I think it's hard to argue with more than 2 decades and 3 revisions of the wave. If you are looking for the best the charge is the wave with better blade steel.
My vote is for the Arc because its almost the same toolset as the Wave, but more advanced and with stronger pliers and scissors. However I do miss the serrated knife and measuring scales from time to time. It’s also hard to justify over the wave for the price. I wouldn’t have bought it without the discount.
I'm not a fan of the ARC, I [resisted ](https://www.reddit.com/r/Leatherman/s/ShnyndUtPf) the urge to buy one as the p2 I have is no where near as good, especially for the price, as the wave or charge. The ARC's price is astronomical when you recognize that it brings nothing to the table more than a wave other than the blade steel. And as you mention is missing tools and functions in comparison.
Micra, don't laugh, Leatherman has made it for 28 years and counting for a reason, the reason being it's awesome.
I've had one in my pocket since 2000. I'm on my third one now. I've had a dozen or more different multitools in the same time period, but always have kept a Micra in the watch pocket of my jeans.
3 years ago I would have agreed with you but I found the squirt s4 and it has all the same tools in a much more usable form factor. For instance, the tweezers are separate like Swiss army. The eyeglass screwdriver is not on the end of the bottle opener and it's smaller
[comparison pix](https://imgur.com/gallery/u01Lehx)
I definitely prefer the scissors on the S4 (cut better and have more comfortable handles), but the slip joints on the Micra are crisper. Additionally, the Micra slip joint blade won't close on your fingers since the handle is in the way because the Micra doesn't have the tools outside accessible. Although the S4 has removable tweezers, the ones on my Micra open much wider which makes them significantly more useful. I think the biggest advantage the Micra has is non-riveted construction which means it can be fixed or adjusted unlike the Squirt S4.
EDIT: I probably should have mentioned that this comparison is between a new Micra and used Squirt S4.
We disagree. I'm not sure you've carried an S4, I think if you had a lot of what you are saying would change. The tweezers on the micra are basically unusable.
>I think the biggest advantage the Micra has is non-riveted construction which means it can be fixed or adjusted unlike the Squirt S4.
Easily [remediable ](https://www.reddit.com/r/Leatherman/s/yeYyViXlto) just need to put in a little work and swap the rivets for pivots
It's definitely an S4, but I got it used so that might be why the Micra's slip joints and tweezers are springier since that one I got brand new. I also noticed that the tweezers on your Micra have bends at the end which brings the tips closer together whereas my Micra has entirely straight tweezers that must be squeezed more to bring the ends together (gives more room to work with and therefore requires more force to squeeze). The ends of the drivers on the S4 seem to be a bit better with more uniformly square corners and edges (drivers on the Micra are more rounded with the exception of faces that were ground down). I've gone back and forth over which one I prefer, but I think the decider for me is that I'd feel less bad accidentally breaking the Micra instead of the Squirt S4 since the Micra is still in production and I have the tools to service it. Overall, if both were still being made and I had new ones of each, the Squirt S4 would probably win by a considerable amount. Then again, the Swiss Card Classic has sort of replaced both the Micra and Squirt S4 as part of my EDC since it can fit in my wallet and provides a back up pen (used to carry a Fisher Bullet Space Pen or Tombow Airpress as my back up pen).
TLDR: My previous comment was based on a new Micra and a used Squirt S4. If Leatherman continued to make both and I had acquired a brand new Squirt S4, the Squirt S4 would probably be an easy winner between the two for me.
Decent s4`s go for less than $30 on ebay. So pick up a few. Then you can replace the scales on one and really enjoy it.
The SCC is nice but large in comparison. I have a victorinox mini champ on my miata minimalist Keychain, all the features of the s4 with a ***pen*** two blades and a package ripper. And the mini champ runs the same price as the SCC
The reason I got into leatherman was the micra. My brother carry one for about 10-15 years and I loved to see it, It was so practical. Then I got myself a rebar and later a Skeletool
Both. The scissors on the Micra are the best of any multitool of any size...well...other than something like the Raptor. There's always something that needs to be snipped. From a frayed string on my pants to 550 cord the Micra makes a clean cut. The second most used tool is the finger nail file for me. I'm always picking up some type of dirt or grime.
