> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.unknowndivide.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Leatherman Wave Plus: The 18 Tool Multi-Tool to Start With - URL: https://www.unknowndivide.com/leatherman-wave-plus-multi-tool/ - Published: 2025-06-03T19:40:00.000Z - Updated: 2026-10-23T05:54:21.000Z - Description: Leatherman's Wave Plus packs 18 tools, from pliers and replaceable wire cutters to a bit driver, into a pocketable body with locking blades you can open one handed from the outside. - Author: unknowndivide staff - Tags: Gear *Unknowndivide may earn a commission from purchases made through links in this post.* If you only own one multi-tool, there is a good chance it is a Leatherman Wave Plus, and if you do not own one yet, it is probably the one you should start with. It is not the lightest, the fanciest or the most specialized tool Leatherman makes. It is the one that does the most everyday jobs well, in a size that still fits in a pocket. ## Who makes it [Leatherman](https://www.leatherman.com/pages/the-leatherman-story?ref=unknowndivide.com) exists because of a road trip. According to the company, Tim Leatherman and his wife Chau took a budget trip around Europe in 1975 and kept running into leaky hotel plumbing and roadside repairs on their temperamental Fiat. Tim was carrying a scout knife and using it for everything, but he kept wishing he had a pair of pliers. Back home, he started building a pliers-based multipurpose tool. He expected the prototype to take a month. It took three years, followed by another three and a half years of rejection letters from companies that were not interested. After partnering with his college friend Steve Berliner, he received a first order for 500 tools in the spring of 1983, and the first Leatherman tool, the PST, was launched. Leatherman calls it the world's first pliers-based multi-tool, and the company has built its tools in Portland, Oregon ever since. ## What the Wave Plus actually is The [Wave Plus](https://www.leatherman.com/products/wave?ref=unknowndivide.com) is the workhorse of the Wave family, a full size folding multi-tool that packs 18 tools into one body. Leatherman lists them as: - Needlenose pliers and regular pliers - Premium replaceable wire cutters and premium replaceable hard-wire cutters - An electrical crimper and a wire stripper - A plain knife and a serrated knife, both in 420HC (high carbon) stainless steel - A saw and spring-action scissors - An 8 inch (19 centimeter) ruler - A can opener and a bottle opener - A wood and metal file and a diamond-coated file - A large bit driver, a small bit driver and a medium screwdriver Closed, it measures 4 inches long and opens to 6.25 inches. It weighs 8.5 ounces, and the main blade is 2.92 inches long. The included bits cover an eyeglass screwdriver, Phillips #1 and #2, and a 3/16 inch flat screwdriver. It comes in a plain stainless steel finish or an all black version with a black oxide finish. A sheath is sold separately. ## Why it is cool The clever part of the Wave Plus is that you rarely need to unfold the whole thing. The knives, saw, scissors and files can be reached from the outside of the closed tool, so you can flick out a blade without opening the pliers first. Leatherman also designed those features to open with one hand, even when you are wearing gloves, which matters more than it sounds when you are holding a box, a branch or a dripping pipe in the other hand. Safety is the other big upgrade over a simple folding tool. Every feature except the plier head locks into place, so a blade or screwdriver will not fold back onto your fingers while you are putting pressure on it. The bit driver is quietly one of its best features. Instead of a fixed set of screwdriver tips, it takes interchangeable bits, so you can carry extra tips for the jobs you actually do and swap them in as needed. And because the wire cutters are replaceable, a worn cutting edge does not mean the end of the tool. Then there is the backing. Leatherman says every product leaves its factory in Portland and offers a 25 year warranty, so the tool is meant to last a lifetime. ## Who should buy it The Wave Plus is for people who fix things: homeowners, renters with a drawer full of loose screws, cyclists, campers, people who work on a job site and anyone who keeps finding themselves wishing they had pliers. Leatherman pitches it for fixing things at home, jobsite work and weekend projects, and that is a fair description of where it shines. It is less ideal if you want something tiny for a keychain. At 8.5 ounces it is a tool you carry in a pocket, bag or belt sheath rather than something you forget is there. If that sounds like too much, a slim pocket knife may suit you better. If it sounds just right, this is the classic for a reason. ## Stainless or black Both versions share the same 18 tools and the same locking features. The stainless steel finish is the traditional look. The black version uses a black oxide finish on the frame, blades and implements, which suits people who want a more understated tool. **Shop the Leatherman Wave Plus** [Wave Plus at Leatherman](https://www.leatherman.com/products/wave?ref=unknowndivide.com) [Leatherman Wave Plus, stainless steel](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B079MJBP21?tag=unknowndivi02-20&ref=unknowndivide.com) [Leatherman Wave Plus, black](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B079MJ6MLV?tag=unknowndivi02-20&ref=unknowndivide.com) Still comparing? Our [best multitools](https://www.unknowndivide.com/best-multitools-worth-buying/) roundup covers the wider field, and our [Swiss Army knife models explained](https://www.unknowndivide.com/swiss-army-knife-models-explained/) guide is the place to start if you prefer a lighter pocket tool. For a simple blade, see our take on the [Opinel No. 08](https://www.unknowndivide.com/opinel-no-08-folding-knife/), and round out your kit with our [everyday carry essentials](https://www.unknowndivide.com/best-everyday-carry-essentials/). More ideas live in our [everyday carry hub](https://www.unknowndivide.com/everyday-carry/).