Hey Justin Great review. I carried the Leatherman 300 Super tool for years. When the Rebar Model came out I have fallen in love with it and bought 2. The Rebar is much lighter than the 300 and can do all the same things. I’m a mobile Commercial Equipment Repair man and Machine Installer. You need the heavy duty strength of the Rebar yet it’s light wait. As a professional mechanic the Phillips head and the tools the Rebar has far out ways the comfort of the Wave. You usually only use a multi-tool for a few seconds. Good job on the comparison. 👍
I love my Rebar. I've always thought it was a better choice for me. Simple tough tools that work in the field. I always carry a pocket clip knife in addition to my Rebar
It’s as a solid performer for sure! But having that clipped knife is almost a must for me to work out. Otherwise I’m always wanting that one handed opening blade!
The Leatherman Rebar is better than the Wave+. The Rebar is cheaper, lighter, and more robust. The scissors on the Wave+ are basically useless for anything but for thread snipping. Moreover, having to buy and carry bits for the Wave+ only adds to the cost and to the weight. The Wave+ and bit kit costs the same as two Rebars! I'd rather have two Rebars than one Wave+.
For me the only 2 cases where the wave is better is if you really need the knife often and you can't use 2 hands or if you need a lot of bits so you will buy the bit kit for sure. I have both, the wave is my edc and the Rebar is in my "Repair kit"
I carry my rebar with a swiss climber, so thats where my decent scissors are and i have a spare blade for food. Still lighter then a wave. So compact. Love it. Also waves outside blades are illegal in australia so that sucks too. Makes the rebar even more relevant.
Sometimes I forget how much of a feature the compact size and lightweight of the rebar is. I honestly find myself rocking a pioneer x and a Knipex cobra XS a lot these days because the Vics really are amazing
Rebar in my bag and micra in my pocket is a great combo which gives you scissors and more delicate tools like tweasers & nail file, I believe they used to sell them as a pair.
I carry the Supertool 300 with me for work along with the bit adapter and bits. But off work I carry either my Wave+ or my rebar. One of those multitools is always on my hip.
The Supertool 300 was my first high quality Leatherman. It got a lot of stuff done for a long time! I also prefer the wave+/charge+ for average days though.
You nailed this. I have both, since it always takes me time (and money) to figure out what I want in a tool. I found that I typically reach for my Leatherman for one of two reasons - the pliers or the screwdrivers. I prefer the pliers on the Wave, they're easier to deploy and, as you point out, feel better in the hand. But, although I have the complete bit set and extension for the Wave's bit driver, I really don't want to carry all that stuff as EDC, and at any rate I really dislike using the Philips bit. So, I'm willing to trade off the slightly less user-friendly pliers on the Rebar for the more robust Philips screwdriver. Plus, the 2 oz. weight savings is nice. I also carry a folder, and a Victorinox Rambler (for those great scissors) as well as its fine point Philips. Thanks!
Oh man have I spent a lot of time and money figuring out what I like in a tool! But honestly that journey is a blast! I feel you on the bit driver. I’ve gone the route of the rebar/super tool many times over that! Plus the rambler is amazing!
@@archec8182 Not so much for me. The Curl still has the bit driver which, as I noted, I don't prefer to the Rebar's Philips. Then there's those somewhat cheezy scissors, and non-replaceable wire cutters. The diamond file might be a plus over the Rebar's file for some folks, but not for me. For my needs, the Rebar is more capable than the Curl and costs less. And, since I already have a Wave+, the Curl brings nothing to the table. Good thing Leatherman makes lots of models for us to choose from. To each his own.
I couldn't decide, so I just got them both lol. The Wave is nicer and more ergonomic to use, but the Rebar has nice robust traditional Leatherman tools in there. The Wave will be my weekend EDC and the Rebar will be my workday EDC, I guess.
One note, these tool sets are only final if you want the warranty. I know the secondary market for replacement tools, pliers and even handles for both tools. Maxlevel edc (I think) did a video of modifying the rebar which I may do to my knife-less rebar due to the 3D Phillips being loose while stored and the blade and serrated edge are $32 off eBay from the prices I’ve seen (could be knock off, that is why research is in order).
Definitely true. On that note, I think the rebar and ST300 are probably the better candidates for mods. I swapped out the rebar pliers onto my charge+ but I'm battling getting the charge pliers onto the rebar. I may have screwed the pooch on this one!
I've carried the Wave+ as part of my EDC for awhile. I just purchased a Rebar because I really like the tool set and wanted to give it a try. I really don't use the small eyeglass driver and don't carry the bit kit with my Wave just to keep the weight down so I wanted to test out the trade off. I have a Gerber Centerdrive with the bit kit and it's great too but really a heavy one on the belt with everything in the pouch. As for scissors I'm like many I carry a Micra or a SAK type knife on my key chain always so not having them on the multitool isn't a real issue. I love the Wave but the Rebar is growing on me. Liked your video and I subscribed, good comparison. Don't know if the Rebar will replace my Wave as my EDC but I'm going to carry it for a few weeks and test/break it in and see how it goes. That was the other thing, the Rebar when I unboxed it was SO stiff I thought maybe there was a problem but I cleaned it with WD40 and oiled it and worked it, opening and closing it for a whole evening while watching TV and it started loosening up nicely. So anyone buying one be aware of that if yours is really stiff. Anyway, great video, keep it up.
Definitely share similar feelings! My first quality Leatherman was a Supertool 300 I picked up from a coworker. That thing was so broken in, it was basically a balisong! I did A LOT of stuff with that guy and carried it daily. Then I got a charge when I started working at a plant to have something lighter and smaller. But 90% of the time I've carried a charge I neither carried the bit kit nor used the eyeglass screwdriver. I liked it but it didn't have that magic I fell in love with using the ST300. So I got a rebar to have that same feeling in the smaller package but it was so tight right away and it just made me miss my ST300! I think if they had been reversed (i.e. got the Rebar from the coworker) then I would like the Rebar more but I alwasy find myself going back to the ST300. Thanks for watching and commenting! Cheers!
