Choosing what to take on your caravan holidays and ensuring you pack your tourer and tow car as neatly, efficiently and carefully as possible are key considerations when you’re a caravanner. Therefore, we’re very keen on multi-tools. There are always little jobs to do, repairs to make and things to tweak when you’re away from home, but why carry a big, heavy and bulky tool kit, when you can slide a single, small gadget into your back pocket that will perform a wide range of tasks? And boasting a total of 17 tools, this Leatherman Wave sounds like a very capable product.

So, how did this item do in the Practical Caravan multi-tool group test? According to its maker’s website, the Leatherman Wave is the firm’s most popular tool – and after only a few minutes of use I know why.

As we tested every multi-tool, we asked them all to perform a series of tasks. From trimming wire, wrapping paper, tape and fingernails to sharpening pencils, opening bottles and cans (key on caravan holidays!) and driving screws into planks of wood, to removing bent screws from wood and sawing metal, wood and plastic, we did everything we could to see if the multi-tools on test were up to the job.

The stainless steel Leatherman Wave weighs 241g and measures 10cm long when closed. Within these compact dimensions you’ll find a great many tools. There is an 8in or 19cm ruler, a pair of scissors and a saw, needlenose pliers and regular pliers, wire cutters, hard wire cutters and a wire stripper, a diamond coated file, a wood/metal file, a can opener, a bottle opener, a clip point knife, a serrated blade, a large screwdriver, a large bit driver and a small bit driver. Included with this multi-tool when you buy it are a Phillips and flat tip eyeglasses screwdriver bit, plus a Phillips #1-2 & 3/16in bit. All the blades and tools securely lock into place, plus the Wave has a handy lanyard ring and comes with a sheath, made of either leather or nylon.

And that’s not all. If you want to do even more with your Leatherman Wave, you can splash out a bit more and buy a compatible bit kit, a bit driver extender, or a removable pocket clip with a quick release lanyard ring, all of which are sold separately.

But sticking with the standard, off the shelf item, how did the Leatherman Wave cope in Practical Caravan’s review? We are pleased to report it did everything we asked of it. Our tester particularly liked the interchangeable slotted and Phillips screwdriver heads, which helps to save space. You do need fingernails to access some of the tools, but once opened our tester like how they lock into place securely. However, at a whisker under £100, it’s not cheap. Still four out of five is a great score and this is clearly a very capable product.

The winner in the Practical Caravan multi-tool group test was also made by Leatherman – it was the Leatherman Wingman. We also reviewed the Gerber Steady and the Gerber Crucial, the Am-Tech 12-in-1 Axe Head Multi-Function Tool, the Victorinox SwissTool Spirit III and also the Cobb Multi Tool.