Leatherman vs Victorinox - in pocket carry

O

Ozy

Joined
Sep 28, 2008
Messages
1,430
Hi All, seeking advice on a new Multitool, I have no access to these tools and therefore need the opinions of owners.

Leatherman vs Victorinox for in pocket carry??

I currently own a Sog powerlock, its a great tool, however it's a bit too large for in pocket carry.

Thank you in advance :thumbup:
 
Can't speak to the Victorinox. I personally find leatherman waves and juices too big for in-pocket carry, and so I carry them using a belt sheath. YMMV.
 
The light, compact Victorinox is the Spirit. Possibly the best all-around multitool available today. I still prefer to carry it in the sheath.

Leatherman has good stuff, too. The Wave I keep with my bugout gear, not for daily carry. The Juice XE-6 is compact but very heavy for its size and I keep it on my dresser -- it's handy around the house. The only decent multitool I carry in my pocket is my new Skeletool CX. Since pliers and screwdrivers are my main multitool focus, it serves very well.
 
My father always carried the SwissChamp (the biggest of the Swiss Army Knives) in his pocket (though he wore loose-fitting slacks). I would find the Leatherman and all similar tools uncomfortable for pocket carry.
 
LM Squirt is good for pocket carry. Lots of different screwdrivers, pliers, backup knife blade....what the hell, you can open a beer with it.

Victorinox knives are usually lighter, more elegant, much more corrosion resistant and and have more variety in the tool selection. I think the Victorinox Alox Cadet or Solider are good models are start out with. The alox Cadet is ultra light / slim, while the Soldier is more robust and has a very useful awl.
 
Sharp Phil said:
My father always carried the SwissChamp (the biggest of the Swiss Army Knives) in his pocket (though he wore loose-fitting slacks). I would find the Leatherman and all similar tools uncomfortable for pocket carry.
Click to expand...

Back when, I always carried SAKs loose in my pocket and multitools by belt pouch, but over the last few years, almost everything gets attached to a quick release clip and suspended by shoestring into the right front pocket of my jeans. They don't touch bottom, saving pocket wear, and the high, tight jeans fit keeps them in place along the rear seam. The same is doable with looser style trousers, but jeans seem to work best. With this method, felt weight and bulk are minimal (often I can even forget anything is there) and costs next to nothing.

In my experience, Swisschamp, Leatherman PST and Juice CS4 carry well this way, but not so much the larger ones, like Swisstool, Super Tool or Core. Those ride on my belt. Lately, I have discovered that a Charge and (surprisingly!) Surge work very well with their pocket clips, even with slacks intead of jeans. OTOH, I haven't found a comfortable way to carry a Spirit by pocket. Lack of a lanyard/keyring attachment or pocket clip is the problem. It's fine with a belt sheath, though.
 
Last edited:
I carry a SAK Explorer like this one, every day. Rides easily in my pocket. A multi-tool adds pliers, wood saw and file, but for most of us it requires a belt sheath. So the choice may boil down to the small size of the SAK, or the addition of the pliers, etc. on the larger multi.

:thumbup:

Victorinox-Explorer-Lg.jpg
 
The Spirit is OK in the back pocket of jeans . The only leathermans that are pocket friendly IMHO are the Squirt , an the Skeletool . The wave /charge tools are comfortable in a pocket , is with the pocket clip .

Chris
 
My Leatherman Wave or Swisstool are too heavy for pocket carry and a SwissChamp is too bulky. I haven't had an opportunity to play with a Spirit, but any of the smaller SAKs pack plenty of tools into a compact package and are easier to carry. Good luck!
 
I carry a Swiss Champ in my pocket for EDC. I wouldn't carry my (I've tried, didn't work) Leathermans, SOG, or Gerbers in a pocket. The Swiss Champ is a little bulky, but it has all of the tools on it that a regular Leatherman would have (plus some), in a package that is noticably more pocketable.

