Victorinox vs Leatherman?

[Wild Willie]

Knipex XS?

5 inch knipex. The xs are a bit TOO small for me.

 

[Triton]

I think the only legitimate comparison is if you are comparing multi tools to multi tools rather than multi blade knives to multi tools.

That being the case I think that the Swiss tool I have is much better than the wave I have. Incidentally the old wave is also much better than the new ones.

The down side to the Swiss tool is that it is heavy, the upside is that all the tools lock, they accessible without opening the pliers and fit and finish is far better.

Admittedly this is a small sample size.

 

[Hashishiin]

I had two Squirts and the scissors spring broke spontaneously on both, while not even being in use. In time I lost both and never replaced them.
I also had a Rebar, which I liked, but IME pulling out a tool caused the neighboring tools to deploy also, which drove me crazy, the reason I sold it. Also, I find the fit and finish nicer on the Spirit than on the Rebar.
So now I am left with two Spirits (both blade types), with the original Swisstool X and with a bunch of non-plier based SAKs. Pretty happy with my collection, not planning adding anything, might sell the Outrider. I EDC the Alox Minichamp on my keychain. The collection:

I never had the spring on my LM scissiors, was thinking about asking them for a replacement spring. Also notice the same thing you are talking about, multiple tools deploying if you don't hold them back, also a small enough bug in my eyes. Those full sized knives are awesome, your whole collection is, that mint green is sweet, I'd carry a different one every day! Good to know you are getting by with the MiniChamp, that is very similar to the older discontinued SAK that I have and will be trying once I get it warrantied from Victorinox. There is gunk UNDER the torsion bars.

I'm a contractor and weekend warrior, so I find myself needing a set of tools like those found on the LM over the SAK. There isn't a day I don't head out my door with at least a basic LM tool on my belt. My need for pliers and a set of longer handles for better leverage outweigh the compactness of the Vic knives. A LM multitool would be the only knife/tool I would grab if I were forced to only choice one item to make due with.

That said, I think I have 5 or 6 SAKs spread throughout my house. I keep one in every bathroom, one in the kitchen, one in the junk drawer, my daughter has 2 or 3 in her room. I have about 30 in my knife drawer. They are super handy and one always makes it into my travel kit as a back up.

I like this answer a lot, this is the answer that is most conducive to owning the most cool SAKs, haha, enable me please! Though that does sound like just good practices, a SAK in every room of the house. I love it. 30! Nice!

And I agree, I would not want to sacrifice the weight, heft, and plier-centricity of my Leatherman in EXCHANGE for a light compact SAK, but I would absolutely consider throwing a 1.5oz SAK in my pocket WITH the LM Yeah, the Leatherman Wingman is quickly becoming my most-used and most consistently carried tool. I find myself automatically clipping it on before I go anywhere. People talk about the multi-tool replacing their pocket knife - I don't think that'll happen, I think I'll just diversify my carry! I like totin' a couple tools.

 

[Hashishiin]

Just an FYI, the leatherman bond blade is thinner than other leatherman blades.
Not as thin and thinly ground as a Victorinox blade, but it should be a better slicer than any other leatherman blade.
I don't use my multitool as a knife do I couldn't say how much better it'll cut but it's gotta be some better.

I like it for beater tasks or for things I would not want to put my good pocketknife in. After a hike, a deli, the only place to get food in three miles, was closed and I had to half a PayDay bar... Cruwear PM2 or Leatherman combo? I picked Leatherman.
I think I will probably end up with a LM Bond in order to get a non-locking pliers-based tool that I can take with me into Europe and various places without having to worry about the law. Thanks for the headsup!

When you say "Victorinox vs Leatherman" are you comparing the pliers? If you are comparing a SAK to a Leatherman, they are two different animals.

I carry a Victorinox Super Tinkerer on my one side, and a Leatherman Wingman on the other side. If I need pliers, the Wingman comes out (another big fan of the spring loaded pliers). If I need scissors or a screwdriver for something simple, then the Super Tinkerer comes out. For a quick slicing job I lean towards the Wingman, because it has one-handed opening for the knife blade, but its scissors are so-so. If I have to free a rusty screw or nut, then it is over to the tool box for a better tool. In my opinion, both Leatherman and Victorinox make great stuff and you can't go wrong with either one for most simple tasks. Have done some repairs using the SAK tools to tackle the screws in a pinch, but end up dropping the tool or I can't fit the Phillips head in the spot with as a T-handle. The Victorinox Swiss Tool sits in a bicycle bag, because it is kind of heavy to lug around on the belt if used infrequently. If you have to tackle something more complex, it saves time getting the bigger, more robust, tool to do the job.

Thanks for the real-life-experience reply. As to your first question, my question was not that well thought out, haha, but I like the way you put it.

And your end point is a good example of using what you will carry (or not carry) and the perils of something like a Swisstool if one is unwilling to lug all that weight around with 'em. The most important part of a tool is having it. I think the heavy ones are great, so long as one is sure to grab it. The small ones seem totally handy though and I've considered throwing in a small, lightweight SAK in with my daily stuff. I won't ever notice an extra oz, but there's a ton of utility packed in that 1oz.

 

[Hashishiin]

I think the only legitimate comparison is if you are comparing multi tools to multi tools rather than multi blade knives to multi tools.

That being the case I think that the Swiss tool I have is much better than the wave