Comparison of multi-tools by weight

SteelDriver · Mar 22, 2005

Weight is often a critical dimension in choosing which knives & tools I carry, and in my mind comparisons between multitools are fair only if they weigh about the same. All weights are in ounces and quoted from their companies' respective websites except for the Leatherman Core and Surge, which are taken from equipped.org. Individual Victorinox SwissTool versions (X, RS, CS) are all listed at 280 grams. Sheaths and additional tool kits are not included. Please let me know if I missed any or made a mistake and I'll edit this post.

Gerber
Total Eclipse: 1.3
Shortcut: 2.4
Multi-Pliers 400 series (Compact Sport, T3): 6.6
Multi-Pliers 400 Corkscrew: 6.9
Multi-Pliers 400 Compact Fisherman: 7
Multi-Pliers 700 series (Urban Legend, T3): 7.1
Multi-Pliers 600 series (Fisherman, Needlenose, Pro Scout Blunt/Needle nose, T3): 8.6
Recoil Auto-Plier: 8.6
Multi-Pliers 600 D.E.T.: 8.8
Diesel: 9
Multi-Pliers 650 Evolution: 9.4
Multi-Pliers 800 Legend: 9.7
Multi-Pliers 650 Evolution NC: 11.3

Leatherman
Micra: 1.75
Squirt series (P4, S4): 2
*Mini-Tool: 4
Juice C2: 4.3
Juice S2: 4.4
*Sideclip: 5
*PST & PST II: 5
Kick: 5.2
Juice KF4: 5.5
Juice CS4: 5.5
*Flair: 5.5
Fuse: 6
Crunch: 6
*Pulse: 6
Juice XE6: 6.8
Blast: 6.9
*Wave: 8
Charge XTi: 8.3
Charge Ti: 8.4
Wave: 8.5
Super Tool 200: 9
Core: 10.2
Surge: 12.2
*Retired Tools

SOG
CrossCut: 1.7
CrossGrip: 2
Pocket PowerPlier: 5.5
Paratool: 7
PowerLock: 9.6

Victorinox
SwissTool Spirit: 7.23
SwissTool: 9.88

Buzzbait · Mar 22, 2005

I'm hoping that Victorinox is wrong on their Spirit weight. My Swisstool Spirit arrives from Amazon tomorrow. Amazon claimed a weight of 5 3/4 ounces.

JoeBW · Mar 23, 2005

Hello Buzzbait,

Sorry to tell you that Amazon was way out in left field on the Spirit weight.

Joe

SteelDriver · Mar 23, 2005

Yes, Amazon.com and most retailers are wrong about the Spirit's weight. I don't know where the 5.75 oz figure came from, but Victorinox's website clearly says 205 grams, or about 7.23 oz. I've weighed mine and can confirm this.

Buzzbait · Mar 23, 2005

Major bummer. The lower weight was one of my primary reasons for selecting the Spirit. It's still lighter than the Leatherman Charge, but not as close to my beloved Leatherman PST as I would have preferred.

znapschatz · Mar 23, 2005

Buzzbait said:
Major bummer. The lower weight was one of my primary reasons for selecting the Spirit. It's still lighter than the Leatherman Charge, but not as close to my beloved Leatherman PST as I would have preferred.

You may have good and sufficient reasons for wanting to save those 2 ounces. For what it's worth, however. the concensus among hardcore backpackers seems to be that any carry item over 7 ounces is the deal breaker, and that distinctions below that are not worth considering. These are people who are intense ounce counters, so their opinions are worth noting.

Needs vary, of course, but a 9 ounce Leatherman Supertool hangs on my belt all day and is hardly noticeable, mostly not at all. I hope that despite its extra weight, the Spirit moves you.

Buzzbait · Mar 23, 2005

I got my Swisstool Spirit today, and am delighted to say the least. Yes, the weight is about 7 1/4 ounces, but I'll live. The tool is so perfectly designed and executed, it feels wrong to nitpick over a couple ounces. By comparison, my various Leatherman tools (all 6 of them) seem absolutely crude. My hat goes off to the Swiss for raising the common multitool to a whole new level of craftsmanship.

Ill be carrying the Spirit every day for the next few months, just to see how well it performs under a variety of situations. Ill lay my Cybertool aside at work for now, leave the PST at home on fishing trips, and give the Victorinox Tradesman some drawer time on day hikes and camping trips.

As far as the tool selection of the Spirit goes, I couldnt be happier. Its not exactly easy to find a medium-sized multitool that has scissors, a saw, and an awl. I even like the blade. Since I carry a plain edge tactical folder or fixed blade at all times, the smaller serrated sheepsfoot blade of the Spirit should provide a maximum amount of versatility. The sheepsfoot may not be very good for a person who carries only the Spirit, but it looks perfect for a knifenut.

SteelDriver · Mar 23, 2005

Buzzbait,

I know exactly how you feel!

I love the tool selection, the blade complements an EDC folder nicely, and the craftsmanship is top-notch. The Spirit is the king of medium-sized multitools, hands down. And for under $40, no other multitool comes close, period.