2 images from Leatherman.
Wave Plus
A 241 g full-size tool whose knife, serrated blade, saw and scissors open from the outside, so the pliers stay folded. Every implement except the plier head locks. The 420HC blade runs 55-59 HRC, soft against the MagnaCut in the ARC, and the wire cutters are replaceable inserts rather than ground-in jaws.
Specs verified 2026-09-30 · 1 source · 3 fields we could not verify, shown as —
Full specification
- Weight
- 241 g
- Weight (imperial)
- 8.5 oz
- Closed length
- 101.6 mm
- Closed length (imperial)
- 4.00 in
- Open length
- 158.8 mm
- Width
- 30.5 mm
- Thickness
- 17.8 mm
- Manufacturer
- Leatherman
- Product family
- Wave
- Release year
- —
- Status
- In production
- Country of manufacture
- —
- Tool count (manufacturer)
- 18
- Cost per tool
- $7.22
- Warranty
- 25-year warranty
- Blade steel
- 420HC56-58 HRCThe workhorse stainless of the multitool world. It does not hold an edge for long, but it takes one back in seconds on almost anything.dulls quicklyvery rust-resistanteasy to sharpenYou will sharpen it more often than a premium steel, and you will find that easier than owning a premium steel that has gone blunt. Editorial guidance, not a measured specification.
- Blade length
- 74.2 mm
- Edge type
- plain
- Blade profile
- Modified Drop Point
- Locking
- Yes
- One-hand opening
- Yes
- Outside accessible
- Yes
- Pliers type
- both
- Wire cutters
- Yes
- Replaceable cutters
- Yes
- Hard-wire cutters
- Yes
- Crimper
- Yes
- Pocket clip
- No
- Lanyard attachment
- Yes
- Sheath included
- No
- Included bits
- Eyeglass Screwdriver · Phillips #1-2 & 3/16" Screwdriver
As listed on leatherman.com for SKU 832533, checked 2026-09-30. Contents vary by SKU and change over time.
Tool inventory · 18 mapped
Needlenose Pliers · Regular Pliers · Premium Replaceable Wire Cutters · Premium Replaceable Hard-wire Cutters · Electrical Crimper · Wire Stripper · 420HC Knife · 420HC Serrated Knife · Saw · Spring-action Scissors · Ruler (8 in | 19 cm) · Can Opener · Bottle Opener · Wood/Metal File · Diamond-coated File · Large Bit Driver · Small Bit Driver · Medium Screwdriver
What reviewers report
Recurring praise: Blade is sharp out of the box (3 contributors); Scissors are sharp and cut well (3 contributors); Tool is durable and sturdy (3 contributors).
Based on 6 sources from 6 independent contributors (5 video, 1 reddit). A report is recurring when three people mention it or when it appears across both platforms.
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Blade is sharp out of the box 3 · recurring
“Leatherman knives come incredibly sharp right out the box” Hazel Storm · video
“it is looking pretty good” The Review Label · video
“nice and very very sharp” Tools. Electro. DIY · video
-
Scissors are sharp and cut well 3 · recurring
“it has never let me down” Hazel Storm · video
“it easily cuts through the paper” The Review Label · video
“they are sharp and they do cut well” Doody’s Daggers · video
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Tool is durable and sturdy 3 · recurring
“I think the simple answer is that they're very durable” Hazel Storm · video
“these things are heavy duty too I mean I've really wrenched on these things they haven't bent um they haven't become loose or really anything” Doody’s Daggers · video
“very well made” Tools. Electro. DIY · video
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Serrated blade is effective for cutting rope 2 · repeated
“we have a serrated blade great for cutting rope” The Review Label · video
“this serrated is really nice it's very very sharp” Doody’s Daggers · video
-
Pliers have a sturdy grip 2 · recurring
“there is a nice and sturdy grip in the tip of the pliers” The Review Label · video
“Much more robust pliers” u/letskngo · reddit
-
Wire cutters are effective and removable 2 · repeated
“I really like that Leatherman created these wire cutters separately from the pliers” Hazel Storm · video
“I've even cut um like 332 welding rod uh with this stuff with these Cutters” Doody’s Daggers · video
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Bit drivers are versatile and interchangeable 2 · repeated
