Privacy | Cookies | Terms, The world's most in-depth and scientific reviews of gear, A full-function tool from a great manufacturer at a reasonable price. The file attachment has a metal/wood file on one side and a diamond coated file on the other. A work-site juggernaut, the Leatherman Surge features easy-to-unlock blades, two bit-drivers with bits, plus a unique blade exchanger for added versatility. We wish that the bit driver was more readily compatible with 1/4" standard bits, but Leatherman has chosen to save some space (and sell more of their branded accessories) with the proprietary design. The last two tools on the Surge are also the ones most people only use as an afterthought. It’s an attractive tool with a useful set of 14 tools. The Leatherman Surge is one of our two largest multi-tools; a real powerhouse, built with our largest pliers, longest multi-tool blades and easy-to-use locks.A unique blade exchanger, replaceable premium wire cutters and four outside-opening blades … 1 year ago. The tools are larger and more robust than you’d find on many other full sized multi tools and the handles themselves seem thicker as well. The Leatherman Wingman is a full size multi tool designed to allow anyone to try out multi tools without making a big investment. It does a good job putting a field edge on axes, knives, and other tools but we wouldn’t recommend you use it as your sole sharpening tool. The Leatherman Surge is designed for people who work hard every day. There is also a special edition Silver & Black Surge available. For those that find themselves in need of a tool that won’t quit no matter how hard you work it, the Leatherman Surge is an excellent choice. Read our Leatherman Rebar review. These four functions are accessible from the outside of the closed Wave+ pliers. All are assembled with threaded fasteners (instead of rivets) and all have just the right amount of friction built into the various hinges. Reproduction without permission is prohibited. The locks work reliably and the blades stay out of the way when using the pliers. And 4 outside-opening blades … Upgrading from the Wave+ gets you better steel in the main blade, a cordage cutting hook on the back of the serrated blade, and many more bits. The Surge packs 21 tools into very tight quarters and is one of the most ‘jack of all trades’ multi tools we’ve seen. Currently, the top of the line "Free" product has fewer features than the Wave. If you just need a multi tool to turn the occasional screw or do a little adjustment on your car the Surge might be too much for you. Sitting firmly in the heavyweight division, the Surge aims to be the multi tool handymen, contractors, and others who work with their hands proudly wear on their belts. Pocket Clip – There are both pocket clips and lanyards rings available for the Surge, though we doubt most people will be using the clip. The main ergonomic upgrade that could be made to the Wave+ would be for Leatherman to make a tool with the functions of the Wave and the hinges of the new "Free" series of products. Keep reading below to find out how the Surge compares to other popular multi tools. It definitely can’t compare to the Surge in tool quality, build quality, or just general quality but at less than half the price of the Surge you can’t really expect it to. The Surge includes a single double ended bit out of the box. The Wave+ is Leatherman’s flagship multi tool. If anything, the smooth external plates of the Wave are a little more comfortable in some conditions than the texture on the Charge. The traditional screwdrivers are both flathead and come in a large and small size. Below we'll elaborate on the differences. GearLab is reader-supported. It allows you to quickly touch up the edge on your other tools. The Surge has an awl with a threaded loop that allows you to punch through leather and other materials. There is no such perfect multi-tool available, so we settle for one of the many excellent next tier options. It has a nice sharp blade that easily goes through cans and opens glass bottles well. The pliers could be a little larger, and the handles are prone to pinching when there is something small between the pliers' jaws. They can’t take the place of a full size pair of kitchen or fabric shears but they do a great job cutting paper, fishing line, twine, and even thick plastic packaging. Don’t get us wrong, the Wave+ is an excellent multi tool. It also has a nice mix of internal and external access tools to maximize the available tool space. The Leatherman Surge is an absolute powerhouse, built with our largest pliers, longest multitool blades and easy-to-use locks. These are some of the first parts likely to wear out on your multi tool. The Leatherman Surge is one of our two largest multi-tools; a real powerhouse, built with our largest pliers, longest multi-tool blades and easy-to-use locks. The Surge is a beast of a tool. The Leatherman Surge is one of our two largest multi-tools; a real powerhouse, built with our largest pliers, longest multi-tool blades and easy-to-use locks. Most of our test team prefers this method of multi-tool carry. The Surge included a blade exchanger on the outside which included both a saw and a diamond coated file that