Why I Won’t Buy Harbor Freight’s Viral $40 Leatherman Multi-Tool Dupe

The Wirecutter recently reviewed Harbor Freight’s Gordon 20-in-1 Multi-Tool. Not only did the review praise the $40 EDC knockoff, it went so far as to call it “better than a $120 Leatherman.” The publication even added the Gordon to its multi-tool best-of list, eschewing the Leatherman Wave+ entirely.

Wirecutter’s not alone in its comparison. Numerous YouTubers, Redditors, customer reviewers and even Harbor Freight’s own site have all compared the Gordon to Leatherman’s Wave+. Many of them have come to a similar conclusion, despite the tool’s astonishingly low price.

While I’ve seen news of this supposed Leatherman killer floating around EDC circles since its release a little less than a year ago, I’m here to tell you that I’m skeptical of these lofty claims. Here’s why you should be, too.

Harbor Freight

Materials matter

One of the most dubious things about the Gordon is its lack of material transparency. Leatherman, for instance, lists 440C and 440HC steel as what goes into the Wave+. These are traceable, respected steels with long histories of verifiable usage in the knife and EDC worlds. They’re also damn durable.

The Gordon, by contrast, merely lists “stainless steel” as its sole material. Unfortunately, this does little to clarify the material’s overall quality.

Stainless steel is a category of steel with only one requirement: a chromium content of at least 10 percent. Without further clarity on its numerical grade, there’s no way to gauge its elemental makeup, durability, hardness or other qualitative traits.

Imitation by design

While many similarities exist between one multi-tool and another, the Gordon is suspiciously similar to the Leatherman Wave+. Do away with the branding and even an expert might be hard-pressed to tell them apart at a glance.

Gear Patrol

That includes the tool placement — their layouts are almost exactly the same — as well as smaller details. For instance, the curvature of the handle scales as they approach the pliers and the arcing indent above the plier pivot (where Leatherman places its logo) are nearly identical.

As Harbor Freight openly compares the Gordon to the Leatherman, I’m forced to believe this is precisely what the brand intended. However, Leatherman earned its tools’ iconic appearance with years of R&D and numerous multi-tool predecessors.

If the lack of transparency around the quality of steel isn’t enough to give you the ick, stealing the Wave+’s appearance should.

Harbor Freight

Stretching the truth

If you look at the list of tools Leatherman’s Wave+ has to offer and compare it to Gordon’s, you’re going to notice that most are the same. There are a few noted differences, though.

The Gordon’s list of tools clocks in at 21, not 20, whereas the Leatherman’s is pared down to 18. At a glance, this seems like more bang for your buck, no? No.

Whereas Leatherman calls its wood and metal files a single tool, Harbor Freight lists them separately. Furthermore, the Gordon has a “window breaker” listed; however, it’s unclear where, specifically, that tool is attached.

Finally, the Gordon has a few strange inclusions, like a gut hook. For a general-purpose multi-tool (that is, one that’s not fishing- or outdoor-specific), this is an odd addition that seems to stretch capabilities unnecessarily rather than adding actual value.

Harbor Freight

Mixed reception, questionable support

At a glance, the customer reviews seem overwhelmingly positive. Over 320 of the 352 reviews are either four or five stars. However, with closer inspection, many reviews are short or superficial, offering little actual testimony.

Worse, the negative reviews, though smaller in number, tell a different story. Many one-to-three-star reviews mention tools snapping off — sometimes during the first use — and several include photographic proof.

Worse, Harbor Freight offers only a 90-day warranty against material and workmanship defects. Even then, the brief warranty statement ends with “Limitations apply.” That’s a big red flag, especially when Leatherman offers a robust 25-year warranty.

Not everyone can actually buy it

The truth is, despite its obvious shortcomings, I was eager to shell out the $40 and test the Gordon 20-in-1 Multi-Tool for this article. However, Harbor Freight can’t seem to keep up with demand — a problem that will only get worse as publications like Wirecutter lap on the praise with catchy headlines.

The nearest store with available stock was over two hours away. Several Gear Patrol colleagues reported similar shortages at their local brick and mortars; one Harbor Freight store associate said she hadn’t seen the multi-tool in months and didn’t know if it would ever come back.

Is it possible for you to buy this tool and see a decent return on your paltry investment, assuming of course you can actually find it? Sure.

With limited expectations, light usage and a bit of luck, I can’t say this tool isn’t worth the money. I also can’t say you won’t end up with snapped pliers, lost driver bits, bent knife blades and perhaps an injury or two.

Here’s what I can say: I have spent years putting dozens of Leatherman knives and multi-tools through their paces and never once has a tool snapped off. Backed into a corner, I’m choosing the Wave+ every time. In my experience, you usually get what you pay for in the world of EDC.

Harbor Freight

Gordon 20-in-1 Multi-Tool

• $40 at Harbor Freight

Leatherman

Leatherman Wave+

• $120 at Leatherman

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