Leatherman ARC vs Leatherman Wave+
75 facts in comparison
These products are from different categories (Multitools vs Pocket Knives), so direct comparison may not be meaningful.
Based on 624 Reddit opinions. Leatherman ARCLeatherman ARC leads by 7 points.
624 opinions
Leatherman ARC leads by 7pts
VS
Reddit's Pick
LA
Leatherman ARC
81%
B+
Based on
1,018 Redditors
Winner
Leatherman ARC
~$199.95
598 opinions
tldr; One-hand opening premium multi-tool with magnetic implements; praised for ease of use, criticized for price.
Check pricesVS
74%
B-
Based on
67 Redditors
Leatherman Wave+
~$129.95
26 opinions
tldr; The Leatherman Wave+ receives mostly positive reviews on Reddit (73% positive across 67 mentions). A solid choice in its category.
Check prices⭐TOO
🔧BUI
✋ONE
⚖️SIZ
😌ERG
64
Points
100
Points
Score by Category
Tool Selection
74%—
Build Quality
59%0%
One-Hand Operation
93%—
Size & Weight
50%—
Ergonomics
79%—
Why is Leatherman Wave+ better than Leatherman ARC?
- Better value (100% vs 27%)
Based on 1,085 Reddit opinions
Slight Edge
Reddit prefers the Leatherman ARCLeatherman ARC
Winning by 7 points (81% vs 74%)
Accomplishes the purpose of everything
Superior to mini tools
Really neat"
High confidence (1,085 mentions)
💬Reddit Sentiment
Based on 1,085 Reddit mentionsOverall Rating
Leatherman ARC
8.1/10
1,018 mentions
Leatherman Wave+
7.4/10
67 mentions
BUILD QUALITY
Leatherman ARC5.9/10
Leatherman Wave+0.0/10
SIZE WEIGHT
Leatherman ARC5.0/10
Leatherman Wave+N/A
TOOL SELECTION
Leatherman ARC7.4/10
Leatherman Wave+N/A
ONE HAND
Leatherman ARC9.3/10
Leatherman Wave+N/A
VALUE
Leatherman ARC2.7/10
Leatherman Wave+10.0/10
ERGONOMICS
Leatherman ARC7.9/10
Leatherman Wave+N/A
⚔️
Head to Head
| Topic | Leatherman ARC | Leatherman Wave+ |
|---|---|---|
Build Quality | 59% | 0% |
Size Weight | 50% | N/A |
Tool Selection | 74% | N/A |
One Hand | 93% | N/A |
Value | 27% | 100% |
Ergonomics | 79% | N/A |
Action | N/A | 100% |
Category Wins
Leatherman ARC: 5|Leatherman Wave+: 2
Head to Head
Leatherman ARC: 5|Leatherman Wave+: 2
Build QualityLeatherman ARC
Leatherman ARC59%
Leatherman Wave+0%
Size WeightLeatherman ARC
Leatherman ARC50%
Leatherman Wave+N/A
Tool SelectionLeatherman ARC
Leatherman ARC74%
Leatherman Wave+N/A
One HandLeatherman ARC
Leatherman ARC93%
Leatherman Wave+N/A
ValueLeatherman Wave+
Leatherman ARC27%
Leatherman Wave+100%
ErgonomicsLeatherman ARC
Leatherman ARC79%
Leatherman Wave+N/A
ActionLeatherman Wave+
Leatherman ARCN/A
Leatherman Wave+100%
Leatherman ARC
81%
74%
Leatherman Wave+
Leatherman ARC81%
Leatherman Wave+74%
Leatherman ARC wins by 7 points
Key Specs
| Spec | Leatherman ARC | Leatherman Wave+ |
|---|---|---|
| Brand | LEATHERMAN | LEATHERMAN |
| Manufacturer | Leatherman | Leatherman |
| Color | Black | Stainless Steel |
| Weight | 0.5 pounds | 0.53125 Pounds |
| Height | 0.83858267631 inches | 0.8 inches |
Key Highlights
Leatherman ARCWinner
✨ Accomplishes the purpose of everything
🔧 Superior to mini tools
✨ "Really neat"
📦 Popular for EDC
⚠️ Victorinox tools seem more functional
Leatherman Wave+
Solid community reputation
Frequently recommended
Topic Battles
Leatherman ARC: 5|Tied: 0|Leatherman Wave+: 0
⭐Tool Selection
Leatherman ARC winsLeatherman ARC
74%
Leatherman Wave+
—
🔧Build Quality
Leatherman ARC winsLeatherman ARC
59%
Leatherman Wave+
0%
✋One-Hand Operation
Leatherman ARC winsLeatherman ARC
93%
Leatherman Wave+
—
⚖️Size & Weight
Leatherman ARC winsLeatherman ARC
50%
Leatherman Wave+
—
😌Ergonomics
Leatherman ARC winsLeatherman ARC
79%
Leatherman Wave+
—
Based on Reddit sentiment across 5 categories
📈Where They Rank
💬What Redditors Actually Say
What Redditors Say
Best praise vs top criticism for Leatherman ARC
Best Praise
+26 pts“lol minimalist would just be like a Leatherman Arc or Wave, or signal if you want the ferro rod. Literally accomplishes the purpose of everything but the light here.”
