When people want singuilar muiltitool reviews I always direct them to yours. No more or less than EXACTLY the information you need to make the decision. Well done Jon! I agree, it WILL NOT dethrone the wave.
Leatherman makes a great product. I've had and still carry a Leatherman Core. Had it since probably 2006/7. Everyone shows me their newer Leatherman's and ask why I still carry the old Core. Simple. It still works. Don't need a new one and probably won't for a very long time. By then who knows what Leatherman will have come up with.
I bought the Arc this morning as soon as it became available in the shop - 299 in the EU is definitely too much. I plan to to make this my main EDC and let the wave live in my car after years of honorable service. Thanks for the video, John. Informative and professional as always
I was thinking about getting it to have along my Wave but then it suddenly hit me - I don't even use my Wave enough to justify spending €300 on this thing. 😂 Maybe if I can find it on a 20% discount deal at some point in the future but as the things stand now it's not worth it if you own a Wave imho.
Yup I dropped a fortune on the ARC. Yet to receive it. Thanks for a great review. I will note that my wave has served me for over 30 years and still works phenomenally. I will keep it .
I've been a Wave user and then a Wave+ user for years. I have a Surge, but it is so heavy that it was cut from my EDC. (It lives in a kit in my 4Runner.) The Wave+ is carried in a Clip 'n Carry sheath on my belt every single day. It gets used too. I just ordered the Arc this morning and am looking forward to using it. The improved scissors will be welcomed as I find the Wave scissors less useful. External and one-handed access to the tools is welcomed as well. The impact tool is also a welcome addition as we all sometimes have a project at hand that needs a little hammering. When I amortize the cost of the Arc over the next ten years, it isn't that expensive. Good review. Thanks.
@@JonGadgetYes your videos are great and I would love to hear your input on whether or not I should get Leatherman ARC or the victorinox Swiss tool MX clip and of course I would love to get the Leatherman garage batch number 5 40th anniversary with that tool is just way too expensive now that the only way you can get it is on eBay through the scalpers selling it for triple the price which is to me price gouging but I love you reviews and would love to hear your input as to whether you think the Leatherman ARC would be better to get instead of the victorinox switch tool MX clip and looking forward to hearing back from your input and thank you
I got one early from REI and have been carrying for a few weeks. I think it’s the best multitool on the market right now. I was carrying either a Swisstool Spirit X burnished or a Leatherman Charge Tti. This tool is better than either one in my opinion. I would have loved a t shank adapter but the Leatherman engineers on Reddit AMA said that it simply would have made the tool too large. One other interesting note from the AMA on Reddit is that a couple of engineers mentioned that they were carrying a P2 version but no decision about whether to release it had been made.
Thanks for the feedback - I understand the engineers mod a lot of the tools so the P2 variants could be personal prototypes - I'm sure there will be more coming though.
Hello John over here in America and I love watching your reviews and I want to ask you if you would choose the Leatherman ARC over the victorinox swiss tool MX clip? I am undecided between these two multi-tools but I am leaning more towards the Leatherman ARC but would love to hear your opinion and looking forward to your input and thank you@@JonGadget
Great review Jon, thank you. Straight to the point, and no fluff. 👍 I received notification from Leatherman this morning that mine has shipped, and I can't wait to get it in hand.
Good review with 2 observations: campers & outdoorsman still have use for the can opener. If you visit a hardware store, you'll find that a "😮flat head screw" refers to the shape or profile of the screw head. The driver blade is for "slotted" head screws and is a slotted screwdriver (as a Phillips screwdriver.)
Hello, here in the Czech Republic (EU), where the average wage is USD 1895 (even a university-educated person usually does not earn that much here) and you pay approx. USD 1000 for housing, the rest for food and common things is the price for ARC 332,- USD absolutely crazy. 😱 I have had a Wave for about 10 years and a Charge TTi for about 3 years and I hope they will serve for a long time. Thanks a lot for the video and have a great 2024!🎉🙂
I've had a fully blacked out Wave for 10 plus years. I paid a huge premium for that version because I could only find one seller in Canada that offered it. Anyway, all this time later, and finally a replacement has caught my eye. And not for nothing but, since I worked in an office environment the whole time I owned the Wave, the eyeglass screwdriver is probably the most used tool on it. Word got out, 'Oh, Mitch can tighten that. Go see him.'
Hi Jon! I am a huge fan of the channel and wish you all the best in this youtube journey. I found your channel really easy to understand in terms of terminology and i see you as the best edc themed channel om youtube Again all the best!
The mini screwdriver - I'm not sure I've ever used it for screwing tiny little screws but it was perfect recently when I needed to keep pushing one of those tiny reset buttons recessed in my garage door (while standing on top of a ladder). On my Curve vs my Wave I found I preferred it enough to the awl to switch them between the two tools. Hoping to land this one around Christmas - the one handed operation seems like it ought to be ideal. Thanks for your great review !
Major disappointment to lose the serrated blade, I've always loved how perfect it was for cutting through artificial materials like cardboard / thick plastic etc., like butter! It's great that they kept the can opener though, Jon, I'll have to disagree with you that that's a waste of space! 🙂 thanks for the entertaining & thorough review!
I started with the wave. Then the p4 came into the lineup. One handed use is awesome but I did miss a few of the tools from the wave. Looks like the arc solves all of my problems!!!
I purchased the Arc, upgrading from my Signal. I still have it, but it tends to stay in an outdoor themed tool pouch I have. I use it a lot, but I figured as much as I use my leatherman for day to day random tasks I could upgrade to the Arc to make more use of its blade and not need to carry a knife all the time as well.
The Arc looks to be what the Free P4 should have been. The Arc could replace the Wave for me. My P4 couldn't do that and has ended up living in my car.
@@JonGadget Another superb video jon. As you know I've abandoned the leatherman surge and replaced it with a victorinox ranger plus knipex pliers and a picquic stubby multi bit screw driver with 6 longer picquic bits. The knipex pliers make all multi tool pliers look like a child's toy. That said , I respect the fact that you're the world's leading multi tool and gadget expert , and personal choice is key.
