Multitool versus Swiss Army Knife

I carry my Swisstool Spirit over my SAK's (even though i own over 50 SAK's).
I think though that i could also be satisfied with just carrying my Swisschamp.
No multi-tool has as many functions as the Swisschamp and its lighter smaller to boot!
The only downside is the small pliers.
If i didn't need pliers (and i often don't) then i could get by with a vic Huntsman.

Since i got my Spirit i haven't really carried any other Multi's or SAK's.
 
SAK - Vic Farmer specifically. The only thing I like about a multitool in the woods is using the pliers to lift food out of the fire (potatoes wrapped in foil, etc).
 
Cheeseburger said:
SAK - Vic Farmer specifically. The only thing I like about a multitool in the woods is using the pliers to lift food out of the fire (potatoes wrapped in foil, etc).
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Yeah pliers are kinda handy.
I've got a Vic Compact (2 layers with blade,scissors, combo tool (can/bottle-opener) i'm going to mod. Going to add a saw layer and plier layer. Basically all the functionality of the Huntsman plus pliers in four layers!
I'm surprised Vic doesn't have a model like it already in their lineup.
 
Nikkogi said:
When going outdoors, which do you prefer AND WHY?
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When I leave the house I have a LM Wave on my left hip and a Vic Cybertool on my right hip - both in leather pouches. Since my SAK doesn't have a file or saw the Wave give me several tools that aren't covered by my SAK (bigger pliers, saw, file, serrated blade). But the SAK is plenty useful too - I have actually used both pliers at the same time - one to hold a bolt and the other to turn the nut.

My answer is definitely both - because that is what I always have on me.
 
Leatherman Wave. More capability and one handed opening of main blades and pliers (with practice). It makes a nice fistload too.
 
At 4 oz. I carry the the original leatherman the most. There is no life without carrying both IMO and I have for 40 years. I have packed almost all of the MT and Sak models over the years. The MT is a absolute gotta have for us fishermen.:thumbup:
 
I carry both-they're both so small, lightweight and useful, why not? I pack an old school Leatherman Pocket Survival Tool in the front pocket of the pack, and keep a Swiss Army Spartan in my front pocket.
 
I'm surprised at all the SAK responses.

The pliers on the MT are a great asset for gear repairs and other jobs. My main gripe however is that everyone has gone to needle nose which are next to worthless for gripping most things.

The screwdrivers on SAKs are good for getting things slightly over finger tight and beyond that start to bend or put excessive torque on the knife itself in my experience.

For me I guess it's kind of a toss up. I like the pliers of the MT, prefer the blade of the SAK as well as the tweezers.
 
I have not seen a multi-tool that the blade is worth a darn. I'll take a SAK just about every time. The pliers are nice on multi-tools, but that is literally the only "tool" I use them for. So, I might as well have a pair of pliers with me.
 
22-rimfire said:
I have not seen a multi-tool that the blade is worth a darn. I'll take a SAK just about every time. The pliers are nice on multi-tools, but that is literally the only "tool" I use them for. So, I might as well have a pair of pliers with me.
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You are right, most multi's blades are horrible. But I find that the Leatherman Charge/Wave series' blades are good. The Charge's even have 154 CM and
s30v blades.

The blades on the Gerber's and Vic Spirit are not very good in my opinion.

The blade on the Vic Swisstool is the same blade on many SAK's.
 
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22-rimfire said:
I have not seen a multi-tool that the blade is worth a darn. I'll take a SAK just about every time. The pliers are nice on multi-tools, but that is literally the only "tool" I use them for. So, I might as well have a pair of pliers with me.
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I am having a hard time understanding what your saying. The blade on the Spirit X and the SwissTool is identical to that on a SAK.

My apologies for not posting my thoughts sooner, but I was on my iPhone and I think my response would have been painful!

In my opinion, a multitool is superior to a SAK in the woods. The two multitools that I have used excessively and trust are the Victorinox Spirit and Leatherman Charge. These tools both have extremely interesting features that make them superior to a SAK. First off, all the tools lock. I know on the 111MM SAKS the main blade and caplifter tool lock but in a potential survival situation, is it worth taking chances? Next, the tool has pliers! Compared to a SAK pair of pliers, Charge/Spirit pliers can cut barbed wire, cut stranded wire, and be a better pot holder then the intricate hobby pliers on a SAK. If it came down to it, above all, I would take the Victorinox SwissTool Spirit X. This wins over the Charge for me because it is pretty much maintenance free, the steel won't chip, it can be easily sharpened, it has an awl, and it has a superior can opener (IMO).

A SAK like a Farmer is an excellent choice as well, I would probably choose a OHT over the Farmer because of the one handed blade and the longer saw. But, both are excellent outdoor SAKs indeed!
 
For outdoors I either keep my farmer or my OHT in my pocket and a gerber diesel in my camelback. If I am on bike then I have a third multi specifically for making repairs to my bike.
 
BOTH! I carry a SAK in my front right pants pocket, and a LM SuperTool (original run) on my belt (as well as fixed blade). Boy Scout...always prepared!

AJ
 
I would choose a multitool. I have a Swisstool Spirit and use the pliers the most, then the saw, then knife. The screwdrivers don't get much use. I've often thought about carrying a SAK and a pair of small pliers instead of the Spirit, but the pliers would be awkward to carry edc.

If I could have an edc multitool made, I'd only want the pliers, saw, file, awl, and small wharncliffe style blade.
 
I think it really comes down to what you are going to use it for.

For me a SAK is almost worthless because I need the pliers especially when mountain biking. The bit kit comes handy were the sak is very limited

I carry the skeletool. It is a very simple design with just the tools I need and nothing else. Half way decent blade as well
 
Multi-tools are by nature pliers first and knives/etc second. They are not purpose built for the woods.

The only time that the weight of a multitool would be tolerated is if I was doing something with a mechanical device (bike, 4-wheeler, etc). And even then it would be easier to bring a knife + real pliers instead of the multi-tool.

I would say get a good SAK (Farmer, Rucksack, Hiker, PE Trekker, etc.) and then get a small & lightweight set of pliers if you need them.
 
Spooky, that is my take as well. I admit that I have not used or even looked at every available multi-tool. They are not exactly cheap. I have a SOG (rated by many to be one of the best) and I believe an old Gerber that is a copy of the Leatherman. The Gerber was my first and was bought around 1990. I carry the SOG in my tool/field bag that contains things like knives, camera, flashlights, compass,, paper, cell phone charger, job file, often a handgun, and some other things. It is not something I would carry hiking, but car camping yes. I'm not much of a hiker anymore except for dayhikes and sometimes car camping. My wife likes Holiday Inns (or better) way too much for me to convince her that it is fun to sleep in a tent, sit around a fire, cook outdoors and so forth. She'd wants a shower, restaurant food, AC or heat, and comfort. It is not fun to her to be uncomfortable.
 
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A Vic Farmer with a LM Squirt P4 makes a good lightweight combo. Just enough plier in the P4 and the Farmer for everything else.

Jeff
 
Victorinox Swisstool Spirit X as long as I'm wearing a belt. It makes my old Leatherman, SOG, and Gerbers feel cheap. The quailty of the individual tools on the Spirit is simply much higher than competing brands in my opinion. Even more impressive is the fact that every single tool on my Spirit X locks up rock solid, none of those cheap flimsy liner locks you find on the others, the lock used by victorinox seems to work similar to Benchmade's Axis lock. If I'm wearing shorts with elastic or a drawstring then I prefer to go lightweight with a Vic Hiker or Farmer.
 
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