I saw this thread and went out to get a Wingman on the way home. Picked it up at HD for only $24.95
It seems like exactly what I've been looking for to replace my Juice S2. The Juice has been perfect except for a couple things I didn't like - 1. The blades didn't lock. 2. The scissors - my most used tool, didn't open directly - you had to open the canopener - my least used tool - to get to the scissors. and 3. The knife blade on the Juice seemed a little soft.
So I've now got the Wingman sitting side by side with my Juice and my new model Wave. Here's my comparison between the three:
Leatherman Wingman vs. Juice S2 vs. Leatherman new Wave
Size: The Wingman is between the two in size, but much closer to the Wave than the Juice.
Pliers- Wingman and Wave pliers are the same size, which is about 40% larger than the Juice pliers - which is better. I really like the spring opening from the Wingman. Juice nor Wave has it. The wire cutters on the Wingman are shorter segment than the Wave - which won't be a problem for me, because I use it rarely. The serrations on the forward part of the jaw on the wingman are coarser than the Juice or wave. I love the spring opening pliers on the Wingman
Knife Blade - Wingman blade is about 10% longer than the Juice and much more substantial. Wave Blade is another 15% longer and even more substantial. Juice doesn't Lock, both Wingman and Wave do, and both of them also have a thumb hole for single handed opening. I can do it on the Wingman, but the Wave mechanisms have a higher quality feel to them and the Steel seems to be a bit harder than used on the Juice..
Scissors - my most used tool. Interestingly this is where the Juice S-2 shines. The scissors have the longest cutting edge of the 3. The only flaw with the Juice scissors are they are hidden behind the can opener. The Wingman has it's sicissors located in a prime spot on the outside of the tool, they open easily and they lock into place. The Wave scissors are next to useless. They are located inside the tool and stored with the blades open with little used accessories. Additionally, the wave scissors blades are so small as to be only used in the least demanding situations.
Ergonomics - as far I am concerned, the Juice is the most compact and useful nearly full-size multitool on the market for nearly 15 years. It's a fantastic combination of tools and small size that I've been very happy with and carry in my pocket evey day. . I've always "lived" with the way the Juice handle feels. The anodized colorful aluminum handles have a sharp edge to them and it's not very comfortable. Also, the two sides are not the same thickness, which is a bit annoying - this is clearly the weak point of the Juice. The wingman handle feel is better than the Juice in that the sharp edges are folded over, but they still exist, so it's not perfect. Neither one of them are in the same league as the Wave - which has the best handles I've felt on a multitool - nicely rounded with no sharp edges. Another reason the Wave feels good is that the "pliers closed" handle angle on it is a bit sharper than the others, allowing your hand to close around it a little tighter.
Additional blades/tools - Both the Juice S-2 and the Wingman have a nice selection of basic needed tools in addition to the pliers, knife and scissors. The Juice tools are significantly lighter weight - however the Juice I'm looking at has been in my pocket for about 7 years and used in every way possible, and none of the tools are broken or damaged (scratched up, yes, damaged? no). None of the "other tools on either the Juice or the Wingman have locking mechanisms. As far as accessories - the Wave is absolutely the big kahuna of this group - it has a huge file and a similar sized wood saw, it has a large serrated knife, It has a it has a replaceable tool bit system in both large and eyeglasses size, and all the tools lock down tight until you unlock them.
weight - I was curious, so I pulled out my postal scale and weighed them:
Leatherman Juice S-2, 4.4 ounces
Leatherman Wingman - 6.8 ounces (with the pocket clip attached)
Leatherman Wave - 8.5 ounces
So what's the bottom line? I think the Juice S-2 is still a very competent pocket multitool. It's still a brilliant design after 15 years or so, being about the size of the Uncle Henry my father always carried. The lack of locking blades makes it seem a bit outdated.
The Leatherman Wave is the best multitool I've owned - and that's among dozens. If I were stranded anywhere in the world, this is the multitool I want to have with me - however it's too big and too heavy to keep it in your pocket and it costs around $75.
The Leatherman Wingman is a fantastic bargain, and looks like it's going to be a great tool. I paid $39.99 on sale for my last Juice S2, and the Wingman is a much more substantial and capable tool, and the steal of the week at $25. It gives 90% of the real world capability of the Wave in a lighter and much cheaper design. I'm going back to the Depot to get some for holiday gifts.
I bought both a Skeletool and a Freestyle from Leatherman when they came out, trying to find that perfect replacement for my trusty Juice, but they both seemed to be more about form than function, and I'm all about function and not much about form. They look great, but they didn't deliver the performance I was looking for.
I think this Wingman might be the one to replace the Juice in my pocket. It's a bit larger and heavier, which I might not like - I'm going to try it for a couple weeks.
