The Leatherman Wave+ is our top pick for the best everyday carry multi-tool, combining the 18 tools Leatherman names individually with one-hand-operable features and Leatherman's 25-year limited warranty. The Gerber Dime wins on budget at keychain size and 2.2 oz. The Victorinox Huntsman delivers the classic Swiss Army experience with 15 named functions and a lifetime warranty against material or manufacturer defects.
Who This Comparison Is For#
- EDC enthusiasts building or upgrading their daily carry loadout and wanting proven, pocket-friendly tools
- Gift shoppers looking for a reliable multi-tool at any budget — from keychain-size stocking stuffers to premium picks
- Outdoor and DIY users who need pliers, blades, and screwdrivers accessible without carrying a full toolbox
How We Picked#
- Tool count vs. usability — more tools only matters if they're accessible and sturdy enough for real use
- Build quality and warranty — Leatherman publishes a 25-year limited warranty, Gerber a limited lifetime warranty, Victorinox a lifetime warranty against material or manufacturer defects
- Pocket-friendliness — each tool fits comfortably in a pocket, pouch, or on a keychain without bulk complaints
- Price spread — we covered the budget, mid-range, and premium tiers so there's an option for every budget
Leatherman Wave+ — Best Overall#
The Leatherman Wave+ is the multi-tool that other multi-tools get measured against. Leatherman publishes 18 tools, a 4 in closed length, 6.25 in open, and 8.5 oz — and it names all eighteen individually rather than padding the count.
What sets it apart is the combination of outside-accessible, one-hand-operable blades — Leatherman lists a "420HC Knife" and a separate "420HC Serrated Knife" — with full-size pliers. The cutters are listed as "Premium Replaceable Wire Cutters" and "Premium Replaceable Hard-wire Cutters", so they are meant to be swapped rather than retired with the tool. Leatherman's lock claim is precise and worth quoting exactly: "Every feature (except the plier head) locks into place." One thing to know before you buy: the Wave+ is no longer the newest Wave. Leatherman added the Wave Alpha to its catalogue in October 2025 and calls it "the ultimate evolution of our best-selling multi-tool", with a MagnaCut reverse tanto blade. The Wave+ is still in the current lineup and is still the value pick here, but it is now the outgoing generation. For a deeper look at everything it offers, read our full Leatherman Wave+ review.
Leatherman gives the blade material as 420HC stainless steel and the blade hardness as 55-59 HRC, with a 2.92 in primary blade. That is the softer end of the knife-steel range, which is the right trade-off for an all-rounder — easy to sharpen in the field, resistant to corrosion, and tough enough for daily tasks from opening packages to cutting cordage.
Key Specs#
Tools : 18, named by Leatherman — needlenose and regular pliers, replaceable wire and hard-wire cutters, electrical crimper, wire stripper, 420HC knife, 420HC serrated knife, saw, spring-action scissors, ruler, which Leatherman prints as "Ruler (8 in | 19 cm)", can opener, bottle opener, wood/metal file, diamond-coated file, large and small bit drivers, medium screwdriver
Closed / Open Length : 4 in closed, 6.25 in open (Leatherman)
Weight : 8.5 oz (Leatherman)
Blade Steel : 420HC stainless steel, 55-59 HRC; 2.92 in primary blade
Locking : "Every feature (except the plier head) locks into place" (Leatherman)
Included Bits / Accessories : Leatherman lists an "Eyeglass Screwdriver" and a "Phillips #1-2 & 3/16" Screwdriver" as included bits, no included accessories, and "Sheath sold separately"
Warranty : "our 25-year limited warranty", which "lasts for 25 years from the date the user receives the tool" (Leatherman)
Bottom Line#
The Wave+ sits at the premium end of the category, but it's the one you stop replacing. Buy it once, carry it for decades.
Gerber Dime — Best Budget#
The Gerber Dime proves a capable multi-tool doesn't have to be a premium one. Gerber publishes 2.75 in closed, 4.25 in overall and 2.2 oz — smaller than most pocket knives. On the tool count Gerber contradicts itself on one page: it calls the Dime a tool that "has 12 useful tools" in one paragraph and heads the feature list "10 tools" a few lines below. Its own annotated product callouts settle it by naming twelve — "Needle nose, Spring-loaded pliers, Wire cutters, Tweezers, Bottle opener, Fine edge blade, Retail package opener, Scissors, Medium flat head driver, File, Small flat head driver, Lanyard ring" — and its Amazon A+ panel is titled "Includes 12 Tools". The "10 tools" header is the outlier.