An excellent review, Jonathan...The Arc is a premium answer to the Wave+...People who can afford to will purchase it for all the reasons you stated, there is a market for it...everyone else will go with the Wave+...If you look at it from a tradesman's point of view, it would be a nightmare with metal shavings & dirt attracted by the magnets...I cannot see this tool being very robust with Free technology under heavy industrial-type use...imo, it tends to be "floppy" in the Free style due to the magnets...something the satraps at LTG decided was the future of the company for people they felt wanted a "fidget" factor to their tools...A full bit kit should have been supplied for the price...I think people who use the Arc as a "working man's" tool may have to puchase the black version of the pouch for work use as the gray one will get very filthy in short order...The Arc will be used as a medium-heavy to light use by many due to it's overall cost & expensive blade...the Wave+ & the Surge will be the go-to for most folks who want durability, simplicity & cost effectiveness in their multitools...then again, we also have to watch out for the " clones"...😊 Many thanks again for a great review...
g10 charge is better than arc. Who needs magnacut? It's not a bushcraft knife. You don't want to sharpen magnacut. Having the serrated blade is way more backup than I need. S30V is enough
Yes, it's beautiful; but, after a day of using my Bosch GDR 18V-LI drill/screw/hammer, 30 bit +, Estwing ripper closed claw couple pounds weight ~18 inch long, Bowie knife on belt with scissors that cuts metal and bone along with my high tech versions of all of the above including all the saws, files, wrenches of all types/sizes, I would come home, look at that Arc tool and say, wow! That's beautiful!!! Maybe I'll give it to my 4 year old granddaughter to play with her Playmobil city house set after disabling the knife.😊
I'm enjoying mine since Christmas. I bring it to work at the pharmacy, though admittedly the squirt I've been using before has been entirely adequate for that use case for much cheaper and less space/weight but still... I'm having fun. Edit: Almost a year later and I still carry it every day to work in my pack, but it also gets at least one out of every 3 days on average as my pocket edc
I've used Leathermans since the old rectangle body says and by far my wave+ is and will always be the best one. Perfect size and beefy enough to work day to day and not fail.
Another great presentation as usual my friend, you are easily one of the best RUclips channel owners in the business. It’s always a pleasure to listen to you explain and describe how items work etc. so keep up your hard work, and thank you for the effort you put out so that viewers like me get to enjoy and be better informed about items of interest. Not to mention the brilliance of your set, it’s hands down the best on RUclips, I have yet to find a better one. This is Alan, GREETINGS from Riverside in Southern California.
Great review! I've been carrying the Leatherman Charge Titanium for a few years, and the wife just ordered me the ARC for my b-day. I hope it holds up to the abuse I put the Charge TTi through!
I've had the P4 since it was released and it's a great tool, wished it had the bit driver and micro driver like my surge, got the arc straight away and noticed it didn't seem finished, alot of sharp edges which I've had to burnish, also I changed out the hardwire cutters with the black ones from my OHT, looks loads better and I can trust them to work, overall I love but for the price I wasn't expecting to do any work on it
Buying a leatherman is all about saving steps. Steps to the garage to get my pliers or screwdriver, steps to my office for the micro screwdriver, or to the kitchen for the scissors. With that in mind, I think the arc makes a lot of sense and is the best leatherman yet. Since I'm only planning to buy one, I think the price isn't as big of a factor. Still using my Ranger day to day but plan on getting the ARC soon.
The loss of the serrated blade is a bit of a downer as it can come in handy on occasion, however I think the Arc is a fantastic looking tool with plenty of great tools.
Same. The serrated blade useful to me for cutting nylon ropes. The Arc is overpriced and it should have complete blades on the price they are asking for it.
One great thing about the Wave is that it's so well made, you can frequently find used examples in rather decent condition for a substantial discount off of new. I bought one as a spare to use for tougher jobs and it's still holding up supremely well. I doubt I'll ever own an ARC at this rate!
@@CF542 Indeed, it is a gem of a design and with only minor updates over the past 20 years attests to how they hit it right at the start. Still, the ARC is seductive, I must admit!
Thanks Jon, just found your channel now and you've convinced me! I have been using a couple of older Leathermans like the Rebar, so its time for a upgrade. Thanks for the great review.
the tiny screwdriver is probably in the top 5 most used tools on my Wave, and I wouldn't consider paying the lofty price for this one if it didn't have it. also I know your annoyance with the ubiquity of bottle openers in tools is basically a bit at this point lol, but here in the US south at least, we drink a lot of cold beverages (not just beers) and I can assure you that we can never have enough bottle openers. really appreciate the review though, you've convinced me to go ahead and get one
Thank you, Jon! The new ARC is impressive, but that price? Wow. My first Leatherman Wave was gifted to me 22 years ago. It's still in great shape. I later bought a Wave+ used off of eBay, at a considerable discount. Terrific tool. I can't see paying the new prices given how many good condition used ones are available. The quality speaks for itself--it lasts!
I have had my LM arc for about a week now . I like it in general. I sharpened mine this morning as I wanted it sharper than it came , to maintain the same angle it comes with it should be noted that you really need to remove the thumb stud first also as the sabre grind does not go all the way back to the hilt end of the blade you have to take this into account with the sweep angle when using bench stones . Not a big problem for me but could be an issue for some
The Ark does look like a sweet bit of kit. Living in the UK and using my multi tool off my property, personally couldn't justify the cost. I'm still over the moon with my Bond after years of using cheaper multi tools with no locking blade.
My EDC is a Charge TTi... I love the thing, but wish the blade was thicker like the one on my Signal. Not currently willing to buy the ARC and retire my Charge, but the FREE tech is super nice. I guess time will tell how the magnets hold up.