you could … The Leatherman Surge provides more opportunities for this than most multi tools. The bottle and can opener on the Leatherman Surge uses the classic design familiar to multi tool and swiss army knife users. Leatherman Wave. There is also a small wire stripper notch on the edge of the can opener tool. Got tired of the short and off center bit driver.. so i made a Center-Drive bit extender … The Leatherman Surge was introduced in 2005 and redesigned in 2013. The lanyard ring is a great add on for a tool like the Surge. The weight of the Surge makes it drag on your pants unless you’re careful. Our primary "function" wish with the Wave is that its bit driver should better accommodate standard 1/4" bits. In 2006, the company was up against an $18m lawsuit for false advertising. Most users will not notice the trade-offs in the Wave+ as compared to the Charge TTI. If you aren’t sure how to use an awl, check out our previous article about them. The blade is both easier to deploy and better in use. For people who frequently find themselves in need of a third hand the OHT is a great little tool. The Wave is slightly smaller than the Surge and has 4 tools less. We’re firmly of the opinion that any tool can be made better with the addition of accessories. Leatherman Surge and Wave Detailed Comparison The Wave is a bit limited when you have it compared to the Surge; it doesn’t come with a blade exchanger.The Wave has some tools which the Surge … We are betting that there will be a Wave/Free hybrid that integrates the ergonomic advantages of the Free with the features of the Wave. It’s extraordinarily well built, packed with useful tools, and combines all of Leatherman’s newest and best innovations into one tool. In our experience the knife blade works just as well as the wire stripper and gives you a lot more blade to work on to boot. A unique blade exchanger, replaceable 154CM wire cutters and four outside-opening blades … Buy on Amazon. The Charge, and especially the Charge TTI, is Leatherman’s top of the line general purpose multi tool. Leatherman took everything they’ve learned over decades in the multi tool business and combined it in the Surge. A unique blade exchanger, replaceable 154CM wire cutters and four outside-opening blades … The MUT is another narrow purpose multi tool from Leatherman. It does have some downsides though. The locks work reliably and the blades stay out of the way when using the pliers. We’re big fans of replaceable tool parts, and Leatherman has done an excellent job designing these. There are pliers, scissors, wire cutters, two blades, two saws, a can/bottle opener, and a plethora of screwdriver options. Unlike most competitor brands, this company manufactures all its products in the USA, though some materials are sourced from overseas. A growing subset of multi tools come with integrated pocket clips. If you need a heavy duty tool to put up with hard use daily, go for the Surge. The Wingman isn’t really in the same league as the Surge. Here’s a basic overview of the most common Surge accessories, consumable parts, and add ons. A unique blade exchanger, replaceable 154CM wires cutters and four outside-opening blades … It’s also a large, high dollar, and very heavy tool, especially when compared to its closest competitors. More available aftermarket for proprietary driver, 1 integrated. Not only does it give you more room to work with but it allows your Surge to accept standard ¼ inch bits. Different Colors – The Surge is available in two color options: Stainless steel and black oxide. Material on GearLab is copyrighted. At first glance you can tell the Surge was built to last. Both multi tools are almost the same price but everything about the Wave+ is just a little less robust and rugged than the Surge. We've had absolutely no issues with the construction quality of the Wave+. Unless you need a tool with this level of performance and durability you’ll probably want to look at a different multi tool. Carried loose in your pocket the Wave+ is pretty smooth but heavier than you'd wish. The Wingman is an entry level tool that provides a useful set of tools without breaking your budget. Both finishes provide excellent protection against corrosion and damage, though the black oxide does show scratches a bit more than the stainless. One-handed, externally accessed blades are the only way to go on a high-end multi-tool now. 1/4. The Surge is a heavy duty tool built to the highest possible standards. Leatherman Surge. The feature set of the Best Buy Wave+ is about the same as that on the much larger Leatherman Surge. Established in 1983, Leatherman is an American companythat manufactures high-quality multitools and a wide array of pocket survival tools including pocket knives. For instance, when using the knife or saw blades, we wouldn't want the handle to be any larger. It’s a tool that won’t let you down, no matter what kind of abuse you put it through. How can we improve GearLab? https://www.homedepot.com/p/Leatherman-Wave-Plus-832563/304094947 The Rebar could best be described as Leatherman’s entry level full size tool. The Leatherman OHT is a uniquely designed multi tool that allows you to use every tool on it, including the pliers, with one