Victorinox Minichamp vs Leatherman Micra

A

Apokrif

Joined
Jul 20, 2003
Messages
20
http://www.epinions.com/hmgd-review-38DA-C826E7C-39E6EDDC-prod1 :
"Pros
Tool selection,size.

Cons
Scissors not stellar,prone to rust.

In conclusion,the Micra just didn't make the cut to stay on the
keyring. For less money,you can get a Swiss Army knife that will do
everything the Micra does,and is smaller and lighter to boot."

http://www.equipped.com/micra.htm :

"If I were the production manager at either Wenger or Victorinox, I'd
be cutting back drastically on the smallest models like the Victorinox
Classic and Executive and Wenger Esquire. The new Leatherman "Micra"
is going to eat their lunch. While it isn't quite perfect, it quickly
supplanted the Victorinox Executive I normally carried."

Any other pro/cons ?
 
I have a Micra in my watch pocket when I don't have a Wave on my hip. Very functional, useful tool. $14. Never a spec of rust, but I clean and sharpen it several times a year. If I traded it would be for a Juice, simply for the pliers. I like Vics as well, and they have their place in my pockets sometimes too. Can't go wrong.
 
Pro: The Micra's scissors are alot more robust than the Vics. They bust through zip ties like no ones business!

Con: The Vic's scissors make finer cuts and can do more detail jobs.
-Kevin
 
Some remarks:

- I prefer the Phillips screwdriver of the Minichamp: it works
better on very small screws. Also, as the blade is narrower and
longer, you can reach screws which are located on the bottom
of "tunnels" you find on some objects;

- Perhaps the Micra rusts more easily, I don't know. As for
Victorinox SAKs, I put an old Classic in a water bottle some days
ago: let's see what will happen... I've heard the steel used for
Leatherman tools in general is of better quality than the one
of the SAKs, but I would need a confirmation ;

- There are several useless blades on the Minichamp: I don't know
who uses an "orange peeler" instead" of a blade. Also, I don't think
it's necessary to have two different knife blades on such a small
tool. The ruler-screwdriver blade is also useless: the screwdriver
tip could be placed on the file. The cuticle pusher, although
the tip is curved, can be used as a large screwdriver; so for people
which are more interested in electronic devices than in manicure, it
would be great if this blade would be turned into a real
screwdriver, which could also host the ruler. A screwdriver could be added to the file of the Micra, too. On both tools, it would be nice
if the file were double-sided. So on both tools it is possible to
take more advantage from the space available, particularly on the Minichamp;

- On the Micra, you have to open the handles to access a tool (and
sometimes you get pricked by the tip of the scissors), whereas on
the Minichamp, all tools are immediately available. However, on the
Micra, this system has the advantage that it prevents the blades
from closing accidentally on your fingers.
 
1) The orange peeler, even though I've never used it to peel oranges, makes a dandy seam ripper. I don't sew a lot, but when I do, it comes in VERY handy.

2) Agree about the two knife blades, but really, what else are they going to put there? And it extends time between sharpening, if you're into that -- or coarsely sharpen one and polish-sharpen the other.

3) The cuticle pusher was like my most used blade. It makes a great marlinspike (most of the time, anyway), and for light prying it works just fine. I don't think I ever used it to push cuticles, though.

I vote for the minichamp.
 
I have a leatherman micra i carry around my neck and an old SAK recruit on my keychain. I'd buy a Vic mini-champ for my keychain if they could somehow manage to engineer a can-opener into it somewhere. Why is it none of the really small multitool/saks have a canopener?
 
I carry a micra and a Vic classic in addition to my EDC. I like the micra because the corners of the screwdriver bits are square. That gives them better purchase on the screw slot compared to the rounded cornders on the Vic screwdrivers. I also like that I can open out the handle (forming a T with the scissors) with the screwdriver at the end and reach into a recessed area with the screwdriver bit.

The biggest negative for me of the micra is that the cutting blade is chisel ground. I don't like chisel grinds on a cutting blade.
 
Once you learn to properly sharpen a chisel grind it can cut like wildfire regardless of whom makes it. One tough edge IMO.
 
Yow! A 3 1/2 year old thread springs back to life!

Depending on what else I might be carrying, a Micra and Vic Rambler alternate in my jeans watch pocket. The Rambler has taken the place of my Minichamp (older model). Almost always I have with me a full size Leatherman or Vic. The smaller ones are for auxiliary purposes, discretion and as fobs for micro flashlights.

Both are okay with me, but I prefer the Micra for its square-cut drivers and larger scissors, and the Vic for its toothpick, full small phillips, and elegance in both pocket and hand (my wife feels more strongly on the subject than I. Whenever she needs to borrow one of my pocket tools, she will accept a Vic and refuse a Leatherman every time).

For years, my sole EDC was a Leatherman Super Tool and Micra combo. These days I am kind of experimenting with alternatives, but so far haven't found anything I really prefer. Sometimes, first time out they get it right.
 
pogo said:
Once you learn to properly sharpen a chisel grind it can cut like wildfire ...
Click to expand...

So how about giving us a lesson? I also have a Micra (which I surprised myself by absolutly falling in love with - GREAT little package) but rue that damn chisel grind. If I could change one thing about the Micra, it'd be the tweezers.
 
mnblade said:
So how about giving us a lesson? I also have a Micra (which I surprised myself by absolutly falling in love with - GREAT little package) but rue that damn chisel grind. If I could change one thing about the Micra, it'd be the tweezers.
Click to expand...

Agree on the tweezers. They suck. I've never found anything they were good for. Since I also carry a Vic classic and can use those tweezers, it is less of an issue for me.

I sharpen the chisel grind by sharpening the bevelled side on an arkansas stone, then I carefully remove the bur from the flat side. I can sharpen a chisel edge. I prefer a bevel on both sides of the blade.
 
I had a Micra on my keychain, rusted like crazy to the point where it was difficult to open the tools. I now have a LM Squirt, similar to the Micra but no rust, not sure why. The Squirt allows the use of tools without opening , unless you use the scissors.
 
IUKE12 said:
The Squirt allows the use of tools without opening , unless you use the scissors.
Click to expand...

I have a Squirt too, but actually prefer the Micra because when you open the inside tools, you can use them with the handle extended all the way, giving you a little better handle on the knife.
 
I've had my Micra in my pocket (in the ring with my keys, Bitterroot and little flashlight) for 7 years, and never had rust. I bought another Micra last week.

I love that Micra, and like the scissors better than plier.
 
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