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Pretty disappointed !!! The best Leatherman is The Dark Side !!!! It at least has 2 new items. A PEN and TWEEZERS !!!!!!! They sold out in seconds so nobody got one. I've been hounding them to do something like that again. This is The Wave with better metal. The Dark Side is the wave with a pen and tweezers, which I would personally use all the time. Bug Leatherman to make that again !!!!! Make it with this nice metal and design, that'd be great, but it's gotta have everything we see here with the pen and tweezers. Otherwise, I rarely look at the Leatherman site. Nothing THAT new and innovative... At least to spend over 200 bucks on when my wave has everything you see here. :-/
ABOUT THE CUTTERS.. I have some updates after I broke mine on camera. Leatherman reached out to me regarding these cutters. They will be sending me a new set (no need to send back tool). They mentioned they found a batch with bad heat treatment that is not up to spec. So on one hand, it's good to see Leatherman is on it. On the other hand I still don't understand the design change that causes the gap. I've heard from many others that this gap will also create incomplete cuts in things like wire ties etc. Will do a follow up at some point. It's really good to see yours hold up! Cheers, Dominic
The Arc is basically the Wave+ on steroids. Being able to access all the tools one handed is a game changer. My Surge will still be my edc for work but after work its gonna be the Arc.
I honestly have no problem one handing all the tools on my wave. It's loose enough to flick it and it opens up like butterfly knife... I do get the all outside tool advantage, but some tools seem to be made strangely to work with the magnets like the strippers on the awl.
I just ordered my Arc a few days ago and can't wait to get it in my hands an try it out,not sure if I wan to void the warranty an swopp out the bit exchanger to the half size an 1/4 size like next level edc did an make it more versatile an not have to worry about the Leatherman prepritory bits,just wondering,cause it costs a bit of money so I'm still not sure I wanna void my warranty in case I don't like it an it breaks on me,I already got it customized engraved with my name on it an a Kool pattern too.
Ive had a Wave+ for a few years and decided to upgrade to the Arc. So far ive seen a huge benefit to the Arc when trying to use the outside accessable scissors and one handed deployment of the bit driver and prybar. Not having to open the pliers to get to those extra tools saves a bunch of time and fiddling. Essentially a Wave+ with an improved user interface, I have been very happy so far with the purchase.
“Saves a bunch of time and fiddling.” Any product that reduces your work time is more valuable than people give credit for. Time is more precious than money, so whatever saves you time is worth its weight in gold.
I’m the same, have had a couple Waves over the last 2 decades and this is basically an improved version of that for me. To make it nearly perfect for me at work I’d like to get the full bit kit to assemble my most useful set, an improved sheath I can carry horizontally (miss the one from my old Wave) and if they would only stock the ratcheting extender again…
Wow! I guess I'm a loser. I work construction and use my knife everyday. Paid about $20 and thought I was going fancy. Had it 15 years now; she still gets the job done and let's me put a check in the bank and food on the table. 😢
with the 30% off on leatherman website paid 160 ( like 175 to my door) and for that USA made magnacut even forgetting about the rest of the tools seems like a pretty good deal
Looking for a second hand Arc at around 150-160. At that price, for the one handed opening, blade and magnet (which can be considered an unofficial tool if you drop a small metal item), it’d be a fair price.
Thought I would agree with this until I EDC'd the Arc for a while. The Arc's one handed operation makes for a significantly more refined tool. On the job site, situational awareness and focus is *premium*. Being the guy who reaches one hand into his pocket and without even having to look down has the right tool selected by the time it's raised into his workspace is a BIG difference from being the guy that has to put down his coffee first and fumble with two hands and two eyes occupied for 10-15 seconds to get the right tool out. The Arc sets you up to be the first guy, not the second guy, and that's where I want to be.
The biggest problem I can see for me it the magnetic operation of the tool. I’m a millwright and welder/fabricator. If I put the arc on my work bench the internal magnets will get completely covered in metal grindings/filings the second I put it down. Also all my pants and coat pockets become imbedded with small metal filings. It’s not noticeable until u put something magnetic in your pocket (think AirPod case) and everything becomes covered in filings that are hard to clean off
The wave is a better tool all around. Of course my wave is 20 years old so maybe the quality was better then. I'm returning my arc tomorrow. What a disappointment for a $230 tool!
Leatherman offers 30 percent off for police, fire, ems, vets, all First responders… got mine for like 170 shipped. To me that was a fair price and so far I love this tool.
$100 more than the p2 honestly isn’t that bad for extra tools plus a coated Magnacut blade. If my P2 ever fails me I would gladly pay $230 for a good multitool.
I’ve had a Wave for over 10 years… And I bought the Arc a week ago, the Arc is honestly an amazing tool … Magnacut, and just the easy access and dexterity on it makes it the best multi tool I’ve ever owned..
Good review Aaron 👍 I agree if someone else can justify laying down the money and the Arc fits what they need then yes it's worth it to them. As a lifelong mechanic I've spent tons of money on tools and have no problem buying a more expensive tool if..it helps me be more productive. But like you the Arc to me isn't going to help me be more productive than my tried and true Surge I've EDC'd for years. If I was going to swap to another multitool I would probably choose Gerber's Dual Force because as a mechanic by trade that pliers head on the Dual Force fits so many things I work on day to day. But hey if the Arc does it for you then it's worth it. Thanks for sharing!
The flex is totally normal. It’s part of how the frame is designed. If you are worried, don’t be. I’ve had a p4 in my pocket and have used it every day for 2 years with zero issues. Hard use at times. It’s very solid.
On a side note about the price, if you are a veteran, check out the military discount at Leatherman. I actually bought the Arc for $160. I couldn't pass that up. Best military discount I've ever gotten i think. BTW, I love the Arc, and would have bought it at regular price eventually.
Good,comprehensive review, thanks! I find that the Leatherman tools on your table are more workmanlike than the Arc...it may be "premium" but I think it is overated...imho, it is way too floppy, the magnets will attract too much gunk in a working environment & considering it is top of the line, there seem to be problems when it should be flawless....this appears to be endemic of LTG, as their QC seems to be non-existent....it is the reason why I haven't made further purchases as I really don't know if I will get a quality product or a dud....
