About Leatherman
Have you ever struggled with a last-minute repair without having the right tools, or is it just us? Luckily, Leatherman has a whole range of multi-tools that cover everything you need for repairs and quick fixes.
Whether it’s for everyday work or for holidays (we all need a helping hand when camping and fishing), every Leatherman tool is designed to get the job done.
The brand has been featured in several articles by Forbes and the New York Times and has nearly 400,000 followers on its main and Canadian Instagram account.
Loyal customers have favoured this brand since its inception and with the continuous introduction of new products, it has remained one of the top multi-tool brands on the market.
In this Leatherman review, you’ll learn everything you need to know about the company. From pros and cons to customer testimonials on popular products, by the end of this article you’ll have all the details you need to decide whether or not it’s worth buying.
Overview of Leatherman
Founded in 1983, Leatherman has its roots in Portland, Oregon, and has remained true to them to this day.
Guided by the constant need for pliers, founder Tim Leatherman (that’s his real name, we checked) developed the perfect pocket multitool that not only included standard knives and screwdrivers, but also pliers that could fold up for any moment.
Since his design was rejected by numerous companies, Tim and his friend Steve Berliner decided to sell it themselves, and by the first spring they had hundreds of orders. It just goes to show that persistence pays off.
The brand is still run out of Oregon, with all parts assembled in their hometown. It’s always nice to see companies stay true to their roots. That’s a pro on our checklist, but what are the other highlights to consider before buying?
Highlights
- An extensive range of multi-tools, knives, apparel and more to equip you for a variety of situations
- Keeping our roots in Oregon and not selling out to foreign companies
- Durable tools
- 25 year warranty
- Thousands of positive Leatherman reviews on the internet
- Excellent and responsive customer service
- Discounts for military, first responders, teachers and more
- Klarna payment plans available for manageable costs
With that in mind, let’s take a look at some of the products in this Leatherman review. Since multi-tools are their origin and most popular items in stock, we will focus on those.
This company also sells other products, so check out their additional categories online for a better picture of what this company offers.
Leatherman Multi-Tools Review
The brand has streamlined their line with pliers as the base of almost every multi-tool (we’re looking at you, model T4) and has stayed true to their original design by offering the tools you need at any time of day.
We’re showing some of the most popular products from the multi-tool line, but there are nearly 50 products and kits listed online, so if these aren’t your dream tool, be sure to check out the rest of their stock online.
Leatherman Wave+ Review
The handsome and popular Leatherman Wave+ fits easily on any tool belt and in any pocket.
This best-selling portable product holds 18 tools in its slim metal frame. A secure locking system ensures tools stay in the pocket, and select, accessible external options allow you to use your tools without having to unfold the whole thing.
At just 4 inches long, this portable tool is available in stainless steel and black.
Convenient sheaths accompany each purchase to provide a safe place to store tools when not in use. Compared to its predecessor, the Leatherman Wave, this tool now features interchangeable ‘wire cutters’ with options for customisation.
The Wave+ is currently available with free shipping for $100.
Leatherman Coyote Skeletool Review
Keep things light with the Leatherman Coyote Skeletool, a 7-in-1 design with personalised artwork options.
Available in 4 colours of stainless steel, blue, green and coyote tan, this Leatherman Skeletool is a more affordable option from this brands extensive list.
This sheathless tool folds up quickly to protect all parts and offers a handy lanyard clip to keep it close at hand. As one of the simpler multi-tools on the market, this hand-sized device is perfect for anyone looking for a basic tool set for home use.
Available for just $65, this compact set is not to be missed.
Leatherman Skeletool CX Review
The Skeletool CX complements the previous model and improves selected aspects of this line for the tough use of standard tools.
Forget colour options and styling to suit your personality, the Skeletool CX is a black and stainless steel design that works for everyone. In its black nylon pouch, this tool comes with a high quality new 154CM steel blade that amplifies every cut.
With just one hand, anyone can wield this $80 Leatherman multitool with ease, making it the perfect gift for young adults heading out into the world.
Leatherman Wingman Review
The Leatherman Wingman is one of the brand’s best-selling models and offers all the standard tools with a few extra surprises.
The perfect size for everyday use, this 14-tool model lightens the load with its compact design. With three different screwdriver sizes and a variety of other common tools, it’s a good piece to have in your pocket for any sudden repairs.
The Wingman is one of the shorter models at 3.8 inches, but its size, tools and $60 price point make it easily one of the most popular on the market.
Who is Leatherman For?
We can safely leave children off the list here. We wouldn’t recommend them as a target market. That being said, multi-tools are useful for everyone.
