My Top 5 Leatherman Tools

Though this list is very subjective, I have put together my list of my favorite Leatherman multi tools. I would interested to see how you guys rank your top 5 Leatherman tools.

[tankt]

I was a 19 year old soldier in Germany and the very first multi tool I bought myself was the Leatherman Juice back in 2003. I absolutely loved that thing. The next one I bought was the Crunch and that thing helped me so much on my first deployment to Iraq. Further in my military career I moved on to the Wave and Charge which helped get a lot of vehicles back on the mission. Now back home in law enforcement I have the Skeletool CX and the Signal. I’ve broken a lot of Gerber’s over the years but never once broken a Leatherman. Amazing product

[jjabberjaw]

Thanks for mentioning the Crunch. I'm not a tradesman, but I use locking pliers all the time for home maintenance and small projects. I had no idea that there's a multi-tool with locking pliers, but im looking forward to trying it out.

[Genesis]

The Micra is responsible for getting me caught up in collecting multitools and knives.

[GibsonSGJKL]

My first two Leathermans were first gen Waves. One I lost in an apartment fire, the second I got to replace it. After 19 years, I managed to twist the frame near the plier head, so I sent it in for warranty and they're sending me a new Wave Plus, which I'm excited to try. I also have Skeletool CX and Micra, which make a pretty great pair for light EDC.

[appleztooranges]

Crunch & surge are my favorite! As a civil engineer, I appreciate the design

[craigmooring]

The PST was my intro to muti-tools that weren't "pocket knives". I inherited mine from a co-worker at the home medical equipment firm when I started there. I had always thought that the SAKs were gimmicky, bulky, and largely unwieldy. But for having to deliver, demonstrate, and do spot repairs on wheelchairs, etc. the PST in a belt sheath made a lot of sense. The co-worker had "graduated" to the Super Tool, and it wasn't long before I did, too.
The one problem with either of those for frequent use was the discomfort incurred when applying pressure to, say, urine-corroded nuts on a wheelchair. Gerber dealt with that with the OTF design, but at heavy expense to the size/robustness of all the other tools. Schrade, Buck, and others had different solutions but also at the expense of having inferior tool sets (along with inferior pliers).
Leatherman took its time and developed the Wave which was a much better solution than any of the others to the handle hurt problem and it did so while improving on the robustness of the long tools. Like you, I had to have one when it came out, and I still have that same classy, mahogany leather sheath.

[weston]

I'm a FF/PM and I LOVE my Raptor (Rescue) - I use it all the time at work (although admittedly I have never used the seatbelt cutter). That being said, it's a great tool and it's easy to deploy - I love it and recommend it to all of the new guys, especially the ones getting signed off as paramedics.

[randallkelley]

For my use the Wingman seems to be perfect. It's the pliers head and the blade that I use most. I got 5 of them one day at Home Depot, they were in packs of one Wingman and one Micra for, get this, $19.99. I bought all on the rack. Gave em away for Christmas that year, about 15 years ago. I mean what the heck, seemed so great a prie at the time, I still think it was a mistake.

[slyfer]

The precision scissors in the Wave+ is so handy. I was eating at a food station an hour ago and used the scissors to cut the soy sauce packet. You wouldn't wanna pull out a knife to cut it. Everyone there were using their teeth and making a mess. Scissors keep things tidy and clean.

[mattvanderwalt]

I have to agree on the original wave. It was such a game change changer when it came out. It was my first plier based multitool - and defined what I consider an essential toolset. The new one think misses the mark just slightly enough to be on the fence about getting a replacement... in fact I have this issue with all of Leatherman's current offering. Either lack the diamond file, saw file on the small side, scissors...

[soupappreciator]

Cool video. I carry the Crunch on me daily. I like it how it goes from tiny to a capable beast. It pairs well with a Victorinox I made (similar to your custom one, but in 93mm).

[enginebae]

I still edc my wave from ‘99. I want something new but it still works flawlessly. I’ve been intentionally rough on it hoping it will break so I can justify the free p4 😂

[maxlvledc]

If I had to include Discontinued it would be too hard.... for me : it's crunch, signal, curl, P2, and Surge (no particular order)

[GarrettRockey]

Minor correction: the Signal does not come with a second bit — just the one dual sided bit.

[stevedriscoll]

Ben, that original Leatherman is an incredible tool. It's amazing to think the current wave is still essentially the same tool, and IMO the best (by quite a margin) all-around multi-tool of all time. I collect SAK's and multitools (and use them everyday) and have 3 2nd gen waves, and two charge ti/tti. My "fuse" gets a lot of use almost every day as a mechanic.

[Robbajohn]

i edc a sidekick because i liked the separate serrated and regular blades. Ive been looking at what seems to be a knockoff surge to get a pair of scissors. There was also a pretty compelling one that might be a non plier replacement that was blade and scissors on the outside with serrated blade, saw, and combination tool on the inside of just a knife / only one side.

[ELSeeker]

Great video! For me my Skeletool CX is a must carry. No frills no non sense, just necessary tools. I have purchased 4 for myself and have given many away as gift. Love my Skeletool.

[Mike-kcrl]

Had the same version one wave, came with a bit driver that went between the pliers!
My pet hate was that the two halves used to rock about when closed! Did feel good in the hand but wave two was much studier and have carried one for year's in the black oxide in my work bag! I now carry the bond, for nostalgia and Uk law compliance, and its got a tool set not unlike the original waves internal tools. Good review and part of me wishes i still had a wave one!

[happykt]

I bought my first Leatherman Wave in 1992 as a Christmas gift for my father, while I was serving in the US Army in Germany (at the US Army uniform supply store on base). Leatherman's were new and every soldier wanted one but I got one for my dad instead. When he died, I wanted to keep the tool as a reminder of him but it disappeared (I think my older brother stole it). I bought another Wave for myself in 1999.

[hvacbudget]

Great list! Hard to go wrong with any Leatherman multi-tool!