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A multitool is the one piece of gear that turns "I can't do this right now" into a five-minute fix. I have carried, loaned, lost, and replaced too many to count throughout the years, so for this guide I put 12 of the best multitools through the same weeks of real work: stripping wire, tightening fasteners, breaking down boxes, opening packaging, and light food prep. The goal was to find the right tool for how you actually work, not just the one with the highest tool count on the box.
Here is the honest headline. There is no single best multitool for everyone. A backpacker, an electrician, and someone who just wants a glovebox spare all want different things. What follows is a map of the category in 2026, with a clear pick for each kind of job. The list runs eight Leatherman and four Gerber, the two brands that still set the standard.
Quick compare: 12 best multitools
Scan tool count, weight, blade steel, one-hand blade access, and street price here, then jump to the full notes below. Prices move, so treat these as current street ranges and confirm on the listing before you buy.
| Multitool | Tools | Weight | Blade Steel | One-Hand Blade | Street Price | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Leatherman Wave+ | 18 | 8.5 oz | 420HC | Yes | ~$110-120 | Best overall |
| Leatherman Wave Alpha | 16 | 8.3 oz | CPM MagnaCut | Yes | ~$200 | Premium upgrade |
| Leatherman Arc | 20 | 8.6 oz | CPM MagnaCut | Yes, all tools | ~$230-250 | No-compromise flagship |
| Leatherman Surge | 21 | 12.5 oz | 420HC | Yes | ~$150 | Heavy-duty and shop |
| Leatherman Signal | 19 | 7.5 oz | 420HC | Yes | ~$120-130 | Outdoors and survival |
| Leatherman Skeletool CX | 7 | 5.0 oz | 154CM | Yes | ~$95-100 | Lightweight EDC |
| Leatherman Rebar | 17 | 6.7 oz | 420HC | No | ~$80-90 | Classic workhorse |
| Leatherman Wingman | 14 | 7.0 oz | 420HC | Yes | ~$50-60 | Best budget |
| Gerber Dual-Force | 12 | ~10 oz | 420HC | No | ~$100-110 | Maximum plier strength |
| Gerber MP600 | 14 | ~9 oz | 420HC | No | ~$75-90 | USA-made tactical |
| Gerber Truss | 17 | 8.5 oz | 420HC | No | ~$45-60 | Mid-price value |
| Gerber Suspension-NXT | 15 | 6.7 oz | 420HC | No | ~$35-45 | Budget full-size |
How the category splits in 2026
The multitool market is mature, so the real 2026 story is at the top and the bottom. At the premium end, powder steel has arrived: the Wave Alpha and Arc now ship with CPM MagnaCut blades, the same steel showing up on high-end pocket knives. At the value end, the locking outboard tools and pocket clips that used to be flagship features are now standard on forty-dollar Gerbers.
That leaves a clean ladder. Budget full-size tools like the Wingman, Suspension-NXT, and Truss cover the basics cheaply. Everyday workhorses like the Wave+, Rebar, and MP600 are the daily-driver sweet spot. The Surge and Dual-Force are the heavy hitters. The Signal owns the outdoors, the Skeletool owns lightweight carry, and the Wave Alpha and Arc sit at the premium top. Match the rung to your work and you will not overpay for tools you never open.
The 12 best multitools, reviewed
1. Leatherman Wave+: best overall
If someone asks me for one multitool and no follow-up questions, this is the answer. The Wave+ packs 18 tools into 8.5 ounces, both knife blades open one-handed from the outside, and the wire cutters are replaceable so you are never stuck with a chewed-up jaw. Add the 25-year warranty and it is the easiest recommendation in the category. Start here unless you have a specific reason not to.
2. Leatherman Wave Alpha: best premium upgrade
The Alpha is the Wave+ with the upgrades enthusiasts kept asking for. The reverse-tanto blade is CPM MagnaCut, the best multitool steel money buys right now for edge retention and rust resistance, the machined G10 scales feel a tier above the standard Wave, and the redesigned full-size scissors finally open one-handed. At around two hundred dollars it is a want, not a need, but if you lean on the knife and scissors constantly it earns the jump.
