Victorinox SwissTool X vs. Leatherman Wave

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blastjv

Joined
Feb 23, 2003
Messages
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On another Forum, a member asked for opinions on the Victorinox SwissTool X and the Leatherman Wave Multi-Tools. I had just gone through a long debate with myself trying to decide between the two and posted the following, I thought it might be of some interest/help here:

Well...

I have owned and used both. I now EDC a Victorinox SwissTool X on my belt. I have had 3 different Waves and they all were pretty 'wobbley' in the closed position. I think that's just how they are, but it bothered me, and it made it harder to open the main blades one-handed.

The Leatherman Wave's Main Advantages (as I see them) are:

-More Compact (good size for carrying in pocket).
-More Comfortable Handles (thought the STX is very comfy too).
-One-Hand opening Main Blades.
-Diamond Coated File (can also be used as a knife sharpener for other knives).
-'Pointy-er' Needlenose Pliers (if that's what you want).

The Victorinox SwissTool X's Main Advantages are:

-ALL the Tools LOCK!!!
-NO 'Clumping' of implements.
-Bigger (arguably 'tougher', though I've never had any problems with either. I have heard of breakages with the Wave).
-Better Tool Selection (IMO only, it certainly has a WIDER selection).
-Larger Tools (because the whole tool is larger the individual implements are also larger and as such are generally easier to use, esp. Scissors, File, and Saw).
-Better Scissors (they just work better).
-Has an Awl (very useful).
-Has a Chisel.

The Leatherman Wave's Main Disadvantages are:

-Not as easy as it looks to open the blades one-handed.
-Most tools don't lock (it hurts when they close on you, I've been bitten many times).
-Implements 'Clump' together when you try to open them.
-The 'Wobbling' I mentioned before.

The Victorinox SwissTool X's Main Disadvantages are:

-It's really very big (about the biggest of the Multi-Tools. You really need to carry this one on your belt. I don't mind, but others might).
-The screwdriver heads are all somewhat rounded and therefore have a little tendency to slip because the folks at Victorinox love to mirror-polish things (Doug Ritter from www.equipped.org pointed this out in his review).
-The 'Needlenose' Pliers are not really Needlenose, they're somewhere between Needlenose and Regular (Mr. Ritter pointed this one out too).

So, like most things, it all boils down to your individual needs. I wouldn't recommend against getter either of these. I'd say that MOST Multi-Tools out there are of good quality, the choice between them is mostly just a matter of tool selection and personal preference.

I put High Priority on having a wide variety of impliments which ALL lock! The Wave's biggest selling point is the one-hand opening blades. I carry one-hand opening knives for that, so it wasn't really a big deal to me.


Hope this helps,

-John

PS-I also carry a Leatherman Squirt P4 (pliers) in Storm Gray on my Keychain, it's great, definitely the best of the Keychain-sized tools IMO! So, please don't think I'm 'bashing' Leathermans, I'm not.
 
You can use a stone on the Victorinox screwdrivers to square up the polished rounded edges.

I like the larger tools myself. Personally, I carried a Leatherman SuperTool in my front pocket for years next to my billfold. Locking large tools were the key here. Clumping can be overcome but, the sharp edges of the tool itself when using the needlenose pliers can't.
 
I've fondled and used the Swiss Tool, and I have the Wave. I prefer the Wave because of the advantages you mentioned. I have carried a multi-tool for 15+ years, first Leatherman, then SWAK, Gerber, Schrade, and now Leatherman again. The Wave is the best so far. If you follow the directions and close the handles, you won't have any injuries. That said, I usually don't, and just pay attention. I too prefer locking tools, though. I don't think you could go wrong with either one. I expect one of the companies will come up with a serious upgrade within 5 years that I'll just have to have. When I don't carry the Wave, I swap out my keychain for a Micra or a Trailmaster set. I could live with a collaberation between Vic and Lt! Price it right and get out of the way! LetVic DoIt?
 