I love my Rebar. Even though I do miss a scissor, a knife can do most things a small scissor can. The size of the rebar makes it possible to really EDC this thing. The Rebar is small enough to fit in the coin/watch/useless pocket on most jeans, which makes it very easy to pocket carry even without a pocketclip.
It's a REALLY heavy hitter for its cost, size and weight! For a long time I said the same thing about scissors but now with a wife and kids having super good scissors is a must. It's super easy to get them though in a 58mm SAK classic for $16 and stick them on the keychain so it's not a huge deal if my LM is missing them.
I have a wave, and the only thing I don't like about it is the design of the scissors. On more than one occasion I've almost cut my thumb when deploying them (by forgetting that they are in an open position with an exposed blade on the end, and pushing the end with my thumb). Sure this is mostly user error, but I still consider it sub-optimal design (I wish they were like the victorinox scissors). I like the look of the rebar. I might have to get one.
I have the Leatherman Wave+ and Knifeless Rebar. Before owning these two tools I carried a Swiss Army Cybertool M. I needed something heavier duty. The Rebar is awesome for times when I can’t have a blade on me. In these situations I almost always want something lighter. 90% of the time I pickup my Wave+. That is the only tool I will usually carry on me. It has the perfect toolset for my needs. I love the plier head, bit exchanger, and outside accessible knife. Where I volunteer, I usually need to fix/adjust things. I rarely will find the tool I need around me. Having the Wave+ means I will always have the tool I need with me. Both tools are great and I would be satisfied carrying either one. I have not use the regular Rebar, but I assume it will be just as good as the knifeless model.
There is a reason the Wave remains as Leatherman's best seller! I carry the charge everyday now that I'm just working from home and it's perfect for the odd jobs around the house. That's the beauty of having multiple multitools though, the "best" one changes over time right along with our daily routines.
Own both and like both. However, I prefer the rebar. I'm not a scissors guy and I don't like the flattened wave bits or the precision eyeglass screwdriver on the wave. Rebar has just the right toolset for me and a reamer that I like. 7 oz is my cutoff for weight. Rebar is under that. Rebar is more compact. Rebar has the classic clamshell Leatherman style. I don't need one hand opening and I do pocket carry, not clip or belt carry. I would say the rebar is more my garden yardwork pocket tool and wave is more for house/mechanical technical chores. But I can see why people love the wave.
Thanks for the comparison...very helpful! Seems like the Rebar gives you alot for the money, but the design could benefit from some refinement. That 3D phillips is awesome! And it's good to see an awl on a lower-cost Leatherman finally. But like you said, the downsides are mainly the plier grips aren't as comfortable and all the tools are on the inside. One thing that didn't get mentioned is that all the Rebar tools work with the locking mechanism. That's a real plus if you're using them hard. Ideally, I'd like to see a multi-tool that combines the benefits of the Wave & the Rebar together.
The awl and the 3D Philips are the highlights for me as well and honestly it’s the best all around value out there. Size and weight are great too but I still gravitate toward the wave for the comfort and the diamond file. The original wave didn’t lock up but the gen 2 and wave + are 100% locking so they’re tied there.
@@EngineersPerspective701 There really is no one-size-fits-all here, but some are definitely better than others. I think the Rebar fits my needs best right now. Your video helped me decide this will likely be my next multi-tool. Thanks again!
@@solidaudioTV Favorite part about multitools is the process of finding what works best at that time! Supplementing to shore up shortfalls, etc. Appreciate the feedback, enjoy!
Rebar and a Squirt S4 are perfect compliments to each other. Only scissors I've found that can actually give Victorinox a run for their money. Don't know why they're so much better than the micra, but they definitely are.
My perfect multitool would be a rebar with scissors which doesn't exist... I have 2006 wave and also rebar, switch back and forth, use them quite equally. You did good talk and comparison here 👍☕
Thank you for watching! Leatherman does have a knifeless Rebar that includes scissors! Of course that's a pretty big compromise. www.leatherman.com/knifeless-rebar-465.html
The micro driver on the Wave is useless to me, it would.be way better with an awl or the package cutter from the Rev. But I do prefer the bit exchanger the Wave.
I have been carrying a Gerber MP600 for years. I do industrial HVAC work and put that thing through hell and it held up. I recently lost it. I feel lost without it lol. The prices have jumped up so much on the MP600 I don’t think it would be worth going with over a leatherman now. I think I gave $30 for it now they are $70. After lots of research, including this video, I think I’m going to go with the Rebar. The lack of scissors doesn’t bother me. I carry a Maglite Solitaire and Leatherman Style CS on my keychain. The scissors on the CS are really great. I normally carry either a small folder in my pocket or a small 2” fixed blade on my belt so the lack of an outside blade doesn’t matter either. I made it 7-8 years without one on the MP600 and it was never an issue. The one thing I am concerned about is the lack of one hand open pliers. A lot of times when I reached for my Gerber I was holding something and needed my pliers and didn’t want to let go to bend down to my tool bag. That’s the biggest concern I have going from the MP600 to the Rebar. The one handed plier opening was really awesome. Sorry for the novel 😂.
Appreciate the novel! With a LOT of breaking in you may be able to get the Rebar to one hand open but definitely a missing feature. It is a great tool!
I can confirm. I have a Super Tool 300 that have EDCed for over ten years. Mine broke in perfectly and I can balisong the pliers open and closed with one hand. The Rebar is a mini Super Tool 300. I have no doubts it would also break in the same way. My rebar is still stiff. I got it for $40 on sale, brand new. I miss those sweet deals. For the money you might also consider getting a Gerber Center Drive. You can usually find one for around $70 at Walmart. I also have one of those and I like it. It is bulkier and heavier. So it may not be your style. The bit driver is fantastic.
@@mackjones7688 ST300 breaks in amazing! I even tightened mine a bit after a few years. The Rebar being smaller and lighter doesn't "whip" as easily but I think with time and effort it could be as nice as a broken in ST300.
