Leatherman Wingman Multi-Tool Review: A True Wingman?

A good multi-tool can make your life a lot easier if you spend a lot of time exploring the great outdoors. It has most of the tools you could need on your backpacking and hiking trips, including a few others that you actually use at home. And it combines all of them into a small and lightweight chunk of steel that fits into your pocket.

At least the Wingman does. It’s an excellent multi-tool with 14 different functions, sturdy steel construction and an ergonomic shape that feels easy and comfortable to use. But is it the right multi-tool for you? You’ll figure that out by the end of this detailed review of the Leatherman Wingman!

Construction Quality

The Wingman multi-tool is made from 420HC Stainless Steel, which has some excellent features. This specific type of stainless steel has 13% Chromium content and 0.45% carbon content, for great durability and rust resistance. All tools that are made from 420HC stainless steel are sharp, tough and they’re usually a smart purchase.

Additionally, this type of steel is quite easy to sharpen, which is just one of the many things that makes the Wingman a great companion for your outdoor adventures. Old-school sharpening tools will work just fine with this multi-tool, and the blades are not prone to corrosion so you won’t have to sharpen this tool very often.

However, rusting is something all steel tools are eventually susceptible to, but you can postpone it with proper care. Rinse your tool after every use, then properly dry it and oil it for best performance over prolonged use.

Functions

Wingman Leatherman multi-tool has a total of 14 different functions:

1 – Spring-action Needlenose Pliers

2 – Spring-action Regular Pliers

3 – Spring-action Wire Cutters

4 – Wire Stripper

5 – 420HC Combo Knife

6 – Spring-action Scissors

7 – Package Opener

8 – Ruler

9 – Can Opener

10 – Bottle Opener

11 – Metal/Wood File

12 – Philips Screwdriver

13 – Medium Screwdriver

14 – Small Screwdriver

For starters, it is important to note that some of the tools on the Leatherman have several functions. This is both good and bad – it’s a good thing because it makes the tool more portable and easier to carry around. Using a single tool for several different purposes reduces its size and weight, ultimately making it more convenient to carry everywhere.

The downside is that if one of the multi-functional parts breaks or stops working, you’re losing more than just one function of the tool. However, that’s not really something you have to worry about. As long as you take good care of the Wingman and you don’t abuse it too much, it should live a long life.

Function Details

Now, onto the functions. The first three functions are all on the same part of the multi-tool, which is pretty much just a scaled down version of your basic pliers. You get the same uses you would get from a full-sized pair of pliers; the only difference is that these ones can easily fit into your pocket.

But, notice that this is a pair of spring-action pliers. That means that you’ll always have to remember to lock them after use, so that they don’t randomly open up in your bag. Also, this is just another part that can malfunction or break, and it’s ultimately one of the reasons for such an affordable price tag on this versatile tool.

Another multi-functional tool in the Wingman is the one at the bottom right in the photo. It works as a wire stripper, a can opener and a bottle opener all in one. And, while I think it’s great that they can cram so many functions into a single piece of steel, I fear that this is one of the parts that could get damaged first.

The only other piece of the tool that has more than one function is the one right above the can opener. It mostly serves as a file for wood and metal, but its tip is actually a small screwdriver. The file if not that rugged, and it’s best used for smoothing edges. If you wanted a tougher file that you can use to sharpen blades, I suggest you check out some other Leathermen tools that actually feature diamond-coated files.

The final tool you see on the right side of the photo is a package opener, which I think is self-explanatory.

The two tools in the middle are a combo knife made from 420HC stainless steel and a pair of spring-action scissors. The knife is sharp, durable and its blade has both flat and serrated segments for ultimate versatility.

Looking at the image, you can see that there are only two more tools on the left side. There’s the medium sized flathead screwdriver and a Philips screwdriver. Unfortunately, the exact size of the Philips screwdriver is not specified.

Overall, I think that’s a great blend of different tools and plenty of variety to satisfy your most basic needs. But, how easy is it to get the hang of using this multi-tool with 14 different functions? That’s what we’re going to check out next!

Ease Of Use

The Wingman is generally easy to use – you can get to every single tool with one hand, so it is great for use on the fly. However, the abundance of different tools and the multifunctional nature of some of them make this multi-tool a bit confusing for newbies. If this is your first multi-tool, it will take some time to get the hang of all the different functions. But after enough uses, you should be able to use the Wingman intuitively, without thinking too much about it.

Also, it’s worth noting that the Wingman easily fits into your hand. It has a countoured shape when closed, which makes it easy to hold it in your hand securely. This multi-tool is not slippery, which means that you will be able to use it easily and confidently in different weather conditions.

