Leatherman Wave

roloss_valdes

roloss_valdes

Joined
Aug 21, 2002
Messages
397
I would like to know some information about the Leatherman Wave, so if you have info to share, I have eyes for read.

I would like to know experiences with this knife-tool

Thank you for your comments.
 
The Wave is not a heavy duty tool like the Supertool 200, Swisstool or Powerlock, but it dose have alot of features that come in handy for every day carry, especially the one hand opening blades.

Doug Ritter has a great review of the Wave here:

http://www.equipped.org/wave.htm


-Frank
 
I had a wave for a few months, for a variety of reasons I traded it for a Victorinox Swisstool, which I find to be much better. Not that there was anything "wrong" with the Wave, it just didn't fit my needs.

The Wave's most prominent feature and in many cases greatest weakness is those 1 hand opening blades. There are just too many compromises required in order to make them work for the Wave to be competitive with more complete multitools.

The nylon sheath that is included with the Wave is fantastic, definately the best multipurpose factory sheath I have ever seen or used.

I did find the Wave to have too many single purpose screwdrivers. Almost half the implements are made for the sole purpose of driving screws. Victorinox integrates these same drivers into other tools, making the whole package much more useful.

The bottom line is this: The Wave is great if you are only willing or able ot carry one implement, because then the one handed blades will be quite handy. If you already own and carry a quality one hander than you would probably be better off with another tool.
 
I've been carrying a Wave for well over a year now. Its a good "around the house" kind of tool. My main dislikes are:
1) I keep opening the wrong blade - serrated when I want the straight.
2) Non of the tools are as good as a dedicated tool.
3) Too often I'll start a job with the Wave and then have to get a real toolbox to finish.
4) The needle nosed plyers, this goes for all the tools really, are just not up to putting some real beef behind them. If you do then it shows.

I don't want to break the tool, so haven't. I don't break my SAKs either. I'm still carrying the Wave regularly and like it. Its just that its not as a complete solution as some would make out. I have the same reservations about other multitools as well.
 
I agree with everything everyone said, plus the damn blade almost cut my finger off, when I dropped the pliers and the blade came partially open. I have a habit of sticking my fingers between the pliers handle to help open and close it. When I squeezed the handles together my fingers got between the blade and handle. It damned near cut my finger off(sharp blade:eek: )

I'm not knocking the Leatherman, I loved my Supertool, the wave is just not for me, I'll probably trade or sell it eventually.
 
Originally posted by GREENJACKET
I keep opening the wrong blade - serrated when I want the straight.
Click to expand...

Hi all. My Wave came with some notches in the spine of the serrated blade (near the opening hole) so I can identify the right blade with my thumb before opening it. In my opinion is a very complete multitool, it feels stronger than the Gerber Compact Sport -I also have one of these- and it´s more handy than the Swisstool because of the Wave´s smaller size and weight.
 
I ask only because I've been looking thru a Kershaw catalog as 'bathroom material'... ;)

Model A100CTA looks interesting...

WayLander
 
I really like my Wave. Can't carry a locking knife over here, so even though the Wave is illegal, 'it's for repairing my bicycle'.

I don't like the way all the screwdrivers clump together, but really, I only use the blades, pliers and scissors. Great pouch too.

Does anyone know where you can get a 'key' to loosen up the pivot screws? Mine are kind of tight on the Wave. If the 'keys' are propriety, than that is something to think about too.
 
I like almost everything about the Wave, except for the fit and finish. I have a number of Leatherman tools, and the Wave has the worst fit and finish of the bunch. The one-hand opening tools are too stiff to open with one hand, and the pliers don't buterfly like my PST.
 
The Leatherman Wave is a great tool. It is not too heavy, nor is it too small.

Don't use it for heavy duty tasks, and you will be all right.
 
For me, the wave was just too heavy and bulky to lug around daily. I went back to basics--the Leatherman PST. Just the right amount of tools without going overboard. Or so I thought...

But after awhile I discovered that I really did'nt use the pliars very often, or the metal file. So now even the PST stays in the car and I'm back to carrying a Swiss Army Knife.

I think multi-tools are great, but now I recommend to anyone who is considering buying one, to really think about the tools you need constantly--not tools that would be handy in rare situations. I know that some folks use every tool all the time, but I suspect that most people would do just fine with a SAK and a one-hander/tactical.

Good luck,
Allen.
 