@@mackjones7688 man when the Centerdrive came out I was stoked! That driver is the perfect carry for my job. After watching some reviews I have serious doubts that carbide cutter would handle what I put my MP600 through.
@@Triaz357 You are right about the carbide cutter. If you read the packaging and information included with the center drive or just common sense. You would find out that without a quality steel cutter. You CANNOT cut thick materials with it. AT ALL. The cutters will shatter. Gerber didn't design them to compete with Leatherman. Surprisingly enough. If some brilliant aftermarket manufacturer made a 154 CM cutter to replace the carbide. You could get a lot more performance out of them. As is, solid copper core wire or fish hooks. That's what it's designed to handle. No ten penny nails. That aside. The tool is great and I enjoy carrying it. I made my own bit kit to go in the sheath. My Walmart version didn't come with one. Which makes sense at $70. Amazon and a Hart bit set fixed my problem cheap. Bit holder is about $1.75 each and I found one that fits perfectly.
I want to love the Wave, but I’ve been bitten too many times and I just can’t trust it. When the pliers are deployed, it is too easy to pinch your hand between the back of the blade and the back of the saw or file. The Rebar doesn’t bite, so it gets more time on the belt. Rebar + Vic Compact = near perfect tool set.
Totally legitimate. Only twice have I bit myself real bad with the Wave but one of them was REALY bad. Now I naturally hold it lower so no problems for quite a while though. Big yes vote from me on the Rebar + Compact combo for sure!
Great comparison thanks. I have old wave, rebar and Victorinox spirit x. And victorinox compact (for scissors). But carry wave less because i have the bit kit and extension tool - and this makes it too heavy so it becomes an additional toolbox! Therefore I mainly carry the spirit x because it's more compact and user- friendly. Carry on thr good work my friend.
@@konnorwerth4906I got surge wave and super tool 300m. I really been enjoying my 300m it’s so much lighter and very capable. I carry it in a RAE gear metal holder. Now I got a rebar on the way because Iv been enjoying the bigger version a lot(300m)
I have a wave plus recently I changed out the pliers for the rebar ones it looks like a mini surge and it performs way better than the original ones (better grip)
Awesome vid. I love my rebar. I wished it came with scissors over the awl which is why I carry my Classic SD on my set of keys for when I need it. Also, where can I find the adapter for the bit exchanger on the rebar? I never knew that was an option.
Honestly, the classic scissors WREAK the leatherman scissors so I'd say it's a worthwhile upgrade. Bit adapter found here. www.leatherman.com/removable-bit-driver-931012.html?gclid=CjwKCAjwqvyFBhB7EiwAER786acq1HZGlQjP7Pzh9YnrS4COXFzpGZn9wwkzPjI_KZNsOAof9ewaUhoC9PMQAvD_BwE
I’m guessing you meant Rebar not Surge! I think “way more robust” is quite the stretch. Both have notable flex especially compared to their heavy duty brethren. Realistically I’d say it’s a wash between the two
I would love to have multitool with the same tools Rebar has, but accessible from outside. Rebar isn't perfect multitool to me, but it is the closes thing to it from Leatherman products.
Same, Here in the UK with our laws i carry the knifeless Rebar and Micra for work, and just the Micra on the keyring when out not needing heavy Rebar gear. Rebar certainly very stiff when new as others have said. Lots of v light lubricant with ptfe and plenty of opening and closing and it is getting better.
Great review on these two impressive tools. I had a question for anyone with knowledge that can shed some light. I'm considering buying either a Wave Plus or Rebar, my intentions are to use them when going camping. I saw a video that said that the Rebar has a more comfortable hold when using the saw or knife (which I plan on using the most when out in the woods). Can someone confirm this? I feel that the only tool I'd really be missing are the scissors however, I do own a small pocket knife from Cutco that have scissors and work decently. Any input is much appreciated. Thank you.
Appreciate the comment! The Rebar does have a more comfortable handle in the closed position while using the knife and saw. The difference isn't as huge as you would expect but it is there and I think it would become more pronounced with heavy wood carving. Hope this helps! Also, maybe consider checking out some Victorinox tools with scissors if you need an upgrade to the ones you have.
In my case I use it for EDC and over time I realized that the lighter and more compact the multitool was, the easier it would be to always carry it with me, even so, something I don't like at all is having to open it to use the knife.@@EngineersPerspective701
One of the important features to measure these two tools against one another are the materials of construction. In this case they are the same. But you should have mentioned it.
@@EngineersPerspective701 You and I know that the materials of construction Are the same which I believe is 440 h c stainless. But do you think your audience knows that??? I would venture a guess that most people do not. That's why I suggested to you going forward that the materials of construction Be mentioned because it significantly impacts the price and performance of the tools, And I think you would agree on this point.
Maybe I’m soft but I just bought a rebar for my bf and have been trying it out and I’m always scared I’ll stab or pinch myself while opening/closing 😅 it’s pretty stiff out of the box, is that normal?
Nice work on the great gift! Unfortunately the pliers do tend to by pretty stiff out the gate. Accessing the internal tools shouldn’t be too bad though. If you two run into significant problems there are a few videos out there for freeing them up a bit. Maxlvledc may be a place to start
I'd like the rebar more except for the poor knife access. The wave changed everything when they introduced the design. If you use your pliers more than your knife, maybe its fine, but thats not my experince. I don't want to carry 2 knives.
I like the tools on the inside. i once had my wave in my rucksack and sticking my had in it I cut myself on the blade that opened. luckily nothing bad, bandage saved the day, but it could have been much worse. so since 5-6 years I carry the rebar.
Watching multitool review videos has become almost a hobby for me. I've yet to see a tool that makes me want to put my Wave or Surge in a drawer. I wouldn't steal a Rebar or Supertool, much less buy one..
I go through cycles of what topic I'm addicted to! The wave/surge are great but I really have to say the ST300 brings some great stuff to the table and is worth a try.
