Gerber Multi Tool 800 Vs. Leatherman Wave

The Gerber is beautifully made, but it's big and heavy. The Wave gets my vote because it is more likely to be carried.
 
Gerber

I like big and heavy (except for my women ;) ) I use my multi tools about 100 times a day so having the pliars closer to full sized is a big plus.
 
Hey...

Although the Gerber tool is a Great tool,, I much prefer the Wave..

I have several of each brand, but still prefer the Wave..

The Saw and scissors are a major Bonus...

ttyle

Eric...
 
If you have large enough hands, I vote for the Gerber Legend.
It's really too thick for my hands but it has several advantages over the Wave IMO:
1) Spring loaded pliers
2) All of the tools are accessable without opening the pliers
3) All of the tools lock
4) The tools don't clump together when opening them
5) The jigsaw-blade adaptor means that you can change blades when they get dull, and you can pick blades to suit your needs.
6) You can change the wire-cutters when they get dull or nick.

The Wave does have a better metal file and longer screwdrivers though.

I found both the Wave and the Legend to be too bulky and heavy for my taste, so I went with the Leatherman PST.

Good luck,
Allen.
 
The 800 is bulky and the tools seem harder to get at than the Wave.

My vote would be for the wave.
 
Gerber.

Much heavier duty than the Wave.

I recommend a look at the SOG PowerLock, for those of you needing a heavy duty Multi Tool. It is heavy, like the Gerber, but damn near indestructible!!

For me, the weight of the tool isn't a concern. Heavy duty is the concern, though, and the wave, while a good tool, just doesn't 'cut it.'
:)
 
I vote for the Gerber Legend. It's tougher than the Wave and I prefer its features. My medium-sized hands find the Legend's handles far more comfortable than the Wave's.

Just my opinion... :)

--Bob Q
 
I'm carrying a Wave these days, but I am underwhelmed. Crushing down on a nail I wanted to twist out of a chunk of wood, I felt the pliers twist, too. Sheesh. My Supertool would have bitten right through the nail. I got a Pulse for a lighter weight daily carry than the Supertool. It hasn't got a saw, not too big a deal, but it is more rigid than the wobbly Wave and the tools all lock.

I never got into Gerber so I can't comment on them. The SOGs look awesome. I've been tempted, but so far Leatherman has gotten the job done.
 
Tried a Gerber....just didn't like it. :grumpy:

I'd recommend the Wave over the Gerber, but in my line of work it was a tad on the lighter side for a multitool, more of a medium duty tool.

If you need a serious, heavier duty tool, just as CODE 3 suggested, take a look at the SOG Powerlock. I have a TiNi Powerlock that is the ULTIMATE in multitools, IMHO. ;)

For those of you that may be curious, you can find info on the Powerlock HERE
 
Just replace my Wave with a Gerber Scout 600 :)

I had a Gerber 600 befor I got the Wave. I thought the wave looked preaty cool. After using the wave for about 1 1/2 years it is in need of some repair.

The Gerber 600 I had befor the wave was still working fine, but I gave it to a guy I was working with and he snapped the blade off trying to cut a steel band off a box :(
I had it for about three years.

I use my multi-tools very hard. I used my old gerber to hammer in pins. I use the needle nose as a pry bar and have done a number of other things with it that I'm sure it was not made to do.
I also like the way ALL the tools lock, not just some of them.

After using the wave and the gerber for a number of years I know that the gerber is the better one for me.

I'm going to send my wave in for repairs.
The needle nose tips have been snapped off, this happened the first time I used it to remove some door pins (house door) :(
I have always had trouble getting the tools out of the one side of the handle, the side with the phillips screwdriver in it.
The needle nose is very loose.
The knife blades have been sharpened so many times they look like crap.
And being so small and rounded it just dose not make a very good hammer.
Other then that the wave works ok ;)


I really like my new gerber :D



Edited to add:
Think I paid $69 for the wave back when i bought it.
Today I paid $35 for my gerber scout 600. As of today I would rather have two gerbers then one wave.
Just because it cost you alot does not mean it's worth it.
 
