Leatherman Wave Plus Multi-Tool review
By Tom Calder
The Wave Plus is the benchmark full-size multi-tool: outside-accessible blades you can open one-handed, replaceable wire cutters and a 25-year warranty make it a genuine buy-it-for-life item. It is a considered purchase rather than an emergency-kit stocking-filler, but very few tools justify the outlay as well.
- Best for
- A do-everything full-size tool for the home and shed that you buy once and keep for decades.
- Skip it if
- You want something to carry in your pocket day to day in public
as of 2 Nov 2026, 13:07 GMT · Details
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.co.uk at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.We earn a commission if you buy through the retailer links on this page. It doesn't change our verdict. How we make money →
Researched, not used. We haven't used this product. This review is built from the maker's specifications, owner reports and our own sizing.
What we like
- Both knife blades and the saw/scissors open from the outside one-handed, and every tool locks
- Replaceable wire cutters and Leatherman's 25-year warranty make it a genuine long-term investment
- 18 well-made tools cover the vast majority of household and vehicle repairs
Worth knowing
- At 241g it is a heavy thing to carry on the person all day
- Costs several times more than a basic DIY multi-tool that would cover occasional light jobs
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Our review
The Wave Plus is the multi-tool most people mean when they say 'a Leatherman': 18 tools, two knife blades and a saw that open from the outside, and a 25-year warranty. Everything except the pliers locks, and that one detail decides where UK law lets you keep it: at home, in the toolbox, not in your pocket.
What it is
Leatherman lists 18 tools: needlenose and regular pliers, replaceable wire and hard-wire cutters, an electrical crimper and wire stripper, a plain 420HC knife and a serrated 420HC knife, a saw, spring-action scissors, an 8in (19cm) ruler, can and bottle openers, a wood/metal file, a diamond-coated file, large and small bit drivers and a medium screwdriver. The blade is 7.42cm long, hardened to 55 to 59 HRC.
Closed it is 10.16cm long, and Leatherman gives 8.5oz, which is about 241g. Both knives, the saw and the scissors can be reached and opened one-handed without unfolding the pliers. It is made in Portland, Oregon.
What it does well
For a home kit the useful bits are the pliers and cutters, the bit drivers and the saw, not the blade. It will tighten a loose radiator valve nut, strip and crimp a cable, cut a cable tie, open tins if the can opener breaks and saw through a fallen branch. The replaceable cutters mean the part that wears out first can be swapped instead of the whole tool.
420HC is a softer, easy-to-sharpen stainless steel, not a premium blade steel, and that suits occasional household use. Leatherman says every feature except the plier head locks into place, so the tools don't fold onto your fingers.
UK knife law
Gov.uk's guidance on carrying knives makes an exception only for folding pocketknives whose cutting edge is no longer than 3 inches and which are not lock knives, meaning there is no button, spring or catch you must use to fold them. The Wave Plus blade is 2.92in, under the limit, but it locks, so the exception does not apply and carrying it in public needs a good reason, such as your work. The maximum penalty for an adult carrying a knife illegally is four years in prison, an unlimited fine or both. Keeping one at home or in a workshop is lawful. Gov.uk gives using the knife for your work as an example of a good reason to carry one.
Our car emergency kit checklist explains why a locking tool is better kept out of the car.
How it compares
On the comparison the Leatherman ARC has 20 tools and a MagnaCut blade that holds its edge longer, at 244g. The Victorinox SwissTool Spirit XBS has 25 tools, a 56mm blade and a lifetime guarantee at 208g. Leatherman's own Free P2 has 19 tools at 215g. The Wave Plus is the proven middle choice: a cheaper blade steel than the ARC, but the same warranty and cutters.
Our verdict
Buy it if you want one tool for the kitchen drawer, shed and home emergency kit that will last decades. Skip it if you want something to carry every day in public; a non-locking folder with an edge under 3 inches is the lawful choice. Our emergency kit list shows where it fits.
A researched review, built from the maker's specs, manual and UK listings; facts checked 2 Nov 2026. Sources: Leatherman UK: Wave Plus product page and specifications; Leatherman: warranty and how to claim; GOV.UK: selling, buying and carrying knives.
Who shouldn't buy this
You want something to carry in your pocket day to day in public: the locking blades make this a locking knife under UK law, which you cannot legally carry without good reason, and one kept in your car can count as one you have with you (a stored-at-home kit is fine). If you only need the odd screw tightened, a simpler, cheaper tool will do.
Key specs
| Tools | 18 |
| Blade | 420HC stainless (plain + serrated) |
| Weight | 241 g |
| Warranty | 25 yr |
This is a Researched review: we haven't used this product. We check every specification against at least two independent sources, re-check the UK price on a schedule where we can track it automatically, and say plainly who it isn't for. Commissions never change a rating.
If this isn’t the one
Best for A do-everything multi-tool for the home or workshop kit that should last a lifetime.
as of 2 Nov 2026, 13:07 GMT · Details
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.co.uk at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
Best for Home and workshop kits where blade quality and edge retention matter more than price
as of 2 Nov 2026, 13:07 GMT · Details
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.co.uk at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
Best for A dedicated outdoor tool where the fire-starter, whistle and one-hand-openable blade earn their place.
as of 2 Nov 2026, 13:07 GMT · Details
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.co.uk at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.Questions
Is the Leatherman Wave Plus legal to carry in the UK?
Not without a good reason. Its 2.92in blade is under 3 inches, but it locks, so it falls outside gov.uk's exception for folding pocketknives. Owning it at home is lawful.
How many tools does the Leatherman Wave Plus have?
Leatherman lists 18, including two knives, a saw, scissors, pliers, replaceable wire cutters, files and bit drivers.
How heavy is the Leatherman Wave Plus?
Leatherman gives 8.5oz, about 241g, and a closed length of 10.16cm.
What warranty does the Leatherman Wave Plus have?
Leatherman offers a 25-year limited warranty. UK claims go through the distributor for your country, as Leatherman's warranty page explains.
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