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Leatherman Wave vs Wave Plus

2 tools, measured the same way from the same sources. 19 of 28 rows read the same on all of them; the ones that differ are what follows. A rust value is the better one in that row, grey is the worse, and a dash means we have not verified the field rather than that the tool lacks it.

Folded, the Wave is 100 mm (3.94 in) long and the Wave Plus 101.6 mm (4.00 in). By the manufacturers' own counts, the Wave carries 17 tools and the Wave Plus 18. The Wave comes with a sheath; the Wave Plus does not.

Specifications last verified 2026-10-06.

Comparing
2 of 357
Leatherman Wave
Leatherman
241 g · 17 tools
Leatherman Wave Plus
Leatherman
241 g · 18 tools
Size & weight
Weight
241 g
241 g
Closed length
100 mm
101.6 mm
Width
—
30.5 mm
Thickness
—
17.8 mm
Tools & blade
Tool count
17
18
Blade steel
420HC
420HC stainless steel
Blade length
73.7 mm
74.2 mm
Ownership
MSRP
—
$129.95
Cost per tool
—
$7.22
Manufacturer
Leatherman
Leatherman
Availability
Discontinued
In production
Tools
Pliers
✓
✓
Needlenose pliers
✓
✓
Regular pliers
✓
✓
Wire cutters
✓
✓
Knife
✓
✓
Plain-edge knife
✓
✓
Serrated knife
✓
✓
Screwdriver
✓
✓
Phillips screwdriver
✓
✓
Flathead screwdriver
✓
✓
Bit driver
✓
✓
Bottle opener
✓
✓
Can opener
✓
✓
Scissors
✓
✓
Saw
✓
✓
File
✓
✓
Ruler
✓
✓
Verdict
Nothing in the measured fields separates it from the other. Pick on feel, or on a tool the other has and it does not.
Buy if it carries 1 more tool than the other; it works out at $7.22 per tool.
Verdicts are built from the measured fields only. They are conditional by design: which tool wins depends on what you are carrying it for.

Where they differ

Size and weight

Folded, the Wave is 100 mm (3.94 in) long and the Wave Plus 101.6 mm (4.00 in).

Sources: Wave: web.archive.org (checked 2026-10-06), Wave Plus: leatherman.com (checked 2026-09-30)

Tools

By the manufacturers' own counts, the Wave carries 17 tools and the Wave Plus 18. Only the Wave Plus has replaceable wire cutters and electrical crimper.

Sources: Wave: web.archive.org (checked 2026-10-06), Wave Plus: leatherman.com (checked 2026-09-30)

Carry

The Wave comes with a sheath; the Wave Plus does not.

Sources: Wave: web.archive.org (checked 2026-10-06), Wave Plus: leatherman.com (checked 2026-09-30)

Price and availability

The Wave is discontinued.

Sources: Wave: web.archive.org (checked 2026-10-06), Wave Plus: leatherman.com (checked 2026-08-26)

What they share

Both carry needlenose pliers, regular pliers, hard-wire cutters, wire stripper, plain-edge knife, serrated knife, saw, scissors, ruler, can opener, bottle opener, wood/metal file, diamond-coated file, bit driver, flathead screwdriver, phillips screwdriver.

What reviewers say

Points raised by at least two independent reviewers on YouTube or Reddit, with how many made each one. The quotes behind every point are on the product pages.

Leatherman Wave

No point was repeated by independent reviewers yet.

Leatherman Wave Plus

6 independent reviewers. All quotes

  • ✓ Blade is sharp out of the box 3
  • ✓ Scissors are sharp and cut well 3
  • ✓ Tool is durable and sturdy 3
  • − Blade does not hold an edge well 2
  • − Blade steel is not premium quality 2
  • − Scissors are less effective than full-size 2

Questions

Which is better, the Wave or the Wave Plus?

Neither leads in every measured field, so it depends on the use. Choose the Wave if you want a sheath in the box. Choose the Wave Plus if you need a tool only it carries (replaceable wire cutters and electrical crimper).

Is the Wave Plus worth it?

The Wave Plus lists at $129.95, $7.22 per counted tool. Among 6 independent reviewers, the most repeated praise is "Blade is sharp out of the box" (3 of 6), and the most repeated criticism is "Blade does not hold an edge well" (2 of 6).