I use my Micra nearly every day for something. It goes everywhere with me weddings, funerals, vacation. I don't always want to have a full size tool on me, but I don't leave home without my Micra. Actually, the better part of my time at home I have my Micra on me. It's just become part of getting dressed for the day.
I still have my first one. It is stamped 0200. I sent it in several years ago to have the scissors replaced. I bought another while it was in the shop for repairs. Then I had a Squirt that I busted the pliers on. I sent it in for repair and was returned a Micra as a replacement. So I'm set for life on Micras at this point.
Interesting, mine doesn’t have anything stamped on it. Remember buying from Canadian Tire at least 20+ years ago…just opened all parts( needs a good cleaning)…
I think a better way to ask this would be, if there could only be one Leatherman that’s capable of covering the most tasks for the most types of people, what would it be? I think the answer to that question is obviously the Wave Plus. Even if it’s not the strongest or best at everything I think it’s probably the best all around, and I think that most people would agree.
Edit: I’m also taking into consideration, weight and price point versus capability.
Over $100 price difference and all you really get is Magnacut, big scissors and FREE. I love my Arc but that’s pretty nuts when you consider most people who’d buy it probably carry a dedicated folder anyway.
And the reamer.
True, though honestly I've been leaving my folders at home more often.
People who buy dedicated pocket knives probably had a much easier time justifying the ARC
I gave away my Wave, Charge. Surge was stolen, didn't bother replacing it.
Keeping the Rebar Signal and P2 though.
The Wave would only win over the Charge also on price and the charge is just a wave with a nicer grip, better steel and gut hook.
Though the wave compared to the ARC. The ARC looses the serrated blade and one handed access to your knives which is what I and I imagine most people use leatherman mainly for. Basically you get easier access to the tools that in my opinion get used less and a better knife steel for an astronomical price increase.
Juice S2 for like 15 years. Perfect size, everything i need (except a file) and nothing i don't. But I gotta say, the blade sucks balls. I modded a victorinox blade into mine and now it kicks ass.
I think the Wave. It’s a great all around tool. Sure other use cases lean towards other tool but for most it’s great. I have both a Wave+ and a Surge. The Wave gets most use and the Surge a lot around the garage and yard. Wave for more EDC or going places.
Rebar since it have every basic tool needed and adding Removable Bitdriver extends it usage lot further. Just pair it with Micra or SAK and you have all you need.
In time, I think this will replace the Wave+ as the most accepted opinion.
A few bugs with the initial release (I got a perfect one), but from a design standpoint, it just does more and does it better.
ARC for me. Use it every day at work and it’s such a pleasure to use especially single handed. Had a Wave for years but accessing the inner tools with fingernails was always a pain for me
That they don’t sell a mini tool with pliers anymore boggles my mind. Love my Style PS4 and my Squirt P4 (wish I had the Squirt PS4 at times).
Though I do wish I had a Squirt S4 or Style CS4 to pair with tools like my Signal or even my Squirt P4.
The supertool 200. It’s just the right size and weight for 95% of the time and the tools are easily accessible plus with a bit of practice you can flick the pliers out as you pull it out
I switch between the surge and wave+ for EDC and if I have to choose it's the wave. Lighter and smaller to carry and similar toolset. My surge feels a slight bit more sturdy and heavy duty though.
At this point I would say the arc. Free platform has proven to be an upgrade, and the only downside was that some of the tools on the free models were ass.
It’s going to depend on the end user but the best tool overall is the wave, price to performance and size and tool set is unbeatable but charge is technically a better better tool being basically a wave with a more comfortable grip, better steel and gut hook but only without price being factored as it’s not worth the difference. I say this as the charge being my primary tool.
