A multi-tool is a wonderful thing to have, as you've got access to a number of tools. From saws to tweezers to files to screwdrivers of all sorts, there's something in there that's right for the fast, backcountry job you need to do to get back on the road. But one thing that's always annoyed me is how freakin' hard it is to get the damn knife blade out of its cavity.
For years, you've been stuck trying to pry the blade out of the multi-tool with your nail, which inevitably bends, hurts like hell, and you're left with using a stick or something else to lift it from its stuck confines. Ask me how recent this memory is thanks to my latest hunt. But it's something that I know everyone's encountered if they own or have used the knife from a multi-tool, and I bet you feel that thumbnail bending as I type this.
It's the one thing about a multi-tool I absolutely loathe, and Leatherman's just gone and finally fixed it with the brand's new Wave Alpha and its integrated thumb stud. Praise be!
Leatherman's Wave has been a fan favorite for the brand for years, as its solid price point in conjunction with its capabilities is unmatched by its competition. And the Wave Alpha, the latest update to the lineup, builds on that success with a few notable additions, including the aforementioned thumb stud which we'll get to in a second.
First off, the multi-tool's blade gets a steel upgrade thanks to MagnaCut, which folks will know is the hottest thing on the market right now. The steel has excellent edge retention, corrosion resistance, and hardness, but is still able to be honed quite easily when you do inevitably dull the thing. It seems that every knife maker is switching to the type of steel these days, including some high-end, custom brands.
The nearly 3-inch blade is a reverse tanto design, and the new Wave Alpha also features a full-size set of scissors, a new G10 scaled grip, as well as another 14 tools in total. It is, as it was previously a beast. But that thumb stud, that's the game changer of this multi-tool.
Two weeks ago, I was in the middle of a forest butchering an elk (story coming soon), and one piece of its hide around his neck was dulling my scalpel like no other. It just wouldn't cut through, so I took out my trusty multi-tool and attempted to get the saw tool pried from its position. My hands were cold and bloody, and my nail bent backward I don't know how many times before I finally got it out. A thumb stud, however, like the one on all of my other knives, would've made that task soooo much easier.
Honestly, it's perplexed me for ages why multi-tool manufacturers haven't adopted them for the knife and saw tools, sticking with the old-school nail deploy, as anyone who's ever used them knows they suck. And that's especially true if you haven't used it in a while, when everything gets stuck together.
As for price, the Leatherman Wave Alpha will set you back $200, which ain't bad at all, and will drop on the brand's site this October. You'll also have a few colorways to choose from, but that thumb stud has me excited, as backcountry repairs will never be the same.