Did I mention it in the video? I thought I said something about the rounded handles on the wave vs. the rebar style. But I think you are exaggerating quite a bit unless you've got paper skin brother
@@EngineersPerspective701 Maybe it is because the i got the knifeless rebar but if you squeeze it you are littarly squeezing either the top of a .8mm saw that is not rounded or if you turn it around you are squeezing the top of the file. Maybe i don't have paper hands maybe i actually use my tools ;].
Definitivamente la Rebar, es un pequeño tanque de batalla, compacto y hecho para darle caña. Tal vez menos funcional que la Wave, pero más confiable a largo plazo.
Agreed that the rebar is the more robust tool and some of the inner tools are better at what they do overall. Outside accessible tools and comfortable handles are really the Wave's strengths but functionally it probably looses to the rebar.
The Wave has almost unusable medium size flat screwdriver and Phillips screwdriver, since their adaptor is too wide and too short. The scissors rather belong in a manicure than in a multitool because it can easily be substituted by the knife in most cases. The ruler is almost illegible on the Wave, whereas on the Rebar its just perfect. The pliers are much wider and better to use in the Rebar, while the needle nose crap in the Wave is unstable and too narrow. In general, the Rebar is much steadier and efficient. I also highly appreciate the Rebar's awl, which is completely missing in the Wave. The Wave is more fashionable than usable. By the way, the price should never be mentioned in reviews. The price is not a function - you don't use the price to cut wires or so, do you. Every average man can afford any multitool he needs, so I find it stupid to take a few bucks into consideration.
The first thing I do is toss out the factory bit and put in their PH2-3 bit that works much better. Still lacks reach but much more useable. I’ve gotten a lot of work done with my Leatherman charge so I really don’t align with your thoughts but we all have different perspectives. The rebar is a great tool though, no doubt about that!
I honestly don't understand why some people prefer the Rebar. I have both and the Wave+ is superior in every way. Other than the cost I don't see why the Rebar is better. The tools on the Rebar is very difficult to open, there is no outside accessible tools and it's hella uncomfortable to hold due to the edges as well.
@@EngineersPerspective701 If you will take both rebar and wave, and you will throw both for example on concrete i presume that rebar will be less damaged. It's construction issue. Anyway all multitools have some advantages and disadvantages.
Fixed drivers are definitely miles ahead but there are definitely some advantages to the bit holder. If I’ve been using the screw driver a lot for a few days I’ll switch out to the ST300 for awhile just for that driver
Leatherman warrenty sucks. Bought a wave plus and out of the box one of the screw heads was broken from a replaceble cutterhead. Contacted them and gave me an adres is should contact tobhave it fixed and they said it was not possible and probebly fake i have box a receipt it is not fucking fake. Told me they will have a look if ibshipped at my own costs but they will probebly charge me to fix. Never a leatherman again.
Sorry to hear that. I’ve actually had only good experiences so I can’t corroborate your experience. I broke the screw for the replicable cutters on my rebar and sent it in. They removed the broken screw, replaced it and the cutters, then sent it back in good shape.
@@EngineersPerspective701 Whish i had that experience. i tinker with small electronics and i use wire cutters and pliers most of the time. had the fuse for years and thought the reachability of the knife was a great upgrade. but now its just an expensive brick in my drawer since i can not get the screw out and i just take another multi tool with me al the time.
@@RodisOne if you have a small drill bit and a drill press you could drill out the screw very carefully. Good potential to ruin it but it’s not doing much at this point anyways!
I would get the wave then disassemble the tool and swap the flathead for the rebars awl (if it fits..) It's redundant to have the flat head when you already have the interchangeable bits drive, unless the wave's flathead makes a very good prying bar
The flathead is pretty wimpy for prying. I usually use the #2-#3 philips in mine so I personally need the flathead though. I tried to swap the eyeglass screwdriver with the awl but it didn't fit. Should have checked first
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Hey Justin
Great review. I carried the Leatherman 300 Super tool for years. When the Rebar Model came out I have fallen in love with it and bought 2. The Rebar is much lighter than the 300 and can do all the same things.
I’m a mobile Commercial Equipment Repair man and Machine Installer. You need the heavy duty strength of the Rebar yet it’s light wait. As a professional mechanic the Phillips head and the tools the Rebar has far out ways the comfort of the Wave. You usually only use a multi-tool for a few seconds. Good job on the comparison. 👍
Appreciate the comment! Reassuring to get positive feedback from those that have really put their tools to the test
I love my Rebar. I've always thought it was a better choice for me. Simple tough tools that work in the field. I always carry a pocket clip knife in addition to my Rebar
It’s as a solid performer for sure! But having that clipped knife is almost a must for me to work out. Otherwise I’m always wanting that one handed opening blade!
Very well done. Thank you for the review.
Appreciate the comment!
The Leatherman Rebar is better than the Wave+. The Rebar is cheaper, lighter, and more robust. The scissors on the Wave+ are basically useless for anything but for thread snipping. Moreover, having to buy and carry bits for the Wave+ only adds to the cost and to the weight. The Wave+ and bit kit costs the same as two Rebars! I'd rather have two Rebars than one Wave+.
A lot of very good points there!
For me the only 2 cases where the wave is better is if you really need the knife often and you can't use 2 hands or if you need a lot of bits so you will buy the bit kit for sure. I have both, the wave is my edc and the Rebar is in my "Repair kit"
I carry my rebar with a swiss climber, so thats where my decent scissors are and i have a spare blade for food. Still lighter then a wave. So compact. Love it. Also waves outside blades are illegal in australia so that sucks too. Makes the rebar even more relevant.
Sometimes I forget how much of a feature the compact size and lightweight of the rebar is. I honestly find myself rocking a pioneer x and a Knipex cobra XS a lot these days because the Vics really are amazing
Rebar in my bag and micra in my pocket is a great combo which gives you scissors and more delicate tools like tweasers & nail file, I believe they used to sell them as a pair.