I recently switched from a Centerdrive to the Arc and love it. The ease of one hand operation and the blade make this top on my list. The pliers are FAR superior to the Centerdrive. The cutters on mine chipped with simple braded copper wire. Couple of thoughts. There may be play at the handles, but the jaws themselves have almost zero play, and that's really what counts. My centerdrive had significant play at the jaws, plus the bit holder kept the jaws from closing. The hanger or whatever your cutting should be done up from the gap at the base. That gap shouldn't be there, but it does fine if you avoid it.
To each their own, but I’d rather buy a wave+ and if I needed a stronger knife to pair with it, I’d get a small Esee or even a mora for less then the price of the new arc. I think leatherman jumped on the magnacut train a little too early.
Wire test was perfect valdation of the tool, thanks Aaron. That's exactly how I want an edc hand tool to perform: just strong enough to handle my full strength, but not much more to be overly heavy or bulky.
I have used in the used my 1st gen and 1st gen surge at work for nearly 20 years and still going strong. Would I like to add the arc to the collection, sure, but definitely not for that price given how comprehensive and beefy the surge still is. Thanks for your review by the way excellent as always!
I'm on my second Charge Titanium. I can't find my first one. I have an OG wave(no bit driver or replaceable wire cutters) Never had a problem. I'm not ready to upgrade to single handed operation or Magnacut. I have magnacut pocket knives: Deka, Native 5, and Tactile Maverick.
And those are replaceable cutters used on a ton of their products. You've always heard of the occasional set of those that sometimes break. But regardless. the set with the little divot at the bottom is the same style that came on my rebar from two years ago. I definitely looked at some vids that show a comparison and this looks the same as what I have. Could be wrong, but personally, I haven't had issues with cutting small nails, those long nails they use for tacking baseboard, or similar. I've also used the wirecutters for a ton of string trimmer cord, thicker twist ties, jute rope, and the occasional garden chicken wire and tomato cage types of things. No sweat. So if this is the direction they went in, and it sounds like they're the same cutters on the other Free pliers, it really must be an occasional heat treat issue. Hopefully they at least take the feedback on it for counting failure rate.
I had a response from leatherman about cutters they said there engineering team immediately tested there current inventory to diagnose the cause. Through there tests, they found that some lots of replaceable wire cutters did not meet expectations. Said they will send me replacements.
I may have missed it in the video but its still worth a mention . But the plier head on the arc is the strongest they are made even stronger than the surge .
I hate too say it , but, 250.00 is way too much for a so called tool that unless you really need all the bells and whistles, is a lot of money in todays economy. I like the way the tool works but I have a Gerber tool that does the same things with out all the so called automatic opening tools that I have been using for so long I forgot when I bought it but it cost less than 30.00 and has never broken or worn out. Just sayin'
Made in the USA for $250 is not too bad. I hate to say it but sooner or later we will be forced to stop supporting China. I'd rather keep the very few products around that are still made here then be forced with a supply shortage when China places sanctions on the US over a Taiwan war. Also it's an ethical thing. China uses slave labor and steals intellectual property.
I'm glad you brought up the sharpness of the handles when the tool is closed up. It's not that big of an issue for small uses, but I would definitely see it being a little bit of a irritation over prolonged use. And how long did it take you to get flicking your blade open in one smooth go? Days ago I just got my arc, and I think I've only successfully flick with the thumb stud once or twice, and I have scared myself by running my finger across the blade a couple times, and boy is that thing sharp outta the box.
It is sharp for sure! That’s how mine operated out of the box. Maybe play around the pivots a little bit and see if you can loosen it up just a bit. It is a good blade.
Mine is similar; it's tight. I can't even flick it open with the thumb stud, let alone flip it open or closed. I might try adding a little lube to the pivots at some point, because the whole tool is a little stiff. My Free P4 is a little looser, but I can't flip its blade open, either.
Here's my problem with Leatherman The minute that they put in replaceable cutters told me that I'm going to be buying replaceable cutters for as long as I've owned that Leatherman I have an original wave I've had for a long long time and I've had absolutely no problem with the cutters because they did it right the first time and I guess when you do something right the first time you're only going to sell it one time so that's my biggest complaint with Leatherman is is I won't have to buy another Leatherman I'll just have to keep buying replacement cutters boo😢
Looks pretty cool. I have my Surge for 9 years, never left my pocket. It is so well used and cared for that I do use it one handed pretty easily. IMO leatherman is headed in the right direction with these.
I have three very old Leathermen. The Last one I bought was the Charge. None of them has ever failed me. If this new one breaks right out of the box, it's embarrassing for them :/
Nice honest review. People are kinda funny sometimes. They have no problem paying 160-180$ for a bugout made of plastic with a s30v blade but are also complaining about the Arc at 230$😅. I’m a knife enthusiast and for me,personally, 230$ for a tool i really enjoy everyday with a Magnacut blade is a decent price. If i had to only keep one LM it would be my surge tho. But i’m really enjoying my Arc. Time will tell if it’ll keep its place tho! Thanks for the video man!
Thank you for the review it was a huge help. I have several Leatherman tools, but I was looking for another one. Based on your review and another review I saw I think I will avoid the ARC, but you definitely sparked an interest in the Charge. Again, thanks for the review.
My MUT has been absolutely essential for most of my professional career. I use it daily for Commercial HVAC and other electrical work. I use my MUR for almost everything. I have the Wave.., but my MUT is the “ONE” hands down the best LEATHERMAN, in my opinion.
the teeth/ cutters are not too much of a problem in all honesty. sometimes from time to time they have a bad batch of cutters that are a little too hard or too soft, but a recent issue I’ve noticed has been the fit of the cutters not being 100% squared off cutters which make a tiny gap after the hard wire cutter part. I stockpiled replacement cutters before and during the pandemic and none had this issue.
i dont know about this one but i have been really disappointed with the fit and finished of leatherman tools, even the charge tti seems to be made bretty sloppy compared to the victorinox swiss tool. the swiss tools are just refined to near perfection
So they added a couple cents worth of a different element to the blade when they made it and found a company in the US to make the pliers. This is worth a hundred dollars more?