Love your videos. You told us about thinOptics a while ago so wanted to share this. I carry the Bellroy Card Sleeve and carry the glasses in the shorter front pocket of the wallet. That way I always have them with me even if I’m not carrying a pouch. I fold them in half and push them into the pocket. I’ve been doing this for months and they always spring back open when I take them out. Best wishes from Toronto. ❤️
Thanks Jon, great review. The first barrier is the price, which is inadequate to the tool's capabilities and the quality of Leatherman products has been declining for several years. The second thing is the use of magnets to hold individual blades and tools. This solution is (nomen omen) a magnet for all kinds of iron filings, which, when in contact with a lubricant, will create an abrasive paste that will cause wear
I was about to buy the ARC, a couple of days ago. So glad, i went to the dealer and did not order online. I think the surge spoiled me for any other Multitool. (Ok, have to check Victorinox and SOG Tools) Compared with the surge the ARC feels like a toy not a tool. No sir, the surge will stay on my belt. I even bought a second surge in case leatherman takes it out of production.
I like the pry bar, adjustable hinge, and replaceable wire cutters. My tti has none of those. But other than that I think I’ll be sticking to my charge tti. If you use this as a hammering tool it it will weaken the magnets also.
One positive about the whole free line is that the pocket clip is on the “correct” end of the tool, at the pivot. On tools where it’s at the other end they can flop open way too easily.
I've owned a few Wave tools for nearly two decades but now daily carry a Curl for work and find it's satisfactory however I do miss having the saw on it. The curl has a very nice awl with an eye that I think is also longer than the one on the arc and comes to a point. I'm a technician in aviation testing but essentially work as a millwright handling a lot of the heavy test equipment and performing fabrication and machining when necessary. I also have a fab shop at home where I work on hobby automotive projects. I love having the awl for deburring parts and holes as well as scribing marking lines. I've punched a few holes in sheet metal with mine and haven't noticed the eyelet making it weak. I want to like the arc and give it a try, but with fabrication work magnets are not a good feature on a tool as they attract ferrous steel grit that builds up and makes the tool sticky and causes stainless to surface rust when exposed to moisture or sweat. That aside I'm still curious to try one. I fiddled with a coworker's free tool and found the action of the tools and pliers really smooth. Maybe I'll get one and just throw it in my EDC pack to try and keep it from getting to mucked up with steel dust.
The Arc is a Charge+ update. My Charge+ works fine. I learnt yonks ago not to feel the need for the latest of everything. This applies here too. It looks great though.
I know this toolset was widely asked for, but I could do without the soft Leatherman bits and adding a Diamond file to a magnet-based tool. But they definitely could have made some better tool choices for the p2 and p4. The best thing about the Arc is that it demonstrates that Leatherman is listening to customers.
I believe the magnet and filings issue might be overstated as it clumps the filings away from the pivots - we are told. Soft bits could do with sorting - agree they are listening!
@@JonGadget Yea I know Leatherman says the Free tech actually keeps metal out of the pivot. Ben at Tx Tool Crib had a different experience, working with metal for a living. Regarding the bits, I wonder if the Chinese competition will have an effect? There’s lots of good 1/4” options in Leatherman clones now, which means a much more durable tool with respect to the driver.
I bought mine at 3:00am US time when Leatherman released it for sale. I agree I'm not crazy about the holes on the opposite side for the pocket clip and the can opener for me is a waste of a tool space. Those two minor things aside I think this is the best tool selections in a Leatherman to date in my opinion.
Yep, can opener on my Leatherman gets as much action if not more than any other tool. Also really good for getting the paint out of a Philips screw head.
Great review! I've been looking forward to adding the Arc to my collection for a long time. I really enjoy your channel and appreciate the work you put into your content. The only drawback is I always seem to spend money after watching your videos 😀Thanks!
Very nice!! MagnaCut is an overkill for a multitool and reason for extra cost of $50 - $70 that no one asked for :). I guess they are 'future proofing' it. With all these tools, Leatherman still cannot be used to sharpen or service its own blades.
My multitool lineup consists of the Gerber dime, SOG powerpint, Victorinox alox pioneer, Leatherman wave+, Leatherman surge. 41 piece bit kit, bit extender, ratchet driver. I don't carry the Leatherman's unless I know I'm definitely going to use one, I always carry a dedicated folding knife. I can't justify buying the arc, especially at its price. I sold 140 knives out of my collection this year because I needed the money. Let's see if Leatherman does any discount for the holidays.
Thanks Jon, always nice to have the accurate information about the things you bring to us. It's always top! By the way what is the name of the glasses you wear?
Looks fantastic, but excuse my ignorance, would the magnet system affect your watch? Automatic watches I mean. And don’t magnets get weaker over time . Does look nice though
Hi Jon, excellent and useful review as ever. I'm a long time Leatherman carrier (I still have my old PST2) and have a Surge on my belt whenever I can. I'm tempted to add an Arc to my rotation but the magnets put me off from as I imagine them collecting swarf that could ruin the tool and be virtually impossible to remove. Have you got any experience of this and / or how easy it would be to clean up should it happen?
Great video, congrats! Just one possible correction: you said the Magnacut on the main blade is a first for any Multitool, but I believe MKM was the first one to offer it on the MKM Campo and Malga series of Multitool. At least there are videos showing the MKM multiple with Magnacut, and it was also available on their website, before Leatherman presented the ARC.
In my head Multitools are plier based - and MKM and ASK tools and the like are what I call multi-function pocket knives - that could be just me though!
@@JonGadget fair enough, now we would get into the discussion of how to categorize the different types of "multitools', and that is not the point. I just thought it was worth mentioning that MKM was the first to put Magnacut on a "multitool-like" object. Maybe you mention it when you get a chance to review one of the MKMs with Magnacut 😉 Cheers, and again, great content!
@@maxlvledc most of the RUclipsrs that speak native English use the Multitool like you guys are saying. But in the more "international" environment (I live in Germany for example), the term Multitool is used as a more generic term in the industry. Take 2 examples: the websites from Böker and Civivi, they both use the category Multitool more generic, Civivi does not even have a classic plier based Multitool and they also use this name on the website, and even explain it as "Multi tools are versatile hand-held tools that incorporate multiple functions into a single compact unit."