I carry the Supertool 300 with me for work along with the bit adapter and bits. But off work I carry either my Wave+ or my rebar. One of those multitools is always on my hip.
The Supertool 300 was my first high quality Leatherman. It got a lot of stuff done for a long time! I also prefer the wave+/charge+ for average days though.
You nailed this.
I have both, since it always takes me time (and money) to figure out what I want in a tool. I found that I typically reach for my Leatherman for one of two reasons - the pliers or the screwdrivers. I prefer the pliers on the Wave, they're easier to deploy and, as you point out, feel better in the hand. But, although I have the complete bit set and extension for the Wave's bit driver, I really don't want to carry all that stuff as EDC, and at any rate I really dislike using the Philips bit. So, I'm willing to trade off the slightly less user-friendly pliers on the Rebar for the more robust Philips screwdriver. Plus, the 2 oz. weight savings is nice. I also carry a folder, and a Victorinox Rambler (for those great scissors) as well as its fine point Philips.
Thanks!
Oh man have I spent a lot of time and money figuring out what I like in a tool! But honestly that journey is a blast!
I feel you on the bit driver. I’ve gone the route of the rebar/super tool many times over that!
Plus the rambler is amazing!
The answers is Curl. :)
@@archec8182
Not so much for me. The Curl still has the bit driver which, as I noted, I don't prefer to the Rebar's Philips. Then there's those somewhat cheezy scissors, and non-replaceable wire cutters. The diamond file might be a plus over the Rebar's file for some folks, but not for me. For my needs, the Rebar is more capable than the Curl and costs less. And, since I already have a Wave+, the Curl brings nothing to the table.
Good thing Leatherman makes lots of models for us to choose from. To each his own.
Gonna get the Rebar with a small keychain Victorinox Midnite Mini Champ w/ scissors, flashlight and ballpen.
Seems to be great complimentary EDC.
For sure! Lots of capability packed in there!
I couldn't decide, so I just got them both lol. The Wave is nicer and more ergonomic to use, but the Rebar has nice robust traditional Leatherman tools in there. The Wave will be my weekend EDC and the Rebar will be my workday EDC, I guess.
Can’t go wrong that way!
One note, these tool sets are only final if you want the warranty. I know the secondary market for replacement tools, pliers and even handles for both tools. Maxlevel edc (I think) did a video of modifying the rebar which I may do to my knife-less rebar due to the 3D Phillips being loose while stored and the blade and serrated edge are $32 off eBay from the prices I’ve seen (could be knock off, that is why research is in order).
Definitely true. On that note, I think the rebar and ST300 are probably the better candidates for mods.
I swapped out the rebar pliers onto my charge+ but I'm battling getting the charge pliers onto the rebar. I may have screwed the pooch on this one!
I've carried the Wave+ as part of my EDC for awhile. I just purchased a Rebar because I really like the tool set and wanted to give it a try. I really don't use the small eyeglass driver and don't carry the bit kit with my Wave just to keep the weight down so I wanted to test out the trade off. I have a Gerber Centerdrive with the bit kit and it's great too but really a heavy one on the belt with everything in the pouch. As for scissors I'm like many I carry a Micra or a SAK type knife on my key chain always so not having them on the multitool isn't a real issue. I love the Wave but the Rebar is growing on me. Liked your video and I subscribed, good comparison. Don't know if the Rebar will replace my Wave as my EDC but I'm going to carry it for a few weeks and test/break it in and see how it goes. That was the other thing, the Rebar when I unboxed it was SO stiff I thought maybe there was a problem but I cleaned it with WD40 and oiled it and worked it, opening and closing it for a whole evening while watching TV and it started loosening up nicely. So anyone buying one be aware of that if yours is really stiff. Anyway, great video, keep it up.
Definitely share similar feelings! My first quality Leatherman was a Supertool 300 I picked up from a coworker. That thing was so broken in, it was basically a balisong! I did A LOT of stuff with that guy and carried it daily.
Then I got a charge when I started working at a plant to have something lighter and smaller. But 90% of the time I've carried a charge I neither carried the bit kit nor used the eyeglass screwdriver. I liked it but it didn't have that magic I fell in love with using the ST300.
So I got a rebar to have that same feeling in the smaller package but it was so tight right away and it just made me miss my ST300! I think if they had been reversed (i.e. got the Rebar from the coworker) then I would like the Rebar more but I alwasy find myself going back to the ST300.
Thanks for watching and commenting! Cheers!
The small eyeglasses screwdriver always makes me hesitate with the wave plus its kind of useless in every day
I love my Rebar. Even though I do miss a scissor, a knife can do most things a small scissor can.
The size of the rebar makes it possible to really EDC this thing.
The Rebar is small enough to fit in the coin/watch/useless pocket on most jeans, which makes it very easy to pocket carry even without a pocketclip.
It's a REALLY heavy hitter for its cost, size and weight! For a long time I said the same thing about scissors but now with a wife and kids having super good scissors is a must. It's super easy to get them though in a 58mm SAK classic for $16 and stick them on the keychain so it's not a huge deal if my LM is missing them.
I have a wave, and the only thing I don't like about it is the design of the scissors. On more than one occasion I've almost cut my thumb when deploying them (by forgetting that they are in an open position with an exposed blade on the end, and pushing the end with my thumb). Sure this is mostly user error, but I still consider it sub-optimal design (I wish they were like the victorinox scissors).
I like the look of the rebar. I might have to get one.
They get the job done usually but sub-optimal is a great description of them. Love Vic scissors
I have the Leatherman Wave+ and Knifeless Rebar. Before owning these two tools I carried a Swiss Army Cybertool M. I needed something heavier duty. The Rebar is awesome for times when I can’t have a blade on me. In these situations I almost always want something lighter. 90% of the time I pickup my Wave+. That is the only tool I will usually carry on me. It has the perfect toolset for my needs. I love the plier head, bit exchanger, and outside accessible knife. Where I volunteer, I usually need to fix/adjust things. I rarely will find the tool I need around me. Having the Wave+ means I will always have the tool I need with me.
