Leatherman Wingman MultiTool Review

[Farmall450]

While not "truly" made in the USA, at least by the government's standards, the affordable Wingman is a sturdy multitool composed of quality, mostly American components.

http://toolaudits.com/2015/01/leatherman-wingman-multitool-review-usa/

 

[Farmall 1066]

I have the Sidekick and a Wave. The Wave is much more robust , but I carry the Sidekick more often, and it's good enough most of the time.

After buying the Sidekick, I wish I'd bought the Wingman. I'd use the scissors far more than that saw.

 

[redmed]

I have the Sidekick and a Wave. The Wave is much more robust , but I carry the Sidekick more often, and it's good enough most of the time.

After buying the Sidekick, I wish I'd bought the Wingman. I'd use the scissors far more than that saw.

Bought mine when the Sidekick & Wingman both on sale in the same bin. Had to search thru all the Sidekicks looking for a Wingman for the same reason, wanted scissors instead of a saw, almost gave up but did find my wingman.

 

[Farmall450]

I have the Sidekick and a Wave. The Wave is much more robust , but I carry the Sidekick more often, and it's good enough most of the time.

After buying the Sidekick, I wish I'd bought the Wingman. I'd use the scissors far more than that saw.

The Wingman is an "economy" unit; that is probably where you see the difference between it and the wave's quality.

The scissors are a lot more handy, in my opinion.

 

[Farmall 1066]

Got a Sidekick at HD when they had them on sale. I don't like it as much as my Wave, but it's good enough for EDC duty.
Wish I'd been able to find a Wingman. Scissors would be more useful to me than a saw.
After playing with my Sidekick, about 5-6 of my coworkers bought them, so I guess that says something!

 

[JBradley500]

I got the sidekick on an amazon lightning deal a year or two ago thinking it would be disposable. It has done more than I could ask for. it's not even close to being as refined as my victorinox but it was also like 1/4 the price. a perfect beater or first time multi-tool that has lasted any abuse i've put it through.

 

[CatSplat]

I usually stick to my Wave, but I bought Wingmans for some friends as gifts and they love them. Really versatile for a low-buck Leatherman.

 

[CJM8515]

I have a wave as well, cant kill it and very versatile. About the only thing I wish was the pliers were more blunt like the gerbers-but its a trade off. I honestly like both types of pliers for different purposes.

 

[monster1]

I love mine. Search "the wingman" on YouTube. You'll laugh your *** off!

 

[nicksnothereman]

Compared to other stuff you can pick up around the price range I'd say it looks like carp to me. Get a sog s44 used for 15-20 bucks if you need something that's going to last; the knife on these is bad but everything else is awesome. Must guys on here carry real knives anyway.

The steel on these just look "dollar store-y" to me when I checked it out in store. I think they're around 30 bucks with no sheath; that dog won't hunt.

 

[Farmall450]

Compared to other stuff you can pick up around the price range I'd say it looks like carp to me. Get a sog s44 used for 15-20 bucks if you need something that's going to last; the knife on these is bad but everything else is awesome. Must guys on here carry real knives anyway.

The steel on these just look "dollar store-y" to me when I checked it out in store. I think they're around 30 bucks with no sheath; that dog won't hunt.

Have you ever used one? It's hard to tell a grade of steel by purely looking at it...I'd take a new Leatherman made here with American steel over a used sog with a crappy blade anyday if the week and twice on Sunday.

 

[colin39]

Have you ever used one? It's hard to tell a grade of steel by purely looking at it...I'd take a new Leatherman made here with American steel over a used sog with a crappy blade anyday if the week and twice on Sunday.

Jus got one of these while im waiting for my trusty charge to be repaired, tip of the pkiers broke on me.

 

[BUDSVTX]

Got mine a couple of years ago, use it for everything and have not broken it yet. Co-worker loves it. Can't beat a Leatherman, I have 2, one for work and one my DAD gave me and that one is not to be used, still in the box.

BUD

 

[colin39]

Got mine a couple of years ago, use it for everything and have not broken it yet. Co-worker loves it. Can't beat a Leatherman, I have 2, one for work and one my DAD gave me and that one is not to be used, still in the box.

BUD

Cant wait to get my charge xt back, had it for ages. Kids got it for me for fathers day. The wingman is nice, but , feels a bit light compared to my charge

 

[Farmall450]

Cant wait to get my charge xt back, had it for ages. Kids got it for me for fathers day. The wingman is nice, but , feels a bit light compared to my charge

What were you doing to snap the pliers on the charge?

 

[colin39]

What were you doing to snap the pliers on the charge?

Trying to pull a spring on a stretcher from an ambulance, slipped and wacked the leg when i tried again i noticed the tip was broken. Ive used them for much worse couldnt find the bit neither

 

[rlitman]

What were you doing to snap the pliers on the charge?

I don't recall each incident, but I've broken the tips of at least four pairs of Leathermans over the years. I know I've had a PST II, Wave, and Charge Ti replaced for this reason, and I have a Charge TTi sitting in my drawer that's got broken pliers now. That one snapped right in front of the crimper. Others have had just the tip snap off, and one one I lost an entire jaw.

They're EXCELLENT needle nose pliers, but they're still stainless, so they're not as strong as a Snap On for example. With daily abuse, then can break...

 

[MagnumForce]

I have a wingman, totally POS compared to my Gerbers.

Scissors won't spring back, needle nose broke. Knife dulls with little use. Phillips head is quite possibly the worst ever.

