Last year sometime I started amassing different Leathermen tools and some Swiss Army Knives
so I could make a video about which is the best one- and secondly due to a compulsion
to buying things that I already have better versions of I mean collecting. Kind of like
my Traditional folders overview video- where people could complain I left something out
and that all the knives are ugly or dumb. But in order to review any of the other Leatherman
multitools I had to do two reviews first- mainly because as far as I'm concerned- which
is really the opinion that matters the PST and the Wave are the best. Sure they have
certain tools that offer specialized functions for real special people so good for those
people- but as far as their two most well rounded tools for the average idiot who thinks
buying one more thing will definitely fill that hole- these two are it.
I understand the PST has come back in a ridiculously priced special edition, and the old one has
been discontinued years ago- but it’s the original. There have been improved models
with locking tools like the Rebar- but the PST has a compact clean look that isn’t
ugly or busy, and you can get it relatively cheap on eBay- like $25. Both are better than
carrying a pocket knife, but more practical for people who don't see the advantage in
carrying around a damn tool box. I have 8 or 10 Leatherman tools and these are the two
I carry.
But before we go any further into this snooze fest, let's look at the dimensions of the
Leatherman Wave to get a good idea of it's proportions, and a better way to take up 3
minutes. First let's do the weight with and without a sheath. There are several sheath
options available. I'll just put in individual weights here of the two most common sheaths.
I hope you can add. Now a few external dimensions. Thickness and
width and overall length closed. Now how about open with just the pliers, for some real fun.
And maybe the length of the handle area. Blade length and cutting edge and spine thickness.
Is it legal where you live. A ridiculous statement, but some people have those considerations.
A real handy guy. Bake em away toys. And how about a length section for the other external
tools. There are measured starting where the handle ends... and not the cutting or filing
edges.
Now if you remember my boring story hour from the PST review... I bought the Wave mainly
because I liked the upgrades over the PST and because I was a nerd. Mainly the locking
tools, ability to change the bits, more blade options, and overall beefierness which isn't
a word, but really a reflection on my limited knowledge of adjectives. Throughout it's production
the Wave has had some minor and major upgrades to it's basic formula sometimes even within
the three major revisions, but those three main major revisions are known in multitool
canon as such... the original wave, the new Wave, and Now the Wave Plus.
The Leatherman Wave in all shares the same basic formula- all or some of the tools lock,
the blades are accessible from the outside when the tool is in it's closed state, and
they're made entirely out of stainless steel.
Ok, so for a minute- because we have nothing else better to do let's look at those revisions.
The original Wave is as such. You have the four main blades … saw, double sided file,
serrated blade, and straight edge blade, and the needle nose pliers.
These tools all lock, however all tools accessed in the interior do not lock on the original
wave. The interior tools are starting on this side, can and bottle opener, philips head
screw driver, and large thick flathead, and that weird little hole thing. On the other
side you have three smaller flatheads... one here is broken off but it is basically the
same one as on the PST- which I call a tweaker seen here. and the scissors.
Now in 2004 the Wave was given a major overhaul into what is unofficially known as the new
Wave. Maybe it's official- I'm sure someone will correct me... I do know you can find
the old one by looking up original wave... and for the one I have type in New Wave for
information on Devo and the Talking Heads. Here are the two open side by side. First
a shot of the pliers and interior tools. Wow that's interesting. Now the exterior tools
or blades. Even more interesting. Now the them closed. The new Wave reduced the number
overall tools, but switching out all the flat heads and philips with a large and small bit
driver. Although the new Wave is heavier. The Wave plus not pictured, because I literally
learned about it while making this review is like the regular New Wave minus the synthesizers,
but with replaceable wire cutters now. It's a big improvement, but I don't use those enough
to warrant another purchase.
Remember Leatherman tools have pretty unconditional 25 year warranties... go to their website
fill out the form, ship it to them, and they fix or replace it. Of course despite me saying
that, those people who post under videos without watching them because the world is a terrible
irredeemable place might post this. And that's fine some people like the taste of bleach.
The real tragedy is that I had to rewatch my video to make sure I didn't say that. Touche
troll. Where we're we? Oh year hour two of a video about some pliers that also have knives
and screwdrivers. Let's look at the blades, because we haven't already apparently. First
the main straight edge blade, I use this most- it's a little small if you're doing food prep
at your camp, but it's easy to sharpen and is made from 420 HC. Then you got that serrated...
use this for cardboard or rope or whatever. Also made from 420 HC and easy to sharpen...
