When Leatherman announced they were retiring the Curl, it reminded me of what that tool was: a lighter, cheaper take on the Wave. Which led me to a realization — the NexTool Flagship Captain is to the Surge what the Curl was to the Wave. It’s been around for a few years without much attention, but if you want a Surge-sized multi-tool that weighs less and takes standard Leatherman bits, and for a lot of dollars less, the Captain might be worth a second look.
Packaging and First Impressions
The Flagship Captain arrives in NexTool’s usual packaging — clean, branded, and informative. The front highlights the key selling points: precision assembled and calibrated, one-hand opening, and excellent ergonomic design. We’ll see how those claims hold up. The box also calls out the 10-year warranty, replaceable wire cutters, and dual tooth saw — all solid features to lead with.
Inside, there’s a desiccant pack and a user guide. Seriously, read the manual — it lists all the tools and how to use them, which is genuinely useful for a tool this loaded. The storage pouch is a straightforward affair with a Velcro closure and a belt loop for vertical carry only.
The tool itself is big — noticeably so. The main blade material is 420 J2 steel, and the whole package weighs in at 264 grams (plus or minus 10g). For reference, this is in Leatherman Surge territory size-wise.
Build Quality
This is one of NexTool’s earlier tools, and even so, the workmanship is impressive. The fit and finish are tight, the action is smooth, and it’s clear NexTool was putting real effort into quality control from the start. Compared to the Leatherman Wave, the Captain is taller, wider, and thicker — it’s a chunkier tool all around.
The Pliers
The pliers open very smoothly and are spring-loaded, which is always a welcome feature. The head is a touch stubby — not the longest needle-nose profile out there — but it gets the job done. Inside the head, you get:
- Needle-nose pliers
- Bolt gripper
- Replaceable wire cutters (note: these aren’t standard-shaped, so sourcing replacements might be tricky)
- What appears to be a second wire cutter — possibly a soft wire cutter and a hard wire cutter
- A third cutting area that reads more like a wire cutter than a crimper
The handle edges are nicely curled for comfort, and there’s enough handle real estate to grip well without crowding your fingers toward the head. The notorious Leatherman pinch isn’t really an issue here unless you deliberately push your hand all the way up — which you just shouldn’t do anyway.
Compared to the Wave open, there isn’t a massive difference in working length, mostly because the Captain’s nose is shorter and the head is slightly thicker.
Outside Accessible Tools
Knife
The Captain features a one-hand openable knife with a sheep’s foot blade. It’s reasonably sharp and longer than the Wave’s blade with more cutting edge. It locks open and has a small ball bearing for a satisfying detent when closed.
Scissors
There’s a large pair of scissors with a curled edge on the handle side for extra comfort when cutting tough materials. Testing them on cord — no problem. Webbing — no problem. A zip tie — definitely takes some effort and you can feel the pressure, but they power through it. Solid scissors. These lock open as well.
Wood Saw
The wood saw features two rows of teeth that are very sharp and pointy. It opens via a notch on the spine or a fingernail nick — personally, the notch is much easier to use. It’s slightly longer than the Wave’s saw and looks capable.
File
The file opens via a fingernail nick only — no notch here. It’s a crosscut file on one side and a diamond-coated file on the other. There’s also a metal saw integrated here, and it’s quite substantial in size. Compared to the Wave, the file is noticeably longer.
All outside tools lock open — a big plus.
Inside Tools
Here’s where the Captain shows its Curl-like personality. The inside tools do not lock — they use a spring-loaded slip joint style mechanism instead. It’s reasonably firm, but it’s definitely not as secure as a full lock. If locking inside tools are a dealbreaker for you, this is the trade-off.
Side One
- Bottle opener with wire stripper
- Flathead / pry tool
- Can opener (Leatherman-style)
Side Two
- Awl with a sewing hole — it’s pointy but not sharpened along the edges, so piercing rather than cutting
- Bit driver with a flat tip — accepts Phillips and flathead bits, retained by a spring
Bit Driver Compatibility
The bit driver is one of the standout features here — and the main thing that kept reminding me of the Leatherman Curl. It accepts standard Leatherman bits, and a Leatherman bit slots in perfectly. NexTool also sells their own bit kits — the AS1 and AS2 — both of which fit just fine.
If you have flat-ended mini ratchets (like the one from 711L), those fit too. Just keep in mind there’s no locking mechanism on the bit driver, so handle it accordingly.
You can also use the bit driver with the tool closed for added reach — and surprisingly, even with the spring-loaded pliers, the tool stays put in that extended configuration. The lack of a lock on the inside tools actually works in your favor here, since it prevents the handle from snapping down on your fingers while you’re driving screws.
Ruler
There’s a ruler on one side of the handle — oddly, just the one side — marked in both centimeters (0–9 cm) and inches (0–3¾ in). It’s a nice-to-have, even if the single-sided placement is a bit puzzling.
How It Compares: NexTool Captain vs. Leatherman Wave and Surge
The best way to frame the Flagship Captain is this: it’s to the Leatherman Surge what the Curl is to the Wave. It’s a full-size multi-tool — bigger and heavier than the Wave — but it trades locking inside tools and some tool count for a lighter overall build. If you wanted a Surge but found it too heavy or didn’t need every single tool it packs, the Captain sits in an interesting middle ground.
With the Curl now being retired by Leatherman, the Captain becomes one of the more relevant alternatives for anyone who loved that tool’s bit driver setup and non-locking inside tool philosophy but wanted something beefier.
Final Thoughts
The NexTool Flagship Captain is a well-built, thoughtfully designed full-size multi-tool. The pliers are smooth, the outside tools are all locking, the scissors are genuinely capable, and the bit driver with Leatherman bit compatibility is a legitimately useful feature. The trade-off is the non-locking inside tools — a limitation shared with the Curl that some people are fine with and others simply aren’t.
If you’re an EDC enthusiast mourning the Curl’s retirement, or just looking for a full-size multi-tool that punches above its price point, the Flagship Captain deserves a spot on your shortlist. Does it earn a place in your EDC or your kit? Drop your thoughts in the comments — I’d love to hear where you land on this one.
Available Here
- NexTool Flagship Captain Multi-Tool
- Leatherman Wave Plus Multi-Tool
- Leatherman Surge Multi-Tool
- Leatherman Curl Multi-Tool (discontinued)
- NexTool AS2 Bit Kit
- NexTool AS1 Bit Kit
- 711L Flat End Flex Head EDC Ratchet
Affiliate Link(s): I may earn a commission at no cost to you if you buy through the link(s)