The Leatherman Wave+ and Super Tool 300 are the two full-size Leatherman tools people ask us about most. Both have big pliers, replaceable wire cutters, a crimper, a saw, two knife blades and tools that lock open. They look similar in a listing photo, but they feel very different in the hand. This guide compares them using Leatherman's own published specs so you can pick the right one for work, the truck or a gift.
The short answer
- Want to open the knife without unfolding the pliers? The Wave+. Its plain blade, serrated blade, saw and file all open from the outside with one hand, and it adds spring-action scissors.
- Want the biggest, strongest pliers? The Super Tool 300. Leatherman calls its pliers among the strongest it has ever made, and it adds a stranded-wire cutter, an awl and a longer 3.2-inch blade.
- Buying for an electrician, mechanic or tradesperson? The Super Tool 300. Buying for everyday carry, camping or a first Leatherman? The Wave+.
Wave+ vs Super Tool 300 compared
Specs and list prices below come from Leatherman's current product pages (checked November 2026). Older pre-owned tools can differ slightly in finish or details, so always check the photos of the exact tool.
| Wave+ | Super Tool 300 | |
|---|---|---|
| Tools | 18 | 19 |
| Closed length | 4 in | 4.5 in |
| Open length | 6.25 in | 7 in |
| Weight | 8.5 oz | 9.6 oz |
| Main blade (420HC) | 2.92 in, plus serrated blade | 3.2 in, plus serrated blade |
| Blades open from outside, one-handed | Yes | No |
| Scissors | Yes, spring-action | No |
| Wire cutters | Replaceable regular and hard-wire | Replaceable regular and hard-wire, plus stranded-wire |
| Electrical crimper and wire stripper | Yes | Yes |
| Saw | Yes | Yes |
| Files | Wood/metal and diamond-coated | Wood/metal |
| Awl | No | Yes, with thread loop |
| Screwdrivers | Bit driver with interchangeable bits, plus a medium flat | Four fixed: Phillips, large, medium and small flat |
| Ruler | 8 in | 9 in |
| Locking | All tools except the plier head | All tools except the plier head |
| List price (new) | $129.95 | $119.95 |
Leatherman Wave+: the everyday one
The Wave+'s big idea is that the tools you reach for most live on the outside. With the handles folded, you can flip open the 420HC plain blade, the serrated blade, the saw and the wood/metal file with one hand, and each one locks. That makes it work a lot like a folding knife that happens to have pliers inside.
Open the handles and you get needlenose and regular pliers, replaceable wire cutters and hard-wire cutters, an electrical crimper and wire stripper, spring-action scissors, a diamond-coated file, can and bottle openers, an 8-inch ruler, a medium screwdriver and a bit driver. Leatherman lists 18 tools in all. The bit driver takes interchangeable bits, so check whether a pre-owned tool still has its bits; Leatherman lists a Phillips #1-2 / 3/16-inch bit and an eyeglass screwdriver with a new tool.
Best for: everyday carry, camping, hunting, home projects and anyone who opens a knife many times a day. It's also the easier pick for a first full-size Leatherman.
Leatherman Super Tool 300: the heavy-duty one
The Super Tool 300 is the bigger, heavier tool, and it's built around the pliers. Leatherman says they are among the strongest pliers it has ever produced, and the sloped-top handles let you get the jaws further into tight spaces. It's the only one of the two with three kinds of cutters: regular and hard-wire cutters, which are replaceable, plus stranded-wire cutters for cable. Add the electrical crimper and wire stripper and it's easy to see why electricians and mechanics like it.
Every tool folds out from inside the handles, and every tool except the plier head locks. You get a 3.2-inch 420HC plain blade, a serrated blade, a saw, an awl with thread loop, a 9-inch ruler, can and bottle openers, a wood/metal file and four fixed screwdrivers (Phillips plus large, medium and small flat), for 19 tools. Leatherman notes large cutouts in the handles that make the tools easy to open with gloves on. The trade-offs are no scissors and no outside-opening blades, so you open the whole tool to reach the knife.
