Leatherman

Leatherman Wave Alpha

Ranked #13 in Multitools

185 LP on the category ladder what's LP?

Genuinely excellent out of the box per Popular Mechanics, but the newest tool on the board with only months of ownership history, so it cannot sit above the proven Wave+ yet.

Backed by one cited source so far - limited coverage

See the source

Flagged as a product to avoid

4 of 11 research runs entered this as a product to avoid rather than a pick.

Its one standout improvement, scissors, does not justify abandoning the better-value Wave+, which is still in production, still better tested and still the smarter buy. You are paying new-flagship money for the newest name.
Flagged 23 September 2026

Its one standout improvement, scissors, does not justify abandoning the better-value Wave+, which is still in production, still better tested and still the smarter buy. You are paying new-flagship money for the newest name.
Flagged 23 September 2026
Its value equation is poor: the only upgrade over the Wave+ is a scissors improvement, yet it carries a steep premium.
Flagged 23 September 2026
Charges flagship price for marginal refinement over the proven Wave+, with no long-term ownership record despite the same warranty.
Flagged 23 September 2026
Owners and reviewers agree the build is subpar for what Leatherman charges, with no included sheath or pocket clip, and it loses to both the Arc and the Wave+ inside Leatherman's own lineup.
Flagged 23 September 2026

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Pros & cons

✓ Named Best Scissors in Popular Mechanics' roundup
✓ Genuinely excellent performance out of the box
✓ Successor to the Wave+ with an improved scissors function
✓ Newest evolution of the Wave platform
✓ Best-in-class scissors in its category

✗ Only months of ownership history behind it
✗ Only one improved function over the Wave+ it replaced
✗ Pushed hardest by Leatherman's marketing right now
✗ Narrower endorsement compared to other top picks
✗ Newer model lacking long-term ownership data

The sources behind this ranking

We searched the web and YouTube for what has been published about this product, then read the articles, video transcripts and comments we found. We quote no words from this source, so its row shows only where we placed it.

1 stance not read source

Frequently asked questions

It ranks #13 of 16 on our multitools tier list, in F tier. That placement rests on one cited source.

Only months of ownership history behind it. Only one improved function over the Wave+ it replaced. Pushed hardest by Leatherman's marketing right now. Narrower endorsement compared to other top picks. Newer model lacking long-term ownership data.