Multi-Tools Challenging Leatherman: Wave, Surge, and the New Challengers

Introduction

Leatherman remains the number one name in plier-based multi-tools. The Wave is still the bestselling multi-tool of all time, and the Surge is widely regarded as the flagship of the category. But the landscape around them has shifted. Since key patents expired in 2019, a wave of capable clones has appeared, and newer brands have started shipping tools with features the incumbents have not matched. This guide walks through the standouts and where each one makes sense.

What We Looked For

We focused on a few practical questions: how good the tool set is, how easy it is to service and replace parts, whether the price still reflects the value, and whether a newer challenger offers the same capability for less. Bit compatibility weighed heavily, because standard quarter-inch bits can be bought anywhere while proprietary systems often cannot.

Leatherman Wave: The Bestseller Under Pressure

The Wave’s legacy is secure, but it has felt the pressure lately. Once the patents expired in 2019, clones starting with the Ozark Trail MultiForce appeared across Amazon and AliExpress, typically priced between $25 and $40. Some of them are surprisingly good, and they cut directly into the Wave’s territory.

The bigger issue is the proprietary bit system. Replacement bits are mostly available online or at select retailers, they are soft enough to break easily, they are not covered by the 25-year warranty, and the kit price has climbed to around $36. Clones use full quarter-inch bits with a ball detent, so a complete bit kit costs less and can be found at any hardware store.

Leatherman still has real advantages: quality control, a 40-year warranty when you register through their website, and decades of refinement. Anyone buying a Wave should factor in the bit situation before committing.

Leatherman Surge: The Aging King

The Surge is the king of multi-tools, and it is not close. It is so legendary that six of the ten contestants on one recent season of the survival show Alone chose it over a fixed blade. But the king is getting old, and recent changes have not helped: the cutters were replaced with a worse version, and the price jumped from $120 to $150.

A bit kit and bit extender are sold separately, so a fully equipped setup can run to roughly $186 or $206 depending on extras. Meanwhile, Surge clones at $35 to $40 offer 7Cr blade steel, the same basic tool set, and quarter-inch bit drivers that beat anything in Leatherman’s current bit lineup. Those drivers can even turn quarter-inch nuts with a little adjustment, something the original cannot do at all.

The Surge is still an excellent, hard-working tool, especially for users who need big scissors, a saw, and serious pliers in one package. But buyers should weigh the added cost of accessorizing it against cheaper alternatives with a more practical bit system.

Leatherman Super Tool 300: Stuck in Time

The Super Tool 300 is simply a great heavy-duty tool, but the entire Leatherman heavy-duty lineup has not received a single improvement, change, or new addition in more than a decade. The Crunch has been discontinued, leaving the Super Tool 300 and the Surge to carry the segment alone.

That stagnation matters because competitors keep improving. Gerber’s Center-Drive and Dual Force lines continue to get better and closer in capability. If Leatherman does not refresh this segment, the heavy-duty market will keep drifting away from them.

For buyers who want a no-nonsense, tough-as-nails plier-based tool today, the Super Tool 300 still delivers. It just does so with a two-decade-old design that deserves an update.

Leatherman Sidekick and the Roxon Flash Elite

The Sidekick has more than doubled in price, climbing from $30 to $70, and it no longer faces an easy case against its competition. The Roxon Flash Elite sells for $43 and comes with a case plus a spare set of cutters, delivering a spring-loaded plier that works notably better than the one on the Sidekick.

The Flash Elite improved everything over its previous generation: a D2 blade instead of 5Cr steel, a liner lock, and one-handed deployment of every implement via a press-button mechanism that also doubles as the unlock. The saw is tapered and longer than the Sidekick’s, and it is one of the few modern challengers that feels genuinely complete.

There is a quality-control caveat on the Leatherman side of this matchup. The shared plier head used on the Wingman, Sidekick, and related models has had recurring issues, with some units’ cutters never fully closing due to heat-treatment problems. Leatherman should either fix this or refresh the lineup entirely. Until then, the Flash Elite is the stronger value in this price bracket.

Leatherman Signal: Niche Appeal at a Premium

The Signal is a distinctive package: a sharpener on top, a locking mechanism that holds everything together and lets the tool be flipped open like a balisong, a hammer with a carabiner attachment, and a skeletonized frame that keeps it lighter than most rivals. At around $140, it targets outdoors users who want survival features built in.

Its weak point is the whistle-and-ferro-rod combination. The surrounding plastic gets in the way after roughly 30 strikes, making consistent sparking difficult. A competitor like the Roxon Flash Elite’s ferro setup works much better, and pairing the Flash Elite with a quality wet stone sharpener still comes out $30 to $40 cheaper than the Signal.

The Signal is not without charm. If you want a survival-focused multi-tool with an integrated whistle, ferro rod, and hammer in a light frame, it remains a fun and capable choice.

GOAT Tool: Modular Freedom

The GOAT Tool takes a completely different approach: it is a modular system. It caters to people who were never well represented by traditional multi-tools, including left-handers, users who prefer blade-free tools, and tinkerers who want to customize the tool for each day’s needs.

It is not a one-to-one replacement for anything in the established lineups. If you like configuring your own tool set and treating the multi-tool as a platform rather than a fixed product, it is one of the most interesting options on the market right now.

Overall Buying Advice

If you want the proven, refined choice, the Wave and Surge still earn their reputations, but budget for the bit kit and understand the limitations of the proprietary bit system. If you want the best value in a compact spring-loaded tool, the Roxon Flash Elite currently outclasses the Sidekick at a lower price. If you want heavy-duty capability without surprises, the Super Tool 300 remains a dependable workhorse.

Buyers who value standard quarter-inch bits, easy replacements, and modern features should look seriously at the challengers. Buyers who prioritize warranty support, quality control, and a long track record will still be well served by Leatherman’s core tools.

Conclusion

Leatherman’s best tools remain excellent, but complacency is showing: proprietary soft bits, rising prices, and a heavy-duty lineup frozen for over a decade have opened the door for clones and brands like Roxon and Gerber. For buyers, that competition is good news. Match the tool to your priorities, and there has never been a wider or more affordable selection of capable multi-tools.