Best for: electricians, mechanics, farm and ranch work, and anyone who uses pliers harder than a knife. Fixed screwdrivers also mean there are no small bits to lose.
The differences that matter most
Knife access
This is the big one. On the Wave+ you can open the knife with one hand without touching the pliers. On the Super Tool 300 you unfold the handles first. If you use the blade all day, most people prefer the Wave+.
Pliers and cutters
The Super Tool 300 is longer open (7 inches vs 6.25), with what Leatherman describes as among its strongest pliers, plus a stranded-wire cutter the Wave+ doesn't have. For twisting, pulling and cutting wire all day, it has the edge.
Scissors vs awl
Only the Wave+ has scissors. Only the Super Tool 300 has an awl. Think about which one you'd actually reach for: scissors for tape, string and packaging, or an awl for punching leather and starting screw holes.
Size and weight
The Wave+ is 4 inches closed and 8.5 ounces. The Super Tool 300 is 4.5 inches closed and 9.6 ounces. Both are belt-sheath tools rather than pocket tools, but the Wave+ is the easier one to carry every day.
Gift ideas by person
- For an electrician, mechanic or HVAC tech: Super Tool 300.
- For a hunter, camper or anyone who wants a do-everything tool: Wave+.
- For a new homeowner or a first full-size Leatherman: Wave+.
- For someone who already owns a Wave: Super Tool 300, so the two tools complement each other instead of overlapping.
Older relatives worth a look
Both tools have retired ancestors that are popular pre-owned. The Wave+ grew out of the Wave: the original Wave from 1998 to 2004, then a second-generation Wave from 2004 to 2018, which the Wave+ replaced with replaceable wire cutters. The Super Tool 300 followed the original Super Tool and the Super Tool 200. Many of our older examples carry a date code in the title, such as an original Super Tool dated 11/99 or an original Wave dated 03/00.
These older tools are a good way to get a full-size Leatherman for less, or to find one from a meaningful year. Our pre-owned and discontinued Leatherman guide explains date codes and how to tell the generations apart.
Not sure either one is right?
If you want even more tools than the Wave+, look at the Surge, covered in our Wave+ vs Charge+ vs Surge guide. If you like the Super Tool 300's squared-off, all-locking design but want something smaller and lighter, the Rebar is its mid-size cousin; see our Rebar vs Wingman vs Sidekick guide.
Buying pre-owned
Both tools are still in Leatherman's current line, so pre-owned is a good way to get one well below the new list price. When buying, check that the pliers close evenly at the tip, that the wire cutters aren't chipped, that every lock engages firmly, and, on the Wave+, that the scissors still spring open and the bit driver still has its bits. Company logos or engraving on the handles are common on these tools and don't affect function. Leatherman lists a 25-year warranty on its tools; see Leatherman for the exact terms.
Every tool we sell is photographed individually, so you see the exact item you'll receive. US shipping is free, orders typically ship within one business day, and returns are free for 30 days.
Flying with a multi-tool
Both tools have knife blades, and TSA does not allow multi-tools with knives in carry-on bags, so pack them in checked luggage.
Browse all Leatherman multi-tools, or explore every brand we carry on our Shop by Brand page.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Super Tool 300 bigger than the Wave+?
Yes. Leatherman lists the Super Tool 300 at 4.5 inches closed and 9.6 ounces, and the Wave+ at 4 inches closed and 8.5 ounces.
Does the Super Tool 300 have scissors?
No. If you want scissors in a full-size Leatherman, choose the Wave+.
Which is better for electricians?
Most electricians lean toward the Super Tool 300 for its stronger pliers and stranded-wire cutter. Both tools have replaceable wire and hard-wire cutters, an electrical crimper and a wire stripper.
Can you open the Super Tool 300 knife with one hand?
No. Its blades fold out from inside the handles, so you open the tool first. The Wave+'s blades open from the outside with one hand.
Are both tools still made?
Yes. Both are on Leatherman's current product pages as of November 2026.