Quick verdict: Choose Skeletool when pliers, a blade and basic bit driving cover your actual repairs. Buy Wave Plus when its scissors, saw, files and broader tool selection will be used often enough to justify the additional weight and cost.
Research-based buying guide; no hands-on testing is claimed. As an Amazon Associate, Time to Get Outside earns from qualifying purchases.
| Decision | How the options compare |
|---|---|
| Listed tool count | Skeletool: 7 Wave Plus: 18 |
| Listed tool weight | Skeletool: 5 oz, about 142 g Wave Plus: 8.5 oz, about 241 g |
| Main reason to buy | Skeletool: A smaller everyday repair selection Wave Plus: Broader repairs and additional implements |
Count useful jobs rather than implements
The Skeletool is the more focused purchase: Leatherman lists pliers, cutters, a combination-edge blade, a large bit driver and a carabiner/bottle opener among its functions. Wave Plus expands the selection with implements including scissors, a saw and files. More tools are valuable only when they match repairs you reasonably expect to make.
Write down three real jobs from your outings, such as adjusting a compatible fastener, trimming loose material or gripping a small part. Then compare the exact implements and supplied bits against those jobs. A tool count by itself says little about whether the driver fits your gear or whether the tool is comfortable to use.
The weight difference belongs in the decision
The listed weights are 5 ounces for Skeletool and 8.5 ounces for Wave Plus, approximately 142 and 241 grams respectively. That puts the difference near 99 grams before cases and accessories. It is not an enormous load on a car-camping trip, but it is still equipment you carry on every outing.
For a small walking kit, the focused Skeletool may be the easier tool to keep with the gear. For a campsite repair box used by several people, Wave Plus can be more attractive because carrying weight matters less than access to the right implement. Decide where the tool will live before paying for the larger selection.
When Wave Plus earns the upgrade
Wave Plus includes replaceable wire cutters, while its scissors and files address jobs absent from Skeletool’s listed selection. Those are concrete purchase reasons if you already know you need them. They are weaker reasons when they remain hypothetical extras and a smaller tool already covers the work.
Neither option replaces every dedicated repair tool. Check access to recessed fasteners, compatible bit sizes and the space around the part you expect to adjust. A compact multitool can look comprehensive on a specification list and still be the wrong shape for a particular equipment repair.
Compare the complete kit and keep what works
The current listings state that a sheath is sold separately. Compare the actual package rather than assuming photographs of accessories describe what arrives. Add the cost and weight of the specific bits, case or replacement parts you intend to carry, and check the seller’s model identification and return terms.
My recommendation is Skeletool for a deliberately small pliers-and-driver kit, and Wave Plus for buyers who regularly use its extra implements. If your existing tool already handles the relevant jobs, replacing it for a higher tool count is unnecessary. Compare current Canadian-dollar totals and choose the selection you will use rather than the longest feature list.
Compare current U.S. and Canadian listings
These buttons open product searches, not guaranteed stock or fixed prices. Match the exact model, size, included accessories and seller before ordering. Canadian shoppers should compare the final cost in Canadian dollars, including any shipping or import charges.
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Sources and research notes
Specifications and guidance checked October 16, 2026. Recommendations are editorial judgments based on the cited details and use cases; they are not independent performance measurements.
