Leatherman Surge vs Leatherman Wave+
79 facts in comparison
These products are from different categories (Multitools vs Pocket Knives), so direct comparison may not be meaningful.
Based on 649 Reddit opinions. Leatherman SurgeLeatherman Surge leads by 13 points.
649 opinions
Leatherman Surge leads by 13pts
VS
Reddit's Pick
LS
Leatherman Surge
87%
A-
Based on
1,092 Redditors
Winner
Leatherman Surge
~$129.95
623 opinions
tldr; The biggest Leatherman. Replaceable blades, largest pliers. Too heavy for EDC but beast for workshop/truck.
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
70
Points
100
Points
Score by Category
Tool Selection
85%—
Build Quality
76%0%
One-Hand Operation
100%—
Size & Weight
9%—
Ergonomics
77%—
Why is Leatherman Wave+ better than Leatherman Surge?
- Better value (100% vs 71%)
Based on 1,159 Reddit opinions
Clear Winner
Reddit prefers the Leatherman SurgeLeatherman Surge
Winning by 13 points (87% vs 74%)
Largest pliers head
Replaceable blade system
12.5oz - heavy
High confidence (1,159 mentions)
💬Reddit Sentiment
Based on 1,159 Reddit mentionsOverall Rating
Leatherman Surge
8.7/10
1,092 mentions
Leatherman Wave+
7.4/10
67 mentions
BUILD QUALITY
Leatherman Surge7.6/10
Leatherman Wave+0.0/10
VALUE
Leatherman Surge7.1/10
Leatherman Wave+10.0/10
SIZE WEIGHT
Leatherman Surge0.9/10
Leatherman Wave+N/A
TOOL SELECTION
Leatherman Surge8.5/10
Leatherman Wave+N/A
ONE HAND
Leatherman Surge10.0/10
Leatherman Wave+N/A
ERGONOMICS
Leatherman Surge7.7/10
Leatherman Wave+N/A
⚔️
Head to Head
| Topic | Leatherman Surge | Leatherman Wave+ |
|---|---|---|
Build Quality | 76% | 0% |
Value | 71% | 100% |
Size Weight | 9% | N/A |
Tool Selection | 85% | N/A |
One Hand | 100% | N/A |
Ergonomics | 77% | N/A |
Action | N/A | 100% |
Category Wins
Leatherman Surge: 5|Leatherman Wave+: 2
Head to Head
Leatherman Surge: 5|Leatherman Wave+: 2
Build QualityLeatherman Surge
Leatherman Surge76%
Leatherman Wave+0%
ValueLeatherman Wave+
Leatherman Surge71%
Leatherman Wave+100%
Size WeightLeatherman Surge
Leatherman Surge9%
Leatherman Wave+N/A
Tool SelectionLeatherman Surge
Leatherman Surge85%
Leatherman Wave+N/A
One HandLeatherman Surge
Leatherman Surge100%
Leatherman Wave+N/A
ErgonomicsLeatherman Surge
Leatherman Surge77%
Leatherman Wave+N/A
ActionLeatherman Wave+
Leatherman SurgeN/A
Leatherman Wave+100%
Leatherman Surge
87%
74%
Leatherman Wave+
Leatherman Surge87%
Leatherman Wave+74%
Leatherman Surge wins by 13 points
Key Specs
| Spec | Leatherman Surge | Leatherman Wave+ |
|---|---|---|
| Number Of Tools | 21 | — |
| Closed Length | 4.5 inch | 4 inch |
| Blade Length | 3.1 inch | — |
| Blade Material | 420HC Stainless Steel | 420HC Stainless Steel |
| Locking Blade | Yes | — |
Key Highlights
Leatherman SurgeWinner
🔧 Largest pliers head
🔪 Replaceable blade system
⚖️ 12.5oz - heavy
🛻 Truck/workshop tool
Leatherman Wave+
Solid community reputation
Frequently recommended
Topic Battles
Leatherman Surge: 5|Tied: 0|Leatherman Wave+: 0
⭐Tool Selection
Leatherman Surge winsLeatherman Surge
85%
Leatherman Wave+
—
🔧Build Quality
Leatherman Surge winsLeatherman Surge
76%
Leatherman Wave+
0%
✋One-Hand Operation
Leatherman Surge winsLeatherman Surge
100%
Leatherman Wave+
—
⚖️Size & Weight
Leatherman Surge winsLeatherman Surge
9%
Leatherman Wave+
—
😌Ergonomics
Leatherman Surge winsLeatherman Surge
77%
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 Surge
Top Criticism
+6 pts“If you already like the surge but hate the stupid proprietary bits like I do, get the Bibury 2049. It’s a 2nd generation surge clone that uses standard 1/4 bits like the surge should have used from the start. It’s also fairly cheap, the bang for buck is ridiculous. It uses standard torx for the pivots so adjusting it is a breeze I also have a Roxon Flex. It’s a great tool and the customization is awesome, but it’s not as robust As far as pliers go, no multitool is going to have super strong pliers. Get one of the smaller adjustable Knipex pliers like the Cobra, it can go surprisingly wide. If you care about marring things get the wrench style version You can probably buy 4 or 5 of those Bibury’s for the cost of one Arc.”
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 Surge
Leatherman Wave+
📈Historical Price Data
Leatherman Surge
Leatherman Wave+
Leatherman Surge
All-time low: $77.95(2018-12)
Leatherman Wave+
All-time low: $77.95(2018-11)
Which is Better?
Leatherman Surge Wins
87%
Surge
vs
74%
Wave+
Leatherman Surge leads by 13 points based on 1,159 Reddit opinions.
Why Leatherman SurgeWinner
- 🔧 Largest pliers head
- 🔪 Replaceable blade system
- ⚖️ 12.5oz - heavy
- More discussed (1,092 vs 67)
Why Leatherman Wave+
- Better Value for Money (100% vs 71%)
❤️The Love/Hate Breakdown
Sentiment Breakdown
50%Positive
Positive
50%Neutral
43%Negative
7%Based on 1,092 Reddit opinions
Sentiment Breakdown
28%Positive
Positive
28%Neutral
62%Negative
10%Based on 67 Reddit opinions
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better, Leatherman Surge or Leatherman Wave+?
Based on 1,159 Reddit comments, Leatherman Surge is the preferred choice with 87% positive sentiment vs Leatherman Wave+'s 74%. Leatherman Surge leads by 13 percentage points.
Should I buy Leatherman Surge or Leatherman Wave+?
If you want the safer choice based on community sentiment, Leatherman Surge has stronger approval ratings (87% vs 74%). However, Leatherman Wave+ may still be better depending on your specific needs, budget, or use case.
What do Redditors love about Leatherman Surge?
Reddit users highlight: Largest pliers head. Replaceable blade system. 12.5oz - heavy. With 1,092 mentions and 87% 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 1,159 Reddit comments: 1,092 about Leatherman Surge 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.
649 Reddit opinions analyzed · Last updated 4/7/2026