Leatherman Charge or Wave?

D

[digidude]

Joined
Aug 21, 2005
Messages
797
Ive been planning to buy a Leatherman Wave for a while, but now Im also considering the Charge. Id rather get the Wave becouse its about $30 cheaper, but Im wondering if its worth to get the Charge instead. Im looking for a EDC multi-tool here so its not going to be doing any overly drastic work(although I may take into the wilderness once in a while). So which one is the recomended tool?

p.s I know there are two models of the charge, which one is better?


-[digidude]
 
1) to make the wave truly useful if you are going to be using it for DIY projects, you are going to need the driver bits, add in the cost of the driver bit kit and the $30 saving gets halved. The charge comes with the most common bits so it'll do unless you need hex/torx/pozi drivers.

2) the charge with scissors is much more useful for me. a scissor on a multi-tool and a one-hand opening blade on the same tool pretty much spoilt me and now I can't live without either.

3) for wilderness use, the driver bits are pretty pointless as opposed in a urban setting, if your main use is wilderness, you can use the Wave just as well as the Charge.

4) the weight saving isn't that much between the Wave and Charge.

5) if you don't care about the interchangeable driver bits, I'd get an older version Wave as the screwdriver is longer and the scissor is more user friendly.
 
I've considered upgrading to the charge, but bought a new wave instead (already have old wave). However, mine, probably like yours, gets only light to moderate duty around the house or camping, so the Wave is perfectly acceptable for medium use. Also have Wave's in the bailout bag, and there it's no use to buy a real expensive multitool, in a pinch the Wave will be more than adequate.
daloosh
 
Tango44 said:
Get your self a WAVE, the Charge is only a expensive WAVE is not worth it!!!
Click to expand...

The Charge comes with the extra bits, so take that into consideration. Also with the Charge, you have the option of xti which drops the sicssors for a second bit holder, and gives you the cutting hook, and wire crimper.

The thing the Chrage adds though is the 154cm steel blade. Unless you always have another knife with you, the better steel is well worth the extra $$$. I have both the Wave and the Charge, and with the Chrage, I don't need to EDC another folder.

Will
 
I just got the charge xti. I love it. The selling point for me was the fact that the bits came with it, the sheath has a place for the bits and the better steel on the knife blade.

Having gotten the xti the crimpers are not what I had hoped. They are to large for most normal electrical crimps and can really get in the way trying to get a large hook out of a large fish:( Other than that i really like it. I don't use scissors often and am fine with the trade out for the extra bit holder. I do like the cutting hook on the spine of the serrated blade. Honestly it is your choice. I do a lot of work with mine and stand behind my purchase of the charge over the wave. Between the charge models your big decision will probably be- do you want scissors and will the crimper help you or hinder your normal work.
Just my 2 cents
 
How's that for obsession?

Anyhow, the old Wave has a better assortment of blades but twists like crazy when you honk on it. The new Wave is better but has a worse assortment of blades. If you want any reasonable utility out of it, you need to add the extra blade kit for $20 and then the sheath that allows you to carry it all.

By the time you get done with that, you should have bought the Charge anyhow. On top of that, the steel blade on the Charge is miles better than either of the Waves. That is pretty much worth the difference right there.

I bought the new Wave since it has blade locks and I have two custom leather sheaths that would fit it. So, when I go light, I use this.

I prefer the Xti since the scissors on the Ti and the new Wave are ridiculous. They are 30% shorter than the old wave (which were good ones) and while the blades seem to cut well, (1) you have to really press a lot harder to cut the same material and (2) you have to make a lot more cuts due to the shorter blades.

I find with the hook on the serrated blade on the Charge Xti, I can pretty much do 95% of what I can do with scissors. You just need to sharpen it a touch and it is a great tool. The scissors on the Charge (as on the new Wave) are a waste, IMO.

The other worthless blade on the new Wave and the Charges is the eyeglasses screwdriver. If you use it on your glasses you have to be really careful because you have so much leverage on such a tiny blade. What do you need such a small blade on such a beefy multitool for? Take the room and give me either decent scissors or a straight blade permanent screwdriver or an awl.

But the new Wave and the Charges are much more rigid than the old Wave. No more blood blisters from pinching your palm between the two halves. Also, no more pinched knuckles when a bit collapses due to the blade locks.

So, my advice? get the Charge that you like. Forget the new Wave.