Received mine a few weeks ago after loosing my Wave. Had a second thought because of the price here in Europe (300$give or take) I had many occasions to use it for precise jobs ( thanks to the mini screwdriver) or more demanding using pliers, scissors ( far better than my wave), the amazing blade, the file on soft steel, the screw driver, almost every tool. I used to carry a SAK as edc, now it spend a lot of time in my drawer. In short, a great tool except that I’m left handed and opening the pliers one handed, is clearly not as easy for me than for a right handed user. I added a small flashlight to the sheet, an electric saw blade for steel (fits perfectly in the bit holder) and a bit extender for non leatherman bits. Didn’t regret my euros for a second
Who wants to “not need” another pocket knife? 😉 I like having a MT, but don’t really use the blade because I prefer to use a dedicated knife with a much better ergos. Wish the Arc had S30V or 154 and was $50 less. I like the tool set and bit drivers much better than the P series. Magnacut is overkill for a MT imo. Also hate that it’s coated, it’s a highly corrosion resistant steel. No need to coat it.
I use my oht daily at work. That tool is the best ever made. The use of it is less than carrying but it sure does save trips to the toolbox 80% of the time👍
I wanted an OHT but Leatherman wanted to make the choice for me and said no. So then I went to the Black and Stainless Steel version of the Surge, but once again Leatherman made the decision for me and said no. To which I was forced to choose between less stellar options. So I am like well at least give me a ratchet driver to go with the set. Again Leatherman said No. I am not off to a great start with you Leatherman. The purchase I made may be the only one you get from me.
It's not "the free technology" when it comes to the frame flex. It's the fact that instead of using a properly thick frame steel, they use this thin sheet of steel, and then slap a layer of stainless "scales" on the side. But the scales aren't really a part of the main structural frame. Which is why you get this level of flex in all directions. Compare the actual steel thickness in the frame to the Wave or the Surge...you'll see what I mean.
Hope they release a poor mans Arc with like a D2 blade lol. Most of the time im just using the blade for skinning some wire or cut on a soft material. With the wave+ I mostly use the serrated blade for nastier tasks.
I'd pay $300 if it had a serrated blade with gut hook, and the ruler inside (that was way more useful than I ever expected). I want those outside tools but sticking with my Charge + till the next model. The arc and free p4 look like they'd be more uncomfortable due the the striking surface too
I've had a Free P4 for a couple of years now, and I actually think the overall shape is very comfortable, both for using the outside tools and when open to use the pliers. The edges of the handles are rounded, and there aren't any tools sticking out that would dig into your hand, except the opening slot on the plain blade, which isn't bad. The Arc is the same shape and has the same comfort.
@@_WillCAD_ @_WillCAD_ I'm not taking about the edges. When closed the Wave is uncomfortable while using the knife because of that. When my friend got one that was a reason I chose the Charge Al. What I'm talking about is the end of the pliers on the Arc and Free. They aren't round like the Wave and Charges
On cutting coat hangers...I'm really wondering what guage(s) of wire is fair in assessing a multi-tool? 🤷 I worked as an electrician for many years installing more than 3000+ load centers. There are many different types and guages of wires we use to wire a load center. I can share from experience that many professionally hardened tools from very reputable companies have broken cutting less ductile wire. In my thinking 12-2 awg. copper clad wire should be the maximum test. [Same argument for grabbing one's axe opposed to using my Esee 6 to chop down a 12 inch tree.] Since an electrician works primarily with either 14-2 or 12-2 awg. wire, a backup multi-tool should be able to cut these. Anything larger or stronger we graduated to various sized bolt cutters.
The hangers that are wrecking everyone's cutters are right about the same 12 gauge wire as the fence/baling wire that wrecked my cutters and the other guys'. That combined with the body flex and super dull blade have led me to email Leatherman to try and return the tool. Haven't gotten an email back and it's been a couple days. Definitely not pleased with the Arc at all. As far as I'm concerned, I spent $230 on a super cool looking paper weight because this thing is not going in my motorcycle's compact onboard tool kit. I'll just deal with the extra space my Surge takes up. Good to see yours held up better than mine though. No way in Hades am I trusting mine, which sucks because the tool kit is exactly what I need to work on the bike and also has a few tools that will help in the wilderness.
Ive had no issues with my free p4 cutting thick guage wire only if its a must I'll attempt the cut but so far the free P4 has been a tank for me but really tempted to get the ARC just "cus".great review.
Right on! Glad the P4 is working well for you. For whatever reason the PCs just didn’t connect with me I don’t on a single one after doing the videos and testing them when they came out. Sticking with the wave, surge, and charge.
Well, what amounts do you drop on singlebladed knifes? 230 is maybe a better middleground. But the Arc pretty much looks like a cash cow with Magnacut. You addressed it quite the second I was finished.
They need to offer the old p4 cutters to all arc owners. It’s a real issue and they need to fix it imo. It really is the perfect multitool minus the redesigned cutters.
Thank you for review and explanation of tools of this new Leatherman knife. I have a number of multitools from this company. Always keep u0 reviews! Carry on.
Biggest problem with that tool to me, isn't the price or cutter deficiency, but that stupid proprietary bit driver, and the fact they don't give you a T6/T8 torx bit. If the bit driver were 4mm or 1/4", and it didn't have the magnacut blade (or even ANY blade) I'd buy it. But I'm not buying into some bit driver shakedown for a premium price, or any price frankly.
I dont know if I like the knife comparison. Partly because its not $230, theres taxes and such on top of it and where I live tax and import makes this a $400 tool, but I also dont like the comparison because its not the same product. The leatherman can do alot of things a plain knife cant, but these knives certainly can do alot that a multi tool cant too. Leatherman blades in particular have a habit of breaking. You pry with them, they break. You hammer on them, they break. You twist them too much, they break. You stab or chisel something, they break. For instance the Reiff knife you showed there has none of those issues. There is a reason why most people carry a separate knife along with their multi tool.
The cutters seem to be absolute trash which makes people question the quality of the product overall and if Leatherman is cutting corners. Funny that this is a more expensive multitool and is the only one with a major issue. I’ve owned 3 Leatherman tools and love them all but I wouldn’t touch this thing right now.
I'd STAY AWAY if I were you. I paid Leatherman their $230 plus extra $20 for engraving, only to receive it and it looks like the engraving was done by a 3 year old. I tried to call them but they never pick up so I emailed them, only to be told that they acknowledged that the engraving was horrible but they were only offering to refund the $20 engraving fee and leave me with a horrific looking $230 multi-tool. I suggest you walk away, their service is horrendous.
i just wish they have a series we can just pick the tools we want to have on there.....i know ppl have been modding tools, but why not just from the factory if thats allow, if anything, that would be the easiest thing for them to do since they already have the detailed engineering drawing, and i am sure they try to reuse parts from other tools whenever they can...... for now, i guess modding is still the only way to get a perfect arc for me.
