The world's most in-depth and scientific reviews of gear

Leatherman Wave+ Review

A full-function tool from a great manufacturer at a reasonable price.
Best Buy Award
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Price:  $100 List | $99.95 at REI
Compare prices at 2 resellers
Pros:  Comprehensive, well-made, aftermarket accessories and carry options
Cons:  Proprietary bit driver, no pocket clip included
Manufacturer:   Leatherman
By Jediah Porter ⋅ Review Editor  ⋅  Nov 22, 2019
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75
OVERALL
SCORE

RANKED
#3 of 15
  • Functions - 40% 8
  • Construction Quality - 25% 8
  • Ergonomics - 20% 7
  • Portability - 15% 6

Our Verdict

Leatherman claims their Wave+ tool is their best selling product. This is with good reason. For the most part, it contains all the same features as the top-of-the-line Editors' Choice Leatherman Charge TTI at half the price. The materials are less flashy on the Wave, one of the blades is significantly different and Leatherman ships the Wave+ with minimal accessories while outfitting the Charge TTI with all the bells and whistles. Otherwise, though, the Wave+ is the same. The innovative external access to the blades and saws are the same, as is the presence of Leatherman's proprietary bit driver. The scissors of the Wave are tight and handy, and the ergonomics are on point. No tool that scores this high is as affordable. The value of the Wave+ earns it our Best Buy Award. We can't think of who shouldn't own the Leatherman Wave+. Of course, the Charge is better, but if you can afford the Charge, why not buy a Wave also? For your car or toolbox?


Compare to Similar Products

(change comparison)
 
This Product
Leatherman Wave+
Awards Best Buy Award Editors' Choice Award    
Price $99.95 at REI
Compare at 2 sellers		$169.95 at REI
Compare at 2 sellers		$119.99 at Amazon$139.95 at REI
Compare at 2 sellers		$75.85 at Amazon
Compare at 2 sellers
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Pros Comprehensive, well-made, aftermarket accessories and carry optionsSophisticated, comprehensiveLarge, excellent construction, full-size functions, customizableEasy tool and plier deployment, Leatherman pedigreeCompact, light, with multiple carry options, smart, effective tools
Cons Proprietary bit driver, no pocket clip includedHeavy, expensiveHeavy and large; limited portability. Proprietary bit driver.No bit driver, magnets pick up metal gritFew features
Bottom Line All you should need, with proven pedigree, at a forgiving price.The sky-high standard by which other multi tools are compared.The Surge pulls no punches: it optimizes for function at the cost of portability.Typical feature set packaged in a fundamentally different hinged package.The Skeletool is clever and clean, with only a few tools, all of which are executed well.
Rating Categories Leatherman Wave+ Leatherman Charge TTI Leatherman Surge Leatherman Free P4 Leatherman Skeletool CX
Functions (40%)
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Construction Quality (25%)
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Ergonomics (20%)
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Portability (15%)
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Specs Leatherman Wave+ Leatherman Charge... Leatherman Surge Leatherman Free P4 Leatherman...
Number of Functions 18 + bits 19 + bits 21 21 7
Weight (ounces) 8.5 oz. 9.5 oz with case 8.8 oz 12.2 oz. 14.3 oz with case 8.8 oz 5.0 oz
Locking Tools? All but pliers All but pliers All but pliers All but pliers All but pliers
Pliers Type Needlenose, regular, wire cutters, hard-wire cutters, crimper Needlenose with wire cutters, crimper Needlenose, regular, wire cutters, hard-wire cutters, crimper Needlenose, regular Needlenose with 2 wire cutters
Tools Accessible Without Deploying Pliers Blades, saw, file Blades, saw, file Blades, saw, file All Blade
Blades and Type 1 straight, 1 serrated 1 serrated gut hook type, 1 straight drop point 1 straight, 1 serrated 1 straight 1 serated 1 straight drop point
Scissors Yes Yes Yes Yes No
Number of screwdrivers 5 included/integrated. More available aftermarket for proprietary driver 1 integrated. Many bits included, with more available aftermarket for proprietary driver 4 included, more available aftermarket for proprietary driver 1 4 included, more available aftermarket for proprietary driver
File? Yes, wood/metal and a diamond-coated file Yes, wood/metal and a diamond-coated file Yes, wood/metal and a diamond-coated file Yes No
Saw? Yes Metal and wood Yes Wood No
Openers Can and bottle Can and bottle Can and bottle Bottle and can Bottle
Other important Features Ruler Ruler, cutting hook, wire stripper Ruler, awl, wire stripper One-handed blades. Replacable wire-cutters None
Sheath Included? Yes Yes Yes Yes No
Other carry options Pocket Pocket clip, key ring Pocket Pocket , pocket clip Carabiner style clip, pocket clip
Closed dimensions (Length by thickness, in inches) 4 x 0.7 4 x 0.8 4.5 x 0.8 4.2 x 0.7 4.3 x 0.6
Open Length (Pliers) (inches) 6.3 in 6.2 in 7.1in 6.5 in 6.2 in
Open Overall Length (Primary blade deployed) (inches) 6.9 in 7 in 7.6 in 4.25 in 6.8 in
Length of Primary Blade Effective Edge (inches) 2.8in 2.8 in 3.1 in 2.8 in 2.6 in