Just repetitions of 4 swipes on my sharpener on the serrated side to one on the other side..
repeat until it's sharp or you get board. You have the wood file side and the diamond
file.. I use the diamond side on my finger nails- to treat myself to a manicure. The
bottom is serrated too. I dunno figure out something to do with it. The the saw... it's
not necessarily slimy but kind of thin... It's like a saw to use on small things in
a pinch, and not your main saw unless you're stupid.
The pliers. I use these a lot and they're good... I sometimes have to deal with source
4 stage lights at work and the interior part gives me enough grip to tighten the bolt if
I don't have a proper C Wrench near by. You have the interior wire cutter, which works
well... again if you mainly cut wire or do a a lot of that get a Leatherman with replaceable
cutters or how about real set of wire snips. Then this part you can grip things with...
I actually just found out this was a feature and I've never used it.
Now the tools. First the side with the beer and can opener... I have found because it
doubles at both... I have found better bottle openers, the angle is a little steep. The
can part works fine too. If your cooking some beans on the open range. There's also this
wire stripper part here... I don't use this much as I just do small cuts with the blade
and pull for any real wire stripping. The large bit driver comes with a flat and philips
head. You can additional buy a Leatherman bit kit that looks like this, and you can
fit in your Leatherman holster... with a lot of common sizes... and add an optional extender,
that takes common 1/4 bits or the slimline Leatherman style too. The bits and extender
are optional.
On the other side you get The small spring loaded scissors. The old Wave had slightly
bigger ones, but these are good.. I most often use them for my fingernails, and then the
file for the finishing touches. Then the small bit driver with philips or flat head... It
stays in there well because of the little tension spring inside. the bit itself I have
seen break occasionally but you can buy new ones. And then the large flat head part. This
broke clean off once so I had to send it in for repair... It took about 2 and a half weeks
from sending it in to getting it back. But since I have other multitools there was nothing
to complain about.
The sheaths. There's the leather and the nylon. The Leather is my favorite of the two and
has space on the side for the bit extender. The nylon uses a velcro snap, and has a pocket
in the back to store the bits, and a side spandex thing to house the extender.
Here's a basic size comparison between a few other multitools closed. There's the surge
old version, the original super tool, the PST, and the Victorinox Champion. We'll do
a shot about them open and a quick hot take on why I like the Wave over these others...
because I'm looking at how much I've written here and this looks long as hell. The champion
is a good camp companion if you don't need pliers... it weighs about the same as the
PST. the pst I think I've already explained in this review and the PST review. The Surge
is just big and heavy, and really no more functional than there wave, some people who
need larger pliers and grips prefer them though, The Super Tool I feel the same about... It's
bigger and heavier, but those are heavier on the belt and the size tradeoff isn't worth
it in functionality for me. I plan on doing reviews of all of these in the future. So
stay tuned for more really interesting stuff gang!
Once a while back a guy said on one of my videos, why carry around something so heavy
when you don't need it. Just use the real tools if you need it. Otherwise just carry
a knife- like it was life advice I that had never occurred to me. Well there are those
people professionally like me, who don't need full tool kits, but need things occasionally
like screw drivers and wire cutter, pliers and knives. I cut tie line, crank down bolts,
sometimes repair power plugs... and carrying a common tool like this on my belt makes a
lot of sense. The tools lock... it works well while camping, at work, in the car... and
wherever. A multitool is rarely the best tool for the job, however they're extremely handy
when you don't have a tool box. You can buy an optional pocket clip for this, but at 8
ounces it's kind of heavy. I usually belt carry it under my suit jacket at work... or
on my real belt when camping because who cares what you look like you haven't bathed properly
in 3 days. The outside of the tool is extremely comfortable. Because it's rounded... oh and
theres an 8 inch ruler too in a pinch. I think at this point in my life, all my jokes are
just remixes. However I hear that if you're just using the knife the handle might be uncomfortable.
I mean maybe for long term use... but again multitools are versatile and not always the
say it with me best tool for the job. Short term cutting for a few minutes or less...
is perfectible acceptable- I’ve had a Wave now for about 6 years and it's about my most
useful every day carry item other than money or my katana. I don't often offer strong recommendations
on things, but this is really comes with my highest. The warranty is great... the price
is kinda high now at nearly $90- because they only used to be $60- so now their in the Victorinox
plier based multitool range. And although Victorinox has in theory a lifetime warranty
it does say misuse or abuse whatever that means. If you like this review, but prefer
multitools other than Leatherman tools subscribe anyway, give the video a thumbs up, leave
a comment, thanks for watching