Leatherman Wave Plus Multi-Tool, 18 Tools with Lockable Blades, Made in USA, Black with Molle H Review (2026)

A repair kit sized for car camping

The Wave Plus is built for the moment a tent pole needs bending back, a cooler latch needs prying, a wire needs stripping, or a bolt on a roof rack needs a quarter turn with no wrench in sight. Its needle-nose and regular pliers, wire cutters and crimper cover most on-the-spot fixes around a vehicle or campsite, while the two 420HC blades, saw and scissors handle everyday cutting tasks from rope to food packaging. It sits between a basic pocket knife, which cannot grip or cut wire, and a full toolbox, which is not something you want to haul on a car camping trip. For anyone who splits time between vehicle-based trips and home projects, one tool covering both saves packing space.

Eighteen tools, locking blades, US-made steel

The full tool set includes needle-nose and regular pliers, replaceable wire and hard-wire cutters, an electrical crimper, wire stripper, straight and serrated 420HC knife blades, a wood and metal saw, spring-action scissors, a ruler, can and bottle openers, two files and three driver bits. All of the outside-accessible tools open one-handed, and every one of them locks in place except the plier head itself, which keeps blades from folding back on your fingers mid-cut. It is made from stainless steel in the United States and closes to about 4 inches, with an overall weight around 8.5 ounces, noticeably heavier than a basic folding knife but still pocketable in a sheath.

Carrying it and keeping it running

The nylon and Molle-compatible sheath it ships with lets it ride on a pack's shoulder strap, a belt, or a seat-back organizer rather than loose in a pocket, which matters given its weight and the number of exposed tool edges. Keep the pivot points lightly oiled and wipe down the wire cutters after use on anything corrosive, since the replaceable cutter inserts are the one part designed to wear down and be swapped rather than sharpened. The locking mechanisms are simple to operate even with gloves once you learn the release tabs, though it takes a trip or two to find each tool without looking. Leatherman backs the tool with a long warranty against manufacturing defects, reinforcing that it is meant to be a long-term piece of kit rather than a disposable one.

Against lighter and cheaper alternatives

Compared with a Victorinox Swiss Army knife like the Huntsman, the Wave Plus trades pocket-friendly weight for real pliers and locking blades, a fair swap if you actually need to grip wire or bend metal rather than just open a bottle or trim a fingernail. Against the original LEATHERMAN Wave, the Plus version adds the replaceable wire cutters and slightly refined ergonomics, worth the upgrade if you expect to use the cutters often. A budget option like the Gerber Suspension-NXT covers similar ground for less money but generally uses thinner steel and fewer premium touches, so this sits at the higher end of the multi-tool field rather than the entry level.

Verdict and who should pick something else

This suits campers and overlanders who want one tool that can actually fix things, not just open packages, and who do not mind the extra ounces and higher price for US-made steel and a 25-year warranty. If your trips rarely call for pliers or wire work and you just want something light for food prep and general cutting, a simpler Swiss Army knife or basic folding knife will do the job for less money and less bulk. Heavy users who mainly need cutting tools over pliers might also be better served by a dedicated fixed-blade knife alongside a lighter multi-tool.

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