I always find these multi-tool debates fascinating, as it's interesting to hear how others use thiers. I agree with Esav Benyamin about the Leatherman Wave because I owned one before selling it to a friend and upgrading to the Crunch. (He uses it mainly to remove fish hooks, so he didn't mind the lighter construction.) Needless to say, I was not very impressed with it. My only concern with the Crunch is the attachment for the bottom jaw, as I distrust snap-ons. Still, I have to confess that it hasn't disappointed me yet ~ though admittedly I haven't had occasion to use it very often. (The PST 2 is my workhorse) Also, in spite of regular maintenance and oiling, I've noticed that the one side has become slightly discolored. Not rusted, mind you, just slightly discolored. It looks sort of like unpolished brass, but faint. Most people probably wouldn't notice, but I'm very particular about my equipment.


As for the SOG's, I've never owned one but have been eyeing the Power Lock for quite some time ~ mostly due to the reputed one-handed opening. That feature I like, as I am most often using one hand or the other when the need for pliers arises. I can't decide between the Pocket Power Plier and the Power Lock, but perhaps someone out there can give me a comparison. Not that I plan on abandoning my Leatherman's, I'm simply going to augment my collection. :D
 
one45auto, I recently bought my TiNi Powerlock and am very happy with it. I've been an avid user of Leatherman products, for about the past 10+ years, but decided to make a change. I haven't regretted it one bit. In my line of work, I need a heavy duty multitool and my TiNi Powerlock has filled that gap way beyond my expectations. I haven't abandoned all LM products, I still have my old Supertool(use it occasionally) and carry a Micra daily. The Supertool is a great product, but I also felt the need to augment my tools as you mentioned.

Back to the Powerlock. :D I would have to say that my main reason for liking this tool so much is the fact that it can be taken apart for cleaning and maintenance. Along with disassembling options, you can also replace the tool blades with others that can be obtained through SOG. Optional items for the Powerlock include: fully serrated sheepsfoot blade, full plainedge blade, a serrated line cutter generally used for cutting seatbelts(rope, etc.), and replacements for a saw blade or scissor accessory. There is also a socket adapter for the 1/4" drive accessory that comes standard with the Powerlock.

Whew! As you can see there are many options to customize this SOG tool for your specific uses and requirements. The TiNi coating is optional as well. You can get a regular stainless finish Powerlock for a little cheaper than the TiNi. However, I prefer the TiNi in order to help protect the plier teeth and wire cutter areas on my SOG. That Titanium Nitride is some TOUGH stuff!! Good luck in your decision making, but I'd recommend the Powerlock to anyone. For a heavy duty tool, you can't go wrong with this one. :D ;) :D
 
KBR,

I sincerely appreciate your advice, though I find myself in yet another dilemma. You see, I've found a local company which sells the Titanium coated Pocket Power Plier, but they only offer the Power Lock in stainless steel. Can you tell me what difference, if any, there is between the two other than size? Is it weight? Tool combinations? Etc.?
As for the ability to partially dismantle the tool and remove the blades for cleaning, that is yet another reason I have been considering the SOG's. Last summer I lent my PST 2 to a relative for use during his fishing trip and when I got it back the insides were all caked with fish guts and other goop. I mean there was crud between the blades and even underneath the scissors. Cleaning it took the better part of an hour, because I wanted to ensure that not a particle remained.* So when I heard about the SOG's on this message board last fall, I started thinking about giving them a try. :)







*For those who may be interested, here's the drill. Soak it in a small tray of soapy water, swishing it around gently. Dishwashing soap works best. After that, carefully remove the crud with metal picks (the ones used for gunsmithing work great!) and a magnifier ~ preferrably the kind you can wear. Then dry it thoroughly (cotton balls can be used to soak up liquid from areas you can't reach) and spray it down with WD-40. After that buff it and re-oil.
 
Pocket PowerPlier:

Length Closed 4", Open 6", Weight 5.3 oz.
Tools included: 12

plier/gripper,
wire cutter,
1/2 serrated blade,
small/large flat screwdrivers,
Philips screwdriver,
a three sided file,
can/bottle opener,
rulers,
lanyard loop

:D Powerlock :D

Length closed 4.6", Open 7", Weight 9.5 oz.
Tools included: 16

plier/gripper,
wire cutter,
crimper,
1/2 serrated blade,
small/med/large flat screwdrivers,
Philips screwdriver,
three sided file,
can/bottle opener,
1/4" drive,
wood saw,
rulers,
lanyard loop,
scissors


As far as the TiNi Powerlock not being available, have you asked this dealer if they can special order this SOG for you? You might want to give that a try, if you have not done so already. I really don't see why they wouldn't be able to do this for you.

Good Luck.
 
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