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Choose the Wave+ if you want the documented 18-tool package and do not specifically need the Charge+ additions. Choose the Charge+ only when its cutting hook, 154CM main blade, removable pocket clip, or listed bit-and-sheath package matters to you and you find a trustworthy listing with the correct condition and contents. The Charge+ page states that the model is no longer in production, so availability and seller verification are part of the decision.
Both are full-size, 4-inch-closed multi-tools with closely related pliers, cutters, drivers, scissors, saw and file functions. The published differences are specific rather than transformative: one extra tool on the Charge+, different main-blade steel, a 0.2-ounce listed weight difference, and different included carry and bit accessories. The manufacturer pages provide specifications and a stated 25-year warranty, but no independent testing establishes that either blade cuts better, lasts longer or offers better value.
Wave+ vs Charge+ at a glance
| Specification | Wave+ | Charge+ | What it means for a buyer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tool count | 18 | 19 | The Charge+ adds a cutting hook. |
| Main blade steel | 420HC stainless steel | 154CM stainless steel | A documented material difference; steel labels alone do not prove cutting performance, edge life, toughness or sharpening difficulty. |
| Manufacturer-listed weight | 8.5 oz | 8.3 oz | The published difference is 0.2 oz, small enough that the other features are likely to matter more. |
| Closed length | 4 in | 4 in | Both occupy essentially the same pocket length. |
| Open length | 6.25 in | 6.25 in | Neither has a dimensional advantage when fully opened. |
| Primary blade length | 2.92 in | 2.9 in | The listed blade lengths are nearly identical. |
| Included carry and bit items | Two listed driver bits; sheath sold separately | Partial bit kit, MOLLE sheath and removable pocket clip listed | Confirm the exact regional SKU and seller package before paying. |
| Production status | Product page is available | Official page says the model is no longer in production | Charge+ condition, authenticity and support require extra checking. |
The specifications above come from the manufacturer’s product pages, accessed October 13, 2026: Wave Plus Multi-tool and Charge Plus Multi-Tool. Product pages, regional packages and marketplace listings can change.
What both tools have in common
These models share the same basic format: a folding, full-size multi-tool with pliers at the center and implements stored in the handles. Their published dimensions are identical at 4 inches closed and 6.25 inches open. Each has needlenose and regular pliers, replaceable wire and hard-wire cutters, a crimper, a wire stripper, plain and serrated knives, a saw, spring-action scissors, a ruler, openers, wood/metal and diamond-coated files, large and small bit drivers, and a medium screwdriver. The Charge+ count reaches 19 because it adds a cutting hook to that closely related set.
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Both tools therefore cover the same broad jobs: gripping small parts, cutting wire, opening packages or bottles, driving common screws, sawing light material, filing edges and handling basic household or outdoor repairs. If the tools you use are already represented in the shared set, the model name alone does not create a different category of capability.
Where the Wave+ and Charge+ actually differ
Charge+ adds a cutting hook
The Charge+ has one more listed tool: a cutting hook. That can be relevant when your work involves opening strapping, slicing material that benefits from a hooked profile or carrying a dedicated hook without adding another tool. The Wave+ page does not list a cutting hook. If you cannot name a recurring task for it, the extra tool may have little practical effect on your choice.
The main blade steels are different
Leatherman lists a 420HC stainless-steel primary blade for the Wave+ and a 154CM stainless-steel primary blade for the Charge+. Those are factual material specifications, not a performance ranking. The available product documentation does not provide controlled tests of edge retention, cutting force, corrosion resistance, toughness or ease of sharpening. Select the Charge+ for 154CM only if that specification is important to your requirements; do not treat the steel names as proof that it will outperform the Wave+ in every use.
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The Wave+ is listed at 8.5 ounces and the Charge+ at 8.3 ounces. The 0.2-ounce gap is small, while both tools retain the same stated closed and open lengths. For pocket carry, the included clip or sheath and your preferred carry position may matter more than this published weight difference.
Carry and bit contents are not the same
The Wave+ page lists an eyeglass screwdriver and a Phillips #1-2 / 3/16-inch screwdriver bit, and says the sheath is sold separately. The Charge+ page lists a partial bit kit and a MOLLE sheath and describes a removable pocket clip. Those descriptions do not guarantee that every regional or marketplace package contains the same pieces. Treat the package contents as a SKU-level question: read the listing photographs and text, then confirm the model number and included accessories with the seller.
