The best Leatherman for everyday carry is the one you will still be carrying in six months, and that is decided by weight and by how it rides, not by tool count. An 8.5-ounce Wave on a belt is a commitment; a 5-ounce Skeletool in a sheath disappears. This guide ranks Leathermans by how they carry, with the sheath that makes each one easier to keep on you.
1. Skeletool / Skeletool CX, 5 oz
Seven tools, pliers, knife, bit driver, carabiner, in the lightest full-plier Leatherman. The CX adds a 154CM blade. This is the EDC Leatherman; it weighs what a large folding knife does. Skeletool sheath.
2. Free P2, 7.6 oz
19 one-hand locking tools on the magnetic FREE architecture, an ounce lighter than the P4 and the Wave. The best full-tool-count Leatherman for daily carry. Free P2 sheath.
3. Wave+, 8.5 oz
The full-size default. If you carry a Wave every day it is because you use the pliers, scissors and file every day, and then the weight is worth it. The sheath matters more here than on anything lighter. Wave sheath.
4. Squirt PS4, 2 oz
Keychain pliers with scissors and a blade. Not a replacement for a Skeletool, but it is on your keys and a Skeletool is not. Squirt keychain sheath.
5. Arc, 8.6 oz
Same weight as the Wave with a MagnaCut blade and one-hand everything. If you are carrying full-size anyway, the Arc is the one to carry. Arc sheath.
How to carry it so it stays carried
Pocket carry works for the Skeletool and Squirt. Everything else goes on the belt, and the nylon pouch Leatherman ships is the reason people stop carrying: a flap, a snap, two hands, and a worn belt loop in a year. A molded kydex sheath holds the tool by shape, clicks, and draws one-handed, and it is the difference between a Wave you carry and a Wave in a drawer. See how to carry a Leatherman.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best Leatherman for everyday carry?
The Skeletool CX. Five ounces and the three tools you use.
Is the Wave too heavy for EDC?
At 8.5 ounces it is a belt tool, not a pocket tool. In a kydex sheath it carries fine.
Skeletool or Free P2?
Skeletool if you want light, P2 if you want scissors and a saw one-handed.
Can I pocket carry a Leatherman?
The Skeletool and Squirt, yes. The full-size tools belong on a belt.
Do I need a sheath?
For anything over 5 ounces, a sheath is what keeps you carrying it.
The bottom line
Skeletool CX for the pocket, Free P2 or Wave+ for the belt in a kydex sheath. Weight decides what you actually carry.
Related reading
Best Leatherman multitools, ranked
Leatherman Skeletool CX review
The 8 best mini multitools for EDC