I love the Wave. Great assortment of tools, and the handles are very comfortable in use, which is important to me because I use the pliers constantly at work. The screwdrivers, saw, files and scissors come in handy pretty often too. Use the PE blade for scraping and working up under, and cutting straps on metal surfaces that I don't want to screw up a decent knife on.
As others have said, this is not a heavy duty tool. Neither are any of the other folding tools out there, when you come right down to it, though some will take more than others.
I broke the pliers on my Wave, recently, but that was my fault for using it beyond, uh, common sense:o
I started to buy a SuperTool to carry instead, but have held off. The Wave works best for me, overall, so I'm thinking I'll stick with it (sending it in for repair). Might try a ST 200, anyway, but it sure is big.
 
I got the Wave as a Christmas gift, a few years ago.

At first I really liked it. The blades were easy to open, it seemed really useful. I liked the rounded shape.

But, after using it for a while, I found that it did not compare to my old supertool.

First, the screwdrivers don't lock. It gets really annoying after it closes on you for the forth or fifth time while trying to get a screw out. Also - what's with all the flat head screwdrivers, anyways? How many do we really need?

Second, the blades come open pretty easily. I've had them come open a few times while using the plyers. Kinda scary, actually.

Third, on mine at least, it is impossible to tell between the serrated and non-serrated blad without opening.

I do like the file, the saw, and the two blades. IMHO, the tools inside are darned near worthless. The scissors are slick, but are attached to a heavy handle and are very short.

Being as how I carry a one-hand opener, the blades barely ever saw any use.

Overall, the wave is sort of neat, but not very useful. The Supertool, PST, or one of the great SOG tools seems to me to be a better choice.

-- Rob
 
I bought one of the original waves when they first came out. That one is still going strong, no play in the blades or the pliers and still looks new. I haven't subjected it to hard daily use however it is the thing I take with me most when I travel. So after 4-5 years it's still going strong.

This year I thought I had lost my Wave - and bought another one. The new one seems to be of inferior quality. One knife is loose, the other tight. There is blade play on lockup on both sides. It makes me wonder of there has been some change in the QC at LM. Maybe they are farming out some of their manufacturing. The finish on the new one is not nearly as good.

However I'm probably being too fussy, it still works fine. But for me the WAVE is more of an urban survival tool. It tends to stay in my bag when I'm in the bush and gets used at night to remove splinters and trim nails etc.
 
Unless you need the pliers regularly, I suggest a SAK at a much more reasonable price point. Its also easier to carry.

I'm starting to see the Wave as a little too "gimmickey" for its own good.
 
I bought a Wave, then let it go. Then I tried one again. It still doesn't match my Supertool. But the Supertool is BIG, so I got a Pulse. Aaaahhhh ... my new favorite Leatherman! The Pulse is hardly larger or heavier than those Juice models. I use the scissors a lot, and fortunately, I no longer need the saw the way I used to. I just carry the Supertool now when I'm hiking. Or if I need a hammer! :D
 
I have multi tools by Leatherman, Gerber, and Victorinox. The V-nox Swiss Tool RS is by far my favorite. If I were to buy another Leatherman, it would be the Super Tool. The Wave just does not do it for me. The best thing to do is to handle several different makes/models to see which one suits you the best.
I have to second the above comment that if you don't need the pliers on a frequent basis, go with a SAK.

Paul
 
I bought a LM Wave shortly after they came out a few years ago, but traded it off about 4 months later. I like the (larger, heavier) SOG PowerLock ALOT better, and the SOG Deluxe Pocket PowerPlier is just about perfect (that's the one that is my EDC multi-tool).

(As a side note, I've been trying to talk SOG into coming out with a Deluxe Pocket PowerLOCK, as I think THAT multi-tool would be TOTALLY perfect.).
 
Third, on mine at least, it is impossible to tell between the serrated and non-serrated blad without opening.
Click to expand...

On mine, the serrated sheepsfoot blade has 4 little ridges on the backside of the knife right above and below the opening hole, so you can tell by touch, what blade is what.

The only annoying thing for me is the handles wiggle slightly (about 1/8") when it's closed. I always think it's gonna bust. I don't think the Gerber 800 Legend I exchanged for this even did that...oh well. I too was not impressed with the 47731092 flat head screwdrivers in the thing...maybe someday I'll buy a SOG or Victorinox.:)

Warthog
 
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