Our Analysis and Test Results

Leatherman makes and sells multi-tools at many incremental steps along a long continuum. At the top of the heap is the Editors Choice Leatherman Charge TTI. The materials in the Charge are top notch while the feature set and included accessories are comprehensive. The differences are few but important. Below we'll elaborate on the differences. For now, know that the Wave does almost all that the Charge does, especially if you source some of the aftermarket accessories.

Performance Comparison



The Leatherman Wave+ as sold. Upgrade with a couple of accessories and you have nearly everything that's great about the Editors' Choice all at a lower price.
The Leatherman Wave+, as sold. Upgrade with a couple of accessories and you have nearly everything that's great about the Editors' Choice, all at a lower price.

Functions


In some ways, the Wave+ has all the features you would want. There are pliers, scissors, wire cutters, two blades, two saws, a can/bottle opener, and a plethora of screwdriver options. The wire cutters are replaceable, the blades are good, and the screwdriver set is somewhat customizable. Using Leatherman's proprietary bit driver format, one can acquire almost all the driver bits you might desire. We wish that the bit driver was more readily compatible with 1/4" standard bits, but Leatherman has chosen to save some space (and sell more of their branded accessories) with the proprietary design. By our estimation, the one fixed flat-head screwdriver built into the Wave+ could be eliminated to make room for a full-sized 1/4" bit driver. This, plus making the pliers somehow lockable, would make the Wave/Charge family of multi-tools perfect. There is no such perfect multi-tool available, so we settle for one of the many excellent next tier options. The Wave+ has most of the features you could want at a pretty affordable price.


Upgrading from the Wave+ gets you better steel in the main blade, a cordage cutting hook on the back of the serrated blade, and many more bits. Otherwise, the Wave is exactly the same as Leatherman's current top of the line product. The feature set of the Best Buy Wave+ is about the same as that on the much larger Leatherman Surge. Our primary "function" wish with the Wave is that its bit driver should better accommodate standard 1/4" bits. Leatherman has its reasons for including its proprietary bit configuration, but we fear that those reasons are more business-oriented than practicality-based.

Leatherman pliers do the job almost as well as dedicated pliers. Here the Wave+ on a camper-improvement project.
Leatherman pliers do the job almost as well as dedicated pliers. Here, the Wave+ on a camper-improvement project.

Construction Quality


We've had absolutely no issues with the construction quality of the Wave+. All pivots are tight, and the overall build is stiff enough for all but the most stubborn of rusted tasks. The locks work reliably and the blades stay out of the way when using the pliers. And vice versa.