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Detailed tool lists
Wave+ implements
- Needlenose pliers and regular pliers
- Replaceable wire cutters and replaceable hard-wire cutters
- Electrical crimper and wire stripper
- Plain-edge knife and serrated knife
- Saw
- Spring-action scissors
- Ruler
- Can opener and bottle opener
- Wood/metal file and diamond-coated file
- Large bit driver and small bit driver
- Medium screwdriver
- Eyeglass screwdriver and a Phillips #1-2 / 3/16-inch screwdriver bit listed on the product page
Leatherman counts this package as 18 tools. The exact way an individual retailer groups implements can differ from the manufacturer’s count, so use the official list when comparing listings.
Charge+ implements
- Needlenose pliers and regular pliers
- Replaceable wire cutters and replaceable hard-wire cutters
- Electrical crimper and wire stripper
- Plain-edge knife and serrated knife
- Cutting hook
- Saw
- Spring-action scissors
- Ruler
- Can opener and bottle opener
- Wood/metal file and diamond-coated file
- Large bit driver and small bit driver
- Medium screwdriver
- Additional bits and carry hardware as specified by the particular package
Leatherman counts the Charge+ as 19 tools. Because the official page says the model is no longer in production, older, regional and second-hand packages may not be identical to a current product-page description.
Which blade specification should decide your purchase?
Start with the job, then decide whether the steel designation is worth prioritizing. Both primary blades are close in the published length—2.92 inches for Wave+ and 2.9 inches for Charge+—and both are identified as stainless steel. The meaningful documented distinction is 420HC versus 154CM.
If you simply need a dependable general-purpose blade and the Wave+ package otherwise fits, there is no evidence here that you must move to the Charge+. If you have a procurement requirement that names 154CM, or you specifically want the Charge+ model’s blade specification along with its other additions, that is a rational reason to look for a Charge+. It is not a reason to promise longer edge life or easier maintenance, because those outcomes depend on heat treatment, geometry, use and sharpening and are not established by the product pages.
Carry options and accessory planning
When the included clip matters
The Charge+ page describes a removable pocket clip. A clip lets you attach the tool directly to a pocket or similar edge instead of relying on a sheath, but the page does not establish that every Charge+ listing includes the same clip hardware. Verify that the clip is physically included in the package you are buying.
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When a sheath matters
The Charge+ page lists a MOLLE sheath. The Wave+ page says its sheath is sold separately. If you carry the tool on a belt, pack or compatible webbing, include the cost and availability of a suitable sheath in your decision. Do not assume that a Wave+ listing includes one merely because product photographs show a sheath elsewhere.
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Bits and drivers
The Wave+ page lists two driver bits, including the eyeglass screwdriver and the Phillips #1-2 / 3/16-inch bit. The Charge+ page lists a partial bit kit. “Partial” is not a universal quantity or configuration, so ask for the exact bit inventory when buying a Charge+. Leatherman also identifies accessory categories such as compatible bit kits, a bit-driver extender, replacement wire-cutter kits and pocket-clip or lanyard-ring options. Check compatibility with the exact model and regional version before ordering an add-on.
Availability: the Charge+ requires more verification
The official Charge+ page states, “This model is no longer in production.” That sentence changes the buying process. A listing may be new old stock, used, refurbished, incomplete, incorrectly labeled or sold by a source that is not authorized. The presence of a product page does not by itself prove current production or universal regional support.
The Wave+ has an available official product page in the reviewed documentation, while the Charge+ status makes inventory less predictable. Neither conclusion establishes a current retail price: prices vary by country, seller, condition, currency and date, and no stable price comparison is supported here.
Checklist for a Charge+ listing
- Confirm that the model is actually Charge+, not a similarly named variant or a Wave-family tool with altered photographs.
- Ask whether the item is new, used, refurbished or old stock, and request clear photographs of every implement and locking surface.
- Compare the listed contents with the manufacturer description: cutting hook, removable pocket clip, partial bit kit and MOLLE sheath.
- Check whether the seller identifies a model number, return policy and proof of purchase.
- Verify that the seller is authorized or otherwise has a credible history; discontinuation makes recourse especially important.
- Inspect the final delivered package against the listing before disposing of packaging or accepting the item as complete.
Choose the Wave+ when these statements describe you
- You want the standard 18-tool set and have no recurring need for a cutting hook.
