Vic Soldier vs Solo Alox

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audax

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Jan 31, 2006
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I am new in this forum and would appreciate your help to choose an EDC SAK. Since I always will carry it no matter where I go I want it to be light and compact. Most of the time I will only need the knife blade so probably the tools found on most SAK models will not be very useful to me (at least I think so). To have a very compact knife I should choose the Solo but I still find the Soldier a nice knife. What do you advice me to do? Should I sacrifice some compactness for the Soldier or would the best choice be the Solo? One should also consider that if I have it my jeans pocket I do not want it to show that I have a knife there (so maybe a 1-layer would be better?). Let me have your opinions.
 
I love the Soldier but have found it a little too beefy for an EDC. I can feel it in my pocket too much, even with jeans. I like to carry it on the weekends but during the week I like a lighter, thinner knife. Take a look at the Alox Pioneer Settler which is a single layer, with a large blade and a small blade -- a little step up from the Solo. If you don't mind a smaller knife, consider the Cadet in Alox. That's my weekday EDC and it feels nice and light in the pocket.
 
Have fun, buy them both!

Thats the good thing about sak's, you can afford several.

I edc the soldier/pioneer and love it. I have found the screw driver to usefull to do without. Even in just the past couple of weeks I've fixed the ceiling fan in the bathroom and replaced the oven heating element with just the screwdriver of my pioneer.

The soldier and tinker are my favorite edc's. I don't mind the extra couple of onces, its reassuring to know I have some tools on me.
 
I fully agree with jackknife. The Soldier has some extra tools on it and you never know when they may come in handy. Besides I think the Soldier is very compact and not too big for EDC at all. The Solo is a bit too minimalistic for me. The idea behind a SAK is having a knife that can do 'all kinds of things'. If you delete all the tools that idea is gone. True minimalism might be carrying nothing at all... I really would go for the Soldier or maybe a Tinker or Spartan if I was you. Of course the above is just my personal opinion.
 
Check out the Bantam Alox. Very slim and light and good looking. Large blade, bottle opener and screwdriver.
 
I vote for the soldier too - besides that screwdrivers that litte awl can be used for many things that would normally abuse the tip of a knife. It's offset angle is as good as a lock when punching hard down into something - like when you need to stab a hole in plastic or rubber.
 
Ming65 said:
I vote for the soldier too - besides that screwdrivers that litte awl can be used for many things that would normally abuse the tip of a knife. It's offset angle is as good as a lock when punching hard down into something - like when you need to stab a hole in plastic or rubber.
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Very often I will use the sharp edge of the soldier awl as an auxillery cutting edge to "save" the main blade's edge if I have to go through something that I know is going to dull it up. Things like that clear plastic tape with the fiberglass strands running through it, or stripping some wire durring a repair job. The awl is an awsome tool in its own right.

If I had to pick one single "go to" pocket knife I take the soldier hands down!
 
it should depend on your needs.
Will you need a can opener? If not then maybe the Soldier is not your best choice.
smaller SAKs:
Waiter: blade, bottle opener/screwdriver, corkscrew
Bantam: blade, bottle opener/screwdriver

get the SAK with the tools you will most likely need. If you will not need any of the extra tools then the solo or 2 bladed excelsior/ pocket pal will be a great choice. What I carry out the door each day depends on what I think I'll need that particular day. I have 9 different models!
 
jackknife said:
Very often I will use the sharp edge of the soldier awl as an auxillery cutting edge to "save" the main blade's edge if I have to go through something that I know is going to dull it up. Things like that clear plastic tape with the fiberglass strands running through it, or stripping some wire durring a repair job. The awl is an awsome tool in its own right.

If I had to pick one single "go to" pocket knife I take the soldier hands down!
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I agree with the utility of the awl. Just the other day for the heck of it, I started using the awl to prep the cable jacket and eventually got where I could strip a wire pretty well with it. I'm not ready to throw away my tool belt just yet, but I think it's fun to find new ways to use a sak at home and on the job.
 
I prefer the Rancher to the Soldier (small pruning blade instead of the can opener).I also own a Soldier, Bantam Alox and Solo.
I love the Solo the most as it is just right for edc!
 
harpers ferry said:
it should depend on your needs.
Will you need a can opener? If not then maybe the Soldier is not your best choice.
smaller SAKs:
Waiter: blade, bottle opener/screwdriver, corkscrew
Bantam: blade, bottle opener/screwdriver

get the SAK with the tools you will most likely need. If you will not need any of the extra tools then the solo or 2 bladed excelsior/ pocket pal will be a great choice. What I carry out the door each day depends on what I think I'll need that particular day. I have 9 different models!
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Both of those SAK's (Waiter & Bantam) have the combination tool, which as it its name suggests is a combination of the individual can opener and bottle opener found on most SAKs. So you still get a can opener with these two models, albeit in a smaller package.
 
I say the bigger the better! :) I EDC the Swisschamp in my right front pocket most days, so I do not think a Soldier would be too bulky! The extra tools are what makes it a SAK in my opinion, so if you carry a knife with just a blade or two, is that really carrying a SAK?

I think you should get the Soldier, you will quickly get used to having it in your pocket, and will be reassured by knowing you have more than just a blade to help you get the job done!

Good Luck! :thumbup:
 
I have two of the Solo Alox SAK's and like them quite a bit. I find myself using them more often than other configurations. I also like the Bantam Alox, and the Classic SD Alox. One can never have enough SAK's.....they are by far the best bargain on the planet (knife wise).
 
Fool4Blades said:
I say the bigger the better! :) I EDC the Swisschamp in my right front pocket most days, so I do not think a Soldier would be too bulky! The extra tools are what makes it a SAK in my opinion, so if you carry a knife with just a blade or two, is that really carrying a SAK?

I think you should get the Soldier, you will quickly get used to having it in your pocket, and will be reassured by knowing you have more than just a blade to help you get the job done!

Good Luck! :thumbup:
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Well , you could categorize the Solo/pocket pal/excelsor as a slip joint instead of a SAK . Either way my pocket pal is very thin and light and it cuts like a friggin beast considering the price We can ALL agree on the value of these tools. Its just making choices that is the real problem!
 
harpers ferry said:
Well , you could categorize the Solo/pocket pal/excelsor as a slip joint instead of a SAK . Either way my pocket pal is very thin and light and it cuts like a friggin beast considering the price We can ALL agree on the value of these tools. Its just making choices that is the real problem!
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So true! If I had my way I would own at least one of every model Victorinox knife! They are ALL outstanding knives at a terrific value! :D

Now, should I carry my Swisschamp or Explorer today.... ;)
 
If you think the Soldier might be too heavy for you as an EDC try the alox Cadet or Cadet-II. Less weight but still a very useful array of tools. You'd have the best of both worlds.:thumbup:
 
I use the awl and screwdrivers more than the main blade on my Soldier (use the scissors on my Vic Rambler alot too). If you have a watch pocket on your jeans, try carrying your Soldier there.
 
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