Whilst some of the heavier models used for fishing, camping and survival are more specialised, the standard models are useful for everyday use at home.
Forget searching for the screwdriver, pliers or other tools in the garage and keep this handy little item around the house. If you treat them well, they will last for over a decade and help you tighten every screw with ease.
Comparison: Leatherman vs. Gerber Gear
The titans of the multi-tool world, Leatherman and Gerber Gear, go head-to-head for the best every year. With the same Oregon origins, Gerber actually started their business over 40 years ago, founded in 1939.
With a variety of multi-tools in both companies, these brands are top-tier options for those involved in backpacking, fishing, camping, and all around fix-it jobs that always need to be done.
Since these are two of the best in the business, it’s hard to know where to start when shopping. Do you go for a Leatherman Rebar or a Gerber Diesel? What’s the difference between the two brands anyway?
Despite having similar tools and tricks, the brands differ in a few ways:
- Warranty – The warranty is a big difference between the two, as Leatherman offers a 25-year warranty on every product, a policy that is definitely something to be proud of.
Most multi-tools are designed for 10 to 15 years of solid work, so a 25-year warranty guarantees that and more. Gerber Gear, however, pushes Leatherman aside by offering a lifetime warranty on all products.
- Price – Price is always a tricky issue when buying. We all want to get a good deal, but we don’t necessarily trust a cheaper product. Quiet with these brands as their costs run along the same lines for all their products.
Gerber Gear is a bit cheaper than its competitors, but the difference is in the $50 range. If financial stress isn’t keeping you up at night, then price probably won’t have that much of an impact on your purchase.
- Manufacturing – Although both brands originated in Oregon, Gerber Gear sold the company to a Finnish company and the products are now made in China.
Leatherman still makes all of their products in Oregon, but many of their tools are imported from other countries. If you’re looking for American manufacturing, Leatherman comes very close.
- Website – We wanted to compare the products, but both brands offer the same products, so it doesn’t make much of a difference.
However, the design of the websites is different. While Leatherman structures its website by product category, Gerber Gear offers both by product and by purpose.
Categorised into hunting, fishing, everyday and more, this brand helps to easily identify the tools needed for specific environments and tasks.
- Style – Aesthetics don’t necessarily mean much when you’re out in the wilderness, but showing off to friends? That’s another matter entirely. This point goes to Leatherman for its sleek, foldable design.
We’re not saying Gerber Gear doesn’t do a good job when it comes to the look of their multi-tools, but Leatherman’s sleek folding of each kit is hard to beat.
Preference really is the key when it comes to any purchase. Many out there favour one brand over another because they like the feel, the design and the tools available. These elements should definitely be considered before making a purchase, but they shouldn’t limit your buying options.
Look around, do your research (this Leatherman review is a good place to start!) and take your time before making a final decision. Both brands will get the job done with ease.
Leatherman Reviews: What Do Customers Think?
We turn to the customers in this section to check the verified purchase reviews. What better way to test how well these products perform in real life?
There’s a Leatherman review page on the brand’s website where customers can leave their comments. With over 18,700 online reviews, pretty much everyone seems to like this company. The overall online rating is 4.3/5 stars out of those thousands of reviews, proving that this brand can impress.
Read any Leatherman review, and you’ll realise just how durable these products are designed to be. Compact and rugged, customers are quick to comment on how reliable these tools really are.
One 5-star reviewer on the company’s website spoke of how the Surge has been a lifelong companion for him:
‘I have had a Leatherman by my side for over 20 years, I lost my last one while travelling and had to get a new one. I bought the Surge again and really love it. The quality of the tools is excellent. Someone had given me a different brand and it’s just not the same. It ended up in the bin drawer as soon as I got my new Surge.’
“I have a Surge from 10 to 15 years ago and wear it every day with devotion. It has never let me down. The case eventually wore out, but that’s fine, the tool still works well. I bought a new Surge and love it because it has interchangeable blades and larger pliers as well as many other great features.”
Leatherman’s website isn’t the only place to find top reviews from customers – Amazon offers a number of its products and the reviews are coming in for each one.
The Leatherman Wave Plus alone has nearly 4,000 reviews and sits at 4.8/5 stars. The review section is full of loyal customers praising this brand for its safety and strong products.
One Wave Plus customer commented, “It’s a solid multitool from Leatherman that I will use for many years to come. Buy it and keep it in your car, on your desk or in your toolbox. Thank Leatherman later for the many times it comes in handy.
