Leatherman Wave+: The Multitool That Has Topped the Recommendations List for 20 Years

Why the Wave+ specifically

Also read: Best BIFL Leather Wallet: What to Look For and Which Ones Last and Best BIFL Multitool: Leatherman Wave+ vs Victorinox Swiss Army

There are dozens of multitools. What made the Wave the default recommendation for so long is one specific feature: the blades open from the outside. On most multitools, you have to unfold the handles to get to the knife — which requires two hands and defeats the purpose half the time. On the Wave+, both the plain blade and the serrated blade fold out from the outside, one-handed, like a regular pocket knife. That small difference makes it the tool you actually reach for rather than the one sitting in a drawer.

18 tools, but the pliers are the point

The Wave+ officially has 18 tools. In practice, you will use three or four regularly: the needle-nose pliers, the knife blade, the screwdrivers, and occasionally the scissors. The pliers are what distinguish a multitool from a Swiss Army knife — they let you grip, bend, pull, and crimp in ways no pen knife can. The Wave+ pliers are spring-loaded and return to open position automatically, which becomes significant after the hundredth time you use them in an afternoon.

The 25-year warranty is not marketing

Leatherman has honoured their warranty without complaint since they introduced it. Send in a broken tool, get back a repaired or replacement tool. No proof of purchase required, no lengthy forms. This has been documented repeatedly on forums — people sending in 20-year-old tools with snapped blades and receiving new ones. The warranty exists because Leatherman builds the Wave+ to last, and they know the failure rate is low enough to make the promise sustainable.

What it costs and what you get

Around €100. For context: a decent pocket knife alone costs €40-60. A multitool at €25 will have pliers that flex, bits that strip, and blades that need sharpening after six months. The Wave+ is a tool for the rest of your life if you do not lose it, and the Skeletool is a lighter, stripped-down alternative at a lower price if you want something smaller.