Leatherman Wave, Charge TTi, or Skeletool? Help, please!

[badchico]

Hello All,

Well, after nearly a month of lurking in the shadows of the forum, reading just about everything I could find on each of these three LM models, I have come to the point where I would like to make a purchase.  But prior to doing so, I still need a little more of the forum's expert advice.  Please help me!

I am trying to choose between a LM Wave, Charge TTi, and a Skeletool:

1) The (New) Wave seems to be an old favorite of most, and perhaps it could be that for me too, but I am somewhat concerned about the weight (8.5 oz) and the quality of the 420HC blade.

2) The Charge TTi seems to be one of the hottest LM multis on the market, but is somewhat expensive ($100 on eBay) and is still somewhat hefty (8.2 oz).  But, it does have the premium S30V blade.

3) Finally, there is the much anticipated Skeletool.  At only 5 oz, it caught my eye immediately, but again it comes with the 420HC blade.  I'm not considering the CX model because of the CE, I'm a PE guy.  Reviews thus far look promising (thanks Tom!), but I'm not sure if this is the best way to go, especially if they are going to release a 154CM PE version of the Skeletool sometime soon.  Btw, I e-mailed LM to find out; I'll let you guys know what I'm told.

This will be my first REAL multi-tool purchase, and I would like to carry it most everyday for household and work-related needs.  Weight is somewhat of an issue because I would carry it with a pocket clip, but I am willing to bear a little extra weight if the tool is worth it.  I would really appreciate any feedback you could offer on which one of these three LM models you think would be best for my needs!

Thank you!
 

[Spoonrobot]

The Wave/Charge and the Skeletool are very different animals.

Ask yourself:

1. Do you want more functions?

or

2. Ease of carry?

Option one means you should get either the Wave or the Charge, we can settle this later.

Option two means you should get the Skeletool. Simple.

What do you do for work? The Skeletool is limited in regards to what it can do in comparison to the Wave/Charge but it is significantly smaller and lighter.

[cryptrick]

Welcome to the forum!

Its always tricky deciding on what tool to go for. A lot of people go on about the weight issue with multitools, but it doesn't bother me in the slighest. After wearing a tool for a little while you will hardly notice its there. I've carried particularly heavy tools like the Swisstool and Powerlock and I hardly notice I have them in my pocket. I would sway towards getting the Charge or the Wave. If you've got that extra bit of cash go for the TTi. You won't be disappointed with its build quality and it has the S30V blade. However, the Wave is also a very good one to consider. Lower in the price than the charge but not an anwful lot lower in quality. OK it doesn't have a S30V blade but that personally doesn't bother me as I don't use the blades daily. The Skeletool I can't comment on really as I have never used one and don't particularly want one. It really is limited in its uses compared to a Charge or Wave and doesn't have a S30V blade. I would pay a little more and go for the Wave, however if your OK with the $100, the Charge

[jzmtl]

My experience with wave is it's quite uncomfortable for pocket carry, especially in summer. The weight just drag pants down too much.

Don't worry about the blade steel, or CE/PE in case of skeletool, you should have a dedicated knife in addition to multitool anyway. 

[Tom Munch]

That's a tough one.  Between the Wave & the Charge, the Charge is easier to pull out of a pocket & more comfortable in the hand.  Between the Charge & the Skeletool, I like the Skeletool because I'm already carrying a SAK in my possibles bag & some other tools when I really need more than the Skeletool. 

The Skeletool is better when you really want to use the blade a lot IMO because it is less bulky in the hand.  It's also quicker to get at the screwdriver bit when you need it.  The bottle opener is also WAY better, but it lacks the can opener function (which some guys also use as an awl & clamshell cutter).  It also slides into a pocket easier.

The Charge is better when you need the serrated blade, or the file, or the saw, or a beefier pair of pliers, or the fine screwdrivers, or the scissors.

You really should get both in hand & see what seems to "fit" you better.

[Tom Munch]

...you should have a dedicated knife in addition to multitool anyway. 

So far I'm finding that I'm not missing a dedicated folder with my Skeletool.  that's one less thing to carry so far.

[Sea Monster]

Don't worry about the blade steel, or CE/PE in case of skeletool, you should have a dedicated knife in addition to multitool anyway

.

I think that might be a rule the Skeletool is trying to defy.


