| I have to admit it, I love
this tool! If there is only one tool you could have when fishing or
camping this is the one I would recommend.
Specifications:
Length: 4 in. / 10 cm closed - 6.3 in / 16 cm open
Weight: 8.5 ounces / 241 grams
Materials: 100% stainless steel (Optimum grade hardness for
each tool/blade)
Included Screw Bits:
Phillips and flat tip eyeglass screwdriver
Phillips #1-2 and screwdriver 3/16"
Included Tools:
Needlenose Pliers
Regular Pliers
Wire Cutters
Hard-Wire Cutters
Clip-Point Knife
Serrated Knife
Saw
Scissors
Wood/Metal File
Diamond-Coated File
Large Bit Driver
Small Bit Driver
Large Screwdriver
Ruler (8 inch/19 cm)
Bottle/Can Opener
Wire Stripper
Lanyard Attachment
Two Double-Ended Bits
Whenever I fished in the past I always had with me pliers or forceps
and a knife. Between these two tools I figured I could do most
anything I needed to. Well I can tell you, I really found out what I
missed out on when I bought the Wave.
At about $70 US it is not cheap so don't lose it! I did and was
forced to buy another one. The tool comes with a nice leather pouch
that goes on your belt and if you use this (I didn't, but I DO now)
there should be no reason to misplace it. The pouch seems to be
built of decent quality and should last a good long time before
wearing out.
On to the tool itself. The first thing you may notice is that the
blades will only open when the tool is closed. This is great for
opening the knife one handedly when your other hand is busy. The
knives themselves are stainless steel and are quite sharp. However
they DO chip if abused. I used mine once to pry up something and was
rewarded with chipping the tip of the knife. Like all knives, these
aren't razor sharp forever, so you will need a knife sharpener for
it's straight blade and serrated blade.
When opening the tool you will notice how comfortable it feels in
your hand. This is due to the rounded edges. The engraved ruler is
also strategically placed to add grip to the handles. When using the
pliers I feel like I can really abuse it without bending the whole
tool. I bring it to work every day and whenever I need a quick set
of pliers I can pull this out and depend on it to do anything that a
good brand of pliers can do.
The wire cutters are Okay but not the best quality part of the tool.
I used mine to regularly cut thick gauge steel wire and ended up
chipping a little bit of the wire cutters. After this I couldn't cut
really thin gauge wire easily.
The scissors are probably the best quality scissors I have ever seen
in a multi-tool. They are very sharp and not as flimsy as others I
have seen. The can opener doubles well as a bottle opener and both
work very well under real world conditions. I especially like the
narrow profile driver bits as they allow for more room for other
tools. And each bit is 2 sided. It comes with a phillips that you
can flip around and use as a flat head screwdriver. Now the drawback
of these bits is you have to buy them online as I have not been able
to find them in any stores. For 70 dollars they should have been
able to add these in the kit. The manufacturer did for some reason
feel it was necessary to add a fixed large flathead screwdriver. I
find this as a wasted spot. If you want the larger flathead you can
simply buy the bits.
Real World Tests:
Durability:
This tool is extremely durable. I have dropped it from 5+ feet on
cement and it showed no visible damage. I dropped it once on its
screwdriver bit and I assumed it would have broken or 'dented' the
bit. But the bit was completely intact. In one year of owning this
tool it shows no signs of rust or corrosion and I do not oil it.
Usefulness:
While fishing the one handed approach to opening the blade proved
extremely useful. When tying knots I can easily cut the end-line
with the knife while holding on to the lure and line with my left
hand. If you use your thumb to press the blade lock you can simply
put the knife away with your index finger. All still using one hand!
Cooking beans during a shore lunch was a breeze with this tool at my
side. The can easily opened with the added can opener and the pliers
could be used to move the can around on the fire.
The tool comes with a saw blade but I have never run into any
circumstances where I needed this function.
The tool comes with a small eyeglass size screwdriver which can be
useful if the screws on your polarized glasses come loose.
Closing Statement:
The Leatherman Wave is an extremely versatile, high quality tool
that will last years and is backed by a 25 year limited warranty.
But at 70 dollars it is a bit on the pricy side. If you are in the
market for a new multi-tool I recommend saving the extra money and
buying this.
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