Awesome content as always! I’d like to see the can opener and/or micro screw driver replaced with a really robust pry bar that included a small notch for pulling nails. Sure, you’re not going to remove framing nails, but prying and pulling out stuff is a lot more useful in a work tool, than opening a can.
@@bob_the_bomb4508not a big canned food guy. Also, more and more food is coming in pouches or those easy open ring top cans. That’s an aside though, having a can opener on the signal, or a “survival” tool makes sense. This type of leatherman seems like a strait ahead work companion. I’d bet the can opener is the least used of the lot, and a nail pull/pry tool would be used a lot more. Just my wishes, anyway.
@@alaskatosweden9942all good points…I think for this money you should be able to choose the tools you want to include. I use my 300 EOD for work, and my SAK Huntsman for ‘social, domestic and pleasure’. After all, a gentleman needs a corkscrew, doesn’t he? :)
I understand the appeal (Magnacut, 1 hand opening, nice look, good tools selection) and the production cost (USA made, Magnacut, etc) but I can not justify to myself buying a multitool for 300€. I like my tools to be inexpensive and easily replaceable should I damage or lost them. Even if someone were to gift me an ARC I fear I would treat it as a piece of collection and not a tool :(
I felt the same way when I first owned a Charge, and still carried one of my Waves daily.. THEN, life changed when I purchased a Titanium Charge.. Six years later the pliers is as snug as when new.. The blades have served me extremely well!! My Waves have been on stand-by.. I don't leave home without my Leatherman Titanium Charge!! Snap-On tools have been my primary work tools since the 1960s, and Leatherman tools compliment them well‼️🙋🏻♂️
I had a lot of reservations about buying the arc, but I thankfully got 30% off putting it right around $160 after tax and free shipping. To me, that was a no brainer 🤷🏾♂️
I like the nylon sheath too. My setup is a Surge in that, with a fisher space pen bullet on one side and a bit driver with a little bosch ratchet wrench on the other. Inside, one of the flat bits set. A HSS saw and the file. IMHO this cannot be beaten, at least when you get used to the weight of the surge. A good belt helps (my choice is an AustriAlpin cobra buckle and a stiff belt with it) OK, the arc would be around 100 gramms lighter, but is almost twice the price. Ok, better blade steel (and yes the surge blade gets dull pretty quick) On the other side you can change the saw and the file on the surge, a feature thats unique and very good if you actually using the saw a lot (also beeing able to usw HSS saws for metal is great) The Arc seems to be a very good tool, but so far i wont remove the surge from my belt. Greetings from Austria. I.
Every working man should carry a Leatherman. Especially the Arc. If your debating on getting it but it’s to expensive for you just keep saving. You’ll thank yourself later. But only if you really really want it. Got mine a couple days ago and it’s amazing in every way. I don’t buy knives that’s aren’t fully one handed functional. Now a Leatherman that’s fully one handed functional is just whole different animal. Salute to those who helped execute this design 💪🏼
![I.N "HALLUCINATION" | [Stray Kids : SKZ-PLAYER]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/n5B5q1Hwt_U/mqdefault.jpg)
this is going to be good!
😊
I'm waiting now for Costco version of Arc as a combo with garage 006 style knife for $64 for Christmas 😂😂😂🎉😢😮😅
When people want singuilar muiltitool reviews I always direct them to yours. No more or less than EXACTLY the information you need to make the decision. Well done Jon!
I agree, it WILL NOT dethrone the wave.
Thanks Dom really appreciated - although you are the expert in this area 😊
هذا تواضع كبير منك أنت خبير ومحترف في edc ودائما أتتبع فيديوهاتك
@@JonGadget nah, im just louder lols!
@@maxlvledclouder ,less humble definitely 😂
I think your reviews are just as good, but respect how humble your are! And Jon is Awsome! Both you guys are in my top 3 along with Hvac Budget!
Leatherman makes a great product. I've had and still carry a Leatherman Core. Had it since probably 2006/7. Everyone shows me their newer Leatherman's and ask why I still carry the old Core. Simple. It still works. Don't need a new one and probably won't for a very long time. By then who knows what Leatherman will have come up with.
good to know - thanks for sharing
I bought the Arc this morning as soon as it became available in the shop - 299 in the EU is definitely too much. I plan to to make this my main EDC and let the wave live in my car after years of honorable service. Thanks for the video, John. Informative and professional as always
You're welcome - I'm sure you will be very happy with it
I was thinking about getting it to have along my Wave but then it suddenly hit me - I don't even use my Wave enough to justify spending €300 on this thing. 😂
Maybe if I can find it on a 20% discount deal at some point in the future but as the things stand now it's not worth it if you own a Wave imho.
LMAO htts the price of a chop saw!!!!!!!!! HOLY F&^*
Jeez, they are about half the price in the US
I just got one too. The blade was what sold me to be honest. Edc Leatherman pocket knife/ mulitool. Yes please.
Yup I dropped a fortune on the ARC. Yet to receive it. Thanks for a great review. I will note that my wave has served me for over 30 years and still works phenomenally. I will keep it .
I've been a Wave user and then a Wave+ user for years. I have a Surge, but it is so heavy that it was cut from my EDC. (It lives in a kit in my 4Runner.) The Wave+ is carried in a Clip 'n Carry sheath on my belt every single day. It gets used too.
I just ordered the Arc this morning and am looking forward to using it. The improved scissors will be welcomed as I find the Wave scissors less useful. External and one-handed access to the tools is welcomed as well. The impact tool is also a welcome addition as we all sometimes have a project at hand that needs a little hammering.
When I amortize the cost of the Arc over the next ten years, it isn't that expensive.
Good review. Thanks.
If you use a tool like this regularly then I totally agree - every time you use it, it will make you happy
Your videos and your presentations are always of superior quality! Excellent job!
Wow, thank you!