Other well-rated Leatherman products on Amazon have thousands of customers who want to share the good vibes:
- Leatherman Surge: 4.8/5 stars based on over 3,200 reviews
- Leatherman Wingman: 4.8/5 based on over 6,800 reviews
- Leatherman Sidekick: 4.8/5 stars based on almost 3,000 reviews
- Leatherman Raptor Response: 4.9/5 stars based on over 1,100 reviews
- Leatherman Micra: 4.8/5 stars based on over 3,600 reviews
- Leatherman Mut: 4.8/5 stars based on over 800 reviews
- Leatherman Squirt: 4.8/5 stars based on over 3,900 reviews
These are just a few of Leatherman’s top products on Amazon, and all are rated very positively by customers.
If these Leatherman reviews don’t convince you, just take a look at the numbers listed on these products, and they’re sure to sell this company better than we ever could.
TrustPilot rates this company 3.9/5 stars based on just 22 reviews, focusing on the customer service aspects. Although the numbers are not very meaningful for a real review, some of the reviews offer a good insight into how the company operates.
Although the company has become one of the top brands in the multi-tool sector, this company puts the customer first.
This testimonial in particular shows how committed the brand is to its customers. The tool had sentimental value, and the owner didn’t want to replace it, so Leatherman gave it a complete overhaul:
“Not only did they replace the serrated knife, but they replaced the standard blade, the diamond file, the saw, put in new screwdriver bits, even the eyeglass bit was replaced, and to top it off, they replaced the pliers with new pliers with removable blades, keeping the case and scissors the same, so the sentimental value remained.”
This company has made it their mission to go above and beyond for their customers to create pieces that not only work, but mean something. It is refreshing to read from customers that they not only achieve this goal, but exceed it through their practices.
Is Leatherman Worth It?
This Leatherman review will happily assert that this brand is worth the money. While it is slightly higher in price than competing brands, their quality service and sturdy products more than make up for the few extra dollars spent.
With more than 10 years of constant work, this company strives to put the customer first and keep product quality at a high level.
If you need a multitool (and in our opinion, everyone needs at least one), this brand is a safe and easy purchase that will last a lifetime.
Leatherman Promotions & Discounts
Leatherman is generous when it comes to work discounts. While there are always public promotions throughout the year, a consistent 40% discount is available for select professions.
We list them, so take a look around, and if you fall into a particular category, make sure you take advantage of this offer before you buy:
- Military
- Medical
- First responders
- Teachers
- Students
Where to Buy Leatherman
Has this Leatherman test report convinced you to buy? You can find these multi-tools on the brand’s website at leatherman.com. If you would like to order the product or pick it up in a store, take a look at the available retail partners:
- Home Depot
- Lowe’s
- Canadian Tire
- House of Knives
- MEC
- Walmart
- Amazon
FAQ
Where is Leatherman made?
All Leatherman tools are proudly made in Portland, Oregon. The US-based company started and expanded in its hometown, keeping its roots in mind as the company grew.
All tools are tested prior to sale by traveling to the Pacific South to ensure that each new product will work in any environment.
What is Leatherman’s shipping policy?
Whether you’ve added a fancy Leatherman Rev to your wish list or just want to check before you buy, it’s good to know how the company’s shipping works. Leatherman offers three different shipping methods, each with a flat rate:
- Standard (3-12 working days): $6
- Expedited (2-3 working days): $15
- Express (1-2 business days): $25
Don’t worry about tracking, order status can be viewed on the Leatherman website. Track each update after the shipment has been sent and get ready for a multitool that solves everyday problems.
Leatherman ships to a total of 8 countries in North America and Europe. The full list can be found on the Leatherman website, where you can view the available shipping destinations. If your location is not listed, check with your local stores as products are sold in over 90 countries worldwide.
What is Leatherman’s return policy?
Returns are a process we all like to know about before we buy. Just in case, right? With this brand, you have 30 days after purchase to decide if the product suits you.
In most cases, return shipping costs are the responsibility of the customer, but if the return is due to a faulty or damaged product, Leatherman will not only refund the original shipping costs, but will also cover the return shipping costs.
However, please note that customized and engraved items cannot be returned, so make sure you are happy with this before you buy.
If an item is damaged, don’t be surprised if you lose money. The Leatherman guarantee is 25 years from the date of purchase. This should last you a while.
If you contact customer service and want a refund, all you need is the following:
the original packaging
instruction leaflet
Returned product
That’s it! Customer Service will provide you with the return address. Just send it off and wait for the refund to appear on the original account.
How to Contact Leatherman
Would you like to have a personal conversation with the company after reading this Leatherman test report? No problem, because this brand has not one, but two phone numbers and an email address to get in touch with you. Phone hours are from 6am to 5pm, so check the times before you call:
- Phone: 503-253-7826
- Toll number: 800-847-8665
- E-mail: info@leatherman.com
