SwissTool Spirit, Powerlock or New Wave?

B

blackviper91

Joined
Jul 10, 2007
Messages
334
Hi, I have recently decided to buy a multi-tool and after looking around have narrowed it down to three choices:

SwissTool Spirit
SOG PowerLock
Leatherman Wave

Pros and cons as I see it:

SwissTool Spirit

Pros:
Cheapest ($49.84 on Amazon WITH pouch and 'Rally' SAK)
Heard alot of good thing about this
Comes with free SAK (only have one of the small Classics, so that is a bonus)
Victorinox just has such a good rep
Standard bits instead of special like the wave
Looks real purty :P

Cons:
No good straight edged blade (could be made up fpr by the free SAK, also heard from alot of people that using the awl if you need a point can be done effectively, so not a huge problem.)
No ruler (again not a big deal)



SOG PowerLock

Pros:
Compund leverage geared pliers, sounds pretty cool
Intercgangeable tools
Good reputation

Cons:
Most Expensive ($66 or so on Amazon)
Have heard that it is not good for pocket carry


Leatherman Wave

Pros:
Mid-range price ($57 on Amazon)
LOTS of tools
Good blades
Leatheramn reputation

Cons:
bit system doesn't seem as good as fixed, especially considering that LM uses a special system and not standard like Victorinox.
Heard a few bad comments about the Wave, especially the new design.


So, with all that in mind, which one?

Thanks,
Cody
 
I have had all three. I did give the Powerlock away to someone who could use it better than I could -- it is HEAVY and a bit clumsy, but it's a good toolkit if you really need the pliers. I liked most of the tools on it, even though some could have been longer (saw, file).

The New Wave or any other Wave is a great compromise do-it-all multitool, and I keep mine in my emergency kit, but I neve warmed up to any of the Waves or Charges or that syle multitool as an EDC.

The Swisstool Spirit is definitely among the top mutlitools by any definition. Fit & finish, tool selection and functionality, and comfortable handling make it my favorite, and the only one I bother carrying anymore. The weird serrated spatula knife blade is OK. It saves me using my regular knife on crude cutting jobs, and I will almost always have a regular knife with me anyway.

You've got three good choices there but I much prefer the Spirit as my personal multitool. (The only other multitool I do use regularly, at home, is the Leatherman Juice XE6, the big one.)
 
Well, it looks like you did your homework. Not sure I can help you with anything very new, but maybe I'd ask what you plan to use it for? That can make a difference since all the tools you listed are top-quality.

As far as the wave bits go, I know some don't like them so much, but I think they're about equal to standard drivers if you weigh the pros and cons. One thing that I appreciate but doesn't get mentioned often is that the bits are made of tool steel instead of Multi-tool stainless so they're harder and more like "real" screwdrivers. Also, I like the pocket-clip that's available for the wave.
 
Good point about the pocket clip for the Wave. When I first got mine, I carried it around with the clip instead of the sheath, but it worked better in jeans, with the stiff, tight pockets, than with chinos or cargo pants, where the pockets sagged under the weight.

I do use the Wave sheath every day, though, since it's a perfect fit for my cellphone! :)
 
I personally lean towards the Spirit. Just got my new one in the mail. (The TSA wanted my old one...) If you want to use standard bits you need the Spirit Plus model, btw.

Here's a few pros for the Spirit that you overlooked:
- All tools available without opening the pliers
- Great leather pouch
- More rust-resistant than other, non Vic. multitools due to mirror polished steel
- Plus model comes with a detachable corkscrew that fits in the pouch

And a few cons you missed:
- Softer blade steel than Leatherman
- Fatter plier head
- No one-handed opening
- Highly polished built-in screwdrivers may slip if you're not careful
 
Thanks for the replies. I am probably leaning more toward either the Spirit or the Wave. A couple of pretty major advantages I see to the wave are the fact that I can use a pocket clip with it and it has better knife blades. The clip would be nice because I don't always have a belt on, so being able to clip it in my pocket like I do with my EDC knives now would be good, though that adds $5 to the price. I would probably be carrying only it and no supporting knives (except on sepcial occasions like camping or w/e) so the blades are pretty important.

Another option I was considering is the SwissTool RS, would anyone recommend this or is it too heavy/bulky?

~Cody
 
I have a SwissTool RS. GREAT multitool. However, I do not generally carry it on my belt (I work in an office) so it's kept in my laptop bag.

Note that the RS has a curved, serrated blade instead of a file. If you need a file on your multitool, get the SwissTool X.
 
I have several multitools that don't get a lot of use except for my Spirit. I easily made the knife blade into a plain edge, which suits me better. This is the best multitool I've used, and I carry it all the time except at work.
 
People have gotten along fine with softer/worse blade steel than Inox.
The Swisstool RS is really nice, fantastic F&F and nicely designed, but it is quite a hulk of a multitool. I seem to remember there being a Spirit model with a plain edge blade similar to that of the regular SAKs instead of scissors too.
 
Here's a quick photo that should give you an idea of the size difference between the tools. I don't have a new Wave so I used the Charge instead but they are very similar multi-tools.

comparison-1.jpg


comparison-2.jpg


All four (SwissTool, SwissTool Spirit, PowerLock, Wave) are good choices. I'd recommend only the Wave (with pocket clip) and the Spirit for pocket carry.
 