The Wave+ is built similarly to Leatherman's top of the line products. All are assembled with threaded fasteners (instead of rivets) and all have just the right amount of friction built into the various hinges. The Editors' Choice Charge uses better steel in its main blade, and titanium for the handle, but is otherwise the same as the Wave. The Leatherman Surge feels stronger than the Wave, if only because it is so much larger.

Though small the Wave+ scissors are handy tight and will cut anything the knife blade isn't suitable for.
Though small, the Wave+ scissors are handy, tight, and will cut anything the knife blade isn't suitable for.

The proprietary bit driver on the Wave+ comes with one two-ended bit but can be accessorized with many more options.
The proprietary bit driver on the Wave+ comes with one two-ended bit but can be accessorized with many more options.

Ergonomics


The Wave+ strikes a balance between size, weight, portability, and ergonomics. Some of the functions would be better if they were larger, but some would actually decline in functionality with increased size. For instance, when using the knife or saw blades, we wouldn't want the handle to be any larger. The pliers could be a little larger, and the handles are prone to pinching when there is something small between the pliers' jaws.


In terms of ergonomics, the Wave+ and the Charge are exactly the same. If anything, the smooth external plates of the Wave are a little more comfortable in some conditions than the texture on the Charge. The main ergonomic upgrade that could be made to the Wave+ would be for Leatherman to make a tool with the functions of the Wave and the hinges of the new "Free" series of products. For 2019 Leatherman came out with a line of multi tools that have free hinging pivots and tools are held closed with magnets and springs. Currently, the top of the line "Free" product has fewer features than the Wave. We are betting that there will be a Wave/Free hybrid that integrates the ergonomic advantages of the Free with the features of the Wave.

One-handed externally accessed blades are the only way to go on a high-end multi-tool now. Even budget options are including this excellent feature.
One-handed, externally accessed blades are the only way to go on a high-end multi-tool now. Even budget options are including this excellent feature.

Anytime a multi-tool knife blade opens from "inside" the folded pliers handles, the working edge of the blade is in line with the center of said handle. Better ergonomics are available when the knife blades open from outside the closed pliers handles, as they do on this tool. The blade is both easier to deploy and better in use.

These four functions are accessible from the outside of the closed Wave+ pliers
These four functions are accessible from the outside of the closed Wave+ pliers

Portability


Leatherman ships the Wave+ with a simple nylon belt sheath. You can also purchase an aftermarket pocket clip and/or lanyard ring. At around 8 ounces, the Wave+ is pretty typical in mass for a full-function multi-tool. The external profile of the closed Wave is smooth and clean, catching minimally on your pocket or pocket contents.


A growing subset of multi tools come with integrated pocket clips. Most of our test team prefers this method of multi-tool carry. That the Wave+ can be configured this way is welcome and appreciated. Those that prefer belt holstering their multi-tool will dig the simple sheath that is included. Carried loose in your pocket the Wave+ is pretty smooth but heavier than you'd wish. Of course, some are even heavier. The biggest products in our test are half-again the mass of the Leatherman Wave+.

The Leatherman Wave+ comes with a belt sheath but it is even better carried (in our opinion) with an aftermarket pocket clip.
The Leatherman Wave+ comes with a belt sheath, but it is even better carried (in our opinion) with an aftermarket pocket clip.

Value


We can't think of another situation in which an OutdoorGearLab Editors' Choice product has a sibling that is essentially the same, but 60% of the price. Most users will not notice the trade-offs in the Wave+ as compared to the Charge TTI. But everyone will notice saving $60.

Conclusion


There's no mystery why Leatherman indicates that the Wave+ is its best-selling multi-tool. It is nearly perfect, and the next step up is much more expensive. The Leatherman Wave+ is exceeded by a couple of products, but not by much. Both of the tools that score better, overall, than the Wave also cost quite a bit more. You can't do better than to purchase the Wave+ for all kinds of multi-tool applications. Whether in your expedition repair kit or in your every day pocket, the Wave+ is optimized and handy.


— Jediah Porter