LM Squirt vs Vic Rambler

[JAB]

Hi All,

I'm in urgent need of opinions which will have far reaching ramifications and will affect my life and maybe even the lives of others as well as the very course of history for years to come... well, maybe it's not quite that urgent .

I've carried a Rambler (and before that, a Classic) on my keychain for many years and, in fact, I'm about to buy my third. Before I do so I figured that maybe I would consider something different for a change and a Squirt S-4 seems to be the closest match as far as similarity of tools, size, weight, and ease of tool deployment.

I use all the tools on my Ramblers with the scissors being used the most often followed by the small blade (mainly when I don't want to use my EDC folder, i.e. discreet use at post office) and yes, even though it's not even close to the best one ever invented , the bottle opener.

My only complaints with the Vics. are that the handles get pretty beat after a while and eventually crack and the scissors aren't the best for cutting some things (nearly useless for stuff like zip ties).

I guess I'm really looking for something that does does everything a Rambler does but better without any appreciable increase in size/handiness and is a little more rugged. The Squirt is what comes immediately to mind but I'm open to other ideas as well.

Thanks, Jason

p.s. Here's my current Rambler which is on life support...

 

[NeonLight]

Maybe consider the Leatherman Micra as well? I've got a couple of the Squirts, but mine are both the pliers version. I also have had Micras for years, and my wife still carries one in her purse every day. No scales on the Micra to get beat up like on the Squirt or SAK, and very useful scissors IMO.

 

[enkidu]

Personally, I'd stick with the Rambler for several reasons: it's smaller, the scissors are better for most of the small stuff I need to do, the tweezers are better and the knife blade is better for most small stuff. YMMV. Of course, I pair my small SAK with a LM Wave which covers the stuff for which I need bigger scissors.

 

[znapschatz]

Maybe consider the Leatherman Micra as well? I've got a couple of the Squirts, but mine are both the pliers version. I also have had Micras for years, and my wife still carries one in her purse every day. No scales on the Micra to get beat up like on the Squirt or SAK, and very useful scissors IMO.

Love the Micra! Asolutely my favorite among keychain size Leatherman. Although the Squirt is more elegant, Micra is the better tool. Compared to the Squirt, the flathead screwdriver is sharper and has a longer shank, as does the ph. Even though tweezers are thinner, they grip better and won't get lost. The Squirt scissors are more robust, maybe a touch better for hard stuff like zip ties, but the thinner Micra scissors cut most things more cleanly. Both are better than the Rambler scissors for all around use, based on size. Of all, only the Micra permits extending all the tools for hard to reach areas or to get a better grip. It is not a recommended procedure, but often I find myself using the knife blade or screwdrivers that way, much more useful than the Squirt's outside opening implements, supposedly its big advantage. Lastly, the bottle opener is actually usable, while the Squirt's is frustratingly fiddly.

To my thinking, the best thing about Squirts is that they look so nice when new that they make great looking gifts.

Personally, I'd stick with the Rambler for several reasons: it's smaller, the scissors are better for most of the small stuff I need to do, the tweezers are better and the knife blade is better for most small stuff. YMMV. Of course, I pair my small SAK with a LM Wave which covers the stuff for which I need bigger scissors.

Love the Rambler! Absolutely my favorite among keychain size Vics. It is what I like to have with me as a supplement when in Big Leatherman EDC mode. It feels good in the hand, has a perfect tool set, the key ring attachment is on the proper end of the handle (the Classic does this wrong :grumpy, and the famously benign SAK is acceptable anywhere. I have cut steak with it instead of the supplied serrated plastic knives, without the scrutiny I might have got had I pulled out my Surge (or Delica ). It can also be great fun. I like to wow my friends with the bagle cutting trick, which results in admiration from all who behold .

My suggestion: get both. Happiness will result.

 

[Mike L.]

Why not just get a new set of scales for the Rambler?



--Mike L.

 

[jeepin]

Go for the Squirt, you wont regret it. I love mine. I have a blue S4, and a red P4.


There great and feel much better in the hand, than the micra..

 

[cdf]

I would vote Rambler , the Squirts and Micra never really gelled for me . Check out SOSAK online , Felinevet and or Rotokid probably have ney scales , you can also det em from Vic .

Chris

 

[JAB]

I wasn't even aware that replacement scales were available, I guess I'll be ordering a set and a Squirt - Thanks guys! :thumbup:

 

[mnblade]

I wasn't even aware that replacement scales were available, I guess I'll be ordering a set and a Squirt - Thanks guys! :thumbup:

For what it's worth, I have a Squirt and a Micra. I'd recommend the Micra.

 

[JAB]

Aw man, just when I had my mind made up... jk .

Thanks for the suggestion but I already had a Micra. The only thing I didn't care for was having to open/close it every time I wanted to access the tools (yes, I'm that lazy ), hence my interest in the Squirt.