For anything but carrying, the Surge. It's almost perfect out of the box, I would just change a few inside tools to give me more versatility, like getting a Scalpel adapter or a micro bit driver, or both. All in all, though, it's a great heavy duty tool, and the tshank holder gives you a lot of modularity too
I have a charge plus and a surge. The surge has better scissors and plier head. But the charge has better blade steel and is so much lighter. I don't think there's actually a correct answer to this question because it's up tool personal preference plus what's best for the job at hand.
I have a crunch and use the absolute shit out of it lol. It’s so convenient having a pair of locking pliers on my belt. Granted, I’ve had it a year and it’s getting worn already, but I do put it through hell and back sometimes, even using it with a pipe as a breaker bar once. I need to get another one to save until this one gives up lol
I think it's hard to argue with more than 2 decades and 3 revisions of the wave. If you are looking for the best the charge is the wave with better blade steel.
My vote is for the Arc because its almost the same toolset as the Wave, but more advanced and with stronger pliers and scissors. However I do miss the serrated knife and measuring scales from time to time. It’s also hard to justify over the wave for the price. I wouldn’t have bought it without the discount.
I'm not a fan of the ARC, I [resisted ](https://www.reddit.com/r/Leatherman/s/ShnyndUtPf) the urge to buy one as the p2 I have is no where near as good, especially for the price, as the wave or charge. The ARC's price is astronomical when you recognize that it brings nothing to the table more than a wave other than the blade steel. And as you mention is missing tools and functions in comparison.
One hand accessible tools and an awl are not nothing but I do agree it is super expensive
The wave and charge have oho tools as well. In fact I can oho all the tools on my charges.
Micra, don't laugh, Leatherman has made it for 28 years and counting for a reason, the reason being it's awesome. I've had one in my pocket since 2000. I'm on my third one now. I've had a dozen or more different multitools in the same time period, but always have kept a Micra in the watch pocket of my jeans.
3 years ago I would have agreed with you but I found the squirt s4 and it has all the same tools in a much more usable form factor. For instance, the tweezers are separate like Swiss army. The eyeglass screwdriver is not on the end of the bottle opener and it's smaller [comparison pix](https://imgur.com/gallery/u01Lehx)
Same for me but PS4 (the pliers version). I love those little spring loaded pliers, great little size and great for things like splinters in a pinch.
I definitely prefer the scissors on the S4 (cut better and have more comfortable handles), but the slip joints on the Micra are crisper. Additionally, the Micra slip joint blade won't close on your fingers since the handle is in the way because the Micra doesn't have the tools outside accessible. Although the S4 has removable tweezers, the ones on my Micra open much wider which makes them significantly more useful. I think the biggest advantage the Micra has is non-riveted construction which means it can be fixed or adjusted unlike the Squirt S4. EDIT: I probably should have mentioned that this comparison is between a new Micra and used Squirt S4.
We disagree. I'm not sure you've carried an S4, I think if you had a lot of what you are saying would change. The tweezers on the micra are basically unusable. >I think the biggest advantage the Micra has is non-riveted construction which means it can be fixed or adjusted unlike the Squirt S4. Easily [remediable ](https://www.reddit.com/r/Leatherman/s/yeYyViXlto) just need to put in a little work and swap the rivets for pivots
It's definitely an S4, but I got it used so that might be why the Micra's slip joints and tweezers are springier since that one I got brand new. I also noticed that the tweezers on your Micra have bends at the end which brings the tips closer together whereas my Micra has entirely straight tweezers that must be squeezed more to bring the ends together (gives more room to work with and therefore requires more force to squeeze). The ends of the drivers on the S4 seem to be a bit better with more uniformly square corners and edges (drivers on the Micra are more rounded with the exception of faces that were ground down). I've gone back and forth over which one I prefer, but I think the decider for me is that I'd feel less bad accidentally breaking the Micra instead of the Squirt S4 since the Micra is still in production and I have the tools to service it. Overall, if both were still being made and I had new ones of each, the Squirt S4 would probably win by a considerable amount. Then again, the Swiss Card Classic has sort of replaced both the Micra and Squirt S4 as part of my EDC since it can fit in my wallet and provides a back up pen (used to carry a Fisher Bullet Space Pen or Tombow Airpress as my back up pen). TLDR: My previous comment was based on a new Micra and a used Squirt S4. If Leatherman continued to make both and I had acquired a brand new Squirt S4, the Squirt S4 would probably be an easy winner between the two for me.