 

[Farmall450]

I have a wingman, totally POS compared to my Gerbers.

Scissors won't spring back, needle nose broke. Knife dulls with little use. Phillips head is quite possibly the worst ever.

You're going to have to LOCK the scissors all the way out for them to spring back. You'll notice that knife also quickly takes a keen edge.

 

[Farmall450]

Trying to pull a spring on a stretcher from an ambulance, slipped and wacked the leg when i tried again i noticed the tip was broken. Ive used them for much worse couldnt find the bit neither

Stainless will do that to you, I suppose. Still haven't broken a pair here but I don't go HAM with my multitools!
I will say my SOG has fine, ground down tips...those worry me.

I don't recall each incident, but I've broken the tips of at least four pairs of Leathermans over the years. I know I've had a PST II, Wave, and Charge Ti replaced for this reason, and I have a Charge TTi sitting in my drawer that's got broken pliers now. That one snapped right in front of the crimper. Others have had just the tip snap off, and one one I lost an entire jaw.

They're EXCELLENT needle nose pliers, but they're still stainless, so they're not as strong as a Snap On for example. With daily abuse, then can break...

I agree. Can't beat a carbon tool steel for that sort of thing, but I think the stainless is worth it (sweat proof).

 

[Bighead38]

I have a wingman but it just sits in the drawer broken. It's a total p.o.s. Compared to my charge tti

 

[MagnumForce]

You're going to have to LOCK the scissors all the way out for them to spring back. You'll notice that knife also quickly takes a keen edge.

Yes? The little spring thing snapped off on the scissors. Save your money. Buy a Gerber. Even the Skelatool is better than the Wingman.

 

[Farmall 1066]

I'm 4+ Months into using mine pretty heavy, and love it. Held up fine for me, but I also use it within its limitations, as I do with any multitool.
I have a Kershaw A100c, SOG Power Plier, Leathermen Wave, Crunch, and Sidekick.
I'd have to say the Sidekick represents the most bang for the buck.

 

[rlitman]

I have a wingman, totally POS compared to my Gerbers.

Scissors won't spring back, needle nose broke. Knife dulls with little use. Phillips head is quite possibly the worst ever.

I paid $20 for my Wingman. Find me a Gerber for that price, and THEN compare. The scissors spring better than most pocket tool scissors. Did you open yours fully? The knife is indeed cheap stainless, but it still sharpens reasonably well. Yeah, the Philips does truly ****, but Philips fasteners **** as a whole. The only time I'm happy dealing with Philips is when I'm using an impact.

The Wingman is not my EDC, but I could be happy with it. No Gerber holds a candle to a Charge Ti IMNSHO...

Stainless will do that to you, I suppose. Still haven't broken a pair here but I don't go HAM with my multitools!
I will say my SOG has fine, ground down tips...those worry me.
I agree. Can't beat a carbon tool steel for that sort of thing, but I think the stainless is worth it (sweat proof).

When I'm at the workbench, I'll usually for the right tool in a drawer, but I still often reach for my Leatherman, because I really like the pliers for certain things better than anything else. Besides, any tool on my belt needs to be stainless, or else it would rust shut in a week, so compromises must be made.

 

[RedRabbit]

I have a sidekick. I mainly use it for sharpening pencils in the shop. I also have a wave which is more useful but I don't like multi tools. They are too big and don't work well enough.

 

[Farmall450]

Yes? The little spring thing snapped off on the scissors. Save your money. Buy a Gerber. Even the Skelatool is better than the Wingman.

The wingman doesn't have a spring for its scissors.
I wouldn't go that far, Chinese Gerber aren't all that and a bag of chips. Also, you're comparing the bottom barrel Leatherman to what I presume to be a more costly Gerber.

 

[colin39]

The wingman doesn't have a spring for its scissors.
I wouldn't go that far, Chinese Gerber aren't all that and a bag of chips. Also, you're comparing the bottom barrel Leatherman to what I presume to be a more costly Gerber.

The wingman does have a spring on the scissors, to work the scissors need to be locked open

 

[Farmall450]

The wingman does have a spring on the scissors, to work the scissors need to be locked open

It's a torsion bar.

 

[MagnumForce]

Spring, torsion bar, whatever, it broke. I have higher end Gerbers and a Skelatool. The Skelatool is ten times what the Wingman is at the same price point. Go get one, do a test and tell me I am wrong. You will change your tune.

They won't warranty the thing either because they say the needle nose that snapped like a dry twig was from abuse.

 

[Farmall450]

Spring, torsion bar, whatever, it broke. I have higher end Gerbers and a Skelatool. The Skelatool is ten times what the Wingman is at the same price point. Go get one, do a test and tell me I am wrong. You will change your tune.

They won't warranty the thing either because they say the needle nose that snapped like a dry twig was from abuse.

What actually did break it?
I too would be angry if it just snapped, a metal flaw perhaps.

 

[MagnumForce]

The spring, torsion bar, whatever you want to call it broke about a quarter of an inch from where it seats in when locked.

 

[Farmall450]

The spring, torsion bar, whatever you want to call it broke about a quarter of an inch from where it seats in when locked.

I meant the actual pliers!
I could vaguely see the bar snapping, maybe by twisting the scissors.

 

[MagnumForce]

Quarter inch of a tip broke off

 

[Farmall450]

Quarter inch of a tip broke off

Right, but what were you doing with them when they broke?

 

[MagnumForce]

I don't even remember but it should not have broke them