere away from home, on a boat, on a trip to the mountains, I don't have to look for things around the house because I always have a pre-pack in the car. I just throw it in my backpack/carry it around and hit the road.

Like I pointed out- A crescent, side cutters, channel locks, and a multi-bit driver is more useful and generally much cheaper. Stuff all this into a sock and put it under your car seat permanently. Better yet add a basic 3/8 ratchet set and stash a kit in every vehicle you own... you're still probaby saving a bunch of money over buying a single ARC, and my kit is actually good for more than smashing windows.

As far as I'm concerned, EDC begins and ends with my pockets, beyond that there will almost always be a more practical solution. Last month I went on a 2 week solo Canoe trip, and I played around with the idea of bringing my Leatherman. Even on a canoe however, I would be unable to perform many emergency repairs without at least having a seperate bit driver, and pretty much any combination of tools I could dream up basically made the Wave unneccessary and/or redundant. Incase you are wondering, In the end I took my SAK Fieldmaster, a hatchet, and a small set of slip joint pliers which I think made for a highly functial minimum.

 

[Samija]

As far as I'm concerned, EDC begins and ends with my pockets, beyond that there will almost always be a more practical solution. Last month I went on a 2 week solo Canoe trip, and I played around with the idea of bringing my Leatherman. Even on a canoe however, I would be unable to perform many emergency repairs without at least having a seperate bit driver, and pretty much any combination of tools I could dream up basically made the Wave unneccessary and/or redundant. Incase you are wondering, In the end I took my SAK Fieldmaster, a hatchet, and a small set of slip joint pliers which I think made for a highly functial minimum.

Sounds like a smart approach — no point in duplicating tools when you can tailor your kit to the trip. Sometimes less really is more, especially when simplicity and reliability matter most.

But in both of them I have EDC in case something happens on the road - you can cut the belts, break the window. But also when I go somewhere away from home, on a boat, on a trip to the mountains, I don't have to look for things around the house because I always have a pre-pack in the car. I just throw it in my backpack/carry it around and hit the road.

That’s a really practical setup — having a solid EDC kit ready in the car gives peace of mind and saves time. Love the “grab and go” idea without having to repack every time. Just curious — do you also keep any specific survival gear in there, or is it more focused on minor breakdowns and emergencies?

 

[TnRedNeck]

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’ve done HVAC work for 30+ years. 17 of that I also did appliances as well. I can’t count how many repairs Ive done with just an original Leatherman and a meter.

 

[Davidoff]

Like I pointed out- A crescent, side cutters, channel locks, and a multi-bit driver is more useful and generally much cheaper. Stuff all this into a sock and put it under your car seat permanently. Better yet add a basic 3/8 ratchet set and stash a kit in every vehicle you own... you're still probaby saving a bunch of money over buying a single ARC, and my kit is actually good for more than smashing windows.

As far as I'm concerned, EDC begins and ends with my pockets, beyond that there will almost always be a more practical solution. Last month I went on a 2 week solo Canoe trip, and I played around with the idea of bringing my Leatherman. Even on a canoe however, I would be unable to perform many emergency repairs without at least having a seperate bit driver, and pretty much any combination of tools I could dream up basically made the Wave unneccessary and/or redundant. Incase you are wondering, In the end I took my SAK Fieldmaster, a hatchet, and a small set of slip joint pliers which I think made for a highly functial minimum.

Great, it's good that everyone has a choice and can be happy with how they prepare for their trips/unplanned events!
And by the way 2 weeks solo kayak trip.... Really impressive!

Sounds like a smart approach — no point in duplicating tools when you can tailor your kit to the trip. Sometimes less really is more, especially when simplicity and reliability matter most.


That’s a really practical setup — having a solid EDC kit ready in the car gives peace of mind and saves time. Love the “grab and go” idea without having to repack every time. Just curious — do you also keep any specific survival gear in there, or is it more focused on minor breakdowns and emergencies?

Beyond multitool, compact flashlight (Olight), fire-starting ferro rod, water purification tablets to make any source drinkable, paracord bracelet, bandana, compact tactical pen, mini pry bar, water-filtering straw, power bank. I may have forgotten something else, but I don't think so