@@JonGadgetYes your videos are great and I would love to hear your input on whether or not I should get Leatherman ARC or the victorinox Swiss tool MX clip and of course I would love to get the Leatherman garage batch number 5 40th anniversary with that tool is just way too expensive now that the only way you can get it is on eBay through the scalpers selling it for triple the price which is to me price gouging but I love you reviews and would love to hear your input as to whether you think the Leatherman ARC would be better to get instead of the victorinox switch tool MX clip and looking forward to hearing back from your input and thank you
I got one early from REI and have been carrying for a few weeks. I think it’s the best multitool on the market right now. I was carrying either a Swisstool Spirit X burnished or a Leatherman Charge Tti. This tool is better than either one in my opinion. I would have loved a t shank adapter but the Leatherman engineers on Reddit AMA said that it simply would have made the tool too large.
One other interesting note from the AMA on Reddit is that a couple of engineers mentioned that they were carrying a P2 version but no decision about whether to release it had been made.
Thanks for the feedback - I understand the engineers mod a lot of the tools so the P2 variants could be personal prototypes - I'm sure there will be more coming though.
Thank you for this thorough presentation! I know what I want for Christmas!
Thanks for the super review . . . since my Arc is due here any day now, I’m glad to have watched this!
I made up my mind getting one delivered today.👍🏻
It’s great 👍
Hello John over here in America and I love watching your reviews and I want to ask you if you would choose the Leatherman ARC over the victorinox swiss tool MX clip? I am undecided between these two multi-tools but I am leaning more towards the Leatherman ARC but would love to hear your opinion and looking forward to your input and thank you@@JonGadget
Great review Jon, thank you. Straight to the point, and no fluff. 👍 I received notification from Leatherman this morning that mine has shipped, and I can't wait to get it in hand.
Recently acquired the Wave+ when it went on sale and would have purchased the ARC without a second thought had I not already bought the Wave+.
Good review with 2 observations: campers & outdoorsman still have use for the can opener. If you visit a hardware store, you'll find that a "😮flat head screw" refers to the shape or profile of the screw head. The driver blade is for "slotted" head screws and is a slotted screwdriver (as a Phillips screwdriver.)
Hello, here in the Czech Republic (EU), where the average wage is USD 1895 (even a university-educated person usually does not earn that much here) and you pay approx. USD 1000 for housing, the rest for food and common things is the price for ARC 332,- USD absolutely crazy. 😱
I have had a Wave for about 10 years and a Charge TTi for about 3 years and I hope they will serve for a long time.
Thanks a lot for the video and have a great 2024!🎉🙂
I've had a fully blacked out Wave for 10 plus years. I paid a huge premium for that version because I could only find one seller in Canada that offered it. Anyway, all this time later, and finally a replacement has caught my eye. And not for nothing but, since I worked in an office environment the whole time I owned the Wave, the eyeglass screwdriver is probably the most used tool on it. Word got out, 'Oh, Mitch can tighten that. Go see him.'
You have a very good way of describing and explaining everything
Thanks!
Thank you 😁👍
Hi Jon! I am a huge fan of the channel and wish you all the best in this youtube journey.
I found your channel really easy to understand in terms of terminology and i see you as the best edc themed channel om youtube
Again all the best!
That's really kind of you to say and much appreciated
I was serious waiting for this! Ecpecially from you mr. Jonathan!
Very kind 😊
I have the Garage White version of this and I freakin love it. Definitely get this!
Just bought it today. Glad to hear your stamp of approval.
I always use my eyeglass bit as a scraper for threads etc.
The mini screwdriver - I'm not sure I've ever used it for screwing tiny little screws but it was perfect recently when I needed to keep pushing one of those tiny reset buttons recessed in my garage door (while standing on top of a ladder). On my Curve vs my Wave I found I preferred it enough to the awl to switch them between the two tools. Hoping to land this one around Christmas - the one handed operation seems like it ought to be ideal. Thanks for your great review !
I never thought of that. I occasionally had to use a pin for the reset button on my PS4 controller. That is a great point you made.
Major disappointment to lose the serrated blade, I've always loved how perfect it was for cutting through artificial materials like cardboard / thick plastic etc., like butter! It's great that they kept the can opener though, Jon, I'll have to disagree with you that that's a waste of space! 🙂 thanks for the entertaining & thorough review!
Ordered mine after wifey approval fully customized 305$, i cant wait!!
Great video as always! I absolutely love my ARC!! My favorite multitool by far!
I think you’ve helped me make the decision to buy it.
I started with the wave. Then the p4 came into the lineup. One handed use is awesome but I did miss a few of the tools from the wave. Looks like the arc solves all of my problems!!!
I love surprises! What’s the surprise?
Very good review Jon, I am happy w/ my old L Charge Titanium, not updating yet.
Have one of these on order, love it
I purchased the Arc, upgrading from my Signal. I still have it, but it tends to stay in an outdoor themed tool pouch I have. I use it a lot, but I figured as much as I use my leatherman for day to day random tasks I could upgrade to the Arc to make more use of its blade and not need to carry a knife all the time as well.
The Arc looks to be what the Free P4 should have been. The Arc could replace the Wave for me. My P4 couldn't do that and has ended up living in my car.
Agree!
And like that lots of people bought the P4. And now will buy the Arc.
It costs twice as much so they wont make that many sales.
I love my Wave but I might be getting this to replace mine.
@@JonGadget
Another superb video jon.
As you know I've abandoned the leatherman surge and replaced it with a victorinox ranger plus knipex pliers and a picquic stubby multi bit screw driver with 6 longer picquic bits.
The knipex pliers make all multi tool pliers look like a child's toy.
That said , I respect the fact that you're the world's leading multi tool and gadget expert , and personal choice is key.
