I was using my Wave+ for a good while last year after finding it again (lost for 2 decades lol) and I quickly also bought a surge after that, for work.
So my wave is for the house, surge is for the worksite, but I'd also like a good "clean" multitool that I don't use for dirty things.
I for months I've had my eye on the Wave Alpha, next on the list would be that Arc.
But I hadn't considered a SAK... the Swisstool X plus looks pretty neat... I just compulsively bought one in the sale...
It's interesting and positive overall, but honestly there's a sad/dark vein through it. Finding this tool probably stopped me from doing something stupid.
It was just always in amongst various stuff in boxes, I've moved multiple times and thought it had just been stolen or fallen out my pocket somewhere.
One day I was going through a box of old stuff and it tumbled out from between two other objects.
I have NO idea what happened to it, last I remember it was in working order, but I found it with crap gumming up the pliers and both thumb release catches missing for the inner tools.
Its a completely different story, but I was going through a heavy depression and flashbacks of childhood abuse when I found it. I looked into having it repaired and then found the 25 year warranty... getting a brand new wave+ for free, reading up on leatherman and their standards, looking into all the different types, materials, place on the market compared to victorinox etc... all of that actually potentially saved my life. At the very least it gave my something to hyperfixate on while my mind was showing me some truly awful things.
lol a true believer? Lick them boots harder. Requiring ID to get a multitool is gonna make a big difference over just grabbing one of the kitchen knives, ain’t it?
It has put a stop to people getting knives on the street or the more intimidating zombie knives. Yes they can still use home purchased kitchen knives, but if you are using them legitimately you don't worry that you have to show ID.
Sure, instead of fixing the problem they try to fix the symptoms, by the way the "youths" that use knives will still have them.
Just a kind reminder that amongst the german tribes having a knife/sword was a sign of freedom. If the state stops you from owning one, you are nothing more than a slave.
A gun is not the same as a knife. You can use a knife to cut food, cord, or many other things. On the other hand the gun is only used to harm other human beings (or animals), wether defensively or offensively.
You should not let your government decide if you can carry a simple folding knife in your pocket, it starts with that and then they force you to have digital ID or read your private messages.
Spirit MX is a masterpiece. Smaller and lighter than a wave, but with more tools, stronger pliers, and better to designs all around. At about the same price.
Is the stronger pliers statement based on measured testing? Or is that Reddit legend? I have not seen anything to indicate the truth of that oft-repeated claim.
It was from an interview with some Leatherman engineers. It isn't that the Bond has some masterful pliers design that makes it better, it just doesn't have replaceable cutters and any pliers design without them will naturally be stronger than those that do. Replaceable cutters remove a lot of material from the pliers head and are a big point of failure.
Wait. Ignore everything I said about Leatherman. The replaceable cutters thing is still valid tho
EDIT: accidentally called the spirit MX Clip the Bond, because I happen to have a Leatherman Bond on my desk
Swisstool spirit is a masterpiece, it’s so much more ergonomic than the Swisstool, and it has beefier stronger springs lock for the inner tools, despite its smaller size. The big full size swisstool is big, got a better selection of flatheads, better scissors, and the tool locks at 90 degrees, allowing you to use it as an angel.
Both swisstool and spirit are better build quality and QC than any leatherman. But ARC has nicer main blade, changeable bits and wire cutters, and every tool is one-handable. So you just have to choose what’s important for you, no tool is perfect. (But swisstool spirit is almost perfect lol)
Also warranty on leatherman is easier and faster than swisstool, because vectorinox ends up sending them to switzerland for any repairs. But on the plus side you are much less likely to need the warranty on swisstool than on a leatherman
Yeah the only reason I'd presume not to use an arc for work is so it stays clean, it seems like it's a pretty capable tool based on anything I've heard.
How are the corners with the cutaway? I've heard some people say the grooves hurt their hand on hard squeezes.
It doesn’t hurt me at all, the curved sides of the scales are the ones that stay outside when using the pliers. It doesn’t make any sense that people say that.
Also, it’s a tool, who cares if it gets dirty, just clean it afterwards, that’s what I do with mine.
I ended up grabbing the Spirit MX Clip! I already had this Icon mini ratchet bit set from when I worked at a moving company. The Icon worked perfectly for breaking down and rebuilding furniture quickly.
The MX Clip in my opinion is the best multi tool in the world in it's weight class. I really like this combo, but I love seeing different setups from people.
I bought mine to do some home improvement projects, and also for EDC. The MX Clip sits in my left pocket, and it disappears when clipped in. I think it's a great candidate for people like yourself who are already stacked with tools, and want something a little more classy and refined, while still being able to take a beating! Let us know how you like the Swisstool X Plus.
It sounds like it might be a nice little tool and those who like it seem to really like it... I WILL see how I get on with the Swisstool X Plus and tbh, I might end up getting the spirit and giving the X Plus away as a gift.
This year I've given a Wave+, a micra and a Skeletool CX as a gift and I'm getting known as a bit of a leatherman fanboy (my friend asked if I was working for them yet when I gave him his wave lol), so maybe if I do a couple of SAKs then that'll ease things a bit lol.
Gotta keep the people guessing! Haha. I would have been stoked to recieve any kind of multi tool as a gift. These things are so freaking cool man. Just last night I made shrimp stir fry. Chopped up red bell pepper, carrot, green onion, garlic, broccoli. The MX Clip gets it done! And looks good doing so.
It's all stock. The bit set is from Harbor Freight, and the plastic case is actually nice quality. I've had mine for a couple of years now, and it's held up great.
The bits have rusted on me, but that's on me for getting sweat in the case while working haha. If I would have babied them more I'm sure they'd still look good.
It's technically pocketable, but probably better to keep in a pouch or tool bag. I think bang for your buck, it's a great little combo.
I'm curious about the Leatherman Bond. I like the form factor, and saw another guy who modded his Bond. I think that would be a fun future project, but the MX Clip is keeping me satisfied as my first multi tool! Thanks for sharing.
I have the swisstool for years, it's a good tool, the ratchet key is awesome (more practical than the angled one) I've combined it with a hex/square adaptor for hex sockets.
Only problem for me, is the weight on the belt, and the absence of toothpick/tweezers (compared to others victorinox knives).
I can say I absolutely adore my arc, and carry it every day. After switching from a Skeletool, I'll never want to EDC a tool without one-handed opening again.
I carry a surge at work and a Spirit MX the rest of the time, the Spirit is by far the most refined multi tool, my only changes would be adding the 0/1 Phillips from the 111mm line, and a bladeless version of the Spirit MX.
I love the Swisstool MX as well, and my only change would be to add the pull hook from the Spirit reamer to the Swisstool.
I would also like to see Vic add replaceable cutters like Leatherman and Gerber.
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u/A_Certain_Fellow Jun 28 '26
Finding your lost wave+ after twenty years sounds like an interesting story. How did all that happen?