Bad Chico - it seems you have your heart set on Outside, one handed blades, aye?
Go into the store and play with a Surge, then buy the Wave and you'll practically float out the door with the weight difference.

Leave charges for goons with more cash than brains. For the price difference, you can get a whole 'nother Folder.

[jzmtl]

For me I'd never ditch my pocket knife, with a knife there are much better selection on design and material than multitool. A multitool will always be complementary, not a replacement.

Hmm, this is giving me second thoughts on if I should get skeletool or not, gona have to think it over again.

[Carthas]

You would have to look at the kind of jobs that you plan on doing around the house, but if it were me, and I had to choose between 1 of these knives, I'd go for the Wave. The Skeletool looks like an exellent tool (I don't own one - yet), but it has the very basics as far as tools go - pliers, knife, screwdriver, bottle opener. If you owned this little gem, there may be times when you think to yourself "Damn, I wish I had a can opener" or "Damn, I wish I had a file"

I've never had any problems with the knife steel for the Wave, I'm not sure why people make such an issue of it. It has all the tools of the TTi except for the gut hook and crimper, but I've never came across something that needs the gut hook, and the crimper is too big to use on anything other than blasting caps. The titanium inserts on the TTi leave little gaps in the handle, that and the rough finish on the handles looks to me to be a place where dirt will build up. Because of the price of the TTi, I tend to baby it a little bit, wheras the wave I give hell, and it bounces back every time. If you really want a batter quality knife blade, you may want to look at the Charge al - it has the same tool loadout as the wave, but with a better quality steel knife.

[J-sews]

Welcome badchico! Looks like you are getting plenty of advice so far. Hope it helps!

[Tom Munch]

Leave charges for goons with more cash than brains. For the price difference, you can get a whole 'nother Folder.

Hey, that's kind of uncalled for, Nomad.  There are real differences that surprised me between the two when I first got my hands on both.  The Charge does seem more refined & worth the extra money IMHO.  It's true that a fool & his money are soon parted, but in this case you do get what you pay for.

[Sea Monster]

The Charge does seem more refined & worth the extra money IMHO.  It's true that a fool & his money are soon parted, but in this case you do get what you pay for.

If someone wants to send me a Charge I'll gladly put it to task vs my Wave and be happily proven wrong 

[badchico]

First off, thank you to everyone who offered their advice.

Carthas, I think you might be on to something with the Charge AL recommendation.  A quick search revealed that I can pick those up pretty cheap - compared to the TTi.  Also, Carthas, I think I would also be inclined to baby the TTi due to its high price, and that is something I don't really want to do.  It's a tool, and I would like to treat it as such.

Tom, your glowing reviews of the Skeletool still have me torn between a Charge (likely an AL) and a Skeletool.  In fact, after examining the blade, I might even consider the combo edge CX model to get the better blade steel.  While I do prefer PE blades, the PE portion of the Skeletool CX blade looks sufficiently long. Plus, you have the serrated portion for rope, twine, etc. 

Spoonrobot, to your comment about simplicity vs. functionality, I have thought about that.  The thing is that the Skeletool - compared to the Charge AL - has the coolness factor and the weight benefit.   Cryptrick, I understand that I could habituate to the 8+oz in my pocket, but I'm not sure I would like it enough initially to make it my EDC.

And Tom, Spoonrobot, Nomad and to your points, I would be using the knife the most, and the outside, one-handed opening functionality is important to me.

If I went with the Skeletool, I would probably miss the extra functionality of the Charge AL, specifically the scissors and the ruler (while not important to some, the ruler would be quite useful to me).  If I went with the Charge AL, perhaps I'd miss ... well, perhaps I'd miss having a Skeletool?

Oh... it's a tough one.  

[Sea Monster]

Have you considered one of Leathermans Knives that include Bit drivers? - Gives you a full folding, one hander blade and some accessories.

If the pliers are important you could get a Kick to go with it. I have not checked the prices, but I imagine you could still get away for less than a Charge TTi

[badchico]

Nomad, I actually have a LM e306x with the bit driver, bottle opener, and PE blade.  Overall, it's a good tool, but shortly after getting it, I realized that I needed a set of pliers.

You - and the other posters - have pretty much swayed me from investing in the TTi.  Like I said earlier, the Charge AL is more affordable.  So, it's really down to the Skeletool CX and the Charge AL.

