Old Wave vs. Charge models opinions?

[Mr. Whippy]

I'm not really one to try and get one of every manufacturer's models if they're closely related.  So, for those of you who have an old Wave and a Charge model, other than the bit driver, is there really all that much different between the two?

[Leatherman123]

There are a lot of other differences as well including:

1. The blades are bigger; not as narrow
2. The handle scales are titanium or aluminum
3. There are bronze bushings to make opening the four main tools easier
4. The plier head is bigger as well as the wire cutters.
5. The plain blade is either 154cm or S30v, and the serrated blade has a different sheepsfoot design
6. There is a ruler
7. The inner tools lock
8. The scissors are different; the Classic Wave has far better scissors IMO
9. There is a large and small bit driver as well as a large slotted driver on the TTi and AL model; the ALX has two large bit drivers replacing scissors and the large slotted driver
10. The knives can't be opened while the pliers are deployed

There are more differences, but IMO those are the ten main ones.. I could have done more if I had the tools in front of me..  I had fun doing this! I think the Charge is superior to the Classic Wave/.

[Benner]

The biggest difference is that the Charge is a decent tool and the Old Wave sucks. 

[Mr. Whippy]

The biggest difference is that the Charge is a decent tool and the Old Wave sucks. 

 

[Benner]

The biggest difference is that the Charge is a decent tool and the Old Wave sucks. 

 

I have a famous rant for the old Wave if you haven't already seen it? 

[Leatherman123]

I carried the Old Wave for a pretty long time.. I decided to retire it when the SURGE came out! 

[DaveK]

The biggest difference is that the Charge is a decent tool and the Old Wave sucks. 

Concise, to the point, but pretty accurate....

To be fair, the Wave ws a revolutionary tool in its day, but it's day has gone. Mr. Whippy, have you seen the New Wave?

[Benner]

The biggest difference is that the Charge is a decent tool and the Old Wave sucks. 

Concise, to the point, but pretty accurate....

To be fair, the Wave ws a revolutionary tool in its day, but it's day has gone. Mr. Whippy, have you seen the New Wave?

Now the new Wave is a superb tool.    I think it would be safe to say that every major flaw in the original Wave was corrected in the new one.

[Leatherman123]

Yeah, I was going to say that.. But, he asked about a Charge..

[Leatherman123]

Another plus with the Charge models is that the titanium handle scales don't get all scratched up! That means a lot to me! I hate it when my tools handles have scratches it drives me nuts! With an exception with my work EDC the SURGE! I like it when my EDC SURGE gets scratches! 

[Poncho65]

The biggest difference is that the Charge is a decent tool and the Old Wave sucks. 

 

I have a famous rant for the old Wave if you haven't already seen it? 

One place of the rant is in this thread http://forum.multitool.org/index.php/topic,5003.0.html replay #19

I ended up with the new Wave and am very happy with it No help on the Charge though as I don't have one

[Benner]

The biggest difference is that the Charge is a decent tool and the Old Wave sucks. 

 

I have a famous rant for the old Wave if you haven't already seen it? 

One place of the rant is in this thread http://forum.multitool.org/index.php/topic,5003.0.html replay #19

I ended up with the new Wave and am very happy with it No help on the Charge though as I don't have one

Thanks for the link.   I think every thread where the original Wave is mentioned has that same rant. 

[Poncho65]

The biggest difference is that the Charge is a decent tool and the Old Wave sucks. 

 

I have a famous rant for the old Wave if you haven't already seen it? 

One place of the rant is in this thread http://forum.multitool.org/index.php/topic,5003.0.html replay #19

I ended up with the new Wave and am very happy with it No help on the Charge though as I don't have one

Thanks for the link.   I think every thread where the original Wave is mentioned has that same rant. 

Yeah I can usually track that thread down fairly easily

[prime77]

There are a lot of other differences as well including:

1. The blades are bigger; not as narrow
2. The handle scales are titanium or aluminum
3. There are bronze bushings to make opening the four main tools easier
4. The plier head is bigger as well as the wire cutters.
5. The plain blade is either 154cm or S30v, and the serrated blade has a different sheepsfoot design
6. There is a ruler
7. The inner tools lock
8. The scissors are different; the Classic Wave has far better scissors IMO
9. There is a large and small bit driver as well as a large slotted driver on the TTi and AL model; the ALX has two large bit drivers replacing scissors and the large slotted driver
10. The knives can't be opened while the pliers are deployed

I agree with everything that LM123 said except for #8. I like the new design better. My biggest complaint about the old Wave is how much the handles flex. Especially when using it to drive screws. The Charge is a huge improvement and has no flex what so ever.

[Leatherman123]

I think the old design was 100 times better.. I modded a TTi and put a second bit driver in because I hate the scissors!

[prime77]

I think the old design was 100 times better.. I modded a TTi and put a second bit driver in because I hate the scissors!

I like the way the old design folds out and snaps in place and I like how the cutting edge is longer but the new design just seems stronger to me. When using the old Wave one time to cut some paracord the scissors would bind up and not cut the cord and I had no problem with the new design. To each his own I guess.

I modded a TTi and put a second bit driver in because I hate the scissors!

Does that mean it's called a Charge TTXi. 

[Leatherman123]

Yeah, I'll agree with you on that! The new design does cut paracord cleanly..

[DaveK]

I think the old design was 100 times better.. I modded a TTi and put a second bit driver in because I hate the scissors!

I like the way the old design folds out and snaps in place and I like how the cutting edge is longer but the new design just seems stronger to me. When using the old Wave one time to cut some paracord the scissors would bind up and not cut the cord and I had no problem with the new design. To each his own I guess.

I modded a TTi and put a second bit driver in because I hate the scissors!

Does that mean it's called a Chare TTXi. 

I actually prefer the new scissors design too, but I think we are in a minority prime!

They appear to be feeble, but I actually find that they cut better, although the fact they are shorter makes cutting straight lines a bit more tricky I find (like when cutting Christmas wrapping paper)! On balance though I prefer the new design as I'm mostly snipping string, cord and the like, so the length of the blades doesn't really matter so much.

[Poncho65]

That's why they have the Micra and the S4 if you plan to do much cutting one of those would be better

[Benner]

I think the old design was 100 times better.. I modded a TTi and put a second bit driver in because I hate the scissors!

I like the way the old design folds out and snaps in place and I like how the cutting edge is longer but the new design just seems stronger to me. When using the old Wave one time to cut some paracord the scissors would bind up and not cut the cord and I had no problem with the new design. To each his own I guess.

I modded a TTi and put a second bit driver in because I hate the scissors!

Does that mean it's called a Chare TTXi. 

I actually prefer the new scissors design too, but I think we are in a minority prime!

They appear to be feeble, but I actually find that they cut better, although the fact they are shorter makes cutting straight lines a bit more tricky I find (like when cutting Christmas wrapping paper)! On balance though I prefer the new design as I'm mostly snipping string, cord and the like, so the length of the blades doesn't really matter so much.

I prefer the older style.

That was pretty much the only part of the Original Wave that I liked.