You know you can get a perfectly good knife for a few units of freedom money? Getting a multi tool that saying like 20 tools for 230 freedom units is nothing. I paid 299€ for one today and im fine with that. You paid 200 something for some flipping knife? I would never pay anything more than few € for a knife. There is no realistic comparison to a multi tool and fix blade knife. Yes it says magna blade and something something but in the end that makes no difference in day to day use. Comparing 2 entirely different tools that just happen to be same "oooooohhhhh look at this material" dont work like that. I had multiple leatherman tools for every day use for about 15 years and I dont complain. Also I work metal industry for work and money for my actual job so I know something about metal.
I have a brand new surge with the wire cutters gap and it doesnt cut wire, as wel I have and old surge and stills cuting wire like butter, wirw cutters in the new one are different and has the gap, just facts.
the one-handed operation is a huge benefit if you ask me, and that magnacut blade is just awesome. if I already owned a wave I probably wouldn’t see the need to buy the arc, but as my first full-size and fully-equipped multi-tool, the arc feels like a good choice. plus I am curious what mods will become available for it in the future
If they made one in a less expensive steel at a much lower price, I would get one. For me, my multitool blades are for heavy duty or sketchy cutting. It's more of a sacrificial blade since I always have a pocket knife. A multitool with some whiz-bang knife steel isn't going to make me ditch my pocket knife.
13:51 You don't understand why the cutter inserts are breaking, they are being WEDGED in the noncutting area (radius) by a specific gauge (regular coat hangers) wire ... There is too much clearance in the "V" re of the er head, and the wire gets in UNDER the inserts wedging the brittle inserts. By using to big and too small wire you can't replicate the problem.
I’m watching it all the way down and using multiple types of wire. Apparently there was a bad heat treat is what Leatherman is reporting. Hopefully I didn’t get about heat Treat time will tell.
When I was watching this I tested my 10 year old Wave against my new surge cutting a coat hanger. To my surprise my old wave took about half the effort. Did not see that coming. To be fair, I spent a minute touching up the the cutters on my wave with the surge diamond file. I like the surge but WTF?
I absolutely hated the "free" series and I think they're a gimmick and just garbage. This one here is even worse. I don't even know why they call the latest ones "free" series because they are the most expensive of the Leathermans. "free" Technology really means free range idiot technology. I Mean this Leatherman can't even cut wire! I use my ST300 to cut steel coat hangers at work on a daily basis to use to remove gunk from our spray guns & the cutters are still sharp. don't care about a 3-inch magnacut blade, that's just stupid and just because I won't need to sharpen it doesn't mean it's not going to snap. I'll stick to my ST300, at work & off work, so why would I need an inferior tool to carry with me after work if my ST300 does it all?. And I really don't like that flex, it makes me cringe. Wake me up when Leatherman actually comes out with something truly original & useful.
I'm in the trades. (Carpenter) I have a Free and a Wave+. I carry the Wave+ daily. Its a backup tool for me. I wear a tool belt with two pouches daily.
An Excellent Source For Leatherman Tools prf.hn/l/AJo22Vd is the videos sponsor HUCKBERRY.
10% Off First Purchase With Code HBGT10 (some exclusions apply)
Pretty disappointed !!!
The best Leatherman is The Dark Side !!!!
It at least has 2 new items.
A PEN and TWEEZERS !!!!!!!
They sold out in seconds so nobody got one.
I've been hounding them to do something like that again.
This is The Wave with better metal.
The Dark Side is the wave with a pen and tweezers, which I would personally use all the time.
Bug Leatherman to make that again !!!!!
Make it with this nice metal and design, that'd be great, but it's gotta have everything we see here with the pen and tweezers.
Otherwise, I rarely look at the Leatherman site.
Nothing THAT new and innovative...
At least to spend over 200 bucks on when my wave has everything you see here.
:-/
"may thy cutters chip and shatter" lol
ABOUT THE CUTTERS..
I have some updates after I broke mine on camera.
Leatherman reached out to me regarding these cutters. They will be sending me a new set (no need to send back tool). They mentioned they found a batch with bad heat treatment that is not up to spec.
So on one hand, it's good to see Leatherman is on it. On the other hand I still don't understand the design change that causes the gap. I've heard from many others that this gap will also create incomplete cuts in things like wire ties etc.
Will do a follow up at some point. It's really good to see yours hold up!
Cheers,
Dominic
The Arc is basically the Wave+ on steroids. Being able to access all the tools one handed is a game changer. My Surge will still be my edc for work but after work its gonna be the Arc.
I honestly have no problem one handing all the tools on my wave. It's loose enough to flick it and it opens up like butterfly knife... I do get the all outside tool advantage, but some tools seem to be made strangely to work with the magnets like the strippers on the awl.
@@AtomicBleachyeah the tool set on the arc sucks
I just ordered my Arc a few days ago and can't wait to get it in my hands an try it out,not sure if I wan to void the warranty an swopp out the bit exchanger to the half size an 1/4 size like next level edc did an make it more versatile an not have to worry about the Leatherman prepritory bits,just wondering,cause it costs a bit of money so I'm still not sure I wanna void my warranty in case I don't like it an it breaks on me,I already got it customized engraved with my name on it an a Kool pattern too.
Nah. It's more like the Wave+ on creatine.
@@TheHyde8875 , yeah I agree,I love my new Arc
Ive had a Wave+ for a few years and decided to upgrade to the Arc. So far ive seen a huge benefit to the Arc when trying to use the outside accessable scissors and one handed deployment of the bit driver and prybar. Not having to open the pliers to get to those extra tools saves a bunch of time and fiddling. Essentially a Wave+ with an improved user interface, I have been very happy so far with the purchase.
“Saves a bunch of time and fiddling.” Any product that reduces your work time is more valuable than people give credit for. Time is more precious than money, so whatever saves you time is worth its weight in gold.
Im still trying to break the habit of opening the pliers to access the tools. I also made the switch from the Wave+.
