[Off-Grid Living Ideas] One Leatherman to Rule Them All: How I Replaced a Toolbox with a Single Tool

A minimalist’s dream: 18 tools in one, always within reach.

Living off-grid taught me to simplify everything — including my toolbox. Here’s why I now trust a single multitool over 20 separate items.


🧰 My Toolbox Was a Mess

I thought going off-grid meant collecting tools.

So I brought:

  • A hammer
  • A screwdriver set
  • A folding saw
  • Pliers
  • Knives
  • Wrenches
  • A mess

It filled half a storage crate.
I kept losing stuff.
And half of it rusted after the first winter.

The turning point?
Trying to fix a fence — only to realize I brought the wrong screwdriver… again.

I was done with the clutter.
So I gave myself a challenge:

“What if I only used one tool for a month?”


🔧 Meet the Leatherman Wave+

(or your selected model)

  • 18 tools
  • Stainless steel
  • Lifetime warranty
  • Built like a tank, folds like a phone
  • Always on my belt

👉 Link: Leatherman Wave+ (Amazon or official store)


🎯 What It Replaced for Me

Old ToolReplaced By
Screwdriver setPhillips & flat heads onboard
Folding sawSerrated saw blade
Box cutterStraight-edge blade
Pliers & wire cutterSpring-loaded combo
ScissorsFold-out stainless pair
Can & bottle openerBuilt-in
File + mini raspYes, both sides

✅ Plus: tweezers, ruler, small bits, and more.


🛠️ Real-World Fixes I Did With It

  • Tightened loose solar panel brackets
  • Cut nylon cord to secure a tarp before a storm
  • Stripped wires + crimped terminals for 12V setup
  • Opened cans, sliced meat, carved kindling
  • Trimmed a stubborn fingernail in the woods

And yep — once used it to remove a tick.

“It’s not just tools in one — it’s every tool I actually use.”


🧠 What Makes It Different From Cheap Multitools

❌ I tried €20 knock-offs.

They broke under pressure. Rusted. Blades dulled after a week.

✅ The Leatherman feels like gear, not a gimmick:

  • Tools lock into place
  • Ergonomics feel real in your hand
  • Easy to maintain and sharpen
  • They’ll fix it or replace it for life

🎒 Why It Fits a Minimalist Lifestyle

You don’t need to “own less” — you need to own better.

The Leatherman Wave+ replaced half a crate of gear with something I clip to my belt and forget until I need it.

  • Saves time
  • Saves space
  • Saves energy

I’ve gone on 3-month road trips with just this tool and a hatchet.


🏕️ Who I Recommend It For

User TypeWhy It’s Perfect
Off-grid homesteadersReliable, compact, durable
Vanlifers & campersLightweight and legal to carry
MinimalistsOne tool to rule them all
Hikers & preppersEmergency-use ready

👉 Buy your Leatherman Wave+ here


🔐 Final Thoughts

I didn’t expect one tool to replace my toolbox.

But the truth is, I don’t just use it — I trust it.

And trust is everything when you live far from a hardware store.

If I had to start from scratch tomorrow, it would be one of the first 3 things I’d buy.


📸 Got your own trusted multitool? Post your EDC setup in r/BasisLand
Tag it #OneToolChallenge


Discover more from Basis Land – “Better with less”





Discover more from Basis Land - "Better with Less"

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading