The Leatherman Wave+ has been the benchmark full-size multi-tool for years, and it remains the best all-around value in the category. Its 18 tools include outside-opening blades and a saw, spring-action scissors, replaceable wire cutters and a full set of drivers, all backed by a 25-year warranty. OutdoorGearLab scored it 74/100 and called the value undeniable, while CleverHiker rated it a perfect 5.0/5 as its overall favorite. The main knocks are weight and a proprietary bit format, but for someone who actually uses a multi-tool regularly, the Wave+ delivers the most capability per dollar of anything here.
Full review
Real-World Performance
The Wave+ has earned its place as the default full-size multi-tool recommendation through a decade of reliable use. OutdoorGearLab, which scored it 74 out of 100, summed up its appeal bluntly: it contains all the same features as the top-of-the-line multi-tools we tested at half the price. CleverHiker went further, awarding a perfect 5.0 out of 5 and naming it their overall favorite, citing an excellent balance of quality and cost and unparalleled versatility among the tools they tested.
In practice the Wave+ handles the full spread of everyday tasks: the pliers grip and cut wire, the two blades cover slicing and sawing, the file and saw tackle wood and metal, and the screwdriver bits handle most fasteners. Pro Tool Reviews named it their Best Overall multi-tool, reflecting how few real-world jobs fall outside its 18-tool repertoire. It is the tool you reach for when you do not know in advance what you will need.
That versatility is why the Wave+ shows up everywhere from job-site tool belts to camping packs to kitchen drawers. Reviewers consistently frame it as the tool that does 95 percent of what a far more expensive or specialized tool would, without forcing you to carry several items. OutdoorGearLab summed up the appeal by noting it shares the innovative external blade and saw access of the highest-end tools it tested, so you give up very little capability by choosing the value option. For most households, a single Wave+ quietly replaces a small drawer of single-purpose gadgets.
Tool Access and Design
The Wave+'s signature feature is outside-opening tools. OutdoorGearLab noted it has four tools accessible on the exterior corners when closed: dedicated serrated and straight blades, a saw, and combined files. That means you can deploy the most-used cutting tools one-handed without unfolding the pliers, a genuine workflow advantage over tools that bury every implement inside the handle. The review praised how the Wave+ really shines when it comes to the efficiency of tool deployment, with most tools ready for action in two to three seconds.
Beyond access, the design is mature and refined. The spring-action scissors are tight and handy, the ergonomics are comfortable for extended use, and the locking liners hold every tool securely once deployed. Leatherman also made the wire cutters replaceable, so the single most-worn part of any plier-based tool can be swapped rather than forcing a whole-tool replacement, a thoughtful touch that extends the Wave+'s already long service life.
Build Quality and Warranty
The Wave+ is made in the USA from stainless steel and feels built to outlast its owner. OutdoorGearLab and Pro Tool Reviews both highlight the tight tolerances and solid lockup, and the tool's reputation for durability is a large part of why it has remained a best-seller for so long. The 420HC blade steel is not premium, but it is tough, easy to sharpen and corrosion-resistant, which suits a tool that gets used hard and maintained casually.
Backing all of this is Leatherman's 25-year limited warranty, one of the longest in the industry. Combined with the replaceable wire cutters, it means a Wave+ bought today is realistically a tool you can carry for decades. That longevity is central to its value argument: spread over 25 years, the purchase price is trivial, and few competitors can match the combination of capability, repairability and warranty support. With more than 12,000 owner reviews and a 4.8-star average, the Wave+ has the kind of long-term field record that newer tools simply cannot claim yet, which is reassuring for a tool you expect to rely on for years.
Where It Falls Short
The Wave+'s biggest drawback is weight. At roughly 8.5 oz it is a substantial pocket presence, and most owners carry it in the included sheath rather than loose in a pocket. For minimalist EDC that weight is a dealbreaker, which is exactly why the lighter Skeletool CX exists in this very list. If you only occasionally need a tool, the heft can feel like overkill.
The other recurring complaint is the proprietary bit driver. OutdoorGearLab criticized the format as incompatible with standard 1/4-inch bits, noting it was done to save space and encourage additional accessory purchases. While Leatherman's flat bits work fine, you cannot drop in a generic bit set, which annoys users who already own standard bits. The 420HC blade steel, while good, also trails the MagnaCut on the newer Wave Alpha, and the nested scissors are smaller and less convenient than the Alpha's full-size pair.
How It Compares to Alternatives
Within this group the Wave+ is the value pick. It offers the same outside-opening, full-feature design as the premium Leatherman Wave Alpha at roughly half the price, trading only the Alpha's MagnaCut blade, G10 handles and full-size scissors. For buyers who do not need those upgrades, the Wave+ delivers 90 percent of the experience for far less money.
