Leatherman vs Victorinox: Multi-Tool for UK Survival Kit

Leatherman vs Victorinox is a long-running debate among readers who have spent time building their PlanRefugio UK kit. The question is not trivial: this is the tool that might get you through a day without services, open a tin without a tin opener, or rescue a broken hinge before evacuation. At PlanRefugio UK we tested both brands in real scenarios: the prolonged power cut after Storm Eowyn (January 2024), assembling 72-hour bags for testers, and six months of daily EDC carry with each one in turn.

This comparison between the Leatherman Wave+ and the Victorinox SwissTool X works through what each multi-tool does better and where each fits in the context you are covering: household kit, 72-hour go-bag, car kit or urban EDC.

Comparison table: Leatherman Wave+ vs Victorinox SwissTool X

At first glance Victorinox seems to win on function count (27 vs 18) and Swiss stainless steel. The real difference, though, is in how you access each function and what kind of work each model is optimised for.

Leatherman Wave+ in detail

The Wave+ is Leatherman’s bestseller in Europe. The evolution of the classic Wave added replaceable blades (rare on multi-tools), locking on all external tools, and a double-sided bit kit that doubles versatility without adding bulk. The main blade opens one-handed thanks to the thumb stud, a detail that seems trivial until you need to cut something while holding it with the other hand.

What the team likes:

• One-hand opening on both the plain and serrated blades (rare in this format)
• Semi-pointed pliers that reach into tight spaces
• Real scissors, not the token shears on cheaper tools; they cut gaffer tape, paracord and technical fabric without complaint
• 4.8 stars on Amazon UK with thousands of reviews, a strong validation signal

Where it falls short:

• The large flat screwdriver lacks leverage on seized screws
• The included bits are slightly smaller than standard DIY Phillips/Torx: fine for kit work, less good for general toolbox use
• At £110 it is in the mid-premium tier, and Chinese clones at 30% of the price look identical (they are not, but the temptation is real)

Best for: urban EDC for people who fix things around the house, a 72-hour bag for someone technically confident, a car kit for roadside repairs.

Victorinox SwissTool X in detail

The SwissTool X is Victorinox’s answer for users who want something sturdier than the classic Swiss Army Knife while keeping Swiss manufacture and traditional stainless steel. It has 27 functions, all of them locking, and the pliers are noticeably stiffer than the Leatherman’s, and when you need to lean on a stripped screw or cut thick wire, you feel it.

What the team likes:

• Stainless steel that shrugs off damp without surface rust (relevant for a car kit or an unheated garage)
• Lever-locked pliers that do not collapse under load
• Vegetable-tanned leather pouch that ages well (subjective but pleasant)
• Lifetime warranty with no fine-print weasel clauses

Where it falls short:

• No one-hand opening on the blade; you flip the tool open and nail-pull the blade, two steps instead of one
• No scissors, and for a multi-tool pitched at survival use, missing scissors is a real downside
• £155 is steep next to the Wave+ and it does not include bits
• 280 g is noticeable in a 72-hour bag against lighter alternatives

Best for: a stationary household kit (workshop, garage, store cupboard), semi-professional maintenance work, a long-term gift with sentimental value.

Which one for your situation

Both are high-quality tools, but they do not fill the same slots.

Your kit lives in the bag you carry every day (urban EDC): Leatherman Wave+. Lighter, one-hand opening, and the scissors solve everyday problems (cutting tags, opening packaging, snipping a loose thread). For urban use, speed of access matters more than plier stiffness.

Your kit is the car kit or the emergency toolbox in the garage: Victorinox SwissTool X. Weight is irrelevant, plier stiffness and full locking justify the extra £45. The family evacuation plan explains why a car-based kit prioritises sturdiness over speed.

You have to choose one for everything (72-hour bag + house + car): Leatherman Wave+. The bit kit plus scissors plus dual-purpose saw cover more cases than the Victorinox’s 27 functions.

You will be doing basic electrical work during a long power cut: Victorinox SwissTool X. The flat screwdriver and the cutters handle heavier wire more reliably. Bear in mind that no multi-tool replaces properly insulated tools rated for live work.

You are buying it as a long-term gift: Victorinox. The lifetime warranty and Swiss manufacture are real arguments. If the gift is for someone who will actually use it day-in, day-out: Leatherman, thanks to the scissors and quick deployment.

The PlanRefugio UK team verdict

For the average PlanRefugio UK reader, the Leatherman Wave+ is the option that covers the most cases. The price gap (around £45) and the inclusion of double bits plus scissors shift the calculation in favour of the American tool. The team recommends it as the reference multi-tool for a single purchase that has to cover everything from a go-bag to the kitchen drawer.

The Victorinox SwissTool X wins when the context is static and plier rigidity matters more than speed. For a workshop, a fixed car kit, or a gift meant to last 30 years in the family, it remains the better bet.

A note from real-world use during Storm Eowyn: several testers used their multi-tools for unglamorous jobs: opening tinned food (the dedicated tin opener on both worked), cutting the seal on a 5-litre water canister, and adjusting a bike to ride to the local Co-op because petrol stations were down (forecourt pumps need mains power). The Wave+ won that round thanks to the one-hand blade when the other hand was occupied. Anecdotal, but consistent with what other UK preparedness readers reported.

Before you buy, read these guides

A multi-tool is just one piece of the 72-hour survival bag checklist; without a decent torch, a backup lighter and a whistle, the tool alone will not get you out of many situations.

If you are building the evacuation bag from scratch, the lessons from a 5-day blackout covers where the multi-tool sits in the priority order and which other mechanical tools (machete, folding axe, pocket saw) actually earn their place or do not.

For a list tailored to your specific scenario, the PlanRefugio UK planner generates the kit by family size and the dominant risk in your postcode.

Some links are Amazon affiliate links, at no extra cost to you. Prices and ratings were verified in May 2026 and may vary.