Customer Reviews

Leatherman 830039 New Wave Multitool with Leather/Nylon Combination Sheath

5 star:		(203)
4 star:		(40)
3 star:		(8)
2 star:		(8)
1 star:		(10)

 

 

One thing that chaps my hide is a cheap tool. I don't like 'em, I don't buy 'em and I avoid using them if I don't have to. Leatherman is well known for their quality and they don't disappoint here.

Good Points:
This New Wave is extremely well built.
Resists torque/twisting that some other multi-tools don't.
Nice heft, but not too heavy to slip in a pocket.
Smooth and comfortable finish in the hand.
A really nice selection of functional tools.
Great tool locking, easy to release (but only when you want!)

I've used several other multi-tools and beyond the novelty, I never really enjoyed the flip out style (Gerber) because it seemed a bit unstable and difficult to put back. And most of the others cut into the palm. The only detractor is the price, but I don't mind paying for quality and this baby delivers.

Leatherman claims this is their best selling multitool. Most reviews on Amazon and online forums are super positive. Does the Wave live up to the hype? Yes, to some extent, but it has some issues, mainly cost and weight.

The good:

This is a nice full-featured multitool. You get one plain-edge and one serrated knife, both can be opened with one hand without opening the whole tool. Useful set of scredrivers: large and medium plain, medium philips, micro plain and philips for eyeglasses. Wood saw, and nice metal file + saw. Can opener and kinda-OK scissors. All in all, good set of tools, and all lock securely in place. Of course, it also has full sized pliers :)

The bad:

- Heavy: 8.5 oz, or 240 grams. Too heavy to carry in my pants pocket. I don't carry tools on my belt, but probably this would feel heavy there also.
- Because of the outside opening blades, there are sharp edges when the tool is closed, which I can imagine would eat through your pocket if you put it there.
- Blades designed for right-hand thumb opening. If a knife is designed for one-hand opening, I would much rather have it ambidextrous.
- Ruler (cm and inches) is much less useful than on other tools, because it is on the inside. You open the whole tool to use it, and the pliers get in the middle of the ruler line. Also the ruler markings are not as clearly readable as other tools. For me, the ruler is actually a very useful feature, so the Wave scores a minus here.
- Medium philips and plain screwdriver are actually in a bit holder, which has many issues: too short, feels a little flimsy, and the bits are not standard size, so you can't use anything but what you buy from Leatherman. This is another minus compared to other simpler and cheaper multitools.
- Unusual amount of friction when opening the screwdrivers. May only be an issue on mine.

Recommendations:

This is a good tool if you can get it on sale. Even so, I think you should look at these alternatives:

Leatherman Blast: same size and same tools as Wave except the extra serrated blade. Lighter (6.9 oz or 196 grams) and considerably cheaper. Philips screwdriver is fixed and way better (bit driver is sold separately if you need it). Knife blade is a tad bit longer than Wave. Ruler is way better. No sharp edges to snag in your pocket. Only downside is that none of the tools open from the outside; to open the knife, you neeed to open the whole tool. I own one and I think it is Leatherman's best overall tool.

Leatherman Juice series: smaller and lighter than the Wave, and shaped smoother, more contoured to be pocket-friendly. Blades etc can be accessed from the outside, but not one-hand openers like the Wave. The main downside is that the pliers are a little smaller, but not a big deal in most cases. This is Leatherman's answer to the Swiss Army Knife - most even have cork openers :) I own one and I like it.

Victorinox SwissTool and Spirit: most tools accessible from the outside but blade is not one-hand opener. Fit and finish is better than anything Leatherman makes. I do not own them, but they are next on my list when I decide to buy another multitool.

I hope this was helpful!