hand. The Wave+ is built similarly to Leather… All tools can be quickly flipped out from the external access handles. FREE Shipping by Amazon. It’s useful for measuring screws, small wooden cuts, and other small scale projects. One thing we love is that all the tools on the Surge are locking. Leatherman Surge – Blade Exchanger Here’s a special feature that not many other multi-tools have. Let us know! And vice versa. In this video I present Bosch "T-Shank" Jigsaw blades as a viable replacement for the stock Leatherman Surge Blade. The Wave+ has most of the features you could want at a pretty affordable price. The Wave+ is built similarly to Leatherman's top of the line products. For 2019 Leatherman came out with a line of multi tools that have free hinging pivots and tools are held closed with magnets and springs. It has excellent tools, a great set of replaceable pieces and is built to very high standards. These are both made of 420HC stainless steel and come from the factory quite sharp. Saw, Diamond Coated/Wood/Metal File and Blade Exchanger, Leatherman Surge Cons – Things We Didn’t Like, Conclusion – Final Thoughts On the Leatherman Surge, If you aren’t sure how to use an awl, check out our previous article about them, What is an Awl and Best Multi Tools with an Awl Tool. If you prefer that old school look you can also purchase a handsome leather sheath from Leatherman. They combine regular, hard wire, and stranded cutters all in one. The Leatherman Surge is one of our two largest multi-tools; a real powerhouse, built with our largest pliers, longest multi-tool blades and easy-to-use locks.A unique blade exchanger, replaceable premium wire cutters and four outside-opening blades … Unless you frequently find yourself needing to scour out carbon buildup you probably won’t find much use out of the MUT. For example, you can place a metal saw blade … Leatherman pliers do the job almost as well as dedicated pliers. It’s built specifically with firearm maintenance in mind, specifically the M4/M16/AR15. The success of the company is much accredited to its cutting-edge designs and product dependability. From shop AustinSchoolHouse. The bit driver uses Leatherman’s proprietary 3/16 bit fitting instead of the standard ¼. We’re never fans of proprietary systems on multi tools but Leatherman does at least offer you a workaround. Descendant of the original 1998 Leatherman Wave design, the new 2004 edition Wave implemented the bit exchanger … It’s a neat design that works well, but overall the OHT isn’t as sturdy as the Surge. Upgrade with a couple of accessories and you have nearly everything that's great about the Editors' Choice, all at a lower price. The standard file does as good a job as any at filing rough edges off pipes, sheet steel, cut wood, and other materials. It’s about the same size as the Surge but weighs considerably less. It allows you to keep it from dropping into mud, water, and other environmental hazards while using it. ... Leatherman "Center-Drive" Wave. In the allegations, it was foun… It’s also significantly lighter than the Surge, an important consideration when you’re talking about hiking and camping. Some people like to portray this as a cash grab by multi tool companies but we think it’s a great move overall. The Leatherman Surge Multi-tool is a powerhouse built with tough pliers, long blades and easy-to-use locks. For Leatherman, that means the Surge. Have you ever been in a situation where you had to go from store to store looking for the best multi-tool that fits your needs? At the top of the heap is the Editors Choice Leatherman Charge TTI. In stock on December 25, 2020. And vice versa. Any version Charge TTi (TTi, Ti, XTi) Any version Surge (black oxide, stainless, original version, new 2014 version) Any post 2004 version Wave tool. They’re both great tools, but neither fulfills the same needs the other would. Anytime a multi-tool knife blade opens from "inside" the folded pliers handles, the working edge of the blade is in line with the center of said handle. A unique blade exchanger, replaceable 154CM wire cutters and four outside-opening blades … In terms of ergonomics, the Wave+ and the Charge are exactly the same. By our estimation, the one fixed flat-head screwdriver built into the Wave+ could be eliminated to make room for a full-sized 1/4" bit driver. If you’re an outdoorsman, go with the signal. If your Wave … Leatherman is clearly swinging for the fences with this beast of a tool, let’s find out how well they did. Re talking about hiking and camping the locks work reliably and the saw/file blades are good and... Article about them screwdrivers on the Surge does this feature to cut costs save... Wave/Charge family of multi-tools perfect same size as the Surge in the same price but everything about same... Anyone to try out multi tools, but neither fulfills the same league as the most stubborn of tasks! Good mix of basic tools, you can use the missing tools Leatherman and. Mass for a tool designed to allow anyone to try out multi tools without breaking your.. The box and files are just behind wire cutters as the Surge frequently... 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Can ’ t let you down fans of replaceable pieces and is thicker.