Best Multi-Tool to Buy First: Leatherman Bond vs the Rest of the Lineup

Introduction

One question comes up constantly: which multi-tool should you actually buy first? The answer, for most people, is the Leatherman Bond, and the reasoning has less to do with tool count than with how few compromises it makes. This roundup breaks down the Bond and compares it against the rest of the lineup, including the Curl, the Wave, the Wingman, the Sidekick, and a small Victorinox that solves the one thing the Bond is missing.

Evaluation Criteria

The comparison spans a wide price spread: a $60 tool, a $90 tool, a $120 tool, and a $230 flagship that costs nearly four times as much as the Bond. That spread makes it easier to judge whether each price jump is actually worth it. The criteria are simple: quality of the pliers and drivers, ergonomics, everyday practicality, and whether each tool earns its price over the one below it.

Leatherman Bond: The Best First Purchase

The Bond is essentially an homage to the original Pocket Survival Tool released in 1983, with the same core tool set but improvements in nearly every possible way. At 6 oz versus the original’s 5 oz, that extra ounce buys a significantly more robust plier head, an additional spring for consistent retention open and closed, and a frame with rounded and folded steel that is far more comfortable in hand.

The file is another standout: the Rebar-style file on the Bond is significantly more aggressive than the flat single-cut file on the original and is described as one of the best Leatherman has ever made. Add a wire-stripping notch on the thinner can opener, a combined reamer and sewing awl, and a lanyard ring built in, and there is very little to fault. The main nitpick is the included nylon sheath rather than the nicer leather one.

The Quiet Blade Redesign That Changed Everything

Leatherman changed the Bond’s blade and told almost no one. On the older design, a gap between the tang and spring let the tip of the blade expose itself without engaging at all, and retention was minimal. The new blade engages with the tang right away, so it cannot deploy unintentionally, and it also has a longer cutting edge with a proper sharpeningchoil. It is a genuinely meaningful improvement on a tool that already had little to complain about.

Leatherman Curl: The Best Step Up

The $30 jump from the Bond to the Curl is, in this comparison, absolutely worth it. You get a one-handed opening blade, a diamond file, an included pocket clip, and a proper scissor, plus a bit kit. Even without a lock, the detent engages very strongly, just like on the Bond. It is the second-highest recommendation in the lineup and the natural pick if the Bond’s missing scissor or two-handed blade bothers you.

The Curl’s tooling quality is dramatically better than the cheaper stamped tools further down the range, and that difference in quality control is what justifies the higher price.

Leatherman Wave: The Full-Size Classic

At $120, the Wave sits above the Curl as the fuller-featured option in the recommended order. It still has the same scissor trade-off found on similar full-size tools, where the scissors are harder to get to and less precise than the small Victorinox alternatives. Notably, the plier head design that removes metal for replaceable cutters can create an additional weak point; simpler plier designs without replaceable cutters are, somewhat counterintuitively, the stronger setup for hard twisting and pushing.

Leatherman Wingman and Sidekick: Think Twice

The Wingman and Sidekick cost $10 more than the Bond and used to be $40 tools that were not great even at that price. The scissors never cut very well, the partially serrated blade on the Wingman is disappointing, and tool access is frustrating. The Sidekick has some tool set changes that might make it worth considering, but generally the more upscale tooling on the Bond and Curl is worth the small price jump.

If you want a one-handed blade and better quality control, the Curl is the better use of a little extra money than either of these.

Victorinox JetSetter: The Travel Companion the Big Tools Cannot Be

Here is the honest truth about scissors on full-size multi-tools: they are not great. The small scissors on 58 mm Victorinox knives are far more precise, have better cutting geometry, flex less, and last longer. The JetSetter adds a small number-zero Phillips driver that complements the larger drivers on a full-size tool.

The bigger point is travel. The JetSetter has a non-locking blade, two-handed opening, and a blade under 3 inches, making it legal in the UK, Germany, Italy, and many other places. Even a premium tool like the Wave cannot go everywhere you go. Pairing a Bond with a JetSetter or SwissCard covers the scissor gap and makes a genuinely travel-capable kit.

Which One Should You Actually Buy?

The recommended order is Bond first, then the Curl, then the Wave. The Bond has essentially no competition even within Leatherman’s own lineup, works almost everywhere, and costs far less in real terms than the original PST did, which was $40 in 1984, roughly $112 in today’s money. It misses some tools some people want, but everything it does have is genuinely good.

For a gift where you want the recipient to have a positive experience, the Bond is the pick. If they need a one-handed blade or scissors, step up to the Curl. The premium flagship tier is only worth it if you specifically know you want it.

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Conclusion

The Bond earns the top spot by doing fewer things, better: strong detents, excellent pliers, a great file, and travel-friendly practicality at $60. The Curl justifies its extra $30 with a one-handed blade, diamond file, and scissors, and the Wave remains the classic full-size choice. Skip the Wingman and Sidekick, and pair whichever you choose with a small Victorinox for scissors and travel.