Against the minimalist options, the Wave+ is a different class of tool entirely. The Leatherman Skeletool CX and Gerber Armbar Drive are lighter and slimmer but carry a fraction of the tools, while the Victorinox Huntsman offers a broad toolset in a non-locking pocketknife format better suited to light tasks. The Wave+ is the one to buy when you want maximum capability in a tool that locks and can take real use. The clearest way to frame the decision: if you will carry the tool in a sheath or bag and want it to handle anything, the Wave+ is the answer; if you need something light enough to live in a pocket all day, one of the slimmer tools fits better. Few buyers regret a Wave+ except on the grounds of weight, which is the one thing it cannot fix.
Value at This Price
Value is the heart of the Wave+'s enduring popularity. OutdoorGearLab, despite a measured 74 out of 100 score, was emphatic that no tool that scores this high is as affordable, calling the value undeniable because it contains the same features as top-of-the-line tools at half the price. At a street price around $100 to $110 for 18 USA-made, locking tools with replaceable wire cutters, the Wave+ undercuts the premium Wave Alpha by roughly $80 while giving up only steel grade, handle material and scissor size.
That value compounds over time. The 25-year warranty and the replaceable wire cutters mean the Wave+ is realistically a multi-decade purchase, so the effective annual cost is negligible. Spread across years of use, it is among the cheapest ways to always have a capable, locking toolkit in reach. For the overwhelming majority of buyers who do not specifically need MagnaCut steel, the Wave+ is the rational choice, which is exactly why reviewers from CleverHiker to Pro Tool Reviews keep naming it best overall.
Who It's Best For
The Wave+ is for the buyer who actually uses a multi-tool regularly and values capability over pocket weight. Tradespeople, serious DIYers, campers and anyone who wants one tool that can handle almost any unplanned task will get the most from its 18 locking tools and outside-opening blades. The replaceable wire cutters and 25-year warranty make it a buy-once tool.
Look elsewhere if weight is your top concern, where the Skeletool CX or Gerber Armbar Drive win, or if you want premium materials, where the Wave Alpha's MagnaCut and full-size scissors justify the upcharge. Buyers who only need light, occasional utility may also prefer the lighter, classic Victorinox Huntsman. But for best-value full-feature capability, the Wave+ is the benchmark.
Strengths
- +18 tools cover nearly every EDC need: pliers, two blades, saw, file, scissors and screwdrivers
- +Four tools open from the outside, so blades and saw deploy without unfolding the pliers
- +Replaceable wire cutters mean the most-worn part can be swapped instead of scrapping the tool
- +Tools deploy fast and smooth, most ready in two to three seconds
- +Made in the USA and backed by Leatherman's 25-year warranty
Watch-outs
- −At around 8.5 oz it is heavy for pocket carry without the included sheath
- −Proprietary flat-bit driver is not compatible with standard 1/4-inch bits
- −Scissors are internally nested and smaller than the new Wave Alpha's
- −420HC blade steel is good but not premium next to the Alpha's MagnaCut
How it compares
The Wave+ is the value champion of this group, delivering the same outside-opening design as the pricier Leatherman Wave Alpha for roughly half the money. It carries far more tools than the minimalist Leatherman Skeletool CX and the slim Gerber Armbar Drive, and unlike the no-lock Victorinox Huntsman, all 18 of its tools lock. Its scissors are nested and smaller than the Wave Alpha's new full-size pair, and its 420HC blade trails the Alpha's premium steel.
Who this is for
At a glance: anyone who uses a full-feature multi-tool regularly and wants the best value.
Why you’d buy the Leatherman Wave+
- 18 tools cover nearly every EDC need: pliers, two blades, saw, file, scissors and screwdrivers.
- Four tools open from the outside, so blades and saw deploy without unfolding the pliers.
- Replaceable wire cutters mean the most-worn part can be swapped instead of scrapping the tool.
Why you’d skip it
- At around 8.5 oz it is heavy for pocket carry without the included sheath.
- Proprietary flat-bit driver is not compatible with standard 1/4-inch bits.
- Scissors are internally nested and smaller than the new Wave Alpha's.
Rating sources
“The Wave+ packs all the essentials: pliers, screwdrivers, a sharp 420HC stainless steel blade, a saw, and even replaceable wire cutters.”
“For the most part, it contains all the same features as the top-of-the-line multi-tools we tested at half the price.”
“This multi-tool achieved our Best Overall ranking in our Best Multi-Tool Reviews article.”
Our 4.7 score is the average of these published ratings. Ratings marked * were derived from the reviewer’s written analysis or video transcript — the publisher didn’t print an explicit numeric score, so we inferred one from their own words. Click through to verify. More about methodology.
