Tested: If someone wanted to buy the single best multitool available today, I would tell them that the Leatherman New Wave is the one to get. It has a versatile mix of tools, great ergonomics and solid construction, and the price tag is fantastic for the amount of functionality you get. It’s just $61 on Amazon today, and ~$51 if you downgrade to the nylon sheath (do it; you won’t miss the leather). You can pay almost twice as much for a multitool, but the extra investment doesn’t buy you a tool that’s much more useful or practical than this one.
15 comments:
I'm actually saving up right now to get a Leatherman Wave- I have a Leatherman Rebar right now, and while I love it and find it incredibly useful, the convenience of having the knife blade accessible from the outside, without having to open the whole things first, seems to be to be worth the investment. I love having a multitool- since I've gotten it, I've used it pretty much every other day for something or other, whether it's quickly tightening loose screws on a lighting crew call or something as simple as opening a package. I'm really not sure how I survived without it.
While the Swisstool Spirit X sure looks pretty and it sounds like it is better quality, I wouldn't pay more for something that has the same issue as my current multitool- that the knife is difficult to quickly access.
The skeletool is something I'd seen before but never considered getting, but now that I realize the convenience of not having to carry around all the extraneous tools, it's certainly worth considering as an addition to carry around in a pocket.
It really is all about preference, as he said, and how much you are willing to dish out for a multitool. I have a Husky multitool (http://www.homedepot.com/catalog/productImages/300/e8/e86afc59-585e-47be-88b8-cda3d6527543_300.jpg) and it has served me better at certain things than some peoples' Leathermans. Husky wasn't even on the list of notable multitool makers. It has an rubber grip so my hands won't slip and an extra knife that the Leathermans don't have. There are things on a Leatherman, i.e. the nail file, that I haven't ever had the need to use, so the Husky works just fine for me. It cost me about $20 from Home Depot.
I use a multitool just about every day. I bring it to crew calls with me because it is just that useful. Even if you aren't using it for its intended purposes, there is no reason not to have a multitool.
My favorite multitool that I have owned so far was without a doubt the SOG Power assist. 2 spring assisted blades on the outside of the tool when it is closed so you can access a straight blade and a serrated blade with out opening the tool. The pliers are gear driven so strength is compounded. I also found the phillips screw driver in this tool is by far proven to least suck. From amazon the tool costs a little over 60.
I have a Leatherman Wave and I love it. I don't leave my room without it. At this point I've had it on my belt for long enough that I notice right away if it isn't there. Having a multitool on you all the time is really a must for any tech. You never know when you will need one. I probably use mine at least once a day for something. I only have a couple complaints about the wave. The first one is that they should make a left handed version. As a lefty, I can only open the saw and file with my left hand which is annoying. My other complaint is that the tiny screwdriver bit is pretty terrible. The flat head side broke almost immediately and I'm too worried about breaking it entirely to put a lot of torque on it. But I still love my wave, and would recommend it to anyone looking to buy a multitool.
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DIN 7 | DIN 6325
Agh I want this so badly. Ive wanted a multi-tool for a while now. And I've had my eye on a Wave for a while now. I really want it in black. I also really like how the article includes the prices and how you wont need the leather thing which makes it cheaper. All of the tools that this includes is also super impressive and useful. This review of the Leatherman is super useful for someone like me who doesn't really know what to look for. I also really really like that they give other alternatives.
I've been carrying my Swiss Army with me since I was gifted it. It's been essential for my needs working at a summer camp teaching survival, but I think it might be time for me to move on. Don't get me wrong, I love my Swiss, and I will defend its quality until in breaks in 200 years, but it's not doing the job I need it to. I'll still carry it will me whilst hiking, but it's just too small. I, like Sarah, am saving up for the wave. It's a reliable multitool and will be able to stand a lot of the abuse that a tech rehearsal demands. In addition, the knife will be quicker to access. To be quite honest, I feel like I'm cheating on my SAK, but he'll understand.