r/multitools
ViewTop Criticism
+16 pts“I can't justify the price of the Arc, so I have to give it to the spirit X. The magnacut blade is nice, but I just feel like it's overkill on multitool.”
r/multitools
View3 more quotes available below
What Redditors Say
Best praise vs top criticism for Leatherman Wave+
Best Praise
+16 pts“A regular pocket knife. The slightly smaller knife in my Leatherman works for 99% of the things I need a knife for, and most of the time I need the pliers or screwdriver more.”
r/EDC
ViewTop Criticism
+5 pts“I’m really considering ditching the Leatherman for a Fastback and a single pair of needle nose.”
r/EDC
View3 more quotes available below
Sentiment Over Time
Leatherman ARC
Leatherman Wave+
📈Historical Price Data
Leatherman ARC
Leatherman Wave+
Leatherman ARC
All-time low!
Leatherman Wave+
All-time low: $77.95(2018-11)
Which is Better?
Leatherman ARC Wins
81%
ARC
vs
74%
Wave+
Leatherman ARC leads by 7 points based on 1,085 Reddit opinions.
Why Leatherman ARCWinner
- ✨ Accomplishes the purpose of everything
- 🔧 Superior to mini tools
- ✨ "Really neat"
- More discussed (1,018 vs 67)
Why Leatherman Wave+
- Better Value for Money (100% vs 27%)
❤️The Love/Hate Breakdown
Sentiment Breakdown
48%Positive
Positive
48%Neutral
41%Negative
11%Based on 1,018 Reddit opinions
Sentiment Breakdown
28%Positive
Positive
28%Neutral
62%Negative
10%Based on 67 Reddit opinions
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better, Leatherman ARC or Leatherman Wave+?
Based on 1,085 Reddit comments, Leatherman ARC is the preferred choice with 81% positive sentiment vs Leatherman Wave+'s 74%. Leatherman ARC leads by 7 percentage points.
Should I buy Leatherman ARC or Leatherman Wave+?
If you want the safer choice based on community sentiment, Leatherman ARC has stronger approval ratings (81% vs 74%). However, Leatherman Wave+ may still be better depending on your specific needs, budget, or use case.
What do Redditors love about Leatherman ARC?
Reddit users highlight: Accomplishes the purpose of everything. Superior to mini tools. Really neat". With 1,018 mentions and 81% approval, it's a well-regarded choice in the community.
What do Redditors say about Leatherman Wave+?
Leatherman Wave+ has 67 mentions on Reddit with 74% positive sentiment. It's frequently discussed as a solid option.
How many Reddit reviews were analyzed?
This comparison analyzed 1,085 Reddit comments: 1,018 about Leatherman ARC and 67 about Leatherman Wave+. Data was sourced from Multitools community discussions.
How accurate are these ratings?
Our sentiment analysis is approximately 80-85% accurate compared to manual review. Well-discussed products with many mentions tend to have more reliable scores than niche items with fewer data points.
Why trust Reddit over professional reviews?
Reddit users bought products with their own money and have no incentive to mislead. You're seeing hundreds of real opinions across different use cases, not just one reviewer's take. This crowdsourced approach surfaces both common praise and recurring complaints.
624 Reddit opinions analyzed · Last updated 5/14/2026