The spring-loaded needle-nose pliers are the reason to carry it. The retail package opener is a standout feature that full-size multi-tools often lack — Gerber describes it as "a unique blade designed to safely cut and score plastic packaging" — and the bottle opener "is exposed even when the tool is closed". You also get scissors, tweezers and a file. Gerber's two descriptions of the drivers disagree: its product page's closing description says "flathead screwdriver, crosshead driver", while its own callout list on the same page and the listing bullet both say a small and a medium flat head driver. See what to look for in a multi-tool for how to weigh a keychain tool against a full-size one.
The trade-off is what Gerber does not publish. Leatherman states a blade lock for the Wave+ and Victorinox states outright that the Huntsman's blade is not lockable; Gerber lists no blade-lock specification for the Dime at all. Treat it as a light-duty tool — opening boxes, snipping zip ties, tightening a loose screw. For heavy prying or aggressive cutting, reach for something bigger. That's the whole point: the Dime is the multi-tool you always have on you because it's so small you forget it's there.
Key Specs#
Tools : 12, named by Gerber's own callouts — needle nose, spring-loaded pliers, wire cutters, tweezers, bottle opener, fine edge blade, retail package opener, scissors, medium flat head driver, file, small flat head driver, lanyard ring (its feature-list header says 10)
Closed / Overall Length : 2.75 in closed, 4.25 in overall (Gerber)
Blade Length : 1.5 in (Gerber)
Weight : 2.2 oz (Gerber)
Blade Steel : Stainless steel (Gerber publishes no alloy)
Locking : Gerber publishes no blade-lock specification for the Dime
Warranty : Limited lifetime warranty (Gerber)
Bottom Line#
Best multi-tool you'll actually carry every day because you'll forget it's in your pocket. Buy two — one for your keychain, one for your bag.
Victorinox Huntsman — Best for Outdoor Adventures#
The Victorinox Huntsman is the Swiss Army knife for people who actually go outside. Among the dozens of Victorinox models, the Huntsman hits the sweet spot: 15 functions including a wood saw and scissors that the smaller Classic and Spartan models skip, without the pocket-busting bulk of the SwissChamp.
Victorinox's own specification line for this listing reads "91 mm / 3.6 in long x 26 mm / 1 in wide x 21 mm / .8 in height. Weight: 97 g / 3.4 oz. Scale material: ABS/Cellidor. Color: Sapphire". The blade material it publishes is simply stainless steel — no alloy designation — and it publishes no blade length for the Huntsman at all. (The comparison module on the same listing prints 2.45 in, but its columns are the Minichamp, Tinker, Fieldmaster and Swiss Champ, not this knife.) The wood saw is genuinely useful for kindling and small branch work; Victorinox publishes no maximum cutting diameter for it. Read our full Victorinox Huntsman review for more on its outdoor capabilities.
Where the Huntsman differs from pliers-based multi-tools is philosophy. There are no pliers here — Victorinox designs around blades, saws, and fine tools like the corkscrew and can opener. If your daily needs lean toward cutting, food prep, and light woodwork more than wire-gripping and bolt-turning, the Huntsman's tool selection makes more sense than a Leatherman-style layout.
Key Specs#
Functions : 15, named by Victorinox — blade large, blade small, corkscrew, reamer/punch/sewing awl, scissors, wood saw, multipurpose hook, key ring, tweezers, toothpick, can opener, bottle opener, Screwdriver 6 mm, Screwdriver 3 mm, wire stripper (its machine-readable block for the sapphire SKU prints the 6 mm twice)
Dimensions : 91 mm / 3.6 in long x 26 mm / 1 in wide x 21 mm / .8 in height (Victorinox)
Weight : 97 g / 3.4 oz (Victorinox)
Blade Steel : Stainless steel; Victorinox publishes neither an alloy nor a blade length
Locking : Not lockable, and not a one-hand blade — both are Victorinox's own attributes
Warranty : Lifetime, "free from material or manufacturer defects ... for the lifetime of the product"; excludes wear and tear, cosmetic damage and abuse
Bottom Line#
The Huntsman is the outdoor-ready multi-tool from a company whose own footer reads "Established 1884". It's a bargain for the quality and heritage you get.