An excellent review, Jonathan...The Arc is a premium answer to the Wave+...People who can afford to will purchase it for all the reasons you stated, there is a market for it...everyone else will go with the Wave+...If you look at it from a tradesman's point of view, it would be a nightmare with metal shavings & dirt attracted by the magnets...I cannot see this tool being very robust with Free technology under heavy industrial-type use...imo, it tends to be "floppy" in the Free style due to the magnets...something the satraps at LTG decided was the future of the company for people they felt wanted a "fidget" factor to their tools...A full bit kit should have been supplied for the price...I think people who use the Arc as a "working man's" tool may have to puchase the black version of the pouch for work use as the gray one will get very filthy in short order...The Arc will be used as a medium-heavy to light use by many due to it's overall cost & expensive blade...the Wave+ & the Surge will be the go-to for most folks who want durability, simplicity & cost effectiveness in their multitools...then again, we also have to watch out for the " clones"...😊 Many thanks again for a great review...
The premium answer to the wave plus is the charge. This is totally different and much worse overall.
g10 charge is better than arc. Who needs magnacut? It's not a bushcraft knife. You don't want to sharpen magnacut. Having the serrated blade is way more backup than I need. S30V is enough
Yes, it's beautiful; but, after a day of using my Bosch GDR 18V-LI drill/screw/hammer, 30 bit +, Estwing ripper closed claw couple pounds weight ~18 inch long, Bowie knife on belt with scissors that cuts metal and bone along with my high tech versions of all of the above including all the saws, files, wrenches of all types/sizes, I would come home, look at that Arc tool and say, wow! That's beautiful!!! Maybe I'll give it to my 4 year old granddaughter to play with her Playmobil city house set after disabling the knife.😊
Cool story
I'm enjoying mine since Christmas. I bring it to work at the pharmacy, though admittedly the squirt I've been using before has been entirely adequate for that use case for much cheaper and less space/weight but still... I'm having fun.
Edit: Almost a year later and I still carry it every day to work in my pack, but it also gets at least one out of every 3 days on average as my pocket edc
Sticking with the, never let me down, wave
I've used Leathermans since the old rectangle body says and by far my wave+ is and will always be the best one. Perfect size and beefy enough to work day to day and not fail.
Another great presentation as usual my friend, you are easily one of the best RUclips channel owners in the business.
It’s always a pleasure to listen to you explain and describe how items work etc. so keep up your hard work, and thank you for the effort you put out so that viewers like me get to enjoy and be better informed about items of interest.
Not to mention the brilliance of your set, it’s hands down the best on RUclips, I have yet to find a better one.
This is Alan, GREETINGS from Riverside in Southern California.
Great review! I've been carrying the Leatherman Charge Titanium for a few years, and the wife just ordered me the ARC for my b-day. I hope it holds up to the abuse I put the Charge TTi through!
I've had the P4 since it was released and it's a great tool, wished it had the bit driver and micro driver like my surge, got the arc straight away and noticed it didn't seem finished, alot of sharp edges which I've had to burnish, also I changed out the hardwire cutters with the black ones from my OHT, looks loads better and I can trust them to work, overall I love but for the price I wasn't expecting to do any work on it
Buying a leatherman is all about saving steps. Steps to the garage to get my pliers or screwdriver, steps to my office for the micro screwdriver, or to the kitchen for the scissors. With that in mind, I think the arc makes a lot of sense and is the best leatherman yet. Since I'm only planning to buy one, I think the price isn't as big of a factor. Still using my Ranger day to day but plan on getting the ARC soon.
The loss of the serrated blade is a bit of a downer as it can come in handy on occasion, however I think the Arc is a fantastic looking tool with plenty of great tools.
Same. The serrated blade useful to me for cutting nylon ropes. The Arc is overpriced and it should have complete blades on the price they are asking for it.
One great thing about the Wave is that it's so well made, you can frequently find used examples in rather decent condition for a substantial discount off of new. I bought one as a spare to use for tougher jobs and it's still holding up supremely well. I doubt I'll ever own an ARC at this rate!
@@cytherians Yes, the Wave+ really is a best in class all around treasure.
@@CF542 Indeed, it is a gem of a design and with only minor updates over the past 20 years attests to how they hit it right at the start. Still, the ARC is seductive, I must admit!
@@CF542isn’t the surge better?
I have the og og wave and this will be my next tool. Thank you great videos
Thank you - big jump 😊
You had me with the review and the indie clip got me all together
Thanks Jon, just found your channel now and you've convinced me! I have been using a couple of older Leathermans like the Rebar, so its time for a upgrade. Thanks for the great review.
Thanks for the upload Sir 🙂
The tool looks absolutely great. This might be my gift for myself when things finally settle down 😅
👍
the tiny screwdriver is probably in the top 5 most used tools on my Wave, and I wouldn't consider paying the lofty price for this one if it didn't have it. also I know your annoyance with the ubiquity of bottle openers in tools is basically a bit at this point lol, but here in the US south at least, we drink a lot of cold beverages (not just beers) and I can assure you that we can never have enough bottle openers. really appreciate the review though, you've convinced me to go ahead and get one
This is the first multi-tool since the Wave+ to get my attention.
Thank you, Jon! The new ARC is impressive, but that price? Wow. My first Leatherman Wave was gifted to me 22 years ago. It's still in great shape. I later bought a Wave+ used off of eBay, at a considerable discount. Terrific tool. I can't see paying the new prices given how many good condition used ones are available. The quality speaks for itself--it lasts!
Yea, save your money and use what you already have.
@@formermpc10 That's my intention. The only way I'm getting an ARC is if I manage to snag a good used example on the cheap.
I have had my LM arc for about a week now . I like it in general.
I sharpened mine this morning as I wanted it sharper than it came , to maintain the same angle it comes with it should be noted that you really need to remove the thumb stud first also as the sabre grind does not go all the way back to the hilt end of the blade you have to take this into account with the sweep angle when using bench stones .
Not a big problem for me but could be an issue for some
The Ark does look like a sweet bit of kit. Living in the UK and using my multi tool off my property, personally couldn't justify the cost. I'm still over the moon with my Bond after years of using cheaper multi tools with no locking blade.
My EDC is a Charge TTi... I love the thing, but wish the blade was thicker like the one on my Signal. Not currently willing to buy the ARC and retire my Charge, but the FREE tech is super nice. I guess time will tell how the magnets hold up.
