Leatherman Wave Plus Review: A Pliers-First Multitool for Bike Trips

Introduction

A long bike trip quickly teaches you which items in your kit actually earn their place. Spare parts matter, but the tool you reach for again and again is usually the one that handles the small jobs: a loose bolt, a valve cap, a cable that needs pulling back into tension, a bracket that has bent out of shape.

The Leatherman Wave Plus is that tool for a lot of riders. It is a pliers-first multitool, and the pliers are the reason it works so well around a bicycle. It is not an inexpensive purchase, but it is built to be kept rather than replaced. This review covers who it suits, what it does well, and what to think about before buying.

Who the Leatherman Wave Plus Is For

This is a tool for riders who want one object in their bag that covers bike repairs and everyday tasks without compromise. If your kit philosophy is to carry the least possible weight, a general-purpose multitool will look bulky next to a stripped-down cycling tool. If your philosophy is to carry the thing you will still be glad to own in five years, the Wave Plus makes a strong case.

It suits touring and bikepacking riders in particular. On a multi-week trip, the line between bike maintenance and general life blurs: you tighten rack bolts in the morning and open a stubborn package in the evening. A pliers-based multitool crosses that line easily.

It also suits riders who already own a bike-specific multitool but want a backup. If the small tool goes missing mid-trip, a second, more capable tool in the bag keeps the trip moving. That redundancy is worth more on a remote route than it is at home.

Main Strengths

The appeal of the Wave Plus is not a single headline feature. It is the combination of a genuinely useful core tool and a broad set of secondary tools, all made well enough that you trust them on a bike you depend on.

Pliers That Handle Real Repairs

Everything about this multitool is built around a pair of pliers, and that is exactly the right starting point for bicycle work. Pliers undo valve caps, pull cables back into tension, grip a bent bracket, and hold small parts steady while you work.

On a loaded bike, small problems multiply. A rack arm works loose, a mudguard stay bends, a bolt refuses to turn by hand. Pliers give you leverage and grip in situations where fingers are not enough.

A Full Set of Tools Beyond the Pliers

Beyond the pliers, the Wave Plus is a fully fledged multitool. It includes knives, screwdrivers, and extra Allen keys. The Allen keys duplicate what a dedicated cycling multitool already provides, which sounds redundant until you consider what happens when the small tool is lost or left behind. At that point the duplicates stop being duplicates and start being a backup.

The quality of these secondary tools is what separates this from a cheap folding tool. They are made well enough that you are not going to round off your bolts when you use them, which is the failure mode that turns a five-minute roadside fix into a ruined component.

Build Quality That Holds Up Over Years

This is a purchase framed around longevity. The tool is not cheap, and the reason to accept that cost is the expectation that it will last a lifetime rather than a season. For riders who have thrown away one or two inexpensive multitools after a stripped screwdriver tip or a seized pivot, that trade is easy to justify.

Real-World Uses on a Bike Trip

The most convincing argument for a pliers-first multitool is how often it gets used for things that have nothing to do with the drivetrain. Zips on bike packing bags, pedals where the cleat engages, pivot points on derailleurs, a dusty mini pump, a multitool that has picked up rust, the pivot points on a luggage rack: anything that moves is a candidate.

On a long trip the tool also becomes a shared resource. Chain lube gets borrowed, and so does a good multitool. Carrying something that can help a ride partner out of a small mechanical problem is part of what makes a group trip work.

Things to Consider Before Buying

The first consideration is cost. This is a higher-priced multitool, and the value only lands if you keep it long enough for the price per year to look small. If you are looking for the cheapest way to undo a bolt at the roadside, this is not that purchase.

Second, it is a general-purpose tool rather than a bike-specific one. Chain repair is a separate job: a dedicated chain breaker and a quick link still belong in a touring kit alongside it. Treat the Wave Plus as the tool that handles everything else.

Third, the duplicated Allen keys are redundancy rather than extra capability. That is a real strength in an emergency and a fair thing to know before you buy.

Buying Advice

Buy this tool if you want one dependable object that covers bike repairs, camp chores, and everyday tasks, and if you would rather pay once than replace a cheap tool every couple of years. Riders who already carry a bike-specific multitool and are happy with it can treat the Wave Plus as a backup rather than a replacement.

Whichever role it plays, the deciding factor is the same: the pliers. If you have ever found yourself holding a bent bracket with two fingers and wishing for grip, you already know what this tool is for.

Conclusion

The Leatherman Wave Plus earns its place in a bike trip kit because it solves the small problems that would otherwise stop a ride: loose bolts, slack cables, bent brackets, and stubborn hardware. It is not the cheapest option, and it does not replace a chain breaker or a dedicated cycling multitool. What it does offer is a pliers-first design, a complete set of secondary tools, and build quality that is meant to last. For riders who plan trips in years rather than weekends, that is a straightforward case.