“I think Leatherman really uh set the precedent here with this functionality” Hazel Storm · video
“one of the things I love about the lman wave is the bit holder” The Review Label · video
-
Tool fits average-sized hands perfectly 2 · recurring
“my hands are just average size and as you can see the tool fits perfectly in my hand” The Review Label · video
“they fit near perfect” u/letskngo · reddit
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Tool is well-balanced in size and weight 2 · repeated
“It's the most well-balanced multi-tool with those 17 different tools with the weight that it comes in at” gideonstactical · video
“I just think this is the perfect size for day-to-day stuff” Doody’s Daggers · video
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Tool offers high value for the price 2 · repeated
“you really get the most bang for buck, the most value, the most performance, the most capability for the money” gideonstactical · video
“it's just it's really good” Doody’s Daggers · video
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Blade does not hold an edge well 2 · repeated
“it's not razor sharp” The Review Label · video
“the blade um does not hold an edge super well” Doody’s Daggers · video
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Blade steel is not premium quality 2 · repeated
“Premium is an aspect that this doesn't always offer to you, particularly with the blade steel” gideonstactical · video
“obviously not even sure what blade steel this is but it's nothing fancy” Doody’s Daggers · video
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Scissors are less effective than full-size 2 · repeated
“it doesn't work as good as a full side scissor” The Review Label · video
“my son used it to cut a super thick paracord and broke it” Tools. Electro. DIY · video
Pliers are not spring-loaded Tiny driver is not useful for daily tasks Tool may feel uncomfortable for extreme hand sizes Tool is too heavy for ultra-light backpackers Tool is a bit pricey Tool is perfect for day-to-day use Tool is not designed to be a primary tool Tool has strong locking mechanisms
- Why Is It So Popular? The Leatherman Wave Plus
- Leatherman Wave Plus Review: Why It’s Still the #1 Multi-Tool
- Leatherman Wave Plus Review - Best Multitool?
- Leatherman Wave+ Long Term Use Review
- Leatherman Surge vs. Wave+. Which one should you get?
- Leatherman Wave Plus With Rebar Pliers & Other Mods
Problems owners reported
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Rust or corrosion 7 owners
“It had a lot of surface rust starting too” u/twentyonetaxicabs · r/Leatherman · 2026-08-27
“already showing rust spots” u/cobalt495 · r/multitools · 2026-03-21
“My Wave+ scales are starting to build up rust/corrosion” u/such_maintenance1274 · r/multitools · 2025-10-28
“rust appeared!” u/corndogtorpedo · r/Leatherman · 2024-10-07
“The tool got slightly damp and overnight began to rust” u/kram197 · r/Leatherman · 2024-06-05
“the blade starting to show rust spots” u/jergjam · r/multitools · 2023-07-03
“a bit of rust” u/telaser · r/Leatherman · 2022-11-06
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Stiff, gritty or hard to open 5 owners
“they get really stiff and its pretty hard to get them open” u/old-construction4605 · r/Leatherman · 2026-05-30
“Help with stiff handles wave plus” u/lkd115 · r/multitools · 2024-05-08
“the saw gets tighter and eventually gets so tight you have to force it back to the closed position” u/cj7899 · r/Leatherman · 2023-07-13
“some tools (like the bit holder) were very difficult to open” u/babarryan · r/multitools · 2023-06-16
“the main joint for the pliers is really stiff” u/morgoroth37 · r/multitools · 2020-04-30
Counted from 79 Reddit posts naming the Wave Plus in r/multitools and r/Leatherman, searched 2026-09-28. A number here counts owners who posted about a problem with their own tool, not how often the problem occurs: each search returns a capped number of posts, and comments were not read. A problem is listed once 3 different owners report it.
Where this data comes from
28 source records back this page. 3 fields could not be verified against any of them and are shown as — above.
