This knife had been in my pocket for around 5 years with regular use (and sometimes abuse). Would recommend, it’s a good selection of actually usable tools to have on you for those times when you aren’t carrying a toolbox. Sometimes I’ve used the pliers even when I do have my toolbox with me, which is not something you would consider with a lot of cheaper multitools.
Over time the casing did become more silver than black and I did manage to break a few things - the can opener didn’t like taking a chain link clip off, the precision screwdriver didn’t like being used to pry at something (part of inside a door lock from memory), and the large flathead failed when popping a partition cover port off. I thought that last one wasn’t something that should have broken the tool so after a few months I finally got around to sending it back for warranty over that and they replaced it without question.
This is the difference between Leatherman and the myriad of Chinese knockoffs. The knockoffs may be very good just in and of themselves, but your Leatherman will actually have a warranty and the manufacturer will actually stand by it.
I have three Leatherman tools: A Skeletool, a Wave, and an OG Surge that I’ve had probably since late high school – so old that it predates the swappable wire cutters feature. The Surge in particular has been used for damn near everything from repairing bicycles to cutting tinder, and I’ve never broken anything on it except the replaceable screwdriver tips.
I have a “Flissa” Chinese knockoff Wave-ish thing that I keep in my motorcycle tank bag because the risk of losing it or having it stolen is greater than the risk of breaking it in that case, and the higher end Leathermans have gotten so damn expensive lately that I really don’t want to find myself having to buy another one. The Flissa is great; Tim Leatherman was right, the Chinese eventually hit that 80% quality figure and probably beyond. I should probably do a writeup about it at some point. But I know in the back of my mind that if I ever manage to bork it my only recourse will be to buy another one, and there’s only so many times you can do that (about three, actually) before you’ve no longer broken even.
I see the propaganda brain worms have infested this comm too. Shame, as I like good tools.
I think you’re going to have to be a little more specific there, sport. Who am I supposed to be propagandizing for with my decades-long real world experiences? Leatherman or the Chinese?
And much as I might wish Leatherman would sponsor me to go around shilling for them, this is unfortunately not the case.
Mine lasted 2 months before it broke then the replacement lasted another few before it broke. Leatherman is dead to me
That’s pretty rough - one breaking that quickly is annoying but could just be unlucky, two breaking quickly should definitely not happen considering they’re not cheap tools.
What part(s) broke on yours? Did they replace the second one as well? I’d hope so, though I could understand only wanting a replacement to sell and get some money back at that point.
Both times were a form spring fracturing and falling out and both times I only noticed while pulling it out of my pocket not even while using it. And I only used it lightly. Different springs not the same one twice.
The first one was one I had laser engraved w my contact info direct from Leatherman and they said they couldn’t fix it so the gave me a different knife back. That was complete bullshit that they couldn’t fix it. So I was already pissed. Then after it happened with the replacement with a different spring i stopped using it. I’ll have to mail it in again but they can suck shit and die.
Wave+, originally bought in 2022 iirc.
My Wave is about to turn 20! It’s been a fantastic multi-tool that’s served both daily use and the junk drawer hero. Sad, but not surprised, to see the other comment about declining quality. Seems the bigger you get, the more the priorities tend to shift.