On top of that, all of the outer tools lock into place and they feel rather sturdy. You can exert quite a lot of pressure on them, and they won’t fold back into place when you don’t want them to. Another bonus of the Wingman is that its inner tools easily engage with fingernail slots, for truly effortless use.

The only thing that might be considered a downside in terms of ease of use is that the pocket clip doesn’t rotate. If you are carrying the Wingman in your pocket, you have to rotate it in your hand before you can access the knife. And that’s the worst thing I have to say about this Leatherman multi-tool here!

Portability

The Wingman multi-tool measures just 3.8” when closed and it weighs a mere 7 ounces. That’s smaller than the average smartphone nowadays, so it can easily fit in your pocket. It is heavier than most phones though, but it’s nothing too scary. It’s lighter than my powerbank anyway, and I still carry that thing everywhere I go.

This multi-tool can fit into the pocket of your jeans, and it will fit into any pocket of your favorite outdoor backpack. It’s super lightweight, so you won’t really feel it in your bag and it is certainly not going to weigh you down. The weight is actually amazing considering the sturdy stainless steel construction of the multi-tool. If you don’t want to sacrifice the durability and ruggedness of the multi-tool, they don’t get much lighter than the Wingman!

Additionally, it’s worth noting that the Wingman has a clip that lets you secure it to your belt. This is great for people who want to have the multi-tool handy at all times, and don’t want to waste any time looking for it in their bag. You can also secure the tool to a strap on your backpack if you want to have it visible and easily accessible, but sadly there are no carabiners on the Wingman.

What The Wingman Lacks

The biggest downside of this multi-tool is that you can’t use interchangeable screwdriver bits with it. This is possible with other Leatherman multi-tools, but they are usually a lot pricier than the Wingman. If the screwdriver function is not one of your main priorities, then this is still an excellent tool for you.

And you can always get a portable and versatile screwdriver that uses interchangeable bits for just a few bucks. It is another thing you have to carry around in your gear bag though, which kind of reduces the ultimate convenience of the Wingman. But I think that’s still better than paying five times as much for a feature you aren’t even going to use that often.

Another thing that’s missing from the Wingman is a Torx screwdriver. This multi-tool only has Philips and flathead screwdrivers, and since there are no interchangeable bits you are stuck with the sizes that you get on the tool.

You do get a wood and metal file on the Wingman, but it’s not tough enough to be used for sharpening blades. For that, you would need a diamond-coated file – you can get multi-tools that have this feature, but they cost a lot more money.

There’s no saw on the wingman. It has a tough and sharp knife with one small serrated segment, but it’s not ideal for cutting through branches. If you are specifically looking for a multi-tool that has a saw or at least a full serrated knife, you might want to check out some other options.

The final thing that I would change about this multi-tool from Leatherman is the spring-loaded pliers and scissors. They are not bad per se, but they are the cheaper option and they have to be locked after every use. If you forget to lock the spring-loaded tools, the Wingman will open up in your bag and it could scratch or rip through something.

Value For Money

At just over $50, the Wingman offers excellent value for money. It is a 14-in-1 multi-tool that you can use for pretty much anything you need, and it is made from exceptionally tough and durable materials. This means that you will be able to use it for quite some time, especially if you take good care of it.

Of course, there are loads of cheaper multi-tools you can get, but none of them can boast the same high-end construction and versatility. If you want a tool that’s good for more than a dozen different things and that you know will last you for at least the next couple of years, then $60 is a fair price to pay.

In fact, I dare say it’s pretty cheap. Just look at Leatherman’s premium multi-tool options – most of them have triple-digit price tags. The brand’s most elaborate multi-tool Charge+ TTI costs nearly three times as much as the Wingman, and it only has five additional features. So, unless you really need that diamond file and screwdriver with interchangeable bits, I think you’re better off pocketing that extra money and getting the good old Wingman.

Final Thoughts On Leatherman Wingman

So, is the Wingman multi-tool really worth your attention and money? If you are looking for a versatile but durable multi-tool that is lightweight, portable and super easy to use, I think this one hits the nail on the head.

It has 14 different functions that pretty much cover all the basics, including a unique package opening tool that is quite rare. The Wingman is made with sturdy 420HC stainless steel, which is an exceptionally durable material that is not prone to rust and corrosion, and is easy to sharpen.

If you want an affordable multi-tool that’s suitable for most things, the Wingman from Leatherman is an excellent option. But if you want something more elaborate that will replace the need for all other tools, then you should check out some other options.

Head over to Amazon to pick up the Wingman multi-tool, and to check what other people are saying about it. And if you’re not certain that it’s the right option for you, be sure to check out our related posts!

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