Justify buying a $100.00+ multitool!

J

JQCAMP

Joined
Jul 5, 2014
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Hello! This is my first post to blade forums, so I hope everything works out. Throughout the past year or two or more, it's becoming harder to remember, I have been becoming progressively more interested in knives. In fact, I realize that my definition of an "expensive" knife has been becoming more and more expensive and I recently spent around $125.00 on a new Spyderco, when only a year ago a $30 Kershaw seemed expensive! In the last few weeks I have thought of expanding my edc and trying to add a full size multi tool into it. I have some sak's, but I was looking for a plier based multi tool. I have come to the conclusion to get a leatherman multi tool. I have looked through a number of models including, in the order of price, leatherman wingman, sidekick, rebar and wave. To me it seems as if the wave is an outstanding tool, but it's a little difficult for me to justify spending $100 (I know this seems expensive, but at my local retailer in Canada the price is $92.00 + tax). Is this multi tool worth $100? Should I simply go with a lesser quality MT like the sidekick which is sub $50? Or, should I forget trying to merge a multi tool into my edc and simply go buy another knife? :)

All responses are graciously appreciated. Thank you for reading :) Have a great day!
 
Nothing at all wrong with a wave. Is a great all around tool.
Best bet is to get one from the exchange or eBay and save some cash.
 
Neko2 said:
Nothing at all wrong with a wave. Is a great all around tool.
Best bet is to get one from the exchange or eBay and save some cash.
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Second that. Try for a used Wave in poor condition, preferably with broken parts, for as little as you can spend, send it to Leatherman and they will return to you a refurb or possibly new one in exchange. Their warranty seems to go with the tool, not the specific owner, so if you are patient, you can save big bucks.

Personally, I'd go for a Charge TTi instead. Although the differences are minor and the two are functionally the same, the TTi is more comfortable in the hand. Like JQ, I was looking for a Wave but instead lucked into a killer deal on a TTi. That was 7 years ago and I grew to like/love mine extremely. Maybe the price difference can't be justified when new, but used may be a different matter.

If you prefer NIB "just because," look at it this way. Either one is something you will likely have for years to come, protected by warranty from anything but loss (forget 25 years, it's for life.) Over, say, seven years like in my case, $100/150 hardly breaks the budget, basically the price of a couple's evening out (with drinks.) That justification has stood the test of time for me :D .
 
The wave is an awesome tool. To justify its purchase just use the living day lights out of it. I spent 170 Au on my Charge tti and I love it. No need to justify it, use is all the excuse you need.
James.
 
I thank you for the reply, but my wallet sadly thinks otherwise. You opened my eyes up to the exchange, which before this didn't realize existed and now I'm drooling over all the good prices. Some I may not be able to pass up! This is a good day, definitely a good day :)
 
Best bet is to get one from the exchange or eBay and save some cash.
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I thank you for the reply, but my wallet sadly thinks otherwise. You opened my eyes up to the exchange, which before this didn't realize existed and now I'm drooling over all the good prices. Some I may not be able to pass up! This is a good day, definitely a good day :)

Second that. Try for a used Wave in poor condition, preferably with broken parts, for as little as you can spend, send it to Leatherman and they will return to you a refurb or possibly new one in exchange. Their warranty seems to go with the tool, not the specific owner, so if you are patient, you can save big bucks.

Personally, I'd go for a Charge TTi instead. Although the differences are minor and the two are functionally the same, the TTi is more comfortable in the hand. Like JQ, I was looking for a Wave but instead lucked into a killer deal on a TTi. That was 7 years ago and I grew to like/love mine extremely. Maybe the price difference can't be justified when new, but used may be a different matter.

If you prefer NIB "just because," look at it this way. Either one is something you will likely have for years to come, protected by warranty from anything but loss (forget 25 years, it's for life.) Over, say, seven years like in my case, $100/150 hardly breaks the budget, basically the price of a couple's evening out (with drinks.) That justification has stood the test of time for me .
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Interesting idea with using the warranty to my advantage... that may be used in the future:D Although, this time I would prefer buying NIB and the way you justified it is just what I needed, I'll probably be picking one up in the next few days.
p.s. I do think the charge is a good idea, but at this time I think I prefer the less expensive wave.

The wave is an awesome tool. To justify its purchase just use the living day lights out of it.
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Sure will with that 25 year warranty:D
 
well heres my opinion on buying any knife or really anything for that matter. ( if your a TNP'r you'll know where i got this from) but there is 2 kinds of cool. the 1st kind is materials, functionality, durability, etc. and those factors can be met with a cheaper knife( spyderco Tenacious or a leatherman crater C33). and the 2nd kind of cool is mainly how it appeals to you such as appearance, "character", collectibility ,and just what makes you like it. so buying something that hits both kinds of cool might be a cheaper knife or a more expensive one. now after saying that if your going for just a first kind of cool knife then just get what you need like for example im all the time working outside, in the shop building things and a big do-it-yourself'r so i need somthing like a Surge thats heavy duty with a lot of tools so im more justified to buy a $100 multi-tool because it'll last and i use it a lot to where somebody else that doesn't work or do stuff to where a surge would be used a lot then he might just need something like fuse because they don't need a heavy duty tool since they wont use it that much but they might need a multi-tool i case of emergency or somthing so a $100 knife isn't that justified for the 1st kind of cool. but say that person just likes having it to have in his EDC system and/or collects them then is more justified. but now like like a fuse vs a surge you get a lot more tools, easier to open/use, etc. but it'll be more expensive and heavier so if you only have it for a tool and you wouldn't use it much there isn't no sense in paying the extra money. but if you use it a lot and you have it because you like it and its a tool then you would be better off to pay the extra money. so unless you enjoy having the a $100 knife then depending on your philosophy of use just buy what you need.
 