3. Leatherman Arc: best no-compromise flagship
The Arc is the ceiling. Every one of its 20 tools opens one-handed and locks thanks to Leatherman's FREE magnetic design, the MagnaCut blade runs 60 to 63 HRC, and a DLC coating shrugs off corrosion. It is the smoothest multitool I have used, full stop. At around $230 to $250 it is a serious spend, but if you want the best regardless of price, this is it.
4. Leatherman Surge: best heavy-duty
When the job is bigger than the tool, reach for the Surge. At 12.5 ounces it is the largest and heaviest Leatherman here, with the biggest pliers, the longest blade, and swappable saw and file inserts. This is a shop and truck-kit tool, not a pocket companion, but for heavy work nothing else on this list matches its leverage.
5. Leatherman Signal: best for the outdoors
The Signal is built for being outside when things go sideways. Alongside the usual pliers and blade it carries a ferrocerium fire rod, an emergency whistle, a hammer face, and a diamond sharpener. It is not the tool I would hand an electrician, but for camping, hiking, and emergency kits it is the most thoughtful 19-tool package Leatherman makes.
6. Leatherman Skeletool CX: best lightweight EDC
The Skeletool proves you do not need 18 tools to cover most days. Seven well-chosen functions, a 154CM blade that holds an edge better than the 420HC on most of this list, a combo carabiner and bottle opener, and a removable clip, all at five ounces. This is the multitool I actually carry when I want something I will forget is in my pocket until I need it.
7. Leatherman Rebar: best classic workhorse
The Rebar is old-school Leatherman done right. The needle-nose pliers are stout, the 17 tools all lock, and the wire cutters are replaceable, but the blades sit inside, so you open it two-handed like the classics. No bells, no MagnaCut, just a 6.7-ounce workhorse that does the basics for around eighty bucks and lasts forever.
8. Leatherman Wingman: best budget
Proof that a good Leatherman does not need a flagship price. The Wingman runs about fifty to sixty dollars, opens its blade one-handed, and has spring-action pliers and scissors plus a genuinely useful package opener. The 420HC is soft and the build is lighter-duty than the Wave, but for a first multitool or a glovebox spare it is hard to beat.
9. Gerber Dual-Force: best plier strength
Gerber built the Dual-Force around the pliers. A two-position jaw lets you switch between a standard and a wider grip, and the plunge lock keeps everything rock solid under load. If your days involve wrenching more than whittling, this is the strongest-gripping tool here. The trade is the weight and a blade you open two-handed.
10. Gerber MP600: best USA-made tactical
The MP600 is the one you have seen on a soldier's belt. Its signature move is the spring-loaded plier head that deploys one-handed with a flick of the wrist, it is built in the USA, and a bladeless version exists for jobs and bases where blades are not allowed. Rugged, proven, and still a favorite of trades and military two decades on.
11. Gerber Truss: best mid-price value
The Truss is the value sweet spot in Gerber's butterfly lineup. Seventeen locking tools, all-steel build, and a needle-nose chassis for around fifty bucks. The blade is not the sharpest out of the box and there is no one-hand opening, but for the money you get a lot of capable, locking functions in one solid package.
12. Gerber Suspension-NXT: best budget full-size
The lightest full-size tool here at 6.7 ounces, the Suspension-NXT is the budget pick that punches up. Fifteen outboard, locking tools, a spring-loaded plier head, and a real pocket clip for around forty dollars. The serrated-and-plain combo blade is a little fussy, but as a cheap, light, do-everything tool it is a genuine bargain.
How I picked and tested these
I treated this like buying for myself, not padding a list. Here is the filter every tool had to pass.
- In production and easy to buy. Current models from Leatherman and Gerber, sold new today, no discontinued grails.
- Verified specs. Every tool count, weight, and steel here comes from the maker's current listing, not a stale review.
- Real work. Each tool ran the same chores so the comparison was apples to apples.
- A distinct job. The list spans budget, lightweight EDC, full-size workhorse, heavy-duty, outdoors, and premium, so you are matching a tool to the work rather than buying the same thing twice.
- Build and warranty. Leatherman's 25-year and Gerber's limited lifetime coverage both counted, along with fit and finish.
