Leatherman Bond Review: The $30 Costco Multi-Tool Compared to the Sidekick and Wingman

Introduction

Finding a genuinely good full-size multi-tool for very little money is rare. That is what makes the Leatherman Bond interesting: it is a Costco-exclusive model currently selling for $30, which makes it the cheapest full-size Leatherman in roughly a decade outside of clearance items. With that pricing in play, it is worth looking not only at the Bond itself but also at the two tools it sits closest to, the Leatherman Sidekick and the Leatherman Wingman.

What the Leatherman Bond Is

The Bond is a model many people have never heard of, largely because it is sold only at Costco. It ships in a package that includes a sheath and carries Leatherman’s 25-year limited warranty, which in practice is not especially limiting at all. In design terms, it is identical to the Leatherman Sidekick with one exception: it does not have a saw.

The current pricing gap is striking. The Sidekick runs about $70 without a sheath, while the Bond is $30 at Costco. That deal runs through December 11, after which the Bond returns to its standard price of between $40 and $45 depending on where you live.

The Tool Set Inside

The two tools you will use most are the blade and the pliers. The blade is one-hand openable and uses a liner lock, which makes for a familiar transition if you are starting out carrying a pocket knife every day. Knife enthusiasts may grumble that it carries tip down, but you get a lot of functionality in a very small package at a very budget-friendly price.

The pliers are the second most-used tool, and they are spring-loaded. That matters more than it might seem: many people who carry the Wingman or Sidekick refuse to upgrade to other Leatherman models not because they undervalue them, but because they love the spring-loaded plier action too much to give it up. Only three Leatherman models offer it: the Wingman, the Sidekick, and now the Bond. It is much easier to use than non-spring-loaded pliers, though you give up a little strength because of the internal spring.

Inside, you also get two large screwdrivers: a flat-profile Phillips that works well, and a large flat head that could serve as a prying tool in a tough spot. On the other side there are three implements: a serrated blade, useful as a backup when the straight blade dulls or when cutting fibrous material so you can keep your main blade sharp; a small flat head and file combination; and a can opener and bottle opener combo with a wire stripping notch built into the bottom.

One detail worth knowing: the cutouts on the outside of the tool are not just styling. If the fingernail notches are hard to use, you can push the implements up from those cutouts to get them halfway deployed, sometimes without touching the notches at all. Leatherman generally recommends lubricating the tool or adjusting implement tension over time.

Weight is another strong point. The Bond comes in at 5.9 ounces, one of the lightest full-size multi-tools Leatherman makes. For context, it weighs only 0.9 ounces more than the Skeletool, which currently runs around $80 for the base model.

Leatherman Sidekick: The Full Toolset Option

The Sidekick is essentially the Bond plus a saw, at roughly double the price. If you regularly cut wood or need that extra implement, it is the more complete package. But if the saw is not part of your routine, paying more for a tool you will rarely open is a hard argument to make when the Bond exists.

Leatherman Wingman: The Package-Opener Pick

The Wingman shares the same spring-loaded plier family and adds a package opener instead of the Bond’s serrated blade. If you open a lot of boxes and packaging, that swap may be the more useful trade. The honest note here: the serrated blade on the Bond is not bad as a backup, but a package opener would have been the more everyday-practical choice for many people. The Wingman is the model to consider if that matters to you.

Which One Should You Buy?

If you are buying a first multi-tool, either for yourself or as a gift, the Bond is the easiest recommendation right now. At $30 you get American-made quality with a strong warranty behind it, a one-hand-openable blade, and the spring-loaded pliers that so many owners refuse to give up. The main risk is that the price is temporary: after December 11 it returns to $40 to $45.

Choose the Sidekick if the saw is a genuine part of your workload. Choose the Wingman if a package opener fits your daily routine better than a serrated blade. For everyone else, the Bond at this price is hard to pass up, and its light weight makes it easy to carry for the rest of its life in your pocket.

Conclusion

The Leatherman Bond earns its place as one of the best value full-size multi-tools available right now. It takes the Sidekick’s proven layout, removes only the saw, and undercuts it dramatically on price while keeping spring-loaded pliers, a capable toolset, and a lightweight build. If you have been waiting to try a Leatherman, this is the one that is most likely to get you hooked.