Love your videos. You told us about thinOptics a while ago so wanted to share this. I carry the Bellroy Card Sleeve and carry the glasses in the shorter front pocket of the wallet. That way I always have them with me even if I’m not carrying a pouch. I fold them in half and push them into the pocket. I’ve been doing this for months and they always spring back open when I take them out. Best wishes from Toronto. ❤️
Thanks Jon, great review. The first barrier is the price, which is inadequate to the tool's capabilities and the quality of Leatherman products has been declining for several years. The second thing is the use of magnets to hold individual blades and tools. This solution is (nomen omen) a magnet for all kinds of iron filings, which, when in contact with a lubricant, will create an abrasive paste that will cause wear
I was about to buy the ARC, a couple of days ago. So glad, i went to the dealer and did not order online.
I think the surge spoiled me for any other Multitool. (Ok, have to check Victorinox and SOG Tools)
Compared with the surge the ARC feels like a toy not a tool.
No sir, the surge will stay on my belt. I even bought a second surge in case leatherman takes it out of production.
I like the pry bar, adjustable hinge, and replaceable wire cutters. My tti has none of those. But other than that I think I’ll be sticking to my charge tti. If you use this as a hammering tool it it will weaken the magnets also.
My tti has a pry bar and replaceable wire cutters.
One positive about the whole free line is that the pocket clip is on the “correct” end of the tool, at the pivot. On tools where it’s at the other end they can flop open way too easily.
very true 👍
The Sideclip had it right!
Bought one this morning, can’t wait to get!
Just get better and better, Jon. Thorough coverage and polished delivery, plus entertaining humor. I do miss Jamie, however. :)
Thanks for the kind feedback - Jamie is part of the team and always involved - will be back on camera soon.
I do not see the garage number five on Leatherman’s website. Is there someplace else it would be or another name
Nice review. A serrated blade is a must.
I've owned a few Wave tools for nearly two decades but now daily carry a Curl for work and find it's satisfactory however I do miss having the saw on it. The curl has a very nice awl with an eye that I think is also longer than the one on the arc and comes to a point. I'm a technician in aviation testing but essentially work as a millwright handling a lot of the heavy test equipment and performing fabrication and machining when necessary. I also have a fab shop at home where I work on hobby automotive projects. I love having the awl for deburring parts and holes as well as scribing marking lines. I've punched a few holes in sheet metal with mine and haven't noticed the eyelet making it weak. I want to like the arc and give it a try, but with fabrication work magnets are not a good feature on a tool as they attract ferrous steel grit that builds up and makes the tool sticky and causes stainless to surface rust when exposed to moisture or sweat. That aside I'm still curious to try one. I fiddled with a coworker's free tool and found the action of the tools and pliers really smooth. Maybe I'll get one and just throw it in my EDC pack to try and keep it from getting to mucked up with steel dust.
The Arc is a Charge+ update. My Charge+ works fine. I learnt yonks ago not to feel the need for the latest of everything. This applies here too. It looks great though.
Staying with my blackened Surge with leather sheath.
I know this toolset was widely asked for, but I could do without the soft Leatherman bits and adding a Diamond file to a magnet-based tool. But they definitely could have made some better tool choices for the p2 and p4. The best thing about the Arc is that it demonstrates that Leatherman is listening to customers.
I believe the magnet and filings issue might be overstated as it clumps the filings away from the pivots - we are told. Soft bits could do with sorting - agree they are listening!
@@JonGadget Yea I know Leatherman says the Free tech actually keeps metal out of the pivot. Ben at Tx Tool Crib had a different experience, working with metal for a living. Regarding the bits, I wonder if the Chinese competition will have an effect? There’s lots of good 1/4” options in Leatherman clones now, which means a much more durable tool with respect to the driver.
I'll just stick with my gerber truss. Great review! All the info one could ever need!
I bought mine at 3:00am US time when Leatherman released it for sale. I agree I'm not crazy about the holes on the opposite side for the pocket clip and the can opener for me is a waste of a tool space. Those two minor things aside I think this is the best tool selections in a Leatherman to date in my opinion.
This video is the tipping point to purchase the ARC. Great video!
Glad it was helpful!
As always, excellent, and delivered with a pleasant diction!
About the can opener, it's needed for people in the aviation industry, to open our engine oil cans
Good to know!
Yep, can opener on my Leatherman gets as much action if not more than any other tool. Also really good for getting the paint out of a Philips screw head.
Great review! I've been looking forward to adding the Arc to my collection for a long time. I really enjoy your channel and appreciate the work you put into your content. The only drawback is I always seem to spend money after watching your videos 😀Thanks!
Thanks for that 😊 it is a great tool
Very nice!! MagnaCut is an overkill for a multitool and reason for extra cost of $50 - $70 that no one asked for :). I guess they are 'future proofing' it. With all these tools, Leatherman still cannot be used to sharpen or service its own blades.
My multitool lineup consists of the Gerber dime, SOG powerpint, Victorinox alox pioneer, Leatherman wave+, Leatherman surge. 41 piece bit kit, bit extender, ratchet driver. I don't carry the Leatherman's unless I know I'm definitely going to use one, I always carry a dedicated folding knife. I can't justify buying the arc, especially at its price. I sold 140 knives out of my collection this year because I needed the money. Let's see if Leatherman does any discount for the holidays.
Super tool 300 never found a reason to replace it
This it the first Leatherman that has absolutely everything I need in a multitool so I’m hyped, I know the price is gonna be up there though
Excellent video Mr. Jon😊
Thanks Jon, always nice to have the accurate information about the things you bring to us.
It's always top! By the way what is the name of the glasses you wear?
Gotta love honest reviews! Thanks!
Looks fantastic, but excuse my ignorance, would the magnet system affect your watch? Automatic watches I mean. And don’t magnets get weaker over time . Does look nice though
No, I don't think so and LM talk about their magnets being focussed and shielded (if that's possible)!
Jon thx Jon from St. Louis Missouri.
What were the acc on the side of the sheath in the video? Great Video!
