Best Leatherman Multi-Tools for Value in 2026: Seven Models Compared

Introduction

Leatherman’s current line-up has a genuinely strange pricing problem. Some of its most capable multi-tools now ship with sheaths, bit kits, and pocket clips included, while near-identical alternatives cost more and arrive with nothing but the tool itself. If you buy on brand recognition alone, you can easily end up paying a premium for a strictly worse package.

This guide walks through seven Leatherman models, what each one includes, and which purchases currently make the most sense. The short version: the Charge Plus and Super Tool 300M are the standout value picks, and a few popular models are harder to recommend right now.

What to Check When Your Leatherman Arrives

Whatever model you pick, inspect a few things immediately. Start with the plier head. Many Leathermans today come quite stiff out of the box. There is a slow way and a fast way to deal with this: the slow route is to strip the factory grease with degreaser and work in a little diamond paste; the impatient route is to grip a wooden dowel in the pliers and slowly twist back and forth until the pivot loosens up.

Before adjusting anything, squeeze the pliers hard with both hands. If the pivot locks up and gets even tighter when squeezed, that points to an issue with the peening inside the pivot, and in that case contacting customer service or exchanging the tool is a reasonable move. Also check the blade edges for leftover burrs and give the saw and diamond file a quick look. Quality control on grinds has clearly been improving, but it pays to verify.

One more important mistake to avoid: do not add lubricant to a stiff new tool. That is the opposite of what you want. Strip the lubricant out with degreaser or WD-40 so the pivot can wear itself in.

Leatherman Charge Plus: The Better Buy at $160

The black Charge Plus is the quiet star of the current line-up. At $160, it comes with a $25 Molle sheath with an internal pouch for the bit kit, a six-bit kit, and a black pocket clip and lanyard ring. That is roughly $41 in added value, and none of it is clearly stated on the product page, so confirm with customer service before ordering if the accessories matter to you.

Compare that to the Leatherman Wave at $120 with no sheath and no accessories. Add the same $41 of accessories to the Wave and it actually costs more than the Charge Plus, a tool with a more ergonomic handle, a better tool set including a pull cutter the Wave lacks, and improved materials. Assessed honestly, there is no reason at equal pricing to pick the Wave over the Charge Plus. If you are choosing one tool with a 40-year warranty behind it, buy once, cry once.

Leatherman Super Tool 300M: Possibly the Best Value Leatherman Right Now

The Super Tool 300M may be the single best-value Leatherman you can buy right now. At $129.99, it includes a Molle sheath with a dedicated slot for the bit extender, the extender itself, and a full 10-bit kit. That is roughly $75 in added value, which theoretically brings the cost of the tool itself down to around $65. None of this is listed on the website, and the same has been true for years, so treat the accessories as a bonus you need to verify.

The tool set is excellent and the tan version looks great, though note that black oxide tools can arrive with some residue and even light staining. That is usually not a dealbreaker, and many people like the slightly worn look. If you do not, choose the all-black variation. The main caveat is the same as with any current Leatherman: the pivot arrives tight and will take some work to break in.

Leatherman Wave: Skip It This Year

The Wave has been a default recommendation for years, but not right now. At $120 with no sheath, no bit kit, and no pocket clip, it costs less than the Charge Plus only until you account for accessories. Once you equip it equivalently, it is the more expensive tool with a worse tool set, worse ergonomics, and no pull cutter.

Buying a Wave today risks missing out on a strictly better tool for effectively less money. Unless you specifically want that exact configuration, look at the Charge Plus instead.

Leatherman Charge TTI: Strong Package at $200

The Charge TTI at $200 includes a sheath, pocket clip, and a six-bit kit, the same roughly $41 in added value as the Charge Plus. That effectively brings it down to around $159 for a titanium-handled tool with a very good tool set.

Set it against the Arc at $250, which includes no accessories at all, and the comparison gets uncomfortable. The TTI is $50 cheaper before you even count the extras, with the only argument in the Arc’s favour being a better blade steel.

Leatherman Arc: Great Tool Set, Questionable Cutting Geometry

The Arc has an excellent tool set, and nobody disputes that. The problem is the main blade. The cutting geometry is one of the worst ever put on a multi-tool: extremely thick behind the edge, to the point where cutting something as soft as an apple feels like using an axe. By comparison, the flat grinds on the Wave and Charge models have never caused problems.

At $250 with no accessories, no extra bits, and nothing extra in the box, the Arc is hard to recommend while the Charge TTI exists at $200 with titanium handles and a sheath, clip, and bit kit included.

Leatherman MUT: Accessory Included

The MUT is one of the models that still comes with a sheath and its small accessory included, which keeps it relevant in a line-up where some tools have been stripped down. It remains a specialised, feature-heavy option aimed at users who want its particular tool set rather than a general everyday carry pick.

Leatherman Super Tool 300 EOD: Sheath Confirmed

The Super Tool 300 EOD should also come with a sheath included, which puts it in the same camp as the 300M and the Charge series. If you want the EOD-specific tool set, the included sheath makes the package easier to justify than models shipping bare. Note that the accessories situation has been confirmed with customer service but could change, so verify before you buy.

Overall Buying Advice

Timing matters more than usual with Leatherman right now. Do not buy at a random time of year. There is a sale roughly every October with a minimum of 15% off, and if you cannot beat that discount, wait.

Confirmed as of now: the Charge Plus, Charge TTI, Super Tool 300M, MUT, and Super Tool 300 EOD include sheaths and accessories. The Rebar, Surge, and Wave do not. Those accessory bundles are not clearly listed on the website, so confirm with customer service before ordering.

Conclusion

The value picture in Leatherman’s line-up is lopsided. The Charge Plus undercuts the Wave once accessories are priced in, and the Super Tool 300M is arguably the best-value tool the company currently sells. The Arc, despite a great tool set, is undermined by thick blade geometry and a higher price than the better-equipped Charge TTI. Pick based on what is actually in the box, wait for the October sale, and verify the accessories before you click buy.