I’m the same, have had a couple Waves over the last 2 decades and this is basically an improved version of that for me. To make it nearly perfect for me at work I’d like to get the full bit kit to assemble my most useful set, an improved sheath I can carry horizontally (miss the one from my old Wave) and if they would only stock the ratcheting extender again…
@@DNMEBOYI’m having the same learning curve. I got it specifically for the external one handed tools, but still forget that’s where they are
@@DNMEBOYsame , I've popped open the pliers a few times to get to the bit driver lol.
Wow! I guess I'm a loser. I work construction and use my knife everyday. Paid about $20 and thought I was going fancy. Had it 15 years now; she still gets the job done and let's me put a check in the bank and food on the table. 😢
Sounds kinda like you are winning 👍
with the 30% off on leatherman website paid 160 ( like 175 to my door) and for that USA made magnacut even forgetting about the rest of the tools seems like a pretty good deal
Looking for a second hand Arc at around 150-160. At that price, for the one handed opening, blade and magnet (which can be considered an unofficial tool if you drop a small metal item), it’d be a fair price.
Thought I would agree with this until I EDC'd the Arc for a while. The Arc's one handed operation makes for a significantly more refined tool. On the job site, situational awareness and focus is *premium*. Being the guy who reaches one hand into his pocket and without even having to look down has the right tool selected by the time it's raised into his workspace is a BIG difference from being the guy that has to put down his coffee first and fumble with two hands and two eyes occupied for 10-15 seconds to get the right tool out. The Arc sets you up to be the first guy, not the second guy, and that's where I want to be.
The biggest problem I can see for me it the magnetic operation of the tool. I’m a millwright and welder/fabricator. If I put the arc on my work bench the internal magnets will get completely covered in metal grindings/filings the second I put it down. Also all my pants and coat pockets become imbedded with small metal filings. It’s not noticeable until u put something magnetic in your pocket (think AirPod case) and everything becomes covered in filings that are hard to clean off
100 percent agree. I'm going with the charge tti. Magnets as a tinner never works. It's a pain enough cleaning out my 1/4 driver magnets haha
Big facts I’m a welder too and An air gun is the only thing I’ve found to help and that’s not exactly a household item
Swiss tool or Swiss tool spirit MXBS . Both I would suggest first .
Loved the comparison to knives made with similar materials. Great new view on the Arc I havent seen before.
I think this makes the Wave look like a really good value. $50.00 plus tax on fleabay for a new one in the clam shell pkg
Haha definitely 👍
The wave is a better tool all around. Of course my wave is 20 years old so maybe the quality was better then. I'm returning my arc tomorrow. What a disappointment for a $230 tool!
It doesn't. If you get a new Wave, the cutters will suck.
Wave all day long and worth every cent.
I love that people will spend 500 dollars on a knife but complain a lestherman with magnacut is 200 and change. Arc is even more expensive now.
Leatherman offers 30 percent off for police, fire, ems, vets, all
First responders… got mine for like 170 shipped. To me that was a fair price and so far I love this tool.
Where???
You forgot teachers
For an EDC the Arc is a one stop shop. I have it in my belt and note I don’t Dane my 17:56 Spyderco Manix taking up my right pocket
Mine worked as expected. No issues with coat hanger wire and other treacherous obstacles.
Good to hear. Sounds like it may be a bad batch
$100 more than the p2 honestly isn’t that bad for extra tools plus a coated Magnacut blade. If my P2 ever fails me I would gladly pay $230 for a good multitool.
I kept reading that as PM2 and was like dang.. he really knows how to stretch a knife 😅
@@Errcycome too 😂😂
I’ve had a Wave for over 10 years…
And I bought the Arc a week ago, the Arc is honestly an amazing tool … Magnacut, and just the easy access and dexterity on it makes it the best multi tool I’ve ever owned..
While here in Norway I have to pay the equivalent of 365$.
because they tax the 💩 out of you
Good review Aaron 👍 I agree if someone else can justify laying down the money and the Arc fits what they need then yes it's worth it to them. As a lifelong mechanic I've spent tons of money on tools and have no problem buying a more expensive tool if..it helps me be more productive. But like you the Arc to me isn't going to help me be more productive than my tried and true Surge I've EDC'd for years. If I was going to swap to another multitool I would probably choose Gerber's Dual Force because as a mechanic by trade that pliers head on the Dual Force fits so many things I work on day to day. But hey if the Arc does it for you then it's worth it. Thanks for sharing!
Your point in the beginning about cost vs. common “mid-range” knives makes a lot of sense.
Thanks so much!
The flex is totally normal. It’s part of how the frame is designed. If you are worried, don’t be. I’ve had a p4 in my pocket and have used it every day for 2 years with zero issues. Hard use at times. It’s very solid.
Absolutely agree
Straight up 💯 me too .. P4 , and now My Arc , both amazing tools ⚒️
That USA stamp alone is $150
On a side note about the price, if you are a veteran, check out the military discount at Leatherman. I actually bought the Arc for $160. I couldn't pass that up. Best military discount I've ever gotten i think. BTW, I love the Arc, and would have bought it at regular price eventually.
Oh very nice info that for sharing!!
Leatherman offers a 30% medical personnel discount as well
@@thereisnowayiamgivingyoumy9066and teachers
Thanks for the tip. Just ordered.
Also a 30% teacher or school staff discount.
They look great, but that price...
Good,comprehensive review, thanks! I find that the Leatherman tools on your table are more workmanlike than the Arc...it may be "premium" but I think it is overated...imho, it is way too floppy, the magnets will attract too much gunk in a working environment & considering it is top of the line, there seem to be problems when it should be flawless....this appears to be endemic of LTG, as their QC seems to be non-existent....it is the reason why I haven't made further purchases as I really don't know if I will get a quality product or a dud....
I recently switched from a Centerdrive to the Arc and love it. The ease of one hand operation and the blade make this top on my list. The pliers are FAR superior to the Centerdrive. The cutters on mine chipped with simple braded copper wire.
Couple of thoughts.
There may be play at the handles, but the jaws themselves have almost zero play, and that's really what counts. My centerdrive had significant play at the jaws, plus the bit holder kept the jaws from closing.
The hanger or whatever your cutting should be done up from the gap at the base. That gap shouldn't be there, but it does fine if you avoid it.
Sticking with my wave+ lol.......
To each their own, but I’d rather buy a wave+ and if I needed a stronger knife to pair with it, I’d get a small Esee or even a mora for less then the price of the new arc. I think leatherman jumped on the magnacut train a little too early.
