Sprit vs Core

[Kerwin]

I have had a Vic Sprit for a few months now, it's a beautiful piece of engineering, but there were a few things that annoyed me. The phillips is really difficult to get out and has slipped on screw heads a few times. The serrated blade takes a wee while to get used to, but it's growing on me.
Recently i picked up a Leatherman Core off of the 'bay for a song.
I was impressed by the bulk, and the 'toolness' of it, but I don't like the clumping tools, the opening 'feel' is not as good as the Spirit and the overall fit and finish is not as good as the Spirit.

I find the drivers and blades on the Core better than the Spirit, but the selection of tools on the Spirit is better (chisel and prybar/large screwdriver on the Spirit are great)

The Spirit is a lot more pocketable and makes a better EDC, but the Core feels more heavy duty.

I guess I will EDC the Spirit and keep the tough jobs for the Core, after all the Spirit is just too damn nice to mess up.

I guess that's part of the problem, Victorinox made the Spirit too well. It's like a Rolex, you are compelled to baby it. Leathermans are more like Timex, they take a licking and keep on ticking.

Decisions, decisions..............

 

[Matches]

Welcome to the frustrations of multi-tooling! We're all looking for that perfect tool that hasn't come out yet...and never will. I carry the Core at work and it comes closest to being all the things that I need. I love the new Wave and I carry the Surge on my days off, but they can't handle being with me on the job...Oh well...

 

[Kerwin]

How does the core stand up to heavy use? I feel a bit strange about using the nice hollow ground large screwdriver as a pry/lever. The spirit's large screwdriver is massive and has been thickened to allow it to be used as a pry/crate opener.

 

[Matches]

Good question. I personally don't do any prying (other than paint lids) with a multi-tool. If I was in the middle of nowhere and needed to pry something, I suppose I'd feel somewhat confident with the Core, but I've come to realize that even "the best" tools have their limitations. Everytime I've busted a multi, it was because I did something stupid...

 

[cgusek111]

I have used Leatherman for years (over ten I know) and love them. Recently I have tried SOG. Great tool. I have a powerlock (the only disadvantage for the SOG is that the gears dig into my palms. You have to pay in pain for the ease of opening I guess). I have been prying with my leathermans for years and the first one that snapped on me was the new Wave (the first and only tool I've broken). Since then I've never pried anything again. Luckily I had the old Wave for backup. I won't leave the house without my old Wave, which I think is far better than the new. I plan on trying the Vic soon.

 

[supratentorial]

Good question. I personally don't do any prying (other than paint lids) with a multi-tool. If I was in the middle of nowhere and needed to pry something, I suppose I'd feel somewhat confident with the Core, but I've come to realize that even "the best" tools have their limitations. Everytime I've busted a multi, it was because I did something stupid...

Good points. :thumbup:

...I have a powerlock (the only disadvantage for the SOG is that the gears dig into my palms. You have to pay in pain for the ease of opening I guess)...

The new PowerLock EOD 2.0 has covers over the gears. SOG will also be adding covers to the non-EOD version. Now you can have the gain without the pain!

 

[Foilist]

I scratched up the knife blade on my Spirit pretty badly when I removed the serrations and beveled the edge on both sides. Now, I have the plain edge I prefer, and I no longer have the compulsion to baby it. It has held up to plenty of tough tasks that a multitool probably shouldn't be used for. Even though I really like it, I half want to damage it so I can justify buying a Swisstool X!