Harbor Freight 20-in-1 Multitool vs Leatherman Wave: A $40 Wave Clone Worth a Look

Introduction

Harbor Freight has released a new 20-in-1 multitool that makes no attempt to hide its inspiration. It is a direct take on the Leatherman Wave, and it is the closest version of a Wave clone to come from any major retailer so far. At $40, walk-in pricing makes it a genuinely interesting proposition, especially when the Wave itself costs around $125 once you account for buying the pocket clip separately.

This is not a rough approximation like many of the Wave-style clones sold online. In weight, size, and tool layout it sits almost exactly on top of the original, and in a few areas it actually goes beyond it. Here is how the two stack up.

A True Wave Clone, Straight From Harbor Freight

The most striking thing about the Harbor Freight 20-in-1 is how close it stays to the Wave formula. On a scale it comes in just above the Wave’s roughly 8.5 ounces, essentially identical in weight and footprint. By comparison, the generic Wave clones commonly found online tend to weigh around 9.6 ounces, nearly a full ounce heavier.

It also includes a pocket clip out of the box, which the Wave does not. The clip is removable and holds firmly with no movement, though it is a slightly different design and is not backwards compatible with the Wave’s clip. On the back side of the frame there is an added glass breaker, a small extra that costs nothing but adds a little real-world utility.

Build Quality: Washers and Lockup

Internally, the differences are where this tool earns its credibility. The Wave uses bronze washers between the frame and the blade, but nothing between the blade and the pivot screws, and nothing between the steel faces of the pliers. The Harbor Freight tool goes much further: six bronze washers on each side, covering the pivot screws, blades, and plier head. Right out of the box it feels very smooth, noticeably more refined than you might expect at this price.

Lockup is another standout. The Wave locks at essentially 100 percent, with the lock bar travelling fully over to the pivot screw, and it is known for carrying a small amount of blade play. The Harbor Freight tool locks at around 50 percent, engages before touching the washers, and shows almost no side-to-side and very little up-and-down play on either the straight or serrated blade. Fit and finish like this has not been seen on other clones, and the even, well-executed grinds stand in contrast to the Wave’s notoriously inconsistent factory grinds.

Tools and Everyday Performance

The tool set mirrors the Wave almost exactly. Outside you get a plain blade and a serrated blade, with the serrations sharp, aggressive, and running all the way to the tip, plus a proper taper so the blade does not bind in wood. The Harbor Freight tool adds two genuine upgrades: a pull-cutter hook on the back of the serrated blade, normally found only on the Leatherman Charge line, and a sharpening choil on the primary blade, which the Wave has never offered.

Inside, the saw has aggressive, tapered teeth that extend fully to the end. The file includes a crosscut surface that is legitimately better than the Wave’s, aggressive and effective, though not quite at the level of Leatherman’s premium crosscut. The metal saw’s teeth are noticeably longer and more aggressive than the Wave’s, which could either be a benefit or risk flaking the diamond file over time, something only longer testing will settle.

The scissors held up well. In a cutting test against tough survivor cord with embedded wire, the Harbor Freight scissors performed about the same as the Wave’s, which is high praise. The can opener is identical in shape to the Wave’s, and the V-shaped cutter is preferable to the U-shaped cutters used on many cheaper clones.

The Missing Piece: A Bit Kit

The micro bit driver is the weakest link. It uses a magnet instead of the Wave’s spring-loaded retention, and it does not feel nearly as secure. Bits carry more play in it than in a Leatherman driver, and the included bits are not as well tuned. It does work, but this is the least convincing part of the tool.

The bigger issue is the ecosystem. Leatherman’s bit kit costs around $32, nearly the price of the entire Harbor Freight tool, and Leatherman’s bit kits have become hard to find in stores. If Harbor Freight does not release its own bit kit soon, buyers are left with a single bit and no practical way to replace or expand it. Whether the tool accepts Leatherman bits decently is also worth checking, and early impressions suggest Leatherman bits actually seat more securely than the ones supplied.

Warranty and Value Considerations

One thing to weigh before buying is support. Gordon-brand tools at Harbor Freight carry only about a 90-day warranty, shorter than the coverage on some other Harbor Freight sub-brands, while many online clones offer several-year replacement assurance plans. That said, this tool taps directly into the same ecosystem Leatherman owners already use, so it can work as either a complement to or a stand-in for an existing Wave.

At $40 against the Wave’s real-world cost of around $125 with a pocket clip, the value case is obvious. If Harbor Freight follows this up with a Surge equivalent at a similar price, it would be a serious shake-up for the multitool market.

Conclusion

The Harbor Freight 20-in-1 is the closest thing to a true Leatherman Wave clone to come from any retailer, and in several respects it improves on the original: better washers, tighter lockup, a sharpening choil, a pull cutter, and a pocket clip included at $40. The weak points are the magnet-based bit driver and the absence of a supporting bit kit. If you want Wave-level capability at a fraction of the price and can live with those compromises, it is one of the most impressive multitool values available right now. The Leatherman Wave remains the safer long-term choice for warranty and ecosystem support, but Harbor Freight has raised the bar for budget multitools.