Leatherman Wave Plus vs Victorinox Spirit X: Which Best-Selling Multi-Tool Wins?

Introduction

The Leatherman Wave Plus and the Victorinox Spirit X are the two best-selling multi-tools from two of the most respected brands in the category. They compete directly on price, size, and tool selection, which makes them an obvious head-to-head comparison for anyone choosing their first serious multi-tool or upgrading an older one.

Both are excellent, but they take noticeably different approaches. After comparing the full tool sets, the pliers, the blades, the files, the scissors, and the everyday handling, this article breaks down where each one wins so you can decide which suits your needs.

Two Best-Sellers, Two Very Different Philosophies

The Victorinox Spirit was introduced in 2004, and the Spirit X replaced the original version, swapping a serrated blade for a more desirable drop point blade and adding scissors. The Leatherman Wave arrived in 1998, received a major upgrade in 2004 with interior locking tools and a bit driver, and was refined again in 2018 with replaceable cutters and a slightly modified shape.

Both use high-quality stainless steel with high carbon content and strong corrosion resistance. Victorinox goes with a highly polished mirror finish and a cleaner, simpler design, while Leatherman uses a brushed finish and a more complex, arguably more interesting look.

Size, Weight, and Carry

The Victorinox is about 3.5 mm thinner than the Leatherman, while the Leatherman is about 5 mm shorter. Maximum width is the same, but the weight difference is real: the Victorinox weighs 210 grams against 243 grams for the Leatherman, and you can feel it in the hand.

Both come with a carry case: nylon for the Leatherman, leather for the Victorinox. The Leatherman’s press-stud fastening is arguably more durable than velcro, but Leatherman uses a one-size pouch with extra empty space at the top, so the slimmer Victorinox actually sits better on a belt. Neither is a deal maker or breaker, and it largely comes down to personal preference.

One important legal note: the Leatherman Wave has single-handed opening for its two main blades, which is genuinely useful when your other hand is occupied. However, single-handed opening knives are illegal to carry in some countries, such as Germany, and locking blades make both tools illegal to carry in the UK and some other regions without good reason.

Locking Mechanisms and Access

With the Victorinox, every tool and blade is accessible from the outside, which is a genuine advantage. Tools lock into place on opening and release via raised levers. The Leatherman locks its external tools with a liner lock, while the internally accessible tools use a separate release mechanism.

Both systems are effective, but the Victorinox is arguably more straightforward with its single locking mechanism, and having all ten tools plus the plier head available externally removes the extra steps the Leatherman requires for its internal tools.

Pliers, Blades, and Head-to-Head Tool Tests

Both plier heads are needle nose with a similar profile, and both are comfortable to grip, with the Victorinox’s curved shape arguably even more so, though it slightly increases the chance of being nipped if you slip. The decisive difference is that the Leatherman has replaceable wire cutters, which matters because cutters wear over time. That makes the plier head a win for the Leatherman.

The main blade is a clear Leatherman win: it is much bigger in both length and depth, and both blades cut through 550 paracord easily. The Leatherman also has a serrated blade that the Victorinox lacks, useful for fibrous materials like seat belts. On files, the Leatherman offers a diamond file, while the Victorinox has a more traditional file with a very coarse side that doubles as an effective metal saw.

The wood saw tells a different story: the Leatherman’s saw is deeper, but the Victorinox’s blade is thicker at 1.5 mm versus 1 mm, which suggests greater strength, plus the shallower profile gives more control for inside cuts.

The Victorinox dominates several categories. Its 6 mm flathead doubles as a cap lifter, wire stripper/bender, and a strong pry tool, and it is significantly thicker than the Leatherman’s equivalent. The Victorinox also includes a bladed awl with a sharp edge and a chisel tool with large and small wire strippers, neither of which exists on the Leatherman.

The scissors are another Victorinox win: they use much thicker steel and feel far more substantial, though the Leatherman’s wider-opening jaws handle wider material. The Leatherman counters with an eyeglass screwdriver with reversible flathead and tiny Phillips heads, a built-in inch and centimeter rule, a concealed lanyard ring under the saw blade, and security torx screws that allow you to dismantle the tool for cleaning and maintenance. The Victorinox cannot be easily self-serviced.

On screwdrivers, the Victorinox’s longer, thinner Phillips handles both number 1 and number 2 screws and reaches tighter spots, and its long-armed 2 mm flathead is more useful than the Leatherman’s 5 mm bit. The Leatherman’s bit driver is still highly desirable, effectively turning one tool into two and accepting additional bits to expand functionality, though Victorinox sells separate bit drivers and ratchets that work with quarter-inch bits.

Build Quality and Warranty

Build quality is where the Victorinox pulls ahead. The fit and finish feel precision-engineered, almost jewelry-like, with everything falling out with a satisfying click, even the plier heads. The polished finish does show fingerprints, but the overall smoothness is a step above. The Leatherman example tested here worked well out of the box, but Leatherman has a reputation for occasional quality inconsistencies, such as stiff plier heads or loose tools.

Warranty is comparable: Victorinox offers a lifetime guarantee against defective workmanship, while Leatherman offers a 25-year guarantee. In practice, both are effectively equivalent.

Pricing

Pricing is very comparable between the two. In the UK, both are available for around £135 including tax. In the US, both sell for around $100 plus tax.

Which One Should You Buy?

Choose the Leatherman Wave Plus if replaceable wire cutters, single-handed opening, a serrated blade, a more substantial main knife, a diamond file, the eyeglass screwdriver, the built-in ruler, or user-serviceable torx screws matter most to you. It is also the shortest of the two, if only by 5 mm.

Choose the Victorinox Spirit X if you prioritize build quality, a slimmer and lighter carry, fully external tool access, better scissors, the chisel, the awl, the superior large flathead pry tool, and the more capable metal file and saw. For this comparison, the balance of fit and finish, external access, longer screwdrivers, better scissors, and the unique chisel and awl tips the result toward the Victorinox Spirit X.

Worth noting: neither of these is the most capable multi-tool either brand makes. That title goes to the Victorinox Swiss Tool and the Leatherman Surge, both of which are worth a look if you need maximum capability.

Conclusion

The Victorinox Spirit X takes this comparison on build quality, external tool access, scissors, and unique tools like the chisel and awl, while the Leatherman Wave Plus fights back with its bigger main blade, serrated blade, replaceable wire cutters, diamond file, bit driver, and single-handed opening. Neither is a bad choice; the right one depends entirely on which of those strengths you will actually use.