A few days ago, I recieved this item as a gift. I've always been a multi-tool and Swiss-knife nut, so I'm not going to rant about how amazing the tiny scissors are like the first-timers.
Right out of the box, there was none of the usual stiffness Leathermen usually have for the first couple days of use. Usually I have to toy around with all the extras while watching a movie marathon to get these things loose. But the Wave? Nice and loose, took me ten minutes to believe it. I was able to just slip it in a pocket before running off to a job, I'm the building's unnofficial handyman, and this silver darling didn't disappoint.
A few days later, I've managed to use most of the tools enough to get a feel for the quality.
The pliers are very easy to handle compared to my usual set of needles, I'm considering clearing that spot on my belt in favor of the pair on this multi-tool. The screwdrivers, both flatheads in eyeglass size and standard, worked very nicely with the way the folded knife forms a handle to twist. The bit-driver flathead/phillips seems like a nice trick so far, simply for the phillips head. The scissors worked fine cutting this rebellious piece of wire that was too close to a knot to use the built-in wire cutts built into the pliers.
Later on, I tried the wire cutters on some old brass wire and they performed good enough to save me a trip to the toolbox.
I love the knives. Both the straight-edge and serrated can be opened with one hand, pending you're right handed. Simply hold the folded knife in your palm and unfold the knife with the thumb-latch sticking out. It's no switchblade, but it's easier than the Swiss knives when it comes to quick drawing. The wood-file and saw can also be used while the tool is folded, although I wouldn't recommend flipping the saw out one-handed. It's a good tool, but flesh is softer than steel, don't risk it.
And every single featue of this knife, from the tiny screwrdver I used to salvage my sunglasses to the serrated hunting knife, lock in place. And can be unlocked with a thumblatch that's just reachable enough to keep everything one-handed without it slicing closed during use. Truly, these locks should be on even the cheaper knives, rather than as a higher-priced feature.
...and the case that came with it, offered less function and comfort than my girlfriend's three-dollar thong. Which is probably made from the same cheap leather. The first time I remembered it was in the box and put the tool in, it fought back! The leather is so stiff it bends back like cardboard. After a day of spraying it with a water bottle, it softened up slightly and is now slightly usuable, although I still keep this compact tool in my pocket.
And the holster supposedly has three accesory pockets. All I see are two pinkie-finger sized slots on the sides of the cloth covers, and this little flap strapped against the back of the holster interior. Maybe, just maybe, you could fit two drill bits and half a stick of gum in there with your Leatherman. But actual accesories, or something I'd use? No way. They also make a nylon version, for six bucks, which I've never seen up-close and won't make assumptions about, mine just came with the leather.
Overall, this little guy has a new home in the change pocket of my jeans. A real tool, that is worth the price. And it's parody of a holster? Well, maybe I could sell it off as a cell-phone case to this blind guy across the hall.

Although now retired, I spent my adult life in the Army (infantry) and law enforcement. A good multitool is indispensable in either profession. Over the course of my careers, I had numerous multitools. None of them compared to the Leatherman Wave.

I received a Leatherman Wave last year as a gift, just in time for Hurricane Katrina. I spent some months in and around the disaster area doing rescue work, and can't tell you how many times I used this superb tool.

Both of the knife blades, plain and serrated, were heavily used and I found them to be up to any task. They were razor sharp and kept a keen edge through the toughest jobs. The pliers and wirecutter performed very well, too. I occasionally used the saw blade and found it to be useful, as well. I used the screwdrivers from time to time and, although not as good as a dedicated screwdriver, they performed better than I expected.

All in all, I am pleased with my Leatherman Wave and would not hesitate to highly recommend this superb tool to anyone in need of a tough, durable multitool.

*** NOTE: I am reviewing the Leatherman Wave, not the company selling it. Please consider that when voting. ***

I had a great group of guys in my wedding party and I wanted to get them something they might use every day. Now, some of these guys already own multitools or have their own copies, but nobody owned a top-line model from Leatherman. In fact, I think they all had knockoffs.

The difference between a Leatherman and a cheap imitator is huge. Steel quality is measurably better, and tolerances are smaller, so your pliers really grip and your wire cutters really cut. I liked the screwdriver bit size, really slotted in tight on Phillips and slot screws.

Consider, though, that it's a massive tool, so it's reaches the limit (and good arguments are made for exceeding the limit) of usable size and weight, but if you wanted a tool for the work truck or to hang off your work belt "just in case", this and a flashlight are definitely the best "just in case" tools you can own. It does come with a belt case, and the keyring is large enough to take a decent carabiner for clipping onto a belt or a work area for use.

Worth the cost? I'm not sure it's worth it to many, but if you have to own the best multitool possible, you have to consider this as a strong choice. The premium makes this a tremendous gift because it is a fine quality tool. It's usually not something one buys for one's self ("I can live with a cheaper one")... once you get one, you can't ever go back to the knockoffs... you've been properly spoiled.