I carry a SAK Explorer like this one, every day. Rides easily in my pocket.
Click to expand...

Just ordered a Vic Explorer Plus. Same as the one pictured, but it also comes with an eyeglass screwdriver in the corkscrew, an ink pen, and stick pin. $31.44 with free shipping on Amazon. Gives up the pliers, file, and the saw of the Swiss Champ, but retains most of the other SAK (office-ie)tools that I like and use a lot (nicer screwdriver set, magnifying glass, pen, eyeglass screwdriver).

Amazon also has the regular Explorer (same knife just minus the mini screwdriver, pen, straight pin) for $21 + shipping, and it comes in a Victorinox collectible tin.
 
Last edited:
I carry a Skeletool CX and a Squirt if I need pliers. I used to carry a KF4 but actually use the blade more than anything else so I switched to the Skeletool.

If I don't need the pliers I will usually carry a Yeoman or a Supertinker. I have carried the Swisschamp but it is a little heavy and bulky. It's doable but you definitely know it's there.

If you want small and a variety of tools and pliers try the Juice line. None of the blades lock but neither do the medium V-nox SAK's. I also like the new Wenger pro grip SAK's with locking blades but they can be hard to find and they don't have the small blade. I guess for an SAK, I'd make a list of the tools I usually use see which SAK model works. I have carried both and I don't think you'll go wrong with either one.
 
I guess it really depends on your type of pants/pocket. I have no problem carrying my Spirit on me all the time.

here's a comparison of the LM Blast and Spirit thickness;
ap9oj9.jpg
 
Thanks everyone, taking into consideration the info in this thread, and finding a local shop here who stocked Leatherman's for a reasonable price, I picked up the Skeletool CX.

2996173883_bee780d5ee.jpg


While it is small enough to carry in the pocket, the sheath it comes with is very low profile and doesnt stand out too much, so I can get away with it, using my shirt to hide it.

My only problem is, In the process of looking for this Leatherman, my addiction has switched from Tacticool folders to Vic SAK's... and there are so many different ones to buy...
 
very nice choice! I'd recomend the Vic One Hand Trekker (OHT) it's a 111mm (bigger one) and fits in your pocket nice.

you say you got a "sheath" with your Skeletool?!
 
Dantor said:
very nice choice! I'd recomend the Vic One Hand Trekker (OHT) it's a 111mm (bigger one) and fits in your pocket nice.
Click to expand...

Thanks for this suggestion, since I'm currently looking online at the multitude of SAK's to fill my pocket with next :p:cool:

Dantor said:
you say you got a "sheath" with your Skeletool?!
Click to expand...
Yeah the Nylon 'Leatherman' belt sheath, its black, and low profile.
 
Ozy said:
Hi All, seeking advice on a new Multitool, I have no access to these tools and therefore need the opinions of owners. Leatherman vs Victorinox for in pocket carry?? I currently own a Sog powerlock, its a great tool, however it's a bit too large for in pocket carry. Thank you in advance :thumbup:
Click to expand...

Well, I carry the Leatherman Wave on my belt (new wave). The Wave. Charge, and Surge all have the option for a pocket clip, and i bought one and worked fine for a while for carrying in my front pocket. But after a few months of carry i started to notice wherethe top of the clip was wearing the corners of the pockets of my jeans quick. I guess it was the weight of them, so I have since went back to sheath carry, but if you wear overalls or something like that. It wont be so bad with the clip because you wont have to dig to the sheath to get it. I cant speak on the Victorinox as I have never used it. I never leave home without it though! Wave is a great tool.
 
Here's a pocket carry option I'm going to try. I just got an Adirondack pocket sheath from Knivesshipfree. It has a small slot for small fixed blades like Bark Rivers, and a larger slot next to it for a second item. My Vic Spirit fits in there great, and the large LM Juice or Wave can be crammed in there too. It should be a great way to pocket carry a multitol and small FB.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top