Wire test was perfect valdation of the tool, thanks Aaron. That's exactly how I want an edc hand tool to perform: just strong enough to handle my full strength, but not much more to be overly heavy or bulky.
I have used in the used my 1st gen and 1st gen surge at work for nearly 20 years and still going strong.
Would I like to add the arc to the collection, sure, but definitely not for that price given how comprehensive and beefy the surge still is.
Thanks for your review by the way excellent as always!
I'm on my second Charge Titanium. I can't find my first one. I have an OG wave(no bit driver or replaceable wire cutters) Never had a problem. I'm not ready to upgrade to single handed operation or Magnacut. I have magnacut pocket knives: Deka, Native 5, and Tactile Maverick.
And those are replaceable cutters used on a ton of their products. You've always heard of the occasional set of those that sometimes break. But regardless. the set with the little divot at the bottom is the same style that came on my rebar from two years ago. I definitely looked at some vids that show a comparison and this looks the same as what I have. Could be wrong, but personally, I haven't had issues with cutting small nails, those long nails they use for tacking baseboard, or similar. I've also used the wirecutters for a ton of string trimmer cord, thicker twist ties, jute rope, and the occasional garden chicken wire and tomato cage types of things. No sweat. So if this is the direction they went in, and it sounds like they're the same cutters on the other Free pliers, it really must be an occasional heat treat issue. Hopefully they at least take the feedback on it for counting failure rate.
Nice to see Tommy the trail dog!
He is doing well!
I’m going to wait to get an arc. The supertool 300 has everything I need on a daily basis and I feel incomplete without it.
I love my supertool 300 I have one in each of my go bags.
I don’t know if I could justify the expense since I already own a P4…. Having said that, I would love one! Thank you for the vid!
I had a response from leatherman about cutters they said there engineering team immediately tested there current inventory to diagnose the cause. Through there tests, they found that some lots of replaceable wire cutters did not meet expectations. Said they will send me replacements.
Must be my issue. The ones on my charge crumbled.
The only compain I have with the arc is that the thumb stud is getting in the way of cutting and sharpening.
The P4 blade design works well already.
I may have missed it in the video but its still worth a mention . But the plier head on the arc is the strongest they are made even stronger than the surge .
I hate too say it , but, 250.00 is way too much for a so called tool that unless you really need all the bells and whistles, is a lot of money in todays economy. I like the way the tool works but I have a Gerber tool that does the same things with out all the so called automatic opening tools that I have been using for so long I forgot when I bought it but it cost less than 30.00 and has never broken or worn out. Just sayin'
Made in the USA for $250 is not too bad. I hate to say it but sooner or later we will be forced to stop supporting China. I'd rather keep the very few products around that are still made here then be forced with a supply shortage when China places sanctions on the US over a Taiwan war.
Also it's an ethical thing. China uses slave labor and steals intellectual property.
I'm glad you brought up the sharpness of the handles when the tool is closed up. It's not that big of an issue for small uses, but I would definitely see it being a little bit of a irritation over prolonged use. And how long did it take you to get flicking your blade open in one smooth go? Days ago I just got my arc, and I think I've only successfully flick with the thumb stud once or twice, and I have scared myself by running my finger across the blade a couple times, and boy is that thing sharp outta the box.
It is sharp for sure! That’s how mine operated out of the box. Maybe play around the pivots a little bit and see if you can loosen it up just a bit. It is a good blade.
Mine is similar; it's tight. I can't even flick it open with the thumb stud, let alone flip it open or closed. I might try adding a little lube to the pivots at some point, because the whole tool is a little stiff.
My Free P4 is a little looser, but I can't flip its blade open, either.
Here's my problem with Leatherman The minute that they put in replaceable cutters told me that I'm going to be buying replaceable cutters for as long as I've owned that Leatherman I have an original wave I've had for a long long time and I've had absolutely no problem with the cutters because they did it right the first time and I guess when you do something right the first time you're only going to sell it one time so that's my biggest complaint with Leatherman is is I won't have to buy another Leatherman I'll just have to keep buying replacement cutters boo😢
Looks pretty cool. I have my Surge for 9 years, never left my pocket. It is so well used and cared for that I do use it one handed pretty easily. IMO leatherman is headed in the right direction with these.
I still rely on my old LM Rebar and don't have a problem using two hands to open it, it's a tool, not a quick draw weapon.
Even if it doesn’t say USA on pliers, it’s still stamped in the USA. Ask Chat GPT
I have three very old Leathermen. The Last one I bought was the Charge. None of them has ever failed me. If this new one breaks right out of the box, it's embarrassing for them :/
Nice honest review. People are kinda funny sometimes. They have no problem paying 160-180$ for a bugout made of plastic with a s30v blade but are also complaining about the Arc at 230$😅. I’m a knife enthusiast and for me,personally, 230$ for a tool i really enjoy everyday with a Magnacut blade is a decent price. If i had to only keep one LM it would be my surge tho. But i’m really enjoying my Arc. Time will tell if it’ll keep its place tho! Thanks for the video man!
The Arc is in Switzerland 320 dollar's. Ridiculous.
I agreed 👍
@@Lion_Hamza euro prices are crazy on a lot of things from what i can see…
Thank you for this honest review!
My pleasure!
Glad I picked up one today. Thanks for the review.
If it's made here it should be cheaper. 300 in canada before taxes.
Thank you for the review it was a huge help. I have several Leatherman tools, but I was looking for another one. Based on your review and another review I saw I think I will avoid the ARC, but you definitely sparked an interest in the Charge. Again, thanks for the review.
My MUT has been absolutely essential for most of my professional career. I use it daily for Commercial HVAC and other electrical work. I use my MUR for almost everything. I have the Wave.., but my MUT is the “ONE” hands down the best LEATHERMAN, in my opinion.
the teeth/ cutters are not too much of a problem in all honesty. sometimes from time to time they have a bad batch of cutters that are a little too hard or too soft, but a recent issue I’ve noticed has been the fit of the cutters not being 100% squared off cutters which make a tiny gap after the hard wire cutter part. I stockpiled replacement cutters before and during the pandemic and none had this issue.
i dont know about this one but i have been really disappointed with the fit and finished of leatherman tools, even the charge tti seems to be made bretty sloppy compared to the victorinox swiss tool. the swiss tools are just refined to near perfection
So they added a couple cents worth of a different element to the blade when they made it and found a company in the US to make the pliers. This is worth a hundred dollars more?
