Best buys · The garage

The best multi-tool worth buying

Our pick is the Leatherman Wave+. Below: why, what actually matters when buying one, what to get for less, the step up, and whether today's price is a good one.

The multi-tool

Leatherman Wave+

The one the others are measured against. The blades open one-handed from the outside, the pliers are full-size, and Leatherman's 25-year warranty means it outlives the argument about whether you needed it.

Buy it for
Anyone who fixes something more than twice a year.
Skip it if
You only ever open parcels. A pocket knife is lighter and a third of the price.

What actually matters when buying a multi-tool

  1. Blades you can open with the tool closed. Having to unfold the pliers to reach a knife is the difference between using it and not.
  2. Locking blades. A blade that folds back onto your fingers is a design fault, not a quirk.
  3. Warranty length. It is the most honest quality signal a maker gives, because it costs them money if they are wrong.
  4. Weight you will actually carry. A tool heavy enough to stay in a drawer has no tools at all.

Either side of the pick

Spend less

Leatherman Wingman

Fewer tools and no outside blades, but the same warranty and full-size pliers for a good deal less.

Check the price at Amazon ↗
The step up

Leatherman Surge

Bigger, heavier and stronger, with larger blades. A tool for the van or the belt rather than the pocket.

Check the price at Amazon ↗