- You prefer a currently listed model rather than searching for discontinued inventory.
- You want the manufacturer-listed 420HC blade specification and do not have a requirement for 154CM.
- You are comfortable buying a sheath separately or already have a carry solution.
- You want the simplest comparison: the shared pliers, cutters, scissors, saw, files and drivers cover your work.
For these buyers, the Wave+ is the straightforward default because its documented package answers the basic multi-tool requirements without making availability the central risk.
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Choose the Charge+ when these statements describe you
- You specifically want the cutting hook and can identify tasks where it will be used.
- You need the manufacturer-listed 154CM primary-blade specification for a procurement or personal preference.
- You value a removable pocket clip, a listed MOLLE sheath or the included bit package enough to verify a discontinued listing.
- You have found a trustworthy seller that clearly states condition, model identity and complete contents.
- You accept that inventory and exact packages may vary because the official page says production has ended.
That is a conditional recommendation, not a claim that the Charge+ is universally superior. Its advantages are the additions you actually use, balanced against the work required to find a legitimate, complete unit.
A practical decision path
- List your recurring tasks. Write down the cutting, gripping, driving, filing and carrying jobs you perform. Mark whether a cutting hook appears on that list.
- Separate must-haves from nice-to-haves. Decide whether 154CM, a pocket clip, a MOLLE sheath or extra bits is a requirement or merely attractive.
- Check the common platform first. Both models provide the same stated dimensions and the closely related pliers, cutters, knives, scissors, saw, files and drivers. If that covers your work, the Wave+ may already be sufficient.
- Verify package contents. For Wave+, account for the separately sold sheath. For Charge+, confirm the hook, clip, sheath and exact bit kit in the seller’s package.
- Evaluate availability and condition. Treat a Charge+ as discontinued inventory and inspect the seller, return terms and condition before comparing prices.
- Apply the warranty check. Both product pages state a 25-year warranty, but confirm the terms, exclusions, geography and purchase-channel requirements for your own transaction.
- Buy the model that satisfies the requirement with fewer assumptions. Do not pay for a steel label or accessory you will not use, and do not buy a discontinued unit whose condition or contents are unclear.
Warranty and support
Leatherman states a 25-year warranty on both the Wave+ and Charge+ product pages. That is the manufacturer’s stated coverage, not a guarantee that every seller, country or used purchase receives identical treatment. Before purchase, check the applicable terms, exclusions, proof-of-purchase rules and service process for your location and sales channel. For a discontinued Charge+, retain the listing, receipt and photographs of the delivered contents in case you need to establish what was sold.
Common comparison mistakes
Assuming 154CM automatically means “better”
The pages establish different steel names, not a universal performance result. Blade geometry, heat treatment, use and maintenance also affect outcomes, and none of those variables is compared by the available documentation.
Counting accessories as permanent tools
A bit kit, sheath or clip changes what is in the box, not the built-in implement count. Compare the 18-tool and 19-tool figures separately from included accessories.
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The official discontinuation notice means a marketplace title and a stock photograph are not enough. Confirm model, condition and contents directly.
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Using the 0.2-ounce difference as the deciding factor
The listed weights are close, and the dimensions are the same. Choose based on the implement and package differences that solve an actual need.
Expecting a stable price winner
Manufacturer and marketplace prices are regional and time-sensitive. A discontinued Charge+ can be priced according to scarcity or condition, while a Wave+ price can change with promotions and location. Compare the complete delivered package rather than a headline number.
Bottom line for different buyers
For a general-purpose owner
Buy the Wave+ when its 18 tools cover your jobs and you do not need the Charge+ additions. It has the same stated carry length, nearly the same weight and the same broad core of implements.
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Look for a Charge+, but treat the purchase as a verification exercise. Confirm the discontinued model, the 19-tool package, the cutting hook, the 154CM blade, the listed carry items and the seller’s condition description.
For a buyer who is undecided
Start with the Wave+. Move to Charge+ only when you can name the specific addition that justifies searching discontinued stock and accepting uncertainty about package contents.
Source specifications
Official specifications and production-status wording are available on the manufacturer pages: https://www.leatherman.com/products/wave and https://int.leatherman.com/products/charge. They were accessed October 13, 2026. Availability, regional accessory bundles, warranty application and marketplace condition should be rechecked at the time of purchase.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