Received mine a few weeks ago after loosing my Wave. Had a second thought because of the price here in Europe (300$give or take)
I had many occasions to use it for precise jobs ( thanks to the mini screwdriver) or more demanding using pliers, scissors ( far better than my wave), the amazing blade, the file on soft steel, the screw driver, almost every tool. I used to carry a SAK as edc, now it spend a lot of time in my drawer.
In short, a great tool except that I’m left handed and opening the pliers one handed, is clearly not as easy for me than for a right handed user.
I added a small flashlight to the sheet, an electric saw blade for steel (fits perfectly in the bit holder) and a bit extender for non leatherman bits.
Didn’t regret my euros for a second
Just got mine, still haven't put it thru the works yet.
I will be interested in how the pliers hold up.
I prefer my Surge because you can interchange the file with other tools. And in a pinch you could actually sharpen the blades due to this.
Monday, I did that to my Surge on my lunch break at work.
Allow myself to sharpen myself
@@gideonstactical hahaha rad
@@CanadianBeachcomber thats rad, now i dont feel so self conscious about my comment hahaha
Who wants to “not need” another pocket knife? 😉 I like having a MT, but don’t really use the blade because I prefer to use a dedicated knife with a much better ergos. Wish the Arc had S30V or 154 and was $50 less. I like the tool set and bit drivers much better than the P series. Magnacut is overkill for a MT imo. Also hate that it’s coated, it’s a highly corrosion resistant steel. No need to coat it.
I use my oht daily at work. That tool is the best ever made. The use of it is less than carrying but it sure does save trips to the toolbox 80% of the time👍
I wanted an OHT but Leatherman wanted to make the choice for me and said no. So then I went to the Black and Stainless Steel version of the Surge, but once again Leatherman made the decision for me and said no. To which I was forced to choose between less stellar options. So I am like well at least give me a ratchet driver to go with the set. Again Leatherman said No. I am not off to a great start with you Leatherman. The purchase I made may be the only one you get from me.
It's not "the free technology" when it comes to the frame flex. It's the fact that instead of using a properly thick frame steel, they use this thin sheet of steel, and then slap a layer of stainless "scales" on the side. But the scales aren't really a part of the main structural frame. Which is why you get this level of flex in all directions. Compare the actual steel thickness in the frame to the Wave or the Surge...you'll see what I mean.
Hope they release a poor mans Arc with like a D2 blade lol. Most of the time im just using the blade for skinning some wire or cut on a soft material. With the wave+ I mostly use the serrated blade for nastier tasks.
In my opinion I can buy a Spyderco or Benchmade for that price but I don't get the extra tools.
I'd pay $300 if it had a serrated blade with gut hook, and the ruler inside (that was way more useful than I ever expected). I want those outside tools but sticking with my Charge + till the next model. The arc and free p4 look like they'd be more uncomfortable due the the striking surface too
I've had a Free P4 for a couple of years now, and I actually think the overall shape is very comfortable, both for using the outside tools and when open to use the pliers. The edges of the handles are rounded, and there aren't any tools sticking out that would dig into your hand, except the opening slot on the plain blade, which isn't bad.
The Arc is the same shape and has the same comfort.
@@_WillCAD_ @_WillCAD_ I'm not taking about the edges. When closed the Wave is uncomfortable while using the knife because of that. When my friend got one that was a reason I chose the Charge Al. What I'm talking about is the end of the pliers on the Arc and Free. They aren't round like the Wave and Charges
On cutting coat hangers...I'm really wondering what guage(s) of wire is fair in assessing a multi-tool? 🤷 I worked as an electrician for many years installing more than 3000+ load centers. There are many different types and guages of wires we use to wire a load center. I can share from experience that many professionally hardened tools from very reputable companies have broken cutting less ductile wire. In my thinking 12-2 awg. copper clad wire should be the maximum test. [Same argument for grabbing one's axe opposed to using my Esee 6 to chop down a 12 inch tree.] Since an electrician works primarily with either 14-2 or 12-2 awg. wire, a backup multi-tool should be able to cut these. Anything larger or stronger we graduated to various sized bolt cutters.
The hangers that are wrecking everyone's cutters are right about the same 12 gauge wire as the fence/baling wire that wrecked my cutters and the other guys'. That combined with the body flex and super dull blade have led me to email Leatherman to try and return the tool. Haven't gotten an email back and it's been a couple days. Definitely not pleased with the Arc at all. As far as I'm concerned, I spent $230 on a super cool looking paper weight because this thing is not going in my motorcycle's compact onboard tool kit. I'll just deal with the extra space my Surge takes up. Good to see yours held up better than mine though. No way in Hades am I trusting mine, which sucks because the tool kit is exactly what I need to work on the bike and also has a few tools that will help in the wilderness.
Good work, please try the surge on that coat hanger
Yes!
Ive had no issues with my free p4 cutting thick guage wire only if its a must I'll attempt the cut but so far the free P4 has been a tank for me but really tempted to get the ARC just "cus".great review.
Right on! Glad the P4 is working well for you. For whatever reason the PCs just didn’t connect with me I don’t on a single one after doing the videos and testing them when they came out. Sticking with the wave, surge, and charge.
Well, what amounts do you drop on singlebladed knifes? 230 is maybe a better middleground. But the Arc pretty much looks like a cash cow with Magnacut. You addressed it quite the second I was finished.
Cash cow?
25year warranty doesn't sound much of a cash cow. At $10 a year
499 bucks here in Australia! I will continue to use my Surge 2.
I just got the ARK and let me tell you...your Surge is better overall. I do like the ARK but my Surge isn't going anywhere.
They need to offer the old p4 cutters to all arc owners. It’s a real issue and they need to fix it imo. It really is the perfect multitool minus the redesigned cutters.
I can see myself using this for most of my light duty uses. I think it’s worth it, and I’ll purchase one eventually…..after Christmas lol
Haha good personal gift.
I was going to upgrade, but I think I'll stick with my surge. I just wish they sold a blade upgrade separately.
Thank you for review and explanation of tools of this new Leatherman knife. I have a number of multitools from this company. Always keep u0 reviews! Carry on.
Biggest problem with that tool to me, isn't the price or cutter deficiency, but that stupid proprietary bit driver, and the fact they don't give you a T6/T8 torx bit. If the bit driver were 4mm or 1/4", and it didn't have the magnacut blade (or even ANY blade) I'd buy it. But I'm not buying into some bit driver shakedown for a premium price, or any price frankly.