Which One Should You Buy?#
Best overall: Leatherman Wave+. Best budget: Gerber Dime. Best for outdoor adventures: Victorinox Huntsman.
If you want the most capable, do-everything multi-tool and don't mind stepping up to the premium tier, get the Leatherman Wave+. The pliers alone are worth the investment if you do any hands-on work — electrical, automotive, home repair, or even camping setup. The one-hand-opening blades and locking mechanisms make it the most confidence-inspiring tool in this lineup. It's bigger and heavier than the other two, but the tool count and build quality justify every ounce.
If you're on a tight budget or want something you'll genuinely carry every single day without thinking about it, get the Gerber Dime. At 2.2 ounces on your keychain, it solves 80% of daily tool-need moments — opening packages, cutting string, pulling splinters, popping bottles. Buy it, clip it, forget about it until you need it.
If your life tilts more toward the outdoors — hiking, camping, picnics, trail work — get the Victorinox Huntsman. The wood saw and scissors fill gaps that pliers-based tools miss, and the slim profile carries better in a pants pocket than any folding plier design. It's also the most elegant option if appearance matters to you — the linked version is Victorinox 1.3713.T2, whose scale colour Victorinox itself records as Sapphire, a striking twist on the iconic red.
For maximum coverage, pair the Dime on your keychain with the Wave+ in your belt pouch. Together, you'll have a tool for every situation from boardroom package opening to garage repairs.
FAQ#
Can I take these multi-tools on a plane?#
No. All three include blades, so they must go in checked luggage. TSA and equivalent agencies worldwide prohibit knives and blades of any size in carry-on bags. If you fly frequently and want a TSA-compliant option, look for a bladeless multi-tool designed for travel.
Which multi-tool has the best pliers?#
The Leatherman Wave+ wins by a wide margin. Full-size, spring-loaded, needle-nose pliers with replaceable hardened wire cutters. The Gerber Dime has smaller spring-loaded pliers adequate for light work. The Victorinox Huntsman has no pliers at all — a deliberate design choice favoring blades and fine tools.
Are non-locking blades dangerous?#
Victorinox states outright that the Huntsman's blade is not lockable and not a one-hand blade. Gerber publishes no blade-lock specification for the Dime either way. Leatherman is the only one of the three that claims a lock, and its wording is "Every feature (except the plier head) locks into place". A non-locking blade is safe for its intended use — light cutting where you are not applying heavy lateral force. Keep your fingers behind the pivot, cut away from your body, and avoid prying.
How do I sharpen multi-tool blades?#
All three respond well to a basic whetstone or ceramic rod. Of the three, only Leatherman publishes a hardness figure — 55-59 HRC on its 420HC blades — which is the softer end of the knife-steel range and easy to bring back on a rod. Victorinox and Gerber publish no alloy and no hardness for their stainless, so treat them the same way: little and often on a ceramic rod rather than a heavy regrind.
Do any of these include a bit driver?#
Leatherman's own tool list for the Wave+ includes a "Large Bit Driver", a "Small Bit Driver" and a "Medium Screwdriver", and it names two bits as included — an "Eyeglass Screwdriver" and a "Phillips #1-2 & 3/16" Screwdriver". Leatherman does not publish a bit-format statement, so check before buying a third-party bit kit. Note also that it lists "Sheath sold separately". The Gerber Dime has fixed drivers; Gerber's own callouts and the listing bullet both say a small plus a medium flat head, while one line of its product description says flathead plus crosshead. Victorinox's numbered function list for the Huntsman names a Screwdriver 3 mm and a Screwdriver 6 mm as two of its 15. What to look for in a multi-tool covers how much the bit driver should weigh in the decision.
Which multi-tool is best for gifting?#
The Victorinox Huntsman is the most universally appreciated gift — recognizable, elegant, and a mid-range buy. The linked version is the Sapphire translucent scale; Victorinox's own colour list for the Huntsman also carries Red, Red Transparent, Black, White and Camouflage if tradition matters. The Gerber Dime works as a budget-friendly stocking stuffer. The Leatherman Wave+ is a premium gift for someone who already appreciates tools and will use it daily.