Depends on where you are in Canada, there are a few places that can look after you.

My opinion on expensive multi-tools, have a couple, and have really liked them, but a Rebar gets most of my carry time. I've carried a multi-tool for a lot of years, and I have a pretty good idea of what I'm going to ask of it. So to that end a rebar does fine. But there are times when I know I'm going to want bigger and badder, so I carry one of the others I have.
Will you get value of of a wave? Almost certainly yes. should you buy one? Thats a question for you to answer. Just know that it won't stop at one.
 
gadgetgeek said:
Depends on where you are in Canada, there are a few places that can look after you.

My opinion on expensive multi-tools, have a couple, and have really liked them, but a Rebar gets most of my carry time. I've carried a multi-tool for a lot of years, and I have a pretty good idea of what I'm going to ask of it. So to that end a rebar does fine. But there are times when I know I'm going to want bigger and badder, so I carry one of the others I have.
Will you get value of of a wave? Almost certainly yes. should you buy one? Thats a question for you to answer. Just know that it won't stop at one.
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This is a highly individual matter. I know what I like in a multi-tool precisely because of owning quite a few, learning which were a good fit and selling off or giving away those that were not. These days I have five Leathermen in my rotation; Super Tool 300, Charge TTi, Rebar, Micra and Squirt P4. As far as I am concerned, these are the right ones for me in their size categories. Almost all the others I took for their test spins were fine tools, well regarded by many of their users, but for my purposes and personality, I could never get comfortable with them. Products can seem like just what you are looking for, but you never really know until you test them out. Fortunately, there's a lively trade in used M-Ts, so you can recover some or most of your expenses (there is no harm in keeping a few in case your mind or circumstances change. ;) )

Or, you could just get something and learn to live with it. That was what I did at the start with an original version Super Tool and a Micra, mostly for the scissors. Those were my only for nine years. Loved them both.
 
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I love my Wave and I have a extensive tool collection. Not a replacement for a full tool chest, but it has never failed me.
 
( if your a TNP'r you'll know where i got this from) but there is 2 kinds of cool.
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I could be considered a TNP'r I guess, but I really enjoy reading informed and interesting posts. Your response made me really think about whether I really wanted the wave or something less expensive just as functional, but just plain "less cool"! Thanks for intriguing my mind on this topic.

I had no idea Leatherman prices have risen by so much. Just a year ago the Wave was commonly available for under $60 or around there
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:(I guess I should have started collecting MTs a while ago, too bad, but I shouldn't regret:thumbup:

And in addition to the rising cost of Leatherman products, there seems to be discussion on where the parts to them are being made.
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I like where this thread is going...
 
znapschatz said:
Oh? What's the scuttlebutt on that?
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I read where Leatherman lost a law suit in Califorinia over the Made In U.S.A. stamp, and since have changed from Leathermn U.S.A. to Leatherman tool on the stamped logo on the plier jaws. The story went on how the maker of the plier jaws had changed their operation from a U.S. based one, to jobbed out to Mexico, thus under California law, couldn't be stamped made in U.S.A.

Also there seems to be a difference of opinion on some forums that other parts of the Leathermans are made "off shore". If this is indeed true, then Leatherman needs to step up to the plate and be honest and put on the tool where it's made. If they are farming out parts to some large Asian nation, then I expect a drop in price, not an increase. I've never been a fan of the tool or the man, but this needs to be cleared up, and by Leatherman with honest labeling.
 
A Leatherman of somekind has been my constant companion at work for over 12 years . There has only been a handful of days in that time that I didn't have one on my belt .
It would be like going to work without my pants on if I left camp without it .
I have , and have had a heap of other knives that also travel with me , but the Leatherman is the constant in the equation .
It's like having a garage full of sportscars that you drive on weekends , but you drive to work everyday in your faithful old Toyota .
I personally carry a Surge which isn't for everyone but suits my needs perfectly .
The Wave would be my second choice .
I own 5 different Leathermans , they have paid for themselves many times over in my opinion , and here in Australia we pay way more than other places in this world .

Ken
 
I think justifying the cost of a tool depends on if you're gonna use the tool. I recently picked up a MUT. At $150, they're not what I would consider cheap... But I use it on a daily basis for work. I don't mind spending money on a tool that I will actually use. :)
 
I have been satisfied with the Victorinox Spirit that I picked up at Lowes. Basically I think you can't go wrong with Victorinox, SOG, or Leatherman brands if the multi-tool fits your needs. The dominant tool I use is the pliers and wire cutter on the pliers. I find it a pain in the butt to open up some of the other tools unless I just have to. I have a Vic, SOG, and a couple Gerbers. Clearly the Gerbers are the lower quality of the three I own.
 
22-rimfire said:
I have been satisfied with the Victorinox Spirit that I picked up at Lowes. Basically I think you can't go wrong with Victorinox, SOG, or Leatherman brands if the multi-tool fits your needs. The dominant tool I use is the pliers and wire cutter on the pliers. I find it a pain in the butt to open up some of the other tools unless I just have to. I have a Vic, SOG, and a couple Gerbers. Clearly the Gerbers are the lower quality of the three I own.
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I had a Spirit X I picked up for ~$50, ended up selling it after a while. Really regret that, it was quite a nice tool.
 
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