Fred

I'm not a professional handyman, but I start every weekend by putting the Leatherman on my belt. I use it for everything from replacing batteries in children's toys, to slicing apples during a picknick. I am very impressed by the blade itslf, as it seems sharper and easier to maintain, and easier to open than any swiss army knife I've had. The screwdrives are helpful in a pinch but I would not rely on them for every task.. they are limited by size and their shape. The plyers are great for everything from holding small nails for hammering to pulling jammed CD's out of my car stereo. Other than the the mediocre screwdrivers, I think this a greeat tool for weekend warriors.

I have had two other Leathermans (Leathermen?) prior to this one, and I think this tool exhibits a level of design and engineering that surpasses them. I had an original Leatherman PST and a Juice S2. The original was competently done but was not as refined as the New Wave. The Juice S2 was an almost perfect compromise between size and features, but it always annoyed me that the two halves were asymetrical. I gave the PST to my father-in-law, and the T.S.A. took my Juice, which prompted me to get the New Wave.

I haven't had to do any big jobs with the Wave, but I use it at least once a day for something. What I like best about it is the sophistication of the design and the quality of the construction, and the little touches that make it so satisfying to use.

For example, I love the one-handed opening knife blades. (The only shortcoming I can see is that they are designed for right-handers only.) The way they integrated them into a tool like this is genius. When I first got it I liked them a lot, but was a bit frustrated because I never knew which blade I was opening, the serrated or the drop-point. Then one day I noticed that the back of the serrated blade was notched, and the back of the drop-point blade was smooth. There it was, a solution to my problem already designed into the tool. The little touches like that make me very satisfied with my New Wave.

I was given this leatherman as a gift. didn't really think much of it at first. a friend who works for the local PD explained how good it really was. the blades are extremely sharp and versatile. he has used the blade cut people free of their seatbelts in car wrecks. the phillips screw-driver looks weak but workes excellent. the small screwdriver is perfect for tightening the screw on eyeglasses. the pliers are exceptional and come in handy on various projects. all in all extremely pleased with the product and would highly reccomend.

I got a Wave for my birthday last week and I have been carrying it with me since. I was curious as to how often I would be able to use it and it turns out I've used it on about a dozen occassions. Most of them were opening packages which, in previous times, would necessitate a trip to the kitchen to get a steak knife. But I saved a trip to the basement when my stapler jammed and I used the pliers tool and I saved a trip back into the house when the headlight wiper on our car fell off and I had to cut the de-icer hose off in order to remove the thing from the car. That's all in less than a week. If you are far away from your home, this tool would prove even more useful -- I could well imagine that it could possibly make a big difference -- perhaps the difference between life and death. Remember the scout motto: 'Be Prepared'. The Wave prepares you for a lot of eventualities.

As to the quality of the tool, I think most people will be surprised by the high quality even after having read all the glowing reviews. There is no need for me to repeat what others have said in this regard except to mention that I do not share the opinion, expressed by many, that the leather sheath is tacky. For this purpose, I believe that the leather SHOULD be heavy and stiff.

I would highly recommend the Wave to anyone.

As an owner of (i) the older-model Wave, the Victorinox Swisstool, the Gerber Multi-plier, and an assortment of Victorinox and Wenger hybrid multi-tools (pliers embedded in a knife chassis) as well as a plethora of standard Victorinox and Wenger swiss-army knives, I can safely say that my new Leatherman Wave is a qualitative improvement over all of them. This endorsement barely includes the SwissTool, which was my previous favorite, but is rather bulky and especially heavy at 11 oz.

The revised plier head is substantially stronger, and whatever improvements were made to the handle structure to improve stiffness have obviously worked. While the older Wave would spring the handles considerably when cutting heavy wire stock, the new Wave will cut even heavy nails with nary a handle flexure.

Also, while I have on occasion caused the inner, non-locking tools on the previous-model Wave to collapse inwards under pressure, all tools lock on the new Wave.

They have also added a safety feature that prevents the outer blades from opening once the pliers are opened to any considerable extent.

BTW, another reviewer (a Mr. Tingley, I believe) has opined that he prefers the old nmodel Wave and would like to purchase one. You can buy mine - it is in like-new condition. Since you hail from Philadelphia, and I work in Mt. Laurel (literally across the river), I'm sure that we can arrive at satisfactory arrangements to transfer it. Give me a shout at: stuartspern@yahoo.com