Just like any tool, the "best" multitool is the one that you can afford, feel comfortable carrying around, and has the features you intend on using. It's no use saving up for the newest, fanciest, and most expensive tool just to do without it for a year. If you buy one you can save up for over the course of a month, you are using it so much sooner, making it the better choice for you. There's also no point in buying a super large tool if you plan on carrying it around everyday in your back pocket. A smaller and more ergonomic one might be the best choice. Lastly, if you don't need all the features that a tool offers, don't pay for them. It's easy to get sucked into the marketing scheme is bigger is better, but if you don't need a size four torx bit every day, don't buy a tool that has one.
I actually own 2 Leatherman Waves, and I've broken both (a knife blade on one and the tip of the pliers on the other) but let's be honest I was using the tool for the job, it's not easy to break those things. But I'm so attached to this tool that I still haven't sent either of them back to be repaired. Which...if for no other reason Leatherman is superior because of the warranty they provide with their products. Before I purchased my first Wave I attempted to try the cheaper Gerber but I returned it almost immediately and I've never looked back. And soon I'll be extended my Leatherman collection to include some of their more specialized multitools. But like the author says, they only thing I would change is the addition of a better wire stripper in the pliers.
I do not have the Leatherman Wave but I do have the Leatherman Wingman and love it all the same. It goes for a cheaper price then the wave and for what I needed I did not have to pay more for all the little extras that it offers. I am very happy with the multi tool I have now and as the article says it is all about what you are most comfortable with and what you are willing to pay. Maybe in a few years I will make the upgrade to the wave but for now my wingman is still in great condition even with all the use it gets.
I started carrying my Leatherman with me daily midway through last summer, and now I feel naked if I leave home without it. I couldn't justify paying for the Wave upfront, so I ended up with a Wingman. It has many of the features of the Wave, and only cost me around $20. I love my multitool and plan to replace it with a Wave when I can afford it. It really does come in handy on a day to day basis, especially in areas where you don't have access to a full toolbox.
Personally, I have a Leatherman Wingman, but I really want a Wave. From the people I know who have Waves, they all really love them and recommend them. Don't get me wrong, I love my Wingman, but the Wave has such a wider variety of counterparts and a greater number of them as well. Skeletools have a sleeker, more aesthetically pleasing look, but they look no where near as useful. Keychain Swiss Army Knives are probably good for someone who does not need a lot of tools on the go, but who may need scissors or a knife occasionally, but for someone in theatre, construction, or who is working with materials often, a Swiss Army Knife is not the way to go.
I really like how this article goes on to explain the differences between the Leatherman Wave and the rest of its competition. I think a multi-tool is an essential tool for the working theatre technician to have. They are versatile, and will be useful for most any job that you need. I personally carry mine around with me about 80% of the time and always find a need for it. I think that the Leatherman Wave has some very cool features, combined with a sleek design and sturdy construction, I'm sure that it would make for a great, long-lasting tool.
Man, if there was ever a multi-tool bandwagon to hop onto, it would be the Leatherman New Wave... Don't get me wrong, it's a great tool, but I feel like it gets idolized as the one multi-tool to rule them all. Truth is, there are a lot of companies that make multi-tools, and there are a good number of them that are of high quality. Although the article dinged the Gerber Diesel, I carry one and haven't noticed any build quality deficiencies. Personally, I think the Diesel's one handed opening mechanism is unique and is a distinct advantage over other multi-tools.
I've had my Leatherman Wave for the past three years, and I use it for everything. I've taken apart my bike with it, and I've taken apart my computer with it; it is such a versatile tool that I don't like to leave home without. I always take it with me when I travel, and I've never not used it while traveling. After I got it, I was talking to my grandfather who used to go camping all the time, and his wave, which is one of the first ones and is far older than I am, is still in great shape. This knife is a great deal, and it can't be beat for that cost.
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