Both tools are great and I would be satisfied carrying either one. I have not use the regular Rebar, but I assume it will be just as good as the knifeless model.
There is a reason the Wave remains as Leatherman's best seller! I carry the charge everyday now that I'm just working from home and it's perfect for the odd jobs around the house. That's the beauty of having multiple multitools though, the "best" one changes over time right along with our daily routines.
Own both and like both. However, I prefer the rebar. I'm not a scissors guy and I don't like the flattened wave bits or the precision eyeglass screwdriver on the wave. Rebar has just the right toolset for me and a reamer that I like. 7 oz is my cutoff for weight. Rebar is under that. Rebar is more compact. Rebar has the classic clamshell Leatherman style. I don't need one hand opening and I do pocket carry, not clip or belt carry. I would say the rebar is more my garden yardwork pocket tool and wave is more for house/mechanical technical chores. But I can see why people love the wave.
Rebar is a solid choice for sure!
Thanks for the comparison...very helpful! Seems like the Rebar gives you alot for the money, but the design could benefit from some refinement. That 3D phillips is awesome! And it's good to see an awl on a lower-cost Leatherman finally. But like you said, the downsides are mainly the plier grips aren't as comfortable and all the tools are on the inside. One thing that didn't get mentioned is that all the Rebar tools work with the locking mechanism. That's a real plus if you're using them hard. Ideally, I'd like to see a multi-tool that combines the benefits of the Wave & the Rebar together.
The awl and the 3D Philips are the highlights for me as well and honestly it’s the best all around value out there. Size and weight are great too but I still gravitate toward the wave for the comfort and the diamond file.
The original wave didn’t lock up but the gen 2 and wave + are 100% locking so they’re tied there.
@@EngineersPerspective701 There really is no one-size-fits-all here, but some are definitely better than others. I think the Rebar fits my needs best right now. Your video helped me decide this will likely be my next multi-tool. Thanks again!
@@solidaudioTV Favorite part about multitools is the process of finding what works best at that time! Supplementing to shore up shortfalls, etc. Appreciate the feedback, enjoy!
Rebar/ST300 all day, every day!
They’re definitely hard hitters!
They both are fantasic tools. I can't imagine being without them.
Hey gives us a how to sharpen drill bits with a wave or surge...
It’s super useful if you work a lot with metal. Saved the day numerous times
Rebar and a Squirt S4 are perfect compliments to each other. Only scissors I've found that can actually give Victorinox a run for their money. Don't know why they're so much better than the micra, but they definitely are.
Sometimes you get a Leatherman scissor where they really got the pin tension right and that seems to make a big difference
My perfect multitool would be a rebar with scissors which doesn't exist... I have 2006 wave and also rebar, switch back and forth, use them quite equally. You did good talk and comparison here 👍☕
Thank you for watching! Leatherman does have a knifeless Rebar that includes scissors! Of course that's a pretty big compromise.
www.leatherman.com/knifeless-rebar-465.html
@@EngineersPerspective701 yeah but my rebar must also have knives LOL. I could sacrifice file though :))
@@blizzbee Sounds like you’re ready to start modding!
The micro driver on the Wave is useless to me, it would.be way better with an awl or the package cutter from the Rev. But I do prefer the bit exchanger the Wave.
I have been carrying a Gerber MP600 for years. I do industrial HVAC work and put that thing through hell and it held up. I recently lost it. I feel lost without it lol. The prices have jumped up so much on the MP600 I don’t think it would be worth going with over a leatherman now. I think I gave $30 for it now they are $70.
After lots of research, including this video, I think I’m going to go with the Rebar. The lack of scissors doesn’t bother me. I carry a Maglite Solitaire and Leatherman Style CS on my keychain. The scissors on the CS are really great. I normally carry either a small folder in my pocket or a small 2” fixed blade on my belt so the lack of an outside blade doesn’t matter either. I made it 7-8 years without one on the MP600 and it was never an issue.
The one thing I am concerned about is the lack of one hand open pliers. A lot of times when I reached for my Gerber I was holding something and needed my pliers and didn’t want to let go to bend down to my tool bag. That’s the biggest concern I have going from the MP600 to the Rebar. The one handed plier opening was really awesome.
Sorry for the novel 😂.
Appreciate the novel!
With a LOT of breaking in you may be able to get the Rebar to one hand open but definitely a missing feature. It is a great tool!
I can confirm. I have a Super Tool 300 that have EDCed for over ten years. Mine broke in perfectly and I can balisong the pliers open and closed with one hand. The Rebar is a mini Super Tool 300. I have no doubts it would also break in the same way. My rebar is still stiff. I got it for $40 on sale, brand new. I miss those sweet deals. For the money you might also consider getting a Gerber Center Drive. You can usually find one for around $70 at Walmart. I also have one of those and I like it. It is bulkier and heavier. So it may not be your style. The bit driver is fantastic.
@@mackjones7688 ST300 breaks in amazing! I even tightened mine a bit after a few years. The Rebar being smaller and lighter doesn't "whip" as easily but I think with time and effort it could be as nice as a broken in ST300.
@@mackjones7688 man when the Centerdrive came out I was stoked! That driver is the perfect carry for my job. After watching some reviews I have serious doubts that carbide cutter would handle what I put my MP600 through.
@@Triaz357 You are right about the carbide cutter. If you read the packaging and information included with the center drive or just common sense. You would find out that without a quality steel cutter. You CANNOT cut thick materials with it. AT ALL. The cutters will shatter. Gerber didn't design them to compete with Leatherman. Surprisingly enough. If some brilliant aftermarket manufacturer made a 154 CM cutter to replace the carbide. You could get a lot more performance out of them. As is, solid copper core wire or fish hooks. That's what it's designed to handle. No ten penny nails. That aside. The tool is great and I enjoy carrying it. I made my own bit kit to go in the sheath. My Walmart version didn't come with one. Which makes sense at $70. Amazon and a Hart bit set fixed my problem cheap. Bit holder is about $1.75 each and I found one that fits perfectly.