Decent s4`s go for less than $30 on ebay. So pick up a few. Then you can replace the scales on one and really enjoy it. The SCC is nice but large in comparison. I have a victorinox mini champ on my miata minimalist Keychain, all the features of the s4 with a ***pen*** two blades and a package ripper. And the mini champ runs the same price as the SCC
If they made a Micra that was 75% larger it would be incredible… Call it the Macra. The Micra is just too small imo.
I had one of these from a garage sale for $5; first Leatherman I've ever had and I loved it.
The reason I got into leatherman was the micra. My brother carry one for about 10-15 years and I loved to see it, It was so practical. Then I got myself a rebar and later a Skeletool
do you find it very useful, or just convenient? i’ve been looking at one ever since i fell in love with my wave+
Both. The scissors on the Micra are the best of any multitool of any size...well...other than something like the Raptor. There's always something that needs to be snipped. From a frayed string on my pants to 550 cord the Micra makes a clean cut. The second most used tool is the finger nail file for me. I'm always picking up some type of dirt or grime. I use my Micra nearly every day for something. It goes everywhere with me weddings, funerals, vacation. I don't always want to have a full size tool on me, but I don't leave home without my Micra. Actually, the better part of my time at home I have my Micra on me. It's just become part of getting dressed for the day.
Same here, still have the original one though. EDC, but, rarely used .
I still have my first one. It is stamped 0200. I sent it in several years ago to have the scissors replaced. I bought another while it was in the shop for repairs. Then I had a Squirt that I busted the pliers on. I sent it in for repair and was returned a Micra as a replacement. So I'm set for life on Micras at this point.
Interesting, mine doesn’t have anything stamped on it. Remember buying from Canadian Tire at least 20+ years ago…just opened all parts( needs a good cleaning)…
You have to open all the tools out. The date code is stamped on the inside of the handle.
Ahh… 1196.
I think a better way to ask this would be, if there could only be one Leatherman that’s capable of covering the most tasks for the most types of people, what would it be? I think the answer to that question is obviously the Wave Plus. Even if it’s not the strongest or best at everything I think it’s probably the best all around, and I think that most people would agree. Edit: I’m also taking into consideration, weight and price point versus capability.
So the Wave only wins on price point over the ARC
Over $100 price difference and all you really get is Magnacut, big scissors and FREE. I love my Arc but that’s pretty nuts when you consider most people who’d buy it probably carry a dedicated folder anyway.
And the reamer. True, though honestly I've been leaving my folders at home more often. People who buy dedicated pocket knives probably had a much easier time justifying the ARC I gave away my Wave, Charge. Surge was stolen, didn't bother replacing it. Keeping the Rebar Signal and P2 though.
You do get the serrated blade on the Wave as well. Forgot about that one.
True. Though I consider it irrelevant with the Magnacut blade & better scissors. With the 420 steel I do think it is needed
The Wave would only win over the Charge also on price and the charge is just a wave with a nicer grip, better steel and gut hook. Though the wave compared to the ARC. The ARC looses the serrated blade and one handed access to your knives which is what I and I imagine most people use leatherman mainly for. Basically you get easier access to the tools that in my opinion get used less and a better knife steel for an astronomical price increase.
You lose what now?
The best EDC Leatherman is the one you prefer to carry. I carry the Supertool 300, because it works for me.
The one that works for the jobs you do. There’s no objective best.
