Wave Alpha

What

Leatherman’s Wave Alpha is a folding multitool that puts pliers, a knife, scissors, screwdrivers and other useful implements in one compact body—a small toolkit for the repairs that travel seems to produce.

Why

My husband is something of a shopaholic. Anything he truly wants tends to be bought before I have a chance to give it to him. When an occasion approaches, I simply ask, “What would you like as a gift, darling?” Once, he asked for a multitool, something I had never heard of.

Then I noticed it being packed for every journey. Somehow there was always something to fix, cut or pull, and this little tool was ready for it.

The one time we forgot it, the family drama lasted the rest of the trip. Since then, I have considered one multitool per travelling couple a sensible arrangement.