I want to love the Wave, but I’ve been bitten too many times and I just can’t trust it. When the pliers are deployed, it is too easy to pinch your hand between the back of the blade and the back of the saw or file. The Rebar doesn’t bite, so it gets more time on the belt. Rebar + Vic Compact = near perfect tool set.
Totally legitimate. Only twice have I bit myself real bad with the Wave but one of them was REALY bad. Now I naturally hold it lower so no problems for quite a while though. Big yes vote from me on the Rebar + Compact combo for sure!
Great comparison thanks. I have old wave, rebar and Victorinox spirit x. And victorinox compact (for scissors). But carry wave less because i have the bit kit and extension tool - and this makes it too heavy so it becomes an additional toolbox! Therefore I mainly carry the spirit x because it's more compact and user- friendly. Carry on thr good work my friend.
I notice the same thing i have so many leathermans but i go back to the rebar but have a surge for a survival bag.
@@konnorwerth4906I got surge wave and super tool 300m. I really been enjoying my 300m it’s so much lighter and very capable. I carry it in a RAE gear metal holder. Now I got a rebar on the way because Iv been enjoying the bigger version a lot(300m)
I love my Rebar. What would make it a superior knife would be having external tools.
It would probably loose out on comfort when it's closed then. It's all a give an take!
I have a wave plus recently I changed out the pliers for the rebar ones it looks like a mini surge and it performs way better than the original ones (better grip)
I did the same swap on my charge+! Definitely a good upgrade
Awesome vid. I love my rebar. I wished it came with scissors over the awl which is why I carry my Classic SD on my set of keys for when I need it. Also, where can I find the adapter for the bit exchanger on the rebar? I never knew that was an option.
Honestly, the classic scissors WREAK the leatherman scissors so I'd say it's a worthwhile upgrade.
Bit adapter found here.
www.leatherman.com/removable-bit-driver-931012.html?gclid=CjwKCAjwqvyFBhB7EiwAER786acq1HZGlQjP7Pzh9YnrS4COXFzpGZn9wwkzPjI_KZNsOAof9ewaUhoC9PMQAvD_BwE
Great video, on the Rebar how do you keep the blades, internal tools and sides of the pliers head from rusting?
I live very far from oceans so that helps! The blade and flathead get a little corrosion but I just wipe them off and it never is truly an issue
Hey Justin where do you get that bit adapter for the Phillips tool on the Rebar. Links help us find things. Thanks
www.leatherman.com/removable-bit-driver-931012.html?gclid=CjwKCAiA866PBhAYEiwANkIneGNR6h4BphT8pkO9jgqvT4m52dE8rkQhbDE5WgN_FA1ONsTgRacyjBoCsDUQAvD_BwE
I have both these tools and the Wave+ is way more robust in the handle
The Surge flexes alot more if you use a lot of force (not the head the handles)
I’m guessing you meant Rebar not Surge!
I think “way more robust” is quite the stretch. Both have notable flex especially compared to their heavy duty brethren. Realistically I’d say it’s a wash between the two
@@EngineersPerspective701 yeah i meant the rebar
I carry a wave plus everyday for work, for me it beats the rebar because it has a pocket clip and bit exchanger. I don’t like things on my belt.
Totally get that, I don’t always want belt stuff either
I would love to have multitool with the same tools Rebar has, but accessible from outside. Rebar isn't perfect multitool to me, but it is the closes thing to it from Leatherman products.
I think that’s what we were hoping for from the free series a bit or at least I was!
Victorinox Spirit MX Clip all tools accessible from outside
I prefer the Rebar with a Micra
That’s a solid combo! Probably lighter than the Wave too!
Same, Here in the UK with our laws i carry the knifeless Rebar and Micra for work, and just the Micra on the keyring when out not needing heavy Rebar gear. Rebar certainly very stiff when new as others have said. Lots of v light lubricant with ptfe and plenty of opening and closing and it is getting better.
Great review on these two impressive tools. I had a question for anyone with knowledge that can shed some light. I'm considering buying either a Wave Plus or Rebar, my intentions are to use them when going camping. I saw a video that said that the Rebar has a more comfortable hold when using the saw or knife (which I plan on using the most when out in the woods). Can someone confirm this? I feel that the only tool I'd really be missing are the scissors however, I do own a small pocket knife from Cutco that have scissors and work decently. Any input is much appreciated. Thank you.
Appreciate the comment!
The Rebar does have a more comfortable handle in the closed position while using the knife and saw. The difference isn't as huge as you would expect but it is there and I think it would become more pronounced with heavy wood carving. Hope this helps!
Also, maybe consider checking out some Victorinox tools with scissors if you need an upgrade to the ones you have.
@@EngineersPerspective701 Better still get a Victorinox Spirit X which has scissors.
for me the wave+ is better in almost every aspect, but I prefer the rebar for only one reason, the weight
A major plus for sure !
In my case I use it for EDC and over time I realized that the lighter and more compact the multitool was, the easier it would be to always carry it with me, even so, something I don't like at all is having to open it to use the knife.@@EngineersPerspective701
One of the important features to measure these two tools against one another are the materials of construction. In this case they are the same. But you should have mentioned it.
Appreciate the thought. Like you said not pertinent to this particular discussion
@@EngineersPerspective701 You and I know that the materials of construction Are the same which I believe is 440 h c stainless. But do you think your audience knows that??? I would venture a guess that most people do not. That's why I suggested to you going forward that the materials of construction Be mentioned because it significantly impacts the price and performance of the tools, And I think you would agree on this point.
Rebar is much better than Wave Plus. I have them both, and I hardly ever use the Wave, though I keep the Rebar busy all the time.
Rebar is definitely a dependable performer.
Maybe I’m soft but I just bought a rebar for my bf and have been trying it out and I’m always scared I’ll stab or pinch myself while opening/closing 😅 it’s pretty stiff out of the box, is that normal?