For a tougher tool all around, I like the SwissTool RS, but it is heavier and larger and no one handed opening blade.

J.
 
I think it boils down to level of use and being a steel snob (which i'm guilty of from time to time;)). If you need a multitool that gives you quick access to your tools, then i'd go with the wave. I weighed my options between wave and charge for months, then i just went with the wave. I EDC a SAK with me as well as a multi. Neither knife has "super steel", but it doesn't bother me. I use my wave all day everyday opening boxes, taking apart pumps and motors, fixing things around the home and office. The blade steel is not a issue to me as i touch up my knife blades about 3 times a week. Couple licks down a steel and I'm good. HOWEVER, i did get the bit kit for the wave after a few weeks. Really, I could have gotten by with just the double sided bit that came with it, but i really wanted a larger and smaller philips driver as well as a couple of square bits. The other bits are just back ups. My wave sheath carries my wave, an assortment of my favorite bits, and a little maglite. Not a bad set up for any situation. So, I ended up spending about 80 bucks for my wave set up and never once wished i had the charge's fancy steel blade, pocket clip, or quick release.
I have just switched to a Surge. It has everything my wave does except it's tougher and set up a little more to my liking. The blade not being a fancy steel is still ok with me. It takes an edge and holds it long enough. Besides, with the detachable file i can use the diamond side to touch up the edge in a pinch. The bits from my wave fit the driver so no added cost there. Pretty much the perfect set up for me.
Good luck with your purchase.

Jake
 
Frankly, the only reason I bought a Charge was because with a combined sale and coupon, the price was $60 at Sharper Image, less than a New Wave anywhere else. It has been my EDC for several months now, replacing a Supertool/Micra/Delica combo I having been toting for some years. I never considered the original Wave because not all the tools locked, and I wasn't really in the market for anything when someone posted here about the Sharper Image deal. How could I pass it up?

Fortunately for me, I am right-handed. Both the New Wave and Charge are resolutely right-handed tools. I don't know how lefties can deal with them. I have tried to manipulate the blades with my left hand and can find no way. Perhaps a natural born left-hander could deal with it better, but you have to wonder what the story would be if, in an emergency, someone had only a left hand available to work the blade.

Overall, I like the Charge a lot. It carries great with the pocket clip and works well enough for most of the things I need it for, but I sometimes miss the lack of an awl and have yet to find any earthly use for that tiny screwdriver. My only other gripe is that the drivers are now stubby. This can be a potential problem, although I must say that so far they have worked very well. Because of these considerations, I haven't retired the Supertool completely, but as an everyday carry, the Charge is good enough for most jobs.

Ah, the blade. One hand opening. 154CM. Wonderful. Don't miss out.
 
As usual I am overwealmed by all the replies, thanks a lot!

Right now Im leaning towards the Wave, I dont give a crap about tool bits, I hate those things, so its not an issue. I do however care about steel quality, so Ill have to consider that. I appreciate all the help, keep it up!

-[ChaosSwordsman]
 
Ok, I think Im gonna go with the Wave, but one one question, is the 154CM blade really worth it? How much better is it than the 420 on the Wave?
 
[digidude] said:
Ok, I think Im gonna go with the Wave, but one one question, is the 154CM blade really worth it? How much better is it than the 420 on the Wave?
Click to expand...

If you use it, you will notice a huge difference. It hold an edge much longer. LM claim 3 times longer, and reviews seem to confirm it.

To me, the Charge is a no brainer choice over the Wave. If you always carry another knife, and don't care about the extra bits then maybe you can save a few dollars and just get the Wave...

Will
 
Horizon_Seeker said:
1) to make the wave truly useful if you are going to be using it for DIY projects, you are going to need the driver bits, add in the cost of the driver bit kit and the $30 saving gets halved. The charge comes with the most common bits so it'll do unless you need hex/torx/pozi drivers.

2) the charge with scissors is much more useful for me. a scissor on a multi-tool and a one-hand opening blade on the same tool pretty much spoilt me and now I can't live without either.

3) for wilderness use, the driver bits are pretty pointless as opposed in a urban setting, if your main use is wilderness, you can use the Wave just as well as the Charge.

4) the weight saving isn't that much between the Wave and Charge.

5) if you don't care about the interchangeable driver bits, I'd get an older version Wave as the screwdriver is longer and the scissor is more user friendly.
Click to expand...

Do they still sell the old Wave? If so how much $$$ am I looking at spending?
 
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