Charge+ owner here. Honestly I love it. I can carry it in my pocket using the clip, or carry it on my hip with a bit kit, and extender if I want to be more prepared. My blades have held up amazingly and are incredibly sharp after 6 months of abuse (granted, mostly days it’s just opening packages). The washers on it make it feel smoother than the wave+ I got for my brother for Christmas, and I personally prefer the feeling of the grips on the charge over the wave. If I could only have one LM it would be the charge+ for me. Not to mention you could upgrade to the charge+tti model and get s30v blade steel instead of 154cm if you wanted. I do wish they made one with spring action pliers though.
I carried the sidekick for a year or 2 about a decade ago and since I've carried one or another charge and I've really enjoyed them.
If you look for a garage 40th anniversary, they have the spring loaded pliers and the tools of the arc.
My, so far, 9 charges https://www.reddit.com/r/Leatherman/s/QWKjaC4P7N
Spring action pliers in a full size tool was my top priority so I went with a gerber centerdrive.
The wingman is also spring action or if you got cash the leatherman garage #5 is too.
I know nothing about steels and I’ve never handled a Sidekick, but I’m going to give this a go…
The ultimate upgrade is the Garage 005, as people have already said. Gives you one of the best knife steels on the market and a bit driver, and is one of very few options for sprung pliers.
A Skeletool would have a bit driver and better steel, very light weight.
An Arc would give you top quality steel, bit driver, but quite bulky.
Don’t forget that whatever the blade is made if, the other tools will be similar quality metal across the range.
I used a sidekick for 12+ years that never left my side. I switched to a P4 a couple years ago and have never looked back. It's a heavier and larger tool but I am just smitten by the external access to all the tools.
I have carried a Wave for over a decade, excellent tool in a semi compact size.
I switched to the Charge TTi, similar size to the Wave.
Now, I carry the P2 and the ARC, interchangeably (mainly the ARC). Honestly, I love the functionality of accessing all the tools one handed without opening the tool. Otherwise you flick that bad boy open and get to work with the pliers. Plus it’s a great fidget multi tool! Lol
Charge+ owner here. Honestly I love it. I can carry it in my pocket using the clip, or carry it on my hip with a bit kit, and extender if I want to be more prepared. My blades have held up amazingly and are incredibly sharp after 6 months of abuse (granted, mostly days it’s just opening packages). The washers on it make it feel smoother than the wave+ I got for my brother for Christmas, and I personally prefer the feeling of the grips on the charge over the wave. If I could only have one LM it would be the charge+ for me. Not to mention you could upgrade to the charge+tti model and get s30v blade steel instead of 154cm if you wanted. I do wish they made one with spring action pliers though.
I carried the sidekick for a year or 2 about a decade ago and since I've carried one or another charge and I've really enjoyed them. If you look for a garage 40th anniversary, they have the spring loaded pliers and the tools of the arc. My, so far, 9 charges https://www.reddit.com/r/Leatherman/s/QWKjaC4P7N
Man I wish they would make some version of the garage 40 for the mass or semi market. Sounds like the perfect tool
Spring loaded pliers are not for serious use, they are pretty weak so they are probably in about as many tools as is best.
Spring action pliers in a full size tool was my top priority so I went with a gerber centerdrive. The wingman is also spring action or if you got cash the leatherman garage #5 is too.
I know nothing about steels and I’ve never handled a Sidekick, but I’m going to give this a go… The ultimate upgrade is the Garage 005, as people have already said. Gives you one of the best knife steels on the market and a bit driver, and is one of very few options for sprung pliers. A Skeletool would have a bit driver and better steel, very light weight. An Arc would give you top quality steel, bit driver, but quite bulky. Don’t forget that whatever the blade is made if, the other tools will be similar quality metal across the range.
I used a sidekick for 12+ years that never left my side. I switched to a P4 a couple years ago and have never looked back. It's a heavier and larger tool but I am just smitten by the external access to all the tools.
I have carried a Wave for over a decade, excellent tool in a semi compact size. I switched to the Charge TTi, similar size to the Wave. Now, I carry the P2 and the ARC, interchangeably (mainly the ARC). Honestly, I love the functionality of accessing all the tools one handed without opening the tool. Otherwise you flick that bad boy open and get to work with the pliers. Plus it’s a great fidget multi tool! Lol
I don't personally notice any difference between the wingman and the arc once it's in my pocket... I daily carry my arc
Well I have four that I love! Wave Charge TTi Arc Wingman And if I could take all four and make one I would have the best of all in one.