I've carried a Wave for about 5 years now and find it fits every task I can throw at it. I'm a firefighter and the Wave gets everyday use around the station (many of my compatriots don't even carry a knife:eek: ) and it has never failed.

Something I see as a non-problem is this "clumping" every complains about. So what, pick the tool you need and push the rest back down. I have never had to have any tool so fast that this was an issue.
 
Originally posted by Charlie Fox

Something I see as a non-problem is this "clumping" every complains about. So what, pick the tool you need and push the rest back down. I have never had to have any tool so fast that this was an issue.
Click to expand...

Yes, I've never really understood that either. Clumping is a minor inconveniece at worst, and certainly not something to make or break a multi-tool.

With that said, I still prefer the Swistool. The Wave just sacrifices too much functionality in exchange for those one hand opening blades that don't work nearly as well as a good folder anyway.
 
I'd have to agree that 'clumping' is not the most critical issue in Multi-Tool selection.

I included it in my list because it is a noticable difference between the two tools. I chose the SwissTool X for many reasons. lack of clumping was low on the list of those reasons.

The better design of the SwissTool and their simple and effective solution to the 'problem' of clumping does instill confidence in the overall quality of the tool, which is reassuring, though may not have much functional value.

-John

PS - Sid, Thanks. I just haven't gotten around to stoning the screwdrivers (though I plan to). I wanted to include the (possibly minor) concern about the screwdrivers as a consideration for someone who might not have the inclination to alter their tool.
 
Both of these tools , while very good, miss the
mark quite a bit IMO.

The faults of the Swisstool & Wave are well
documented by the forumites that post here. I
personally don't care for either as many here know
However, I'm the most disappointed in the Swisstool
as it was the first one I bought based on the SAK
reputation. :(

I carried the Swisstool for well over two years
until I got burned out on the "almost" right pliers
and the to rounded (and soft)tools slipping out
and busting my knuckles. Now I know some filed the
driver blades flat but no one should have to do
that on finshied tool.

The Wave is....well....not lefty friendly and
doesn't lock on all blades. Again, a knuckle
buster.:(

These two tools have their fans and for them I'm
sure they've come to terms with the tools as they
are. Me.......I'll pass on these two:barf:
 
FWIW, based on my own experiance, the "BEST" for
MY use is the Leatherman Pulse (light duty) and
the Supertool (heavy duty). [I own the older
Supertool but the new 200 is every bit as useful]

I've owned and sold all of the various gerbers,
one Bucktool, most of the rest of the Leatherman
(except crunch). The Wave is an enginerring marvel
that WOW's the gadget folk's but falls short when
it comes to repeated utility. From where I stand
The PST is more useful than the wave in some
ways.

When I bought the Swisstool I hoped that it would
be a great do it all tool based on Victronx's
reputation in designing knives. However the more
I used it the less I liked it. The pliers were
never right for anything and the drivers would
slip out in a heartbeat.:( Man! I know Victronox
can do better than this! Oh, well ...I sold it
and moved on. My search then went through all the
tools mentioned above selling them to co-workers
as they failed my needs.

I wound up with the orginal supertool and Pulse
by accident on a vist to wal-mart. I went looking
for the Pulse since it was new and found the older
supertool on clearance.;) I bought them both
finding in time they were perfect for ME.:D

So what's the Best? I don't really know I just know
what worked for ME in the end.:D If I had it to do
over I would also look as SOG tools while was at
it.
 
I would second the Leatherman Pulse. I have had many multi-tools including the Leatherman PST, the SOG Powerlock, Gerber, Schrade etc. I wired half of a house witht the Leatherman PST. However, the Pulse has the right combination of tools. And more importantly, it is nearly half the size of the Victorinox, Supertool, or SOG Powerlock. All the tools lock. Good pliers. Good working scissors, balanced, square screwdrivers that fit gunscrews well. The Pulse has addressed most of the shortcomings of the original Leatherman. Of course, the awl was left off.
 