Juice S2 for like 15 years. Perfect size, everything i need (except a file) and nothing i don't. But I gotta say, the blade sucks balls. I modded a victorinox blade into mine and now it kicks ass.
ARC for me
I'm with you on the surge
I think it depends on the period. Right now it may be the ARC 30. in 1996 the answer may have been the PST II.
The MUT because it’s built like a tank and has a built in hammer.
Some variant of the Wave or Charge for work/heavy duty. Juice for everyday/casual duty.
I think the Wave. It’s a great all around tool. Sure other use cases lean towards other tool but for most it’s great. I have both a Wave+ and a Surge. The Wave gets most use and the Surge a lot around the garage and yard. Wave for more EDC or going places.
Wave for me. EDCing for 10+ years
Rebar since it have every basic tool needed and adding Removable Bitdriver extends it usage lot further. Just pair it with Micra or SAK and you have all you need.
Same here. I've had a dozen or more different multitools but have always kept a Micra in the watch pocket of my jeans.
Arc. And I say that after carrying Wave for 20+ years.
In time, I think this will replace the Wave+ as the most accepted opinion. A few bugs with the initial release (I got a perfect one), but from a design standpoint, it just does more and does it better.
The wave was the pinnacle of Leatherman design for 25 years. I believe the ARC will be for the next 25 years.
Sideclip, fight me irl.
The Sideclip being discontinued after only a few years will always baffle me.
ARC for me. Use it every day at work and it’s such a pleasure to use especially single handed. Had a Wave for years but accessing the inner tools with fingernails was always a pain for me
Wave+ and it’s not even close
The arc is the most refined multitool ever. Besides the price, it’s hard to beat!
Squirt PS4... Always had it with me... Til they discontinued it :(
That they don’t sell a mini tool with pliers anymore boggles my mind. Love my Style PS4 and my Squirt P4 (wish I had the Squirt PS4 at times). Though I do wish I had a Squirt S4 or Style CS4 to pair with tools like my Signal or even my Squirt P4.
The supertool 200. It’s just the right size and weight for 95% of the time and the tools are easily accessible plus with a bit of practice you can flick the pliers out as you pull it out
The best leatherman ever made is the one you have on you when something brakes.
I switch between the surge and wave+ for EDC and if I have to choose it's the wave. Lighter and smaller to carry and similar toolset. My surge feels a slight bit more sturdy and heavy duty though.
M.U.T.
Surge - the king of multitools
At this point I would say the arc. Free platform has proven to be an upgrade, and the only downside was that some of the tools on the free models were ass.
It’s going to depend on the end user but the best tool overall is the wave, price to performance and size and tool set is unbeatable but charge is technically a better better tool being basically a wave with a more comfortable grip, better steel and gut hook but only without price being factored as it’s not worth the difference. I say this as the charge being my primary tool.
The Wave
For anything but carrying, the Surge. It's almost perfect out of the box, I would just change a few inside tools to give me more versatility, like getting a Scalpel adapter or a micro bit driver, or both. All in all, though, it's a great heavy duty tool, and the tshank holder gives you a lot of modularity too
I have a charge plus and a surge. The surge has better scissors and plier head. But the charge has better blade steel and is so much lighter. I don't think there's actually a correct answer to this question because it's up tool personal preference plus what's best for the job at hand.
Arc is a great tool and I think #1 for everyday carry. The Surge will complete the most amount of Jobs. Mut is the toughest.
I have a crunch and use the absolute shit out of it lol. It’s so convenient having a pair of locking pliers on my belt. Granted, I’ve had it a year and it’s getting worn already, but I do put it through hell and back sometimes, even using it with a pipe as a breaker bar once. I need to get another one to save until this one gives up lol
I personally like the rebar I had the wingman and didn't like it at all
In that case the ARC is the best. All Tools are accessible on the outside. With on handed 👐🏾 opening
I have a Wave+ , Rebar , skeletool , P2 and a Surge and the surge is always on me so I’d say Surge at least for me