LM ratchet driver 👍
Will still stick with my wave plus. Still the best I think
Hi Jon, excellent and useful review as ever. I'm a long time Leatherman carrier (I still have my old PST2) and have a Surge on my belt whenever I can. I'm tempted to add an Arc to my rotation but the magnets put me off from as I imagine them collecting swarf that could ruin the tool and be virtually impossible to remove. Have you got any experience of this and / or how easy it would be to clean up should it happen?
Great video, as always
I will gift it to my brother, I don't think I need it owning the t4 and the p2.
I would have hoped it had the spring loaded plyers like the garage 05
I ordered my arc today
Can openers are actually very good tools for survival and other things
Agree about can opener. Another, shorter blade would've been better there, I think.
Great video, congrats! Just one possible correction: you said the Magnacut on the main blade is a first for any Multitool, but I believe MKM was the first one to offer it on the MKM Campo and Malga series of Multitool. At least there are videos showing the MKM multiple with Magnacut, and it was also available on their website, before Leatherman presented the ARC.
In my head Multitools are plier based - and MKM and ASK tools and the like are what I call multi-function pocket knives - that could be just me though!
@@JonGadget fair enough, now we would get into the discussion of how to categorize the different types of "multitools', and that is not the point. I just thought it was worth mentioning that MKM was the first to put Magnacut on a "multitool-like" object. Maybe you mention it when you get a chance to review one of the MKMs with Magnacut 😉
Cheers, and again, great content!
@@JonGadget thats kind of how I think about it as well.
@@maxlvledc most of the RUclipsrs that speak native English use the Multitool like you guys are saying. But in the more "international" environment (I live in Germany for example), the term Multitool is used as a more generic term in the industry. Take 2 examples: the websites from Böker and Civivi, they both use the category Multitool more generic, Civivi does not even have a classic plier based Multitool and they also use this name on the website, and even explain it as "Multi tools are versatile hand-held tools that incorporate multiple functions into a single compact unit."
I thought the Magnacut was on the 40th Anniversary edition, or are we not counting that as a production model?
So since I already have the Free P4 that I use every day, I imagine the Arc is not worth the upgrade, especially for the cost. Great vid!
Awesome content as always! I’d like to see the can opener and/or micro screw driver replaced with a really robust pry bar that included a small notch for pulling nails. Sure, you’re not going to remove framing nails, but prying and pulling out stuff is a lot more useful in a work tool, than opening a can.
Yes, I feel these 2 spaces could be better served.
You’ve obviously never found yourself in a situation where your only food is in cans :)
Not Yet! 🤣
@@bob_the_bomb4508not a big canned food guy. Also, more and more food is coming in pouches or those easy open ring top cans. That’s an aside though, having a can opener on the signal, or a “survival” tool makes sense. This type of leatherman seems like a strait ahead work companion. I’d bet the can opener is the least used of the lot, and a nail pull/pry tool would be used a lot more. Just my wishes, anyway.
@@alaskatosweden9942all good points…I think for this money you should be able to choose the tools you want to include.
I use my 300 EOD for work, and my SAK Huntsman for ‘social, domestic and pleasure’. After all, a gentleman needs a corkscrew, doesn’t he? :)
As an eyewear nerd looking for a gift for a tool nerd: digging the Mr. Leight frames.
I understand the appeal (Magnacut, 1 hand opening, nice look, good tools selection) and the production cost (USA made, Magnacut, etc) but I can not justify to myself buying a multitool for 300€. I like my tools to be inexpensive and easily replaceable should I damage or lost them. Even if someone were to gift me an ARC I fear I would treat it as a piece of collection and not a tool :(
It's a fair point many will agree with
I felt the same way when I first owned a Charge, and still carried one of my Waves daily.. THEN, life changed when I purchased a Titanium Charge.. Six years later the pliers is as snug as when new.. The blades have served me extremely well!! My Waves have been on stand-by..
I don't leave home without my Leatherman Titanium Charge!!
Snap-On tools have been my primary work tools since the 1960s, and Leatherman tools compliment them well‼️🙋🏻♂️
They should make a cheaper 154cm blade version.
Whereas I prefer premium tools and refuse to carry substandard, well, anything.
@@thatrealba By inexpensive I did not mean substandard. Victorinox, Knipex, Civivi for exemple all make perfectly good quality yet affordable tools.
I had a lot of reservations about buying the arc, but I thankfully got 30% off putting it right around $160 after tax and free shipping. To me, that was a no brainer 🤷🏾♂️
With two Waves in use I'm not sure I need the arc, but I sure would like one... Well back to work to save up 🤣🤣🤣
😂
man they need a Free version of the Squirt with torx screws and a pocket clip, or maybe a Powerpint sized Free tech based multitool
the more the better!
I like the nylon sheath too. My setup is a Surge in that, with a fisher space pen bullet on one side and a bit driver with a little bosch ratchet wrench on the other. Inside, one of the flat bits set. A HSS saw and the file.
IMHO this cannot be beaten, at least when you get used to the weight of the surge. A good belt helps (my choice is an AustriAlpin cobra buckle and a stiff belt with it)
OK, the arc would be around 100 gramms lighter, but is almost twice the price. Ok, better blade steel (and yes the surge blade gets dull pretty quick)
On the other side you can change the saw and the file on the surge, a feature thats unique and very good if you actually using the saw a lot (also beeing able to usw HSS saws for metal is great)
The Arc seems to be a very good tool, but so far i wont remove the surge from my belt.
Greetings from Austria.
I.
Every working man should carry a Leatherman. Especially the Arc. If your debating on getting it but it’s to expensive for you just keep saving. You’ll thank yourself later. But only if you really really want it. Got mine a couple days ago and it’s amazing in every way. I don’t buy knives that’s aren’t fully one handed functional. Now a Leatherman that’s fully one handed functional is just whole different animal. Salute to those who helped execute this design 💪🏼
I’ve been on the fence between the arc and the surge I want to pull the trigger almost getting both but that would be much I think
Just ordered mine from HH. Can't wait to play with it!😂
I'm sure you will love it