The art of selecting a multi-tool is a matter of placing yourself somewhere in the Heavy-light use, distance from 'real tools', always on you-somewhere nearby, belt carry-pocket carry quadratic matrix. Then it is a matter of working out which features you want. Simple isn't it?:p

I have an old original LM PST, LM Wave and LM Supertool. The Wave gets used the most of the three. I don't carry a multi-tool on me all the time. But when I am doing jobs around the place I do like to have one on me.

I don't like things hanging off my belt or swinging deep in my pockets. The solution was to take the clothing clip of an old cell phone case and rivet it to a nylon LM pouch. So when I'm doing something like fixing a TV aerial or other such fiddling the wave is clipped to my back pocket or waist belt. Then I unclip it when I'm finished. I think our brutal, long, hot summer tends to force one to find ways of being as unencumbered as possible.

For me the wave is robust enough for the million and one little jobs around the house. When anything more serious is required I go for the shed and toolbox.

My King-Gee (legendary Aussie work clothes - they do make a slightly better cut version than the ones Steve Irwin wears) shorts have a convenient side pocket that is exactly the shape pf a large multi-tool like the supertool and I have gone with this occasionally.

Blastjv, the reason you find the wave hard to open one-handed is that you haven't knifesturbated with it enough. Set aside your worry beads and play with the wave instead.:) I sent my wave in to Leatherman for some repairs and it came back with some springs fitted to the handles which make it way more secure in the hand and less 'squirmy' feeling.

The wave also wins the beauty contest with every multi-tool hands down. It is always nearby and is one of the first things I pack when I travel. However if I was a heavy duty user (like a farmer or a tradie) who often found themselves a long way from a toolbox, I'd go for the supertool. I handled the swisstool once and it didn't turn me on.
 
Between these two multitools, the Swiss Tool, in my opinion, wins hands down. I don't know if any of you Wave owners have attempted to use the Wave in rainy, muddy conditions. I have, and can tell you that the inner tools, sticky at the best of times, become almost impossible to access. The Swiss Tool's implements, on the other hand, are easily opened even when wet or dirty.
 
I too prefer the Victorinox by far over most other multi-tools.
Yes, I have to carry it on my belt but I'm one of those who don't have problems.
I feel it better overall quality and I'm really for locking tools.
I don't care for a tool that slips and mars a piece of potentially expensive equipment while I'm using it (or pinch my fingers :rolleyes: )
 
You mean people carry multi-tools other than on their belt?

Wow!!!!!!!!

I have not seen this in my area. Seems they would all be a bit on the heavy side to carry "in the pocket".

Brownie
 
I used to carry a Leatherman Juice P4 in my back pocket a while ago. I just decided that I didn't like the tool that much.

-John
 
little of the main subject, but since your talking about multi tools, has anyone tried the gerber 800 legend?
 
brownie0486, check out the Leatherman Sideclip. Minimal tools but very compact and comes with a pocket clip (look ma, no sheath!). Imo, it's even sturdier than the "wobbly" Wave.

The Wave is okay if that is the only tool you will be carrying but it loses its advantage if you are carrying a separate locking folder anyway. More than likely, the folder you're carrying will be superior to the Wave's knife blade on numerous counts (e.g., blade material, lock strength, handle ergonomics, etc). Therefore, when carrying my usual EDC, I prefer to tote the LM SideClip.

One of my concerns with the Wave is the questionable longevity of the detent that holds the blade closed. Most liner locks use a ball (bearing) detent made of a material harder than that of the blade so continuous openings will not render the detent unsafe. The detent on the Wave appears to be a pimple punched through the liner--how good is that? I just recently started using a Wave so it will be something that I will be watching closely--even though I rarely use either of the knife blades.

Although this post appears to be "dissing" the Wave, that is not the intent--I only wanted to bring up some personal perceived shortcomings of this Leatherman tool. As mentioned above, I feel adequately prepared to handle most unforeseen situations in urban environments when carrying the Wave alone. It is relatively smaller and lighter than most other multi-tools and additionally provides more "knife" power.
 
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