Nice work on the great gift! Unfortunately the pliers do tend to by pretty stiff out the gate. Accessing the internal tools shouldn’t be too bad though. If you two run into significant problems there are a few videos out there for freeing them up a bit. Maxlvledc may be a place to start
Great comparison, thanks
Appreciate it!
I'd like the rebar more except for the poor knife access. The wave changed everything when they introduced the design.
If you use your pliers more than your knife, maybe its fine, but thats not my experince. I don't want to carry 2 knives.
Agreed that the blade access is a huge factor. I always have a separate blade but I totally understand
I like the tools on the inside.
i once had my wave in my rucksack and sticking my had in it I cut myself on the blade that opened. luckily nothing bad, bandage saved the day, but it could have been much worse.
so since 5-6 years I carry the rebar.
Definitely a consideration. I’ve heard a few horror stories
Watching multitool review videos has become almost a hobby for me. I've yet to see a tool that makes me want to put my Wave or Surge in a drawer. I wouldn't steal a Rebar or Supertool, much less buy one..
I go through cycles of what topic I'm addicted to!
The wave/surge are great but I really have to say the ST300 brings some great stuff to the table and is worth a try.
I love my wave plus but my Charge TTI is simply better
I love everything the wave offers except the scissors,it’s just down-right awful in every aspect
They’re pretty weak. They can work but they won’t save the day like a Vic will
Nobody gonna talk about how much the rebar hurts a bare hand to squeeze compared to the wave? rebar can tear your hand open no problem.
Did I mention it in the video? I thought I said something about the rounded handles on the wave vs. the rebar style. But I think you are exaggerating quite a bit unless you've got paper skin brother
@@EngineersPerspective701 Maybe it is because the i got the knifeless rebar but if you squeeze it you are littarly squeezing either the top of a .8mm saw that is not rounded or if you turn it around you are squeezing the top of the file. Maybe i don't have paper hands maybe i actually use my tools ;].
wire cutters can be scissors people!!!
True! But they’ll never cut a hangnail either!
I think people forget about that. 😏
Definitivamente la Rebar, es un pequeño tanque de batalla, compacto y hecho para darle caña. Tal vez menos funcional que la Wave, pero más confiable a largo plazo.
Agreed that the rebar is the more robust tool and some of the inner tools are better at what they do overall.
Outside accessible tools and comfortable handles are really the Wave's strengths but functionally it probably looses to the rebar.
The Wave has almost unusable medium size flat screwdriver and Phillips screwdriver, since their adaptor is too wide and too short. The scissors rather belong in a manicure than in a multitool because it can easily be substituted by the knife in most cases. The ruler is almost illegible on the Wave, whereas on the Rebar its just perfect. The pliers are much wider and better to use in the Rebar, while the needle nose crap in the Wave is unstable and too narrow. In general, the Rebar is much steadier and efficient. I also highly appreciate the Rebar's awl, which is completely missing in the Wave. The Wave is more fashionable than usable.
By the way, the price should never be mentioned in reviews. The price is not a function - you don't use the price to cut wires or so, do you. Every average man can afford any multitool he needs, so I find it stupid to take a few bucks into consideration.
The first thing I do is toss out the factory bit and put in their PH2-3 bit that works much better. Still lacks reach but much more useable.
I’ve gotten a lot of work done with my Leatherman charge so I really don’t align with your thoughts but we all have different perspectives. The rebar is a great tool though, no doubt about that!
I honestly don't understand why some people prefer the Rebar. I have both and the Wave+ is superior in every way. Other than the cost I don't see why the Rebar is better. The tools on the Rebar is very difficult to open, there is no outside accessible tools and it's hella uncomfortable to hold due to the edges as well.
Every tool has its merits!
Rebar is more durable
@@szponiasty4652 Certainly in the plier head. Handles could probably be argued either way
@@EngineersPerspective701 If you will take both rebar and wave, and you will throw both for example on concrete i presume that rebar will be less damaged. It's construction issue. Anyway all multitools have some advantages and disadvantages.
I just hate the bit holders. I prefer fixed drivers on the multitools
Fixed drivers are definitely miles ahead but there are definitely some advantages to the bit holder. If I’ve been using the screw driver a lot for a few days I’ll switch out to the ST300 for awhile just for that driver
The Rebar is definitely much, much better. The Wave (Plus) is nowhere near worth the hype it gets.
Everyone has their own preferences and uses. I respect the rebar but it's definitely not my go to.
Leatherman warrenty sucks. Bought a wave plus and out of the box one of the screw heads was broken from a replaceble cutterhead. Contacted them and gave me an adres is should contact tobhave it fixed and they said it was not possible and probebly fake i have box a receipt it is not fucking fake. Told me they will have a look if ibshipped at my own costs but they will probebly charge me to fix. Never a leatherman again.
Sorry to hear that. I’ve actually had only good experiences so I can’t corroborate your experience. I broke the screw for the replicable cutters on my rebar and sent it in. They removed the broken screw, replaced it and the cutters, then sent it back in good shape.
@@EngineersPerspective701 Whish i had that experience. i tinker with small electronics and i use wire cutters and pliers most of the time. had the fuse for years and thought the reachability of the knife was a great upgrade. but now its just an expensive brick in my drawer since i can not get the screw out and i just take another multi tool with me al the time.
@@RodisOne if you have a small drill bit and a drill press you could drill out the screw very carefully. Good potential to ruin it but it’s not doing much at this point anyways!
the name of the video doesn't have "plus" .... Making a video should be a profession
I would get the wave then disassemble the tool and swap the flathead for the rebars awl (if it fits..)
It's redundant to have the flat head when you already have the interchangeable bits drive, unless the wave's flathead makes a very good prying bar
The flathead is pretty wimpy for prying. I usually use the #2-#3 philips in mine so I personally need the flathead though. I tried to swap the eyeglass screwdriver with the awl but it didn't fit. Should have checked first