Is Leatherman Worth The Premium? We Buy A $20 Chinese Knockoff To Find Out!
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 17 มิ.ย. 2024
- Is Leatherman worth the money? We pit a Leatherman Chinese Knockoff against the Leatherman Wave + and Surge to find out! The results were a bit surprising!
This is a bit of a loaded topic, keep in mind that companies like Leatherman sell products that are designed and manufactured in USA. it cost money to develop new and innovative products and take risks producing them for the first time without a proven sales record.
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This is not a Chinese knockoff of the Leatherman Wave/Surge. This is the Splitman GHK6. Yes, it has a proper name. And yes, it does borrow design concepts from the Leatherman products. But so did Bill Gates when he designed Windows based on Macintosh OS. And nobody called it a knockoff. Except Steve Jobs maybe. I have both mutitools and they both work well. Is the $120 Wave better than the GHK6? Yes, but certainly not 6x better.
Well said dude well said.
😉👍
Best answer. Very sincere, human.
Splitman GHK6 GOOD
Yea and leathermans don't have bootle openers either... lol.
Maybe if companies like Leatherman would offer a hand tool for a reasonable price, they wouldn't have people looking elsewhere. Marketers in the US have created a money-grabbing corporate atmosphere, this is their harvest.
Agreed Leatherman is pricing themselves out of the market. Particularly when it comes to older models that are no longer patent protected.
My knife an HRC78K ($22) from Aliexpress has a crosshatch (Double cut) pattern on the file tool with a plain (Single file) pattern on the bottom edge. On the other side of the file tool is a ruler with 2 inch and 7 cm length marks.
As much as I wish to buy from the company that innovate but my wallet does not approve.
We not gon mention how fire that beat was???
Try measuring the phillips shank and see if it's 1/4" (6mm). If it is, you can simply buy a 1/4" square to 1/4" hex adapter on Amazon for $5 to then have your multi-bit drive. :)
The one reviewed in this vid are optional package A, package B come with a square adapter and driver bit set, the price slightly higher.
For a secondary or tertiary back up, it's a good MSRP.
agreed! I have one in my grab bag, perfect for an emergency!
You should put that knockoff and the leatherman wave/surge through some torture tests to see how they hold up.
The surge would destroy it no contest lol. you can tell when you hold them it's so much more substantial. but for 1/5th the cost this one still has value in the right use case.
Thanks for watching!
@@gearsNtools Oh, I agree it still has has value. I am just saying that part of a comparison between the multi tools is how much use and or abuse can they each take.
First the patent is expired so it really doesnt matter if it is an knock off. Second, the main consideration of the torture test is the quality relative to the price, not whether or not it fares as well as something that costs four times as much.
@@gearsNtools No doubt the leatherman will outwin the situation - IT WOULD BE POOR it wouldnt (also according to the big price ratio) - thats right!
Of course if people are rich, they buy the leatherman products, but NOT everybody is rich
I wonder if those outer scissors could be modified to fit the Leatherman Wave+. What do you think?
They would probably fit, the liner lock might be tricky I’m sure it could be figured out.
@@gearsNtools They look like they might be similar in size to the Surge scissors, but I bet the front could be profiled to remove the safety edge. Might be a viable option.
If you want I could send this set to you to try out. I bought this as a project tool anyway. You’ve done a good job on some of your other mods.
@@gearsNtools I’m about to leave for a job, so I’m not going to be home for a while. I might take you up on that when I get back home.
Sounds good let me know when you’re ready for it, keep up the good work over on your channel!
The 20$ tool actually can use bits, you buy bit kits with a 5mm to 1/4" tools
The wave has been out since '98 and the used market is littered with them. They can had on classifieds for 1/4 to 1/2 of the price of a new one. I bought mine used for the equivalent of 30 USD locally. This is a case where the used market eats the lunch of Chinese knock offs. Best of all, if you accidentally break your Leatherman, you get a warranty replacement for the cost of shipping. The date code on mine indicates that it was made in 2014. I'm still covered for a long time. Chinese knock offs producers don't have a reputation of standing behind their products even if they are under a Chinese brand.
You know that’s actually a really good point! I don’t know why I didn’t bring that up, I’d defiantly recommend a used wave for a budget option! Thanks for pointing that out!
If you want to see a real Wave ripoff, check out the Ozark Trail Multiforce. There are a lot of videos about it. all of which are somewhat favorable. The sheath is horrible, though.
I just ordered a MT off amzn for $19.95 ...that I'm pretty sure is identical to this one..It's under the branding of " Waternest" ,
You'll see the same tool or very similar tools from all kinds of companies but ultimately it came out of the same factory or manufacturer ..
