The Charge+ is a familiar model to any multi-tool fan. It’s popular and widely-used for a reason – it’s very utilitarian, being equipped with all the standard implements you’re likely to look for when picking up a multi-tool. The Leatherman Charge+ Damascus takes that same utilitarian tool and dresses it up in a more eye-catching aesthetic.
That’s right, it’s a prettier version of the popular multi-tool, giving you a tool that can perform all the same tasks, all while being a whole lot nicer to look at. Will people really upgrade to a multi-tool for the looks alone? We think so, especially considering how humdrum and uninspired this category of EDC gear usually looks.
The Leatherman Charge+ Damascus comes in two handle finishes: carbon fiber with blue PVD coating and a walnut-finished wood with gold PVD coating. The former actually gives it a camo-like aesthetic that’s a bit more refined than the pattern on your hunting jacket, while the latter’s sleek wooden panel will make you wonder whether it’s even a multi-tool when the whole thing is closed. Suffice to say, both handles look way better than the standard industrial appearance of the black and gray handle options you’ll normally find available for this model.
As you can tell from the name, the knives on this model are cut in Damascus steel. You know, that fancy-looking steel with distinct patterns of banding and mottling once used in ornate steel swords that became the stuff of legends. This variant of Damascus steel were crafted by the folks at Vegas Forge, who laboriously layered and hammered various types of steel, so your knife can have some fancy pattern on it. Both the standard 2.9-inch knife and the serrated knife are forged in Damascus steel, by the way, so you can have the fanciest-looking blade, whether you’re ripping through packages, shaving pencils, or cutting a donut in half.
Aside from the two Damascus steel blades, the Leatherman Charge+ Damascus retains the same tools available from the model’s previous iterations. That means, you get a total of 19 tools on board, all lockable inside the multi-tool’s handle, so not a single one will accidentally pop out while it’s sitting in your pocket. In case you want a rundown of the available tools, you get the two knives (with standard and serrated edges, respectively), needlenose pliers, regular pliers, soft and hard wire cutters, an electric crimper, a wire stripper, a saw, spring-action scissors, a cutting hook, an 8-inch ruler, a can opener, a bottle opener, a file, a diamond-coated file, a large bit driver, a small bit driver, and a medium screwdriver. For the bit drivers, you have to supply the bits yourself, though, which isn’t really much of a hassle.
It measures 4 inches long when closed, making it short enough to comfortably fit in a pocket. Do note, those 19 tools onboard make this pretty thick, so it will make quite a bulge if you’re one of those dudes who wear skinny jeans. And, let’s be honest, you probably do wear skinny jeans. Other features include a replaceable pocket clip, a quick-release lanyard ring, and an included sheath.
The Leatherman Charge+ Damascus is available now, priced at $299.95.