Leatherman Wave+ (SKU 832533 / 832524 / 832526)

Published · Researched 2026-09-21

2026 lineup note: The Wave+ remains Leatherman's standard full-size value multitool in 2026 — it was not replaced by the newer Wave Alpha (launched October 2025 at $199.95 with a MagnaCut blade and larger scissors). The Wave+ is still sold at Leatherman's official US store at $129.95 (black oxide, SKU 832533, observed 2026-09-20); stainless is SKU 832524, black SKU 832526. Leatherman retailers describe the Wave line as the best-selling multitool of all time (10M+ units claimed, retailer copy — treat the unit count as marketing). Do not confuse the Wave+ with the original Wave (2004-era, non-replaceable cutters) or the Wave Alpha (premium tier).

Version lineage (2023–2026)

• 1998: Original Wave introduced — the model that made Leatherman's outside-accessible-blade design famous.
• 2004: Wave redesign (the version most people know); current-version lineage starts here.
• 2018: Wave+ introduced: same 18-tool layout with larger knives, stronger pliers, all-locking tools, and the signature upgrade — premium user-replaceable wire cutter inserts (retailer: "When we redesigned it in 2018, we gave the Wave PLUS larger knives, stronger pliers, premium user replaceable wire cutters, and all-locking blades"). Amazon's own product data confirms "Date First Available: 2 March 2018," "Is Discontinued By Manufacturer: No."
• 2023–2024: No documented Wave+ hardware change found — continuous listing, same SKU set.
• 2025: Wave Alpha launches (~$199.95) with a MagnaCut blade steel upgrade and bigger scissors; the Wave+ continues alongside as the lower-priced classic.
• 2026: Wave+ still current at $129.95 MSRP (observed 2026-09-20); Alpha at $199.95.

Overview

The Wave+ is Leatherman's international best-selling full-size multitool and the default "one tool that does everything" recommendation across EDC, camping, and outdoor communities. It packs 18 tools into a 4-inch closed body with one-hand-opening, outside-accessible blades. For camp use it covers the three jobs that matter: pliers/wire cutters (pot handling, stove repair, wire work), a 2.92-inch knife (food prep, whittling), and a saw (kindling, notching). The 2018 "+" upgrade's replaceable cutter inserts mean you can cut hardened wire without permanently scarring the pliers — a genuinely practical improvement, not marketing.

Key Specs (per leatherman.com, observed 2026-09-20; manufacturer claims)

Pricing

⚠️ Prices move weekly — re-verify live before quoting.

• leatherman.com — official US (2026-09-20): $129.95 (black, SKU 832533).
• Amazon — street: $103.95 (black 832533 via Checkmate price data, crawled ~46 days before 2026-09-20); Amazon price tracker logged $119.95 on 2026-07-12 (glassit). Deal posts put it at $95.96 during 2024 Father's Day and Black Friday sales — deep discounts happen but are infrequent.
• Typical street range: ~$96–120 USD. An older official crawl showing $119.95 is STALE — the current MSRP is $129.95.

In the Box

• Wave+ multitool, product packaging. No sheath included — nylon/leather sheaths are sold separately (~$15–25 depending on material).

Warranty

• 25 years from date of receipt, original/primary owner, personal use. Leatherman repairs or replaces at its discretion.
• Excludes: abuse, alteration, theft/loss, unreasonable use, rust/corrosion, cosmetic finishes, and other listed limitations (per the official warranty page, observed 2026-09-20).

Support & Parts

• Leatherman runs warranty service from Portland, OR; users can register tools and submit warranty claims through leatherman.com's customer-service pages.
• Replaceable wire cutter inserts are sold separately — the key field-replaceable wear part, unique to the Plus-tier tools (Wave+, Charge+).

Community Verdict

• The default answer, still. The Wave+ is the best-selling multitool in Leatherman's history and the one every "which multitool?" thread resolves to; retailer copy claims 10M+ Wave-family units sold.
• 2026 reviewer consensus on Wave+ vs Wave Alpha: PopSci's 2026 review calls the Alpha "the best multitool Leatherman has ever made" but frames the Wave+ as the value pick — the Alpha's premium (~$80) buys mainly a MagnaCut blade and larger scissors, and reviewers advise the Wave+ unless those two things matter to you.
• Amazon rating: ~4.8/5 from hikers and campers (per Advnture's 2024 coverage).
• Criticism: weight (8.5 oz is heavy for ultralight kits), and the 420HC blade is good-not-great steel — easy to sharpen, not a supersteel. That's what the Alpha tier exists for.

