Leatherman’s Best: The Wave

True confessions of a hardware junkie: I love my Wave. I’ve been fascinated with multi-tools ever since Tim Leatherman, a mechanical engineer, invented the first “Pocket Survival Tool” in 1983. There are now, of course, many variations on the theme, produced by many different companies. But the Wave is my favorite. It’s lightweight, only 4“ long, and packs 17 different tools into its compact design. The Wave is a much-needed travel companion because you will inevitably need to cut, fix, loosen or tighten something, tighten the screws on your sunglasses, or just open a beer bottle. The Wave should also be part of everyone’s emergency kit. Years ago, I used one to cut away the spokes of a bicycle from a person’s leg in a bike accident. My Wave was the hero of the day (but that’s a story for another time). If you aren’t going to wear it on your belt (it comes with a sheath), then having one in your daily work bag, purse, and/or glove compartment is a must. You never know when you’ll need a knife, pliers, screwdriver, and yes, a bottle opener too. There are many other styles available from Leatherman, both smaller and larger than the Wave. All Leatherman tools are made in Portland, Oregon. (Sku 8192288, $79.99)

—Rick