To your second point about carrying the Kick and a folder: my goal is to carry one tool, with everything I need.  While I realize it's hard to replace a dedicated folder, I would like to cut down on all the stuff I carry in my pockets.

[Sea Monster]

If you've got the 306 and decide all you need extra is some Pliers - then the Skeletool is probably the perfect tool for you.

[Thargor]

You - and the other posters - have pretty much swayed me from investing in the TTi.  Like I said earlier, the Charge AL is more affordable.  So, it's really down to the Skeletool CX and the Charge AL.

Dont give up on the TTi mate, its well worth the extra $$ when you'll have it forever, its just so well made, everyone who sees mine wants to get one. It does everything and size really isnt an issue, Ive carried mine in the pocket of my jeans with my keys and my phone for a year now and it hasnt annoyed me once, plus the blade just does not go dull on it and the pliers and cutters on it are excellent. Its the perfect multi.

[1Poet]

   I started with the Skeletool CX.  I got it on ebay for $61.00 delivered.  I LOVE IT!  For an easy carry and light work, it is great.  Especialy love the better quality blade.  It really holds an edge.  Carry it most comfortably in my back pocket and I don't even know its there. 
   However, I have times where I just need some extra tool selection.  I have been lusting (I'm bad) after a Charge AL, cause I wanted the regular blades and the sissors.  I pulled the trigger after finding one on ebay for $55.00 with free shipping.  I didn't get the sheath, but that's no biggie.  Well, I got it today and almost wet my pants when I got it.  Wow!  Sorry, but I LOVE IT, too!  It still fits in my back pocket (with the clip) and I have a whole pocket full of tools I need.  I added a sheath with bit kit and still have only eighty dollars in it.
   Many of you guys have several LM MT's, but I think I have what I need in the Charge AL and the CX.  I must say I have learned a lot from Multitool.org and all the posts on the forum.  Thanks for all your insight and great observations.  I found a lot of like-minded guys.  THANKS!

[Nikos]

I found a lot of like-minded guys.

... or absent-minded, to put it right.

Glad you like your tools mate and welcome to the forums!

[turbov21]

For me I'd never ditch my pocket knife, with a knife there are much better selection on design and material than multitool. A multitool will always be complementary, not a replacement.

Ditto 100%!  Even if there's some tool overlap between a pocket knife and an MT, having both gives you different size tools that you can hold at different angles when the need arises.  I'd be hard pressed to imagine the day when I wouldn't have both a SAK and MT on me.

[Crouton]

My thoughts on the following tools for pocket carry:

New Wave:
Pros: Great multi-tool with a great set of tools that are likely to be helpful to the average mechanically inclined individual.

Cons:  I personally can't imagine pocket carrying the Wave even with a pocket clip.  I've tried pocket clip carry and it just doesn't work for me, it makes the use of that pocket for anything else very difficult.

Charge TTi:
Pros:  Same tool load out as the Wave but with one crucial addition for me, the guthook.  This is worth the additional money over the cost of the Wave.  I personally have no preference of the S30V over the standard Wave blade, but it's nice knowing it's better steel.  I also dislike the cap crimper as it takes away usable plier surface for a functionality I don't need.  Overall this tool feels like a luxury upgrade to the Wave, and it's a very well built tool, but not without it's quality issues.

Cons:  Same as above, just can't imagine pocket carry for a tool this size.

Skeletool:
Pros:  I can see this being a decent pocket carry do to it's slim size and it can also be belt loop carried using the carabiner, that's how I carry it.  The TTi is my daily carry, I carry the Skeletool in pocket on those occasions when a sheath carried multi wouldn't be appropriate, and I belt loop carry the Skeletool when I wear shorts.
Decent tools selection, pliers, screwdrivers and bottle opener accounted for here. 

Cons:  Limited tool selection when compared to a Charge/Wave, and lighter duty pliers.

Suggestion:

Look into getting a Sideclip, it's discontinued but you can still find it.  It's slightly smaller than the Skeletool and more conventionally shaped.

My other suggestion is to buy them all.  They are all good and will all be the best tool to carry depending on the situation and your needs.

I can tell you that I went on a search for a tool that I could comfortably pocket carry and I never found the perfect tool for me, but the Skeletool came closest.  I think you should consider sheath carrying a multi instead of pocket carry.