Long-term durability & warranty-claim reality

• Owner longevity: an REI reviewer calls the Wave+ reliable and says it "can last a lifetime with care" — noting they still owned their original early-era Leatherman (review observed 2026-09-20).
• Warranty process: Leatherman's official warranty page instructs owners to submit online, mail the tool in, and allow 10–15 business days for service.
• Extended coverage: Leatherman Insider membership extends the warranty to 40 years (per official Insider program copy visible before 2026-09-20); the 2025 Leatherman Exchange program transfers the original warranty to the used buyer — relevant for secondhand purchases.
• Wear reality: the replaceable wire-cutter inserts are the designed wear point — replace the inserts, not the tool. The recurring long-term complaints are weight (8.5 oz / 241 g) and the 420HC blade's moderate edge retention (easy to sharpen, not a supersteel).
• No pattern of warranty-claim refusals surfaced in 2026 sources; exclusions (abuse, alteration, rust/corrosion, cosmetic finishes) are stated on the warranty page.

Version history — year by year

• 2023–2024: no documented change to the Wave+ (per existing dossier). It remained Leatherman's best-selling multitool and the default recommendation.
• 2025: Leatherman launched the Wave Alpha ($199.95) above the Wave+ — MagnaCut blade, larger scissors — without replacing the Wave+. Separately, Leatherman issued a voluntary recall of the Charge Plus and Charge Plus TTi (blade tip not fully folding into the handle; units sold July 2024–March 2025). The Wave+ was not included in that recall — see Buying traps for the correction.
• 2026: Wave+ still current at $129.95 MSRP; PopSci's 2026 review frames it as the value pick against the Alpha.

Head-to-head vs closest rivals

• vs Leatherman Wave Alpha ($199.95): the Alpha is "the best multitool Leatherman has ever made" per PopSci's 2026 review, but the ~$80 premium buys mainly a MagnaCut blade and larger scissors — reviewers advise the Wave+ unless those two things matter to you.
• vs Leatherman Signal ($149.95): the Wave+ is the generalist EDC/repair pick (scissors, two bit drivers, two files); the Signal is the survival/outdoor pick (ferro rod, whistle, hammer, carabiner). No scissors on the Signal is the deciding factor for many.
• vs Leatherman Charge+ / Charge+ TTi (~$150–200): the Charge tier adds premium blade steel (S30V on TTi) and build; the Wave+ wins on value and remains the safer buy post-2025-recall only in the sense that buyers should verify any Charge+ unit's recall status.

Care & maintenance

• Rinse after saltwater or gritty use; dry fully; a drop of oil in the pivots periodically — the standard routine behind the "lifetime with care" reports.
• Replace worn wire-cutter inserts rather than retiring the tool — they're sold separately and are the Plus tier's signature field-replaceable part.
• 420HC sharpens easily on any stone; touch up often rather than letting the edge go fully dull.

Buying traps

• Correction — the 2025 recall: the July 2025 CPSC/LC recall covered Charge Plus and Charge Plus TTi only (units sold July 2024–March 2025). The Wave+ was not recalled. Treat any listing or seller claiming a "recalled Wave+" — or offering a suspicious "recall discount" Wave+ — as misinformation or a scam.
• Counterfeits: buy from authorized dealers; inspect packaging and engraving on arrival; beware implausibly low marketplace prices. (No model-specific authentication checklist could be verified — don't trust third-party "fake spotting" guides as authoritative.)
• SKU variants: 832533 / 832524 / 832526 are color/packaging SKUs of the same tool — compare prices across them.

Community Verdict (additional voices, Sept 2026)

• REI owner: "reliable… can last a lifetime with care" — and the reviewer still had their original first-generation Leatherman in service.
• Value consensus: Amazon's ~4.8/5 hiker/camper rating (per Advnture's 2024 coverage) plus PopSci's 2026 "value pick" framing keep the Wave+ as the default answer even after the Alpha's launch.
• Criticism (unchanged): weight and 420HC edge retention remain the two standard knocks; the Alpha exists precisely for buyers who care about the second.

Images

3 validated JPEGs in [research workspace]:

• leatherman-wave-plus-1.jpg (800×800) — Official Leatherman CDN product image of the Wave+ (2026 site asset).
• leatherman-wave-plus-2.jpg (590×592) — ToolGuyd 2018 review product shot of the Wave+.
• leatherman-wave-plus-3.jpg (590×380) — ToolGuyd 2018 action shot: Wave+ cutting wire.
• [research workspace]
• [research workspace]

Full provenance (URLs, HEAD checks, failure log): [research workspace].

UNVERIFIED / needs live re-check

• Exact current street price (moves weekly; $96–120 band based on 2026 datapoints).
• Whether Wave+ SKU numbering/packaging changed anywhere in 2023–2026 (no documented change found).
• No independent lab verification of HRC or dimensional specs; all figures are manufacturer claims.

Researched 2026-09-20. Prices and specs are dated observations — re-verify live before purchase.