Outdoors & Fitness · Head-to-head
Leatherman Wave+ vs Leatherman Skeletool
Which should you buy? Here's the honest call, pulled from our full The Best Multi-Tools: 4 Compared (and One to Skip) comparison.
The Wave+ is the multi-tool to buy for most people: the right set of genuinely useful tools, outside one-hand blades, full locking, replaceable wear parts, and a US build backed for 25 years. The Skeletool is the pick if you value light weight and daily carry over a maxed-out spec sheet, and it costs less.
Leatherman Wave+
Buy itThe do-everything benchmark: the right mix of genuinely useful tools, outside one-hand blades, and a 25-year US-backed warranty.
- 18 well-chosen tools cover almost every real task without pointless padding
- Two outside-accessible blades open one-handed, so you never unfold the pliers just to cut
- Every tool except the pliers locks open, which is far safer under load
- Replaceable wire and hard-wire cutters plus a removable-bit driver let you renew wear parts
- Premium price versus budget multi-tools
- At about 8.5 oz it is more than some people want to pocket every day
- 420HC holds an edge well but is not an exotic super-steel
Leatherman Skeletool
Buy itProof that a handful of the right tools beats a drawer of gimmicks: about 5 oz, a locking one-hand blade, and the same 25-year warranty.
- Just 7 tools, but they are the ones you reach for: pliers, wire cutters, a locking one-hand blade, and a bit driver
- At roughly 5 oz it is light enough to carry daily and clips on via its carabiner
- Outside one-hand blade and removable bits keep it fast to use
- Same 420HC steel, US build, and 25-year warranty as the flagship
- No scissors, saw, file, or dedicated screwdrivers beyond the bit driver
- The bit driver carries only two bits at a time
- Too minimalist if you want one tool that does absolutely everything
Side by side
| Leatherman Wave+ | Leatherman Skeletool | |
|---|---|---|
| Our verdict | Buy | Buy |
| Best for | Anyone who wants one tool that handles repairs, camping, and the toolbox for decades. | Everyday-carry owners who want light weight and the essentials, not the longest spec sheet. |
| Price tier | $$$ · premium | $$ · mid-range |
The bottom line
Our overall pick is the Leatherman Wave+ - The do-everything benchmark: the right mix of genuinely useful tools, outside one-hand blades, and a 25-year US-backed warranty. Choose the Leatherman Skeletool instead if everyday-carry owners who want light weight and the essentials, not the longest spec sheet.
Want the full picture, including the other options we compared and the popular one we'd skip? Read the complete The Best Multi-Tools: 4 Compared (and One to Skip).