Leatherman Wave Alpha – Everything You Need to Know 

It’s been a busy year for Leatherman! This summer they announced a new knife line made in an all-new knife factory they added to the Leatherman campus. If that wasn’t enough, they also announced a brand-new multitool – the Leatherman Wave Alpha. 

Now I can already hear you say "The Leatherman Wave is nothing new, it’s been out since the Bush administration! Don’t you know anything?" 

Well, when I first saw the Wave Alpha, I had a similar thought. But the more I’ve gotten to know it, the more I can see it as its own tool. Today, I’m going to tell you all about the Wave Alpha, how it differs from the Wave+, and why it’s so special. Let’s jump in! 

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Leatherman Wave Alpha 833332

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$199.95 From Blade HQ

• Blade Length: 2.89"

What is the Leatherman Wave Alpha? 

The Wave Alpha is a pliers-based multitool which, on the surface, appears much like the Leatherman Wave+. But it’s got quite a bit going on in behind the scenes! 

Instead of giving you a wall of text, I’ll break down its big features in a bulleted list below. 

• CPM MagnaCut reverse tanto knife with thumb stud opener. This also makes the blade a fair bit more narrow, more on why that’s important later. 
• New, bigger, and more rubust scissors, accessible from the outside! 
• Milled and contoured G-10 handle scales for a more comfortable grip. 
• Diamond file and wood saw, like on other Leatherman tools. 
• Replaceable large and small bit drivers. 
• Large flat-head screwdriver.
• Can opener/wire stripper combo tool. 
• Plier head with replaceable wire cutters.
• All-new stitching awl/reamer.

From what I’ve seen, the Wave Alpha is a great multitool for just about anything. Carry it everyday, throw it in your bugout bag, keep it in your glovebox, etc. Its toolset and build quality lend it well to just about anything you can get mixed up in. 

How does the Leatherman Wave Alpha differ from the Wave+? 

The two tools look very similar, but there are some meaningful differences to be aware of. 

• The Handle: Instead of a full stamped steel handle like you get on the Wave, the Wave Alpha has milled G-10 handle scales. They bring character and round out the handle for more comfortable use, especially when using the knife, saw, and file. 
• The Blade: The Alpha swaps the 420HC drop point blade for a MagnaCut reverse tanto blade. We have an entire article on why MagnaCut is important, but for now, rest assured that MagnaCut is a serious upgrade in steel. It’s also DLC-coated and uses a thumb stud instead of a thumb hole.  
• The Scissors: Leatherman designed new scissors from the ground up for the Wave Alpha. They have the longest cutting surface of any pliers-based Leatherman tool and are now accessible from the outside. It’s worth mentioning that the new scissors replace the serrated blade from the Wave+. 
• The Awl: In place of the scissors on the inside, the Alpha buffed the awl a ton, giving you more edge, and wide body, and a stitching eye. There’s also a large lanyard loop you can fold out if you prefer. 
• Thumb hole openers on the saw and the file for one-hand operation. 
• The Hardware: Instead of the tamper-resistant TORX hardware of the original Wave, the Alpha has standard TORX! As a knife nerd who likes clean and oiled pivots, this is a godsend! 

But make no mistake: if you are used to the Wave, the Wave Alpha will feel familiar. It operates in much the same way, is roughly the same size, and has a similar, albeit more premium, toolset. 

Is the Leatherman Wave Alpha worth it? 

I think it definitely is for some people, while others might not value its upgrades. Luckily, the good ole’ Wave+ is still in production, and everyone can be happy here. 

I think the Wave Alpha is the best choice for people who use multitools a ton, and for anyone who appreciates ultra-modern engineering and design. If you’re a tradesman and you’re using your tool all day long, you’ll be grateful for the extra edge retention on the blade and cutting power of the scissors. You’ll also enjoy how much thicker and more comfortable to use the G-10 handle scales are.  

But if your Leatherman is likely to spend its days in a toolbox and only pulled out when little home repairs are needed, the Wave+ will probably be the pick. You’re unlikely to use the knife, scissors, or pliers enough to justify the extra $80 the Alpha. 

While the Alpha may look like the Wave+, it’s got a lot different going on under the hood. The Wave+ is made with a progressive die stamp, while the Alpha has an internal die-stamped frame and milled scale. It’s a more comfortable handle, but it just takes more processes, materials, and time to make. The 420HC blade on the Wave+ can be stamped, but the MagnaCut on the Alpha must be lasered out, which is more expensive. The list goes on. These upgrades are more than just material. They come with a host of additional manufacturing processes, and that drives the price up. To some, myself included, it’s worth it. If it’s not worth it to you, the Wave+ is still available! 

Other Helpful Context 

With the release of the Wave Alpha, Leatherman has discontinued the Charge series. For those unfamiliar, the Charge was sort of an upgrade to the Wave. Instead of a full-stamped steel handle, the Charge had polymer, titanium, or G-10 handles depending on the model. Instead of a 420HC blade, it had CPM S30V. It also had a belt cutter on the serrated blade for extra utility. The Wave Alpha seems to have taken the Charge’s place as the luxury alternative to the Wave, and I’m here for it. My first knife ever was the Charge TTi when I was a kid, and I know it well, and I believe the Wave Alpha is the superior tool.  

And in case you were wondering, the Wave Alpha costs the same as what the Charge TTi did, but with some serious upgrades. That shows that this isn’t just a cash grab, but a thoughtfully and competitively priced tool. 

The Pinch 

If you’ve carried a Leatherman Wave for a while, you’ve probably experienced "Leatherman Pinch." If you haven’t, it’s when you’re gripping down with the Leatherman pliers, something slips, and the pliers shut forcefully with the meat of your hand getting caught between the spines of the blades. Let me tell you, it hurts real bad. I even have a scar from it. Leatherman pinch is not a joke, Jim! Millions of families suffer every year! 

That was, at least, until the Wave Alpha. The removal of the protruding thumb holes, swapping in a thumb stud, flush-fit scissors, and thicker handle scales means the gap between the blades is much wider, and thus far less likely to pinch you. And if it does, it won’t hurt near as much.  

As someone who’s carried either a Wave or a Charge for almost 20 years, I do not say the following lightly: The Leatherman pinch solution, to me, is worth far more than $80. If they made a Wave with no upgrades whatsoever except the thumb stud on the blade and the scissors on the exterior, I’d happily pay $80 more for it. Leatherman pinch hurts that bad. 

The Verdict 

The Leatherman Wave Alpha is a really nice multitool. It’s a solid upgrade from the Wave+, and a fair bit cheaper than the ARC. It fits nicely between the price points, but delivers a ton of useful tools and meaningful upgrades. I really enjoy the color options, and it’s my favorite Leatherman multitool to use the knife on thanks to the handle. 

And what I really appreciate is that this is a love letter to the community. People have been asking for many of these changes for a while now, and Leatherman delivered. But they didn’t deliver at the expense of the more economical tools that made them great – you can still get the Wave+, Rebar, Curl, and tons of other great tools for a great deal. But for you discerning tool enthusiasts, the kind of people who read the Blade HQ blog, the Wave Alpha is for you!