The Leatherman Wave+ brings heaps of value to the Leatherman line-up. Leatherman takes 90% of what makes the Charge so impressive and sells it for 60% of the cost. What you get is the Wave+ and an excellent value. The Leatherman Wingman is even less expensive, by a significant margin, but has fewer features and is made with lesser quality materials (though most users may not notice the weight savings of steel vs. titanium casing). For a full-featured tool, the Wave+ is the bargain shopper's choice. A multi-tool that optimizes ergonomics and portability by reducing the tool set to the most important ones for daily use and carry There are a few things worth noting on the FREE that users may or may not like. For starters, the pliers are not spring-action, so you will open and close them manually as needed. I prefer spring-action pliers, but this isn’t a deal-breaker.

Using the images, along with measurements using calipers, I created a very detailed 3D model of tool. I tried to spare no detail on this one.

Leatherman FREE Buying Tips

The final tools are located on the three remaining flip out tools. The awl has a thread loop but actually uses the extra-small flathead as its tip. This worked surprisingly well when we tried it out. It had no problem going through leather and thinner pieces of wood. Leatherman is well known for the quality and durability of their individual tools. Our experience with the Free P4 has shown that they’ve kept this dedication to quality while upgrading the overall experience. It contains 19 tools to the P4’s 21 but includes things like multiple bit drivers and premium blade steel. If that’s important to you then the Charge TTi is still going to reign supreme. If you prefer the easy open design of the Free P4 and like how intuitive it is to use you’ll probably prefer it to the Charge TTi. Leatherman Free P4 Vs Surge Replacement Parts– As with all their products Leatherman covers the Free P4 with their 25 year limited warranty. They’re well known for the commitment they show to the quality of their products and to customer satisfaction. If you have any problems with your Free make sure you send it in. Leatherman will take care of you. Rev 3: Tried adding some top catches, to fit into cutouts near pliers. (didn't work well) Realized I can open the middle of the holster for a cooler look..

It’s well built, highly advanced, and has the latest features in multi tool technology. Just about anyone can benefit from owning a Free P4. The exception to this is someone who frequently works around metal dust or small debris. If you’re a machinist or someone who works with ferrous materials it can be extremely difficult to clean them off the magnetic closure of the Free P4. So much thought and purpose went into this tool,” Adam Lazenby, Leatherman senior product designer, said on a conference call. “It is one of the most consumer-influenced products we’ve ever made.” Different Colors– As of right now the Free P4 is only available in stainless steel. It’s likely Leatherman will offer more color options as they work out any kinks in the Free series manufacturing process. The Free P4 is manufactured in the USA from Stainless Steel with a hardened 420HC Stainless Steel blade. It offers a superb combination of 21 tools and is an ideal if not essential piece of equipment for almost any job or adventure. ToolsAccording to Lazenby, the use of MagnaCut required all new manufacturing techniques to meet the precise tolerances. And it shows. (Photo/Adam Ruggiero) A purpose-built, specialized tool for outdoor adventure and wilderness survival, while also serving purpose around the house Out of the box, the blade is seriously sharp. In addition to processing some cardboard, which failed to dull the edge, I prepped some dog treats for my three pups. They happen to think carrots are the greatest indulgence on Earth. Here’s where I noticed a particular quirk to this blade over other Leatherman blades. Lazenby did tell me that there was one unexpected benefit in certain instances. When working around metal shavings, an open tool will collect shavings near the base of the handle. According to Lazenby, this proved fortunate, as it drew shavings away from the implements’ pivot points and made them easier to dispose of. I have not tested this, however. Leatherman FREE Buying Tips Leatherman FREE (left) is 10% lighter than the Wave (right)

Its superior corrosion resistance also means users can wipe down their blade and shove it into the sheath, without too much worry about a proper cleaning to prevent rust. And MagnaCut’s respectable edge retention means it should sustain a good deal of use without requiring proper honing or sharpening too often. (Photo/Adam Ruggiero) Edit: I misread your question: Yes it would fit the flat bits. There isn’t room for a regular hex holder.Every feature of FREE is accessible on the outside, allowing you to easily open tools with one hand. Rev 4: Added top-spring catches, allowing the tool to fit in any which way. . Having issues because there is only a blade on one side of the tool, so the other side can twist outwards, making the holster feel loose One thing we loved about the Free P4 was the inclusion of replaceable wire cutters. As with previous multi tools Leatherman included hard-and soft-wire cutters as well as a threaded wire notch. The wire crimper is located in the jaw of the pliers as with previous Leatherman’s. But while Leatherman boasts a faithful following of both experienced tradespeople and weekend warriors, its latest multitool caters to a more discerning audience. The 20-tool Arc marks the brand’s most expensive — and arguably advanced — EDC ever. Not only does it boast more implements than almost any other Leatherman (the Surge edges it out by one), but it’s also the first production multi from Leatherman to carry a MagnaCut blade, the current darling steel of the knife industry. The few tools it includes — an upgraded steel blade, good pliers, screwdrivers, and a bottle opener — are the most often used, and this tool gets these right. But that's it; if you're seeking all the tools possible, you'll be let down with this stripped-down modal. Of the remaining tools, though, our biggest complaint is with the bit driver. With the Skeletool CX, even more than with other models, Leatherman could have easily included a standard 1/4" bit driver. Still, we have tested this model for over three years, and it has slowly grown on us. Thus, the Skeletool is our top recommendation for a portable, daily multi-tool to leave clipped on your person at all times.

The advances don’t stop there. Instead of the sometimes frustrating thumb pull tabs commonly used on multi tools Leatherman included a magnetic release system. This allows you to easily fan out the tools on either handle of the Free P4 and choose the one you need. Royal Mail will ask to see a valid photo identification if the recipient appears to be under 25, in line with the 'UK Challenge 25' policy, and a signature will be required upon delivery. I’m not a fan of fidget spinners — waste of money if you ask me. But after using Leatherman’s new FREE multitool (launching this month), I can certainly see some of the appeal. Not since the PST have we had such a large introduction of new technology and new learnings that we had to implement in one tool,” Leatherman product manager Jeremy Rodriguez told me on my recent trip to the brand’s headquarters. The challenge Leatherman engineers set out to conquer was to improve the usability of the brand’s hallmark tool without changing it so much it lost what made it so popular.

Often, he said, that meant the opening action was smooth and easy. But it turned out that making a Leatherman that works out of the box like a well broken-in tool required a near-total rebuild. Rev 1: Basic form and fit 3D print to test that the spring catches will work on when only-one side of the tool. This prototype showed you need to remove the lanyard clip (Mute point now that the P4 has a belt clip instead) Beyond that, it’s just one helluva versatile, tough tool. From big tasks to small tweaks, the Arc has an implement to meet the job. And with a combination of premium materials and thoughtful design —you can use two hands, but you’ll only need one —it makes for a terrific DIY companion.