It does power the tool to be a little slimmer but yes, the proprietary bits are a headache.
you think 230 dollar is expensive i have to buy it for 300euro in austria 🙄
MAN , Thanks for this review . I would rather keep up with my ST300.
Glad you enjoyed it. I love my ST300 i have one in each of my go bags.
I dont know if I like the knife comparison. Partly because its not $230, theres taxes and such on top of it and where I live tax and import makes this a $400 tool, but I also dont like the comparison because its not the same product. The leatherman can do alot of things a plain knife cant, but these knives certainly can do alot that a multi tool cant too. Leatherman blades in particular have a habit of breaking. You pry with them, they break. You hammer on them, they break. You twist them too much, they break. You stab or chisel something, they break. For instance the Reiff knife you showed there has none of those issues.
There is a reason why most people carry a separate knife along with their multi tool.
Yeah zero regrets in my book! Finally the tool to dethrone my free p2 as my most used edc MT🤙🏽 once again awesome vid man!
The cutters seem to be absolute trash which makes people question the quality of the product overall and if Leatherman is cutting corners. Funny that this is a more expensive multitool and is the only one with a major issue. I’ve owned 3 Leatherman tools and love them all but I wouldn’t touch this thing right now.
I'd STAY AWAY if I were you. I paid Leatherman their $230 plus extra $20 for engraving, only to receive it and it looks like the engraving was done by a 3 year old. I tried to call them but they never pick up so I emailed them, only to be told that they acknowledged that the engraving was horrible but they were only offering to refund the $20 engraving fee and leave me with a horrific looking $230 multi-tool. I suggest you walk away, their service is horrendous.
i just wish they have a series we can just pick the tools we want to have on there.....i know ppl have been modding tools, but why not just from the factory if thats allow, if anything, that would be the easiest thing for them to do since they already have the detailed engineering drawing, and i am sure they try to reuse parts from other tools whenever they can......
for now, i guess modding is still the only way to get a perfect arc for me.
So regular stainless blade, but more expensive than my TI? Nope.
You know you can get a perfectly good knife for a few units of freedom money? Getting a multi tool that saying like 20 tools for 230 freedom units is nothing. I paid 299€ for one today and im fine with that. You paid 200 something for some flipping knife? I would never pay anything more than few € for a knife. There is no realistic comparison to a multi tool and fix blade knife. Yes it says magna blade and something something but in the end that makes no difference in day to day use. Comparing 2 entirely different tools that just happen to be same "oooooohhhhh look at this material" dont work like that. I had multiple leatherman tools for every day use for about 15 years and I dont complain. Also I work metal industry for work and money for my actual job so I know something about metal.
perspective on knife prices definitely matters. These are great it seems.
Great review. Good comparison at ur opening between the arc and knives with magnacut blades.
Flex lol its because its folds its not a crescent wrench nerds 😂
I have a brand new surge with the wire cutters gap and it doesnt cut wire, as wel I have and old surge and stills cuting wire like butter, wirw cutters in the new one are different and has the gap, just facts.
the one-handed operation is a huge benefit if you ask me, and that magnacut blade is just awesome. if I already owned a wave I probably wouldn’t see the need to buy the arc, but as my first full-size and fully-equipped multi-tool, the arc feels like a good choice. plus I am curious what mods will become available for it in the future
I tightened the plier head pivots up but still swing free and that dramatically reduced the side handle flex.
I have the beefy Surge and my wire cutters are still good.
If they made one in a less expensive steel at a much lower price, I would get one. For me, my multitool blades are for heavy duty or sketchy cutting. It's more of a sacrificial blade since I always have a pocket knife. A multitool with some whiz-bang knife steel isn't going to make me ditch my pocket knife.
13:51 You don't understand why the cutter inserts are breaking, they are being WEDGED in the noncutting area (radius) by a specific gauge (regular coat hangers) wire ...
There is too much clearance in the "V" re of the er head, and the wire gets in UNDER the inserts wedging the brittle inserts. By using to big and too small wire you can't replicate the problem.
I’m watching it all the way down and using multiple types of wire. Apparently there was a bad heat treat is what Leatherman is reporting. Hopefully I didn’t get about heat Treat time will tell.
When I was watching this I tested my 10 year old Wave against my new surge cutting a coat hanger. To my surprise my old wave took about half the effort. Did not see that coming. To be fair, I spent a minute touching up the the cutters on my wave with the surge diamond file. I like the surge but WTF?
I absolutely hated the "free" series and I think they're a gimmick and just garbage. This one here is even worse. I don't even know why they call the latest ones "free" series because they are the most expensive of the Leathermans. "free" Technology really means free range idiot technology. I Mean this Leatherman can't even cut wire! I use my ST300 to cut steel coat hangers at work on a daily basis to use to remove gunk from our spray guns & the cutters are still sharp. don't care about a 3-inch magnacut blade, that's just stupid and just because I won't need to sharpen it doesn't mean it's not going to snap. I'll stick to my ST300, at work & off work, so why would I need an inferior tool to carry with me after work if my ST300 does it all?. And I really don't like that flex, it makes me cringe. Wake me up when Leatherman actually comes out with something truly original & useful.
Ugh. Do I really need another Leatherman? Yeah I guess I do!
😮😮😮😮😮😮😅
I have the p4. Don’t need this, but the quick opening main blade is why I’ll get it eventually
That is a major upgrade. They need to start doing that are on all future designs, giving them thumb studs with faster action.
Annnnd, I got it. Haha. Thought I’d wait till I lost my p4, nope. The quick blade and not carrying an other knife makes it perfect
I did the same exact test with my Arc on a RUclips short and I didn’t have any issues either, so far so good 👌
On the day you HAVE TO use multi (tools) one handed you will have recovered your expenditure on it. What ever it cost. For what it's worth.
"Is the Leatherman ARC Trash...?" Good lord.
Leatherman wave is still the best. Nothing fancy and expensive materials to pump up the price.
One handed opening for all tools is handy.
I'm in the trades. (Carpenter) I have a Free and a Wave+. I carry the Wave+ daily. Its a backup tool for me. I wear a tool belt with two pouches daily.
Been carrying the Wave+ since 2020. It's with me at all times. Never let me down once.