Show the 28-row source table
| Weight | leatherman.com Leatherman publishes 8.5 oz; converted at 28.349523125 g/oz. | Manufacturer page | 2026-09-30 |
| Closed length | leatherman.com Leatherman publishes 4 in. Leatherman publishes imperial only; converted at 25.4 mm/in. | Manufacturer page | 2026-09-30 |
| Open length | leatherman.com Leatherman publishes 6.25 in. Leatherman publishes imperial only; converted at 25.4 mm/in. | Manufacturer page | 2026-09-30 |
| Width | leatherman.com Leatherman publishes 1.2 in. Leatherman publishes imperial only; converted at 25.4 mm/in. | Manufacturer page | 2026-09-30 |
| Thickness | leatherman.com Leatherman publishes 0.7 in overall thickness. Leatherman publishes imperial only; converted at 25.4 mm/in. | Manufacturer page | 2026-09-30 |
| Manufacturer tool count | leatherman.com Leatherman states a tool count of 18. | Manufacturer page | 2026-09-30 |
| Tool list | leatherman.com Mapped from the manufacturer tool list on the product page; manufacturer wording and order are preserved. | Manufacturer page | 2026-08-26 |
| Tool list | leatherman.com Phillips screwdriver from the included bits: Eyeglass Screwdriver; Phillips #1-2 & 3/16" Screwdriver | Manufacturer page | 2026-10-03 |
| Blade steel | leatherman.com Product page specification "Blade Material: 420HC Stainless Steel". | Manufacturer page | 2026-09-30 |
| Blade length | leatherman.com Leatherman publishes a primary blade length of 2.92 in. Leatherman publishes imperial only; converted at 25.4 mm/in. | Manufacturer page | 2026-09-30 |
| MSRP (USD) | leatherman.com List price on leatherman.com, USD. | Manufacturer page | 2026-09-30 |
| Production status | leatherman.com Listed and in the current catalogue on leatherman.com. | Manufacturer page | 2026-08-26 |
| Sheath included | leatherman.com Product description states "Sheath sold separately." | Manufacturer page | 2026-09-30 |
| Lanyard attachment | leatherman.com Listed as a product feature: "Lanyard Ring". | Manufacturer page | 2026-09-30 |
| Pocket clip | leatherman.com Not listed among the product features; Leatherman sells a pocket clip for the Wave/Charge/Surge as a separate accessory. | Manufacturer page | 2026-08-26 |
| Replaceable cutters | leatherman.com Tool list names "Premium Replaceable Wire Cutters" and "Premium Replaceable Hard-wire Cutters". | Manufacturer page | 2026-09-30 |
| Country of manufacture | leatherman.com states USA Page states: "Made in the USA -" Site-wide footer text, printed on every page of the site; not a statement about this product. Refused 2026-09-30. | Manufacturer page | 2026-09-28 |
| Edge type | leatherman.com Page states: "Blade Edge
Plain" | Manufacturer page | 2026-09-30 |
| Blade locking | leatherman.com Page states: "Blade Lock
Yes" | Manufacturer page | 2026-09-30 |
| One-hand opening | leatherman.com Page states: "Open tools easily with one hand, even when you're wearing gloves." | Manufacturer page | 2026-09-30 |
| Outside-accessible blade | leatherman.com Page states: "Access essential tools without opening the multi-tool, even while it remains folded." | Manufacturer page | 2026-08-26 |
| Wire cutters | leatherman.com Page states: "03 Premium Replaceable Wire Cutters" | Manufacturer page | 2026-09-30 |
| Hard-wire cutters | leatherman.com Page states: "04 Premium Replaceable Hard-wire Cutters" | Manufacturer page | 2026-09-30 |
| Crimper | leatherman.com Page states: "05 Electrical Crimper" | Manufacturer page | 2026-09-30 |
| Blade profile | leatherman.com Official specification states 'Blade Type: Modified Drop Point'. | Manufacturer page | 2026-09-01 |
| Pliers type | leatherman.com Official tool list includes both needlenose and regular pliers. | Manufacturer page | 2026-09-30 |
| Included bits | leatherman.com Page states: "Included Bits * Eyeglass Screwdriver * Phillips #1-2 & 3/16" Screwdriver" | Manufacturer page | 2026-09-30 |
| Warranty | leatherman.com Page states: "That’s why we offer our 25-year warranty, so you can be confident your Leatherman lasts for a lifetime." | Manufacturer page | 2026-09-30 |
Not verified: Release year, MSRP (EUR), Country of manufacture. Each renders as — above. We would rather show a gap than a number nobody stands behind.
Heavier than 80% of the database. 29 tools match or beat its tool count at a lower weight.
See lighter alternatives →Leatherman models in the database, with the same fields measured the same way.
All Leatherman multitools →