Everyday Carry, or EDC, gear finds many gear heads piecing together their go-to lineup of tools. But what if you can swap out three tools for one? How about five for one? What if I told you that a quality multi-tool can replace over a DOZEN tools in your gear bag? That would be a great way to save on pocket space and allow you to keep your tools in an easy to carry item so you don’t forget that one item you need in a pinch. The Leatherman Wingman might just be that tool.
Today we’ll dive into what the Leatherman Wingman includes, what it could be missing, and why I think it could be the best EDC multi-tool for your pocket. As always, I’ll hit on the top five details I look for in EDC gear and how the Wingman fulfills each:
- Tools
- Ease of use
- Size
- Price
- Durability
Leatherman Wingman Packs 14 Individual Tools into One
EDC fans can’t go anywhere without a few key items in their pocket. For most, this is a quality pocket knife, a flashlight, lighter, and maybe either scissors, a key ring, or a screw driver. Of course, every person is different. Some people carry EDC tools for their job, others want them on hand in case of emergencies or merely for convenience. It’s for these reasons that a quality multi-tool often ends up in the pockets of all types of people. For a lot of people, a multi-tool alone can cover most situations and reduce the need to have multiple tools on hand.
Sure, none of these items are all too big. But once you have three, four, five or more items in your pockets you quickly start to feel bulky and disorganized. This is where the multi-tool is the perfect pocket-saver. But all multi-tools are different. Most have a knife, pliers, maybe scissors and a few screw drivers. The Leatherman Wingman comes with the following tools:
- Needlenose Pliers
- Regular Pliers
- Wire cutters
- Wire stripper
- Combo Knife
- Spring Action Scissors
- Package Opener
- Ruler – 1.5 inch
- Can Opener
- Bottle Opener
- Wood/Metal File
- Phillips Screwdriver
- Medium Flathead Screwdriver
- Small Flathead Screwdriver
- Bonus: Pocket clip
3 Types, Endless Solutions
When it comes to multi-tools, I like to break down tools into three categories: Need to have, Want to have, Fun to have. Basically, there are always a few tools you absolutely need. Then there are tools that, for your own personal reasons, you just really want to always have access to. Then there are the extras. The ones that are just plain fun to have or could come up clutch in that unexpected problem that you happen to have a solution for.
Need to Have
Knife, Pliers, Screwdriver. End of list. If a multi-tool doesn’t have all three of those items I struggle to even call it a multi tool. It’s more like a ‘tool with multiple items’, but it hardly would deserve to hide under the guise of the name ‘Multi-Tool’. These three tools cover you in so many occasions. You can cut, pull, twist, pry, screw, slice, squeeze, puncture….you get my point. So many emergencies, or even minor inconveniences, are covered with this group.
I don’t even consider scissors in this Need to have list as they are just too ‘one trick pony’ for me. Plus, a large majority of what I would need scissors for can be handled by a sharp knife blade.
Want to Have
Wants are not needs. You need water to survive, you don’t need wine. But you probably want wine. You do need a knife in your life, but you likely don’t need a bottle opener. I want one. And with the Leatherman Wingman I have it at all times. I also want the aforementioned scissors, the package opener, a Phillips screwdriver, and wire cutters. None of these are mission critical. But situations appear often enough that it truly does help to have them handy most days. I don’t need to list all of the use cases for these. I think they speak for themselves.
Fun to Have
Files, wire strippers, rulers, can openers. These are fun to have. Also, you might pass time in a waiting room by filing down your nails. You could open a can if you wanted to, or maybe needed to. I don’t find myself stripping wire much but, again, that could be something more frequent in your life. These items I do like having on me, I just don’t need them. And if I didn’t have them I likely wouldn’t be thinking I’m missing them.
Additionally, the Leatherman Wingman does a great job of delivering what’s necessary, what you want, and what you could use if you wanted to. Having the three main tools as well as a slew of other high-quality items that can either save the day or help you pass time makes for a great multi-tool.
Ease of Use
An often overlooked aspect of multi-tools is their ease of use. You can hand me a tool with fifty different tools but if I can’t easily access them, it loses a lot of its luster. I like the Leatherman Wingman due to its ability to configure in different shapes. You can have both handles closed with most of the smaller tools exposed. The pliers are spring loaded and just feel like a quality pair in the hand. The scissors, also spring loaded, are incredibly sharp and aren’t loose. They work great even for some harder jobs.
Just recently I had to cut a 1/4 inch vinyl tubing that was being installed as a replacement into my home humidifier, they cut right through. In fact, I did that entire job with just the Leatherman Wingman. I needed a screwdriver, pliers, scissors, and used the pry tool. In fact, the best part about this was that I didn’t realize going into this project I would need scissors. In addition, the fact that I didn’t have to walk away from what I was doing to go retrieve scissors is a great example of multi-tool efficiency.
Different scenarios
There are instances when I used the drivers with the handles extended open so it makes for a narrower overall configuration to fit into tight spaces. The knife and the scissors both open while the overall tool is in the closed position. This does two things I’m a fan of: it makes it easier to open these tools using only one hand. It also allows for a more levered grip in the hand so it feels extra sturdy. Both of these tools also are locking, which I always say is essential for a blade.
Ultimately, there aren’t any aspect of this tool that I would say are complicated or make it challenging to use. It’s simple. As it should be.
Size
Next up is the Leatherman Wingman size which comes in at 7 oz. It’s closed length is 3.8 inches while opened it comes to 6.0 inches flat. The Blade length is 2.6 inches and I’ll be honest while that sounds too short it hasn’t done a job for me that I thought of wishing the blade were longer.
For the amount of tools this things holds, I consider it impressive that it’s as small as it is. Again, it doesn’t feel too small at all. It fits in pockets, EDC pouches, jackets, small pouches of backpacks and everywhere else I’ve tried carried it. No complaints here.
Price of Leatherman Wingman
At $69.95 on the Leatherman website and on Amazon, this is one of the lower cost options Leatherman sells. I understand there are a ton of multi-tools on the market of all different prices. Leatherman is THE name in this space. They have more tradition, the best brand, and a severe amount of reputation and background in this arena.
Moreover, given that many of their models price well into the hundreds, I would say that this price is surely justified. Yes, if you’re on a sub-$50 budget you may have to look elsewhere. If you do, I’d be willing to bet you’re going to sacrifice elsewhere in the top 5 categories of what you should want in a multi-tool.
Durability
Also, I mentioned Leatherman’s reputation and brand. They have that for a reason. It doesn’t come overnight. However, it comes from producing quality materials dating back 37 years and having many workers carry the same multi-tool for decades, literally. No matter which model you buy from Leatherman, I’d bet it will last you for decades to come. Leatherman has a 25-year warranty on their products, so you have that comfort as well.
As for the Wingman, I don’t imagine busting or mangling this thing anytime soon. It’s solid and well made. Hasn’t come loose in the hinges anywhere on the tool. It’s comfortable yet durable. You can tell this company has this down to a science.
Leatherman Wingman Overall
Finally, I can’t imagine needing much more out of a multi-tool. Everyone is different. Everyone has their own set of projects they work on at home that might require different tools. But for me, I don’t think I could need anything else in a multi-tool that I don’t have with the Wingman. Don’t trust me? Check out the slew of reviews on Youtube here. I’m not the only one who is a believer.
It’s affordable given the market and specifically the brand. It’s fun to use honestly. I highly recommend it. Let me know if there’s a multi-tool you prefer, I’d love to hear about it.