Well, after thinking about it some, I guess I'm either going to start wearing a belt or putting up with the discomfort becaause I really am liking the PowerLock. The fact that I can add extra tools as I see fit is a huge plus (combo blade and bottle opener are going to be going in favor of dedicated straight and serrated blades).

Though I am still thinking of the other two, will be a bit til I actually order. Amazone has a sale on which is really tempting me ($10 of of a $50 or more SAK order, buying the $49.88 spirit and OH Trekker would be only 64 bucks).

~Cody
 
If you carry another one hand opening knife I would recommend the Spirit. The Spirit is the only one that you listed that I would consider for pocket carry…even with a clip I think that the Wave would be too heavy and bulky for me and there is no question about the PowerLock.


I would only consider the PowerLock if you are planning on doing a lot of heavy work with the pliers/wire cutters and not so much with the tools in the handles. If you do decide to go with the PowerLock get one with the new gear covers.


If you don’t carry another knife, I would suggest the Wave.




Frank
 
blackviper91 said:
Well, after thinking about it some, I guess I'm either going to start wearing a belt or putting up with the discomfort because I really am liking the PowerLock. The fact that I can add extra tools as I see fit is a huge plus (combo blade and bottle opener are going to be going in favor of dedicated straight and serrated blades).
Click to expand...

The ability to disassemble/reassemble the PowerLock is really nice for a number of reasons (adjusting the tension, cleaning, replacing worn or broken tools) as well as customizing the tool selection. But there are some limits. I think you may run into problems if you try to add more than four full size tools. The middle tools need to be short in order for the pliers to close.

PowerLock_outside_tools.jpg


I typically replace the combo edge blade with their double bevel plain edge. Those blades are scary sharp! ...I'm also thinking about buying the fully serrated blade and putting it in place of either the saw (I don't need it) or the scissors (I have scissors on the Swiss army knife that's on my keychain).
 
Well, I don't know. Now that I think about it more, the Powerlock seemns like a bad choice because I use the knives blades alot and I really would like to carry only one tool. So I guess in that respect, the Wave is winning. Though it is really tempting to get the Trekker/Spirit combo for the same price.

I don't know what to! I need 200 dollars and I could get all three :P

~Cody
 
supratentorial said:
The ability to disassemble/reassemble the PowerLock is really nice for a number of reasons (adjusting the tension, cleaning, replacing worn or broken tools) as well as customizing the tool selection.
Click to expand...
I have a Leatherman XE6 on its way to me right now but your post made me remember i have an old SOG Paratool packed away.
It also is easily disassembled.
The Paratool was my first multi-tool. It is a good multi but the lack of scissors always bugged me.
Do you think one of the replacement scissors available from SOG could be fitted to the Paratool?
If thats a no-go i might see about cannibalizing the scissors from a spare 91mm SAK.
 
carrot said:
I personally lean towards the Spirit. Just got my new one in the mail. (The TSA wanted my old one...) If you want to use standard bits you need the Spirit Plus model, btw.

Here's a few pros for the Spirit that you overlooked:
- All tools available without opening the pliers
- Great leather pouch
- More rust-resistant than other, non Vic. multitools due to mirror polished steel
- Plus model comes with a detachable corkscrew that fits in the pouch

And a few cons you missed:
- Softer blade steel than Leatherman
- Fatter plier head
- No one-handed opening
- Highly polished built-in screwdrivers may slip if you're not careful
Click to expand...
Why is the blade steel softer ?
 
tholiver said:
...Do you think one of the replacement scissors available from SOG could be fitted to the Paratool?
If thats a no-go i might see about cannibalizing the scissors from a spare 91mm SAK.
Click to expand...

On a new ParaTool, it shouldn't be a problem. But the ParaTool has undergone some changes over the years. The scissors may not open correctly if you have an old version (see photo of the old and new blades as an example). I haven't tested it. But it'd probably be easier to modify the SOG scissors to fit the ParaTool (compared to salvaging scissors from another multi-tool).

Paratool_blades.jpg
 
supratentorial said:
On a new ParaTool, it shouldn't be a problem. But the ParaTool has undergone some changes over the years. The scissors may not open correctly if you have an old version (see photo of the old and new blades as an example). I haven't tested it. But it'd probably be easier to modify the SOG scissors to fit the ParaTool (compared to salvaging scissors from another multi-tool).

Paratool_blades.jpg
Click to expand...

Cool thanks for the info and the pics!
I'm pretty sure i bought my paratool in the first year of production (early second year at the latest). I guess that would make it the old model.
I guess i'll have to order some scissors and play around a bit!
:D
 
tholiver said:
Cool thanks for the info and the pics!
I'm pretty sure i bought my paratool in the first year of production (early second year at the latest). I guess that would make it the old model.
I guess i'll have to order some scissors and play around a bit!
:D
Click to expand...


I like the really old ones best. Most of the tools are polished and on some of the earliest ones, you can remove the lanyard.

I'm headed out but I gave it a quick go. It looks like you'll also have to grind down part of the handle since the scissors are just a hair long. I'll give it another go when I haven't been drinking. :D

paratool_scissors.jpg


edit: I gave it another go this morning. I think grinding down the handle and reshaping the cutouts on the scissors may be the only modifications necessary. The scissors are an accessory for the PowerLock and aren't really intended to be used with the ParaTool. It might not be easy but I think its possible to make it work after some modifications.
 
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