- Carry reality. Weight, sheath versus pocket clip, and how the tool rides all factored in.
What to look for in a multitool
Tool count versus weight
More tools mean more ounces, and most people live on the pliers, blade, drivers, and scissors. Be honest about what you will actually use. A 7-tool Skeletool you carry every day beats a 21-tool Surge that stays in a drawer because it is too heavy.
Plier style and strength
Needle-nose pliers handle fine electrical and hobby work. The Dual-Force trades finesse for grip. Spring-loaded jaws, found on the Wingman and the Gerbers, save your hand on repetitive squeezes by opening themselves.
One-hand opening
Outside-accessible blades, as on the Wave, Skeletool, and Signal, open without unfolding the whole tool, which matters when one hand is busy. Butterfly designs like the Rebar and most Gerbers trade that convenience for a slimmer closed body.
Blade steel
420HC is the durable, easy-to-sharpen standard, and it is plenty for a multitool. 154CM, on the Skeletool CX, holds an edge longer. CPM MagnaCut, on the Wave Alpha and Arc, is the premium do-everything steel that pairs long edge life with strong rust resistance.
Replaceable wire cutters and warranty
Replaceable cutter inserts, a real feature on the Wave+, Surge, and Rebar, mean a chewed-up jaw is a cheap fix rather than a dead tool. On warranty, Leatherman's 25-year coverage is the category benchmark, and Gerber backs its tools with a limited lifetime warranty.
Multitool blade steels at a glance
| Steel | Edge Retention | Corrosion Resistance | Found On |
|---|---|---|---|
| 420HC | Moderate | Good | Wave+, Surge, Signal, Rebar, Wingman, all Gerbers |
| 154CM | High | Good | Skeletool CX |
| CPM MagnaCut | Very high | Excellent | Wave Alpha, Arc |
A note on travel and the workplace
One practical heads-up. Any multitool with a blade has to go in checked luggage, because the TSA does not allow knife blades in carry-on regardless of length. If you fly often or work somewhere that bans blades, bladeless versions exist, including the Gerber MP600 bladeless, which keep the pliers and drivers and drop the knife. Check your worksite and local rules, since this is general guidance, not legal advice.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best multitool overall in 2026?
For most people the Leatherman Wave+ is the best balance of capability, size, price, and warranty. If price is no object, the Arc is the most refined tool made. If you are on a budget, the Wingman delivers real Leatherman quality for around fifty dollars.
Leatherman or Gerber, which is better?
Leatherman generally edges ahead on fit, finish, and its 25-year warranty. Gerber competes hard on value, one-hand plier deployment, and made-in-USA tactical options like the MP600. For refinement, lean Leatherman; for value and grip strength, Gerber is very much in the fight.
Are multitools allowed on planes?
Not in carry-on if they have a blade. Pack a bladed multitool in checked luggage, or carry a bladeless model through security. TSA agents always have final say, so when in doubt, check the bag.
Is the Wave Alpha worth it over the Wave+?
Only if you use the knife and scissors a lot. The jump from the Wave+ to the Alpha mostly buys you the upgraded MagnaCut blade, machined G10 scales, and larger one-hand scissors. If those matter to you daily, it is worth it; if not, the Wave+ does nearly everything for less.
How many tools do I really need?
Fewer than the marketing suggests. Most people use a handful of functions, and the 7-tool Skeletool covers the majority of daily tasks. Extra tools are nice insurance, but every one adds weight, so buy for the jobs you actually do.
Is 420HC steel any good?
Yes. It is tough, rust-resistant, and easy to sharpen, which is exactly what a multitool blade needs. Premium steels like MagnaCut mostly stretch the time between sharpenings rather than letting you do anything new.
The bottom line
The best multitool is the one that matches your work. Grab the Wave+ if you want the do-everything default, the Arc if you want the best regardless of price, the Skeletool CX if you want something you will actually carry every day, the Signal for the outdoors, and the Wingman or Suspension-NXT if you want capable on a budget. Any of these will still be in your pocket or pack long after a no-name tool has rattled apart.
Once you have your tool picked, round out the kit. Clip & Carry makes kydex sheaths for dozens of multitools right here in the U.S.A. Check the collection here.