Victorinox SwissTool Spirit Review

[Bodieism]

It just arrived today and I must say I am very impressed with it. This is the first SwissTool that I've owned and I really like the blades all being accesible while the tool is closed. I really like its curved handles and the locking system is the best I've ever seen in a multitool and the blades open and close so smoothly. It is way better than the Leatherman Charge Ti that I previously owned... the only thing I can think that was better on the charge was the handles seemed to be a little sturdier. The main blade is serrated from the top to about 70 percent the length of the blade which seems odd since its usually the other way around ..... but that doesn't bother me because I carry a Spyderco PE Military with me as an EDC so is makes a great combo. The blade is also scary sharp out of box and both the PE and SE are able to push cut paper. When I open the pliers that snap into position which is really cool and it also does the same thing when I close it. The scissors blades are about the same size as the one on the charge I had but it opens out really far and they have very smooth action and are able to push cut paper very easily. Unlike some rumors I have heard about it, it does come with hard wire cutters which is pointed out in the manual I received with it. Even though it seems to be longer than my LM Charge it also seems to weight less. It is very slim and still looks small when put into the sheath so its going to make an awesome EDC along with my Spyderco Military. Everything about this tool is kick a$$ and I am very happy I sold my Leatherman Charge to get the money to buy it. I'm going to get my cousin to take some digital pictures of it soon and I'll email it to someone who can post it if they want to because I'm not really sure how to do that. Her husband has a Leatherman Wave so maybe I can take some pictures of it side by side with it for comparison.

[Perfectionist]

THEY ARE FINALLY SHIPPING !!!!!

Great review and I cant wait to see the pictures !!

I'm sure the curved handles make using the pliers way better ..... but how does it feel in the hand when using the other tools ??

[tarsier]

Originally Posted by Bodieism

I'm going to get my cousin to take some digital pictures of it soon and I'll email it to someone who can post it if they want to because I'm not really sure how to do that. Her husband has a Leatherman Wave so maybe I can take some pictures of it side by side with it for comparison.

Some people get free storage from their ISP, so they put the pictures there and post links to them. Other people signup at one of the image hosting services. If those options don't work for you, then let me know. I have some extra attachment space left over and can attach the images to this thread.

[Carthage]

thanks for the review. i'm eager to check out the spirit for myself.

[JohnJ80]

Ok, looks cool. A couple of questions for you:

1. On the Spirit Plus there is an additional set of tools and bits, correct?

2. In some pictures I see what looks like a little ratchet tool.

3. Do either or both of these tools sets attach somehow to the Spirit/Swisstool or are they to be used independently of the Swisstool? I.e. does this attach to the Swisstool in a similar or analagous fashion to how the Leatherman add on tools set attaches to the LM tools?

Looks kind of interesting...

J

[ckl]

OMG,i dun want to buy LM's blast series now.....i hate the stupid plastic cover in the handle!!!!

i am thinking about spirit again....

[Bodieism]

Perfectionist, while using the other tools it feels fine for me but some people might not like it because it does feel a little different from the leathermans that I was used to.

JohnJ80,

1. Yes, but I didn't get that one because I don't think they were offering it yet.
2. I'm pretty sure a ratchet set is compatible with it.
3. There is a hole on both sides of the SwissTool that seems to allow "coupling" as they put it for the ratchet tool and the corkscrew. The hole starts of big and gets smaller as you move down so I'm guessing you can put something in there and then slide it down and it will lock into place so I think the ratchet arm locks into it and then you can put which bit you need to use onto it like on the LM Charge.... I'm eager to try it out when I find a place to buy the ratchet set from.

[Bodieism]

Pictures: http://community.webshots.com/album/202607180GFyUhy

[PWork]

Looks like I'll be adding a new multi tool to my line up.
Thanks for the review.

Paul

[LongDistance]

I still find it strange that the Swiss Tool Spirit have no regular straight blade. How are you going to stab or punch a hole in an object with that serrated knife?

[klattman]

Originally Posted by LongDistance

I still find it strange that the Swiss Tool Spirit have no regular straight blade. How are you going to stab or punch a hole in an object with that serrated knife?

Get a diamond stone and file it into a PE clip drop point blade
Does seem strange that they wouldn't have a standard SAK blade too.

[choubbi]

Originally Posted by LongDistance

I still find it strange that the Swiss Tool Spirit have no regular straight blade. How are you going to stab or punch a hole in an object with that serrated knife?

that makes a good reason to carry an other knife with the spirit!
in fact I think it will not be problematic for me as I always wear a folder(often a CRKT large Kasper fighting folder pro) with me, with my cybertool34.

I'm still wondering if I will buy the spirit or the swisstool X... anyway it will be with ratchet and bits.

[Bodieism]

Originally Posted by LongDistance

I still find it strange that the Swiss Tool Spirit have no regular straight blade. How are you going to stab or punch a hole in an object with that serrated knife?

I also find it very odd to put a blunt nosed mostly serrated knife on it and I am curious as to why they made it that way. The only reason it doesn't bother is because of the Spyderco Military that I always carry which I think I'm going to replace with the new Manix.

[tarsier]

Originally Posted by Bodieism

The main blade is serrated from the top to about 70 percent the length of the blade which seems odd since its usually the other way around

My guess is that there are some tradeoffs with this design.

By putting a plain edge on the part of the blade that is straightest and where you can apply the most force, it makes the blade useful for woodwork like stripping bark off branches and putting points on stakes. The serrated tip can still be used to cut rope and webbing.

By putting a plain edge on the tip of the blade, as is traditionally done, it makes the blade useful for slitting stuff open.

[RickJ]

I guess the only good thing about the Spirit is the price! I looked at the pictures and I would not give up my Charge for 3 of these things, especially with that awfull blade thingy! I do think it is a good tool for the price! I am told you can get it for about $40.00 Dollars. I will stick with the Charge, I know Leatherman still can make some improvements but it is a big jump from the old wave. Multi's are like cars, everyone has different taste but to say this thing is better than the Charge! nope Sorry! don't think so!

[choubbi]

well, I think I'll go with the spirit, after comparing the features of both knives, I think the guthook may be useful sometimes, and I quite like this configuration of blade, it seems very useful combined with a plain knife (which I almost always carry).

too bad the rulers aren't on the spirit, but I still have time to choose... these could be handy sometimes... aaargh I want both!!!

[Bodieism]

Originally Posted by RickJ

Multi's are like cars, everyone has different taste but to say this thing is better than the Charge! nope Sorry! don't think so!

Your right multi-tools are like cars, everyone has different taste but you left out that people also have different uses for them. The tasks that I use my multi-tool for are better suited for the Spirit than the Charge. So to say this tool is better than the Charge is correct in my opinion as it would correct for you to say in your opinion the Charge is better than the Spirit for your uses. It would be like telling my father a Corvette would be better for him because it was superior to what he was driving now but really his old 71 Chevy Truck is much better suited for him because he likes to go fishing every week and I doubt pulling a boat with a Corvette would be very efficient.

[mrblond]

criterion for multitools:

Most rugged highest quality. Swisstool has them all beat!

[cognitivefun]

it seems difficult to get individual tools out. They are hard to pull out even after I've lubed them...

[Bodieism]

The tools on mine open easily and don't clump like the LM Charge I had and they also snap shut. Maybe I got a used one that had been opened and closed alot and got loosened a little.