Given this video is 2 years old and accounting for inflation especially at the excelerated pace with supply chain issues etc ...it's a even better deal to get it
at this price now. I couldn't resist. I'm quite curious about it and wanna get my hands on it to test it out. Similar tools usually goes for about $30 all day now...on amzn , unless you go the aliexpress route.
I ordered the wrong one and got a Wetol but for $18 it a great 1st buy. The universal hexagon slot bit is great too. Tool, Sheath, and Universal Bit all for less than $18 from Amazon.
@@kirivanyam5969 Cool ..That's a good deal too. I just don't like that it doesn't have scissors.
I'm a little confused. You began the video by explaining that the patent on the Leatherman design has expired, freeing up other companies to replicate the patterns WITHOUT violating Leatherman's intellectual property rights. It's the same thing that allows us to have generic medications. But then you begin noting that this Chinese comany has done exactly that - mimicked design elements that are NOT protected by a patent, and that are therefore free to replicate, but talked about this as though they did something wrong. What am I missing? Every knife company is now making a crossbar lock that they don't call an Axis lock, but it's the same thing, and they're able to do it because the patent Benchmade had ran out. Are SOG and every other knife manfacturer "ripping off" the design? Or are they simply using a design that is now legally and ethically avaiable?
Does the knifeblade lock?
Yes
Followed your link to an Amazon page for a $30 Bercol (?) multi tool. After your video maybe they decided it was worth more? lol
Lol that’s too funny!! When I bought it they weren’t advertising the brand and was still $20 bucks. Still a decent option but I liked the $20 price point better
Part of the price is the 25 year warranty. I have warrantied tools that were absolutely trashed. No questions asked, even on discontinued tools.
Fortunately someone who thinks like me!
many do not understand the cost of a guarantee like leatherman ...
Neither Victorinox, nor gerber, nor sog offer anything like this! and the Chinese even less.
You buy a 100 euro leatherman once ... you can break it 10 times and they change it 10 times.
It means you spend 100 euros instead of a thousand euros.
If you break a Chinese multitool 10 times, you will have to buy it 10 times.
This also comes at a cost to the leatherman.
All over the world.
I have sent leatherman under warranty between Italy and Spain and the warranty works the same.
No questions, no proof of purchase!
You didn't go into how well the file works, if it is damaged by hard materials, or a timed comparison between the saw blades cutting through a branch or dowel.
Leatherman may be expensive, but mine lasted 10 years and was still mint condition when I lost it while off-roading 😢
I love my wave and use it every day. these knockoff tools are really inexpensive thought, I keep this one in my emergency bag where it will hopefully never be used again.
I've had a Leatherman on me since I was 14 (I'm 48 now), I won't go anywhere without one except on airplane fights. I like the cheaper versions for when I'm going to venues that might take it away from me. I take it into some places that have metal detector by putting them in wasteband behind belt buckle, these are venues with poorly paid security that are not going to search me and just write it off as my belt buckle. I have lost at least 2 of the around dozen I have had over the years, very frustrating. I have broken a half dozen from harsh use, most I have sent in for warranty and currently have two in a drawer waiting for motivation to send in for repairs. They usually end up replacing them when I send them for repair because the design changes.
@@mrbyamile6973 Yeah I've lost one thru TSA before.... but I've also gotten across the country and realized one was in my bag and some how TSA missed it. not sure how you miss a chunk of metal that big on a scanner!
People need to stop calling everything copies inventors make our society a better place intern society protects the inventor so that he may turn a profit for a specified time at that point The public can build off of that invention after all it was our tax dollars protecting it so it belongs to you and me! Think of where the knife community would be the only one who could make a lock back was Buck knives. And why would they innovate.
What do you mean by Chinese knockoff? It is not trying to be a leatherman. What is it knocking off from? In your sense leatherman is a victorinox knock off.
It's not an exact copy but they didn't exactly do anything new or unique either if you know what I mean. it's basically a copy of the Leatherman surge/wave with some extra styling added in
I don't try to be a smartass here but Leatherman did this kind of multi tool built around a full size opening up pliers first however yes probably Victorinox was one of the first multitool just a different kind. Anyway I believe there is absolutely a place for these Chinese things even it is a copy or not. Not everybody can pay that much money for anything like that and if there is an alternative which is good enough I think it is good for us. There are some Chinese brands starting to copy others and then add their own innovations to that which I really like to see. At some point copy is usually there.
I think the problem here is that the GearsNTools folks are not quite clear what their mission is. Is the $20 knock-off as good or nearly as good as the Leatherman? Is it better to buy American? Should I worry about the morality of copying features from a tool when the patent has lapsed? All good questions, but they don't all belong in the same review.
I think I was trying to present the information in a way where the viewer can decide what's most important to them, while highlighting some of the pro's / cons of a tool that is largely copied and made with lower quality materials and production standards but offers a better price point.
@@gearsNtools That's a good answer. I know you have limited time in one of these reviews, and I didn't think of your format from that perspective. I appreciate your response, and it was a good review. I'll probably buy one of the knock-offs based on your review to put in my second vacation oriented go bag.
@@latrolatro I'm a big believer in getting the right tool for the job. Personally I have a couple knockoffs I keep in my emergency kit car kit etc, they aren't likely to be used much but it's nice to have for the occasional task. for the daily user I tend to use a Leatherman Wave.
I agree. The review is pointing out similarities between the two, but not really showing an objective result of comparing performance like how the tittle tries to imply.
I bought an Amazon brand multi-tool for $16, and comes with a sheath. Pretty decent quality if you ask me. Leatherman charges $40 for their cheapest multi-tool and doesn't even come with a sheath. Have to spend an extra $15 on a sheath. Totally overpriced.
I lost my surge after 10 years :(
Guess I'll try that knock off
It is a good product, I own one myself - its solid and pretty good designed (or lets say inspired).
DONT ASPECT 1:1 LEATHERMAN quality - but it does have a lot of quality, no doubt about this - you cant compare it to leatherman - there must be a reason for the higher price!
Wouldn't having their own proprietary replaceable cutters more annoying? And everyone seems to hate gerbers replaceable cutters, so being original for the sake of originality goes against you here doesn't it?
This tool is a Splitman GHK6, available also on aliexpress.
There is a version with a standard ganzo-style bit kit, that fit on the philips screwdriver. Its also available in black oxyde finish.
Good tool, its a kick-in-the-ass to leatherman, especially because leatherman quality is dropping down during this last few years...
I think this tool is sold under several brand names, the box mine came in said Bercol on it. The tool itself has no branding info on it.
You should try out the Ozark trail multiforce it's almost an exact copy of the leathermen with a few upgrades like a standardized drill bit and 8cr steel I know you said you don't like rip offs but this things 38 bucks and really seems legit from the few months I've been edcing it.
Thanks for pointing this out, I’ll check it out! A little competition usually means better products for us at a better price
- Merry Christmas
@@gearsNtools yah the leathermen free series which I'm not a fan of is directly related to their wabe patent expiring a few years ago.
If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it, They have used similar designs of the leatherman but, why reengineer the wheel? Leatherman are the rip offs charging over $100 for a tool it would cost them less that $15 to make
Firstly it should be tested hard, to compare. And secondly, buying cheap shit from china= you are likely to not care about it and lose it somewhere. While buying quality= you are more likely to take care of it.
To the content creator of this video. Respectfully, you can't claim that this $20.00 is a complete copy of the Leatherman and bash it over and over again only to have your own Amazon "referral link" to that same multi tool making money of it. Think about what your saying in the video and what you are showing by doing that. I'll tell you that I have this and a few other inexpensive multi tools like this that I use every day working for the past 30+ years in security protecting certain clients and stakeholders. They all work well.. And if I lose one out out at one of my stakeholder sites or traveling no big deal. Also FYI... Leatherman could care less about any of it's customers... or their over inflated prices. Please know I do like the quality of your videos.. just your comments and that selling link afterwards is a bit "off" on your part. Thanks for reading my comment, have a good day.
Just calling it like I see it
@@gearsNtools are you mad that you bought 2 expensive multi tools when another one was 6x cheaper?
@@net_apart7987 nah I make money reviewing these for you guys. it doesn't matter to me how much they cost
I really try to buy American.
Agreed, Leatherman make some great options!
Thanks for watching!
I like the more expensive knives and tools, but I tend to lose them. It hurts a lot more to lose a good knife to a cheap one.
I hear that! seems like I have a few knives that are 15+ years old and they are always the inexpensive ones that just keep "Showing up"
Thanks for watching!
This is what the chinese have always done in their history. Even to the point of copying Belgian Railways in Africa, so I heard. They copy the west and sell it cheaper
For less than $20 this is an ideal first multi-tool for someone who's looking to start carrying one with them daily.
I'd like to see how this bares up after 1, 3, 6 and 12 months of EDC.
I would be interested to see that too! Surprisingly good for $20 bucks Leatherman is still a better product but at 5x the cost you start asking questions!!
@@gearsNtools Absolutely. Given its cost it would be ideal as a backup for anyone who already has a Letherman in my opinion. Maybe even something you leave in the glove box of the car or at the bottom of a backpack.
Just got to the end of the video. I didn't realise that you brought up the glovebox/bag thing but I guess that just means it's a doubley good idea to pick these up.
I got one similar to wave, it brand name storm curve. I used it for around 6 months. Sold it to a friend same price I bought it. Normal edc use, no problem.
$32.99 now
Damn, when I did this review it was around $19.95, then jumped to $28, now $32.99 might have to look around for another solid $20 option for you guys as backup kit options.
@@gearsNtools lol.... that’s how my life goes.... hear about an awesome deal and by the time I get to it it’s jumped way up...
I don't think they charge a premium. I think Leatherman is pretty reasonably priced. I would pay more for an option of a better steel though.
I work as a groundsman here in the UK. I bought a Leatherman Rev a few years back and use it everyday, in some capacity, at work. The Rev still functions as it did when new. Time is the true test of quality.
That’s a big reason I keeping coming back to Leatherman there stuff is built to last! They aren’t perfect but they stand behind their product and will do everything they can to make it right if you ever have a problem!
@@gearsNtools Agreed. Prior to the Leatherman I purchased a cheap multitool that lasted almost a few months before falling apart. The Leatherman at about 4 times the price has lasted 10 times longer...so far 🙂🙏🏼
The Multi Force is $36 and is better.
I do have the noname-product and it is JUST GREAT!
I would NOT pay 5 times or even 6 or 7 times the money ONLY TO POSESS a tool that has a brand-logo on it and might be better in small aspects - I am not enemy of my own money.
Are the leatherman better - NOT MUCH - not according to the price, but yes all-in-whole: slightely
Is it worth to you? Thats only about you to answer!
PS: I am a fan of COPYING THINGS since the 80ys and x-copy for the amiga :) (and even before on the C64)
So heres my 2 cents on all the chinese knockoffs. They are providing you with almost the same product for 1/4th the price. There is a reason so many of the parts are absolutely identical. Leatherman has most their parts made in other countries and then imports them and assemble them in the US so they can claim they are made in the US. Many of these products are made in the exact same factories that are producing parts for Leatherman. Is Leatherman a superior product? Yes. Is the wave+ worth $80 more than an equivalent $30 Flissa 16 tool? Not really. Especially when leatherman uses special bit shapes to keep you from using other driver bits in their tool.
Great comment.. For years I've worked in security traveling to client / stakeholders sites. Along with other gear that I carry, I always have one of those cheaper multi tools and the really do come in handy, sometimes because I'm 24/7 ops I gotta to be on certain sites and driving through the worst conditions.. hurricanes, snowstorms you name it.. And once in a while, I've gotten trapped on the road for bit over the years. These cheaper muti tools do the same thing as a $100.00+ Leatherman or Gerber and I do not think they are exact copies either. I buy them as a needed tool more than a collectors item. And if I lose it in-between routes, I'm only out $20.00.
China No.1
leatherman is overpriced! I welcome the Chinese tools!
These Knockoffs seem too cheap to be real! I had to check one out to see what the real deal was!
Hope you guys enjoy, not to worry, I've got some more real Leatherman reviews coming soon ;)
Pin this so everyone can see this
Not that its too cheap to be real, its simply that your big brands have price mark ups of about +1000%. (Rip off)
@@randominternetviewer166 I've been saying that for a while. For example, the Leatherman wingman and sidekick are $70 a piece. They probably cost about $10 to make.
One of the biggest uses of a multitool is to have access to one when the situation (sometimes an emergency) demands. In such situations, I would always rely on a genuine Surge or Wave that would work everytime, without question. IMHO it is this reliability that carries a premium, beyond just the materials used.
Well said..my opinion too
Product ist unaviable
Все хотят быть похожи на Leatherman.... Но никто не приблизился по качеству ! Everyone wants to be like Leatherman.... But no one came close in quality !
If you spend $20 on a cheap Chinese knockoff multitool, you're going to get what you paid for. If you can't stretch to a Surge or a Wave, then buy a Wingman or a Sidekick or one of the numerous other cheaper Leatherman options, or a Gerber or a Swiss Army knife or whatever. But your common sense should tell you that you are just not going to get a full-size Leatherman-style multitool including pliers which is worth having for $20, unless you find it used or on an amazing clearance deal. For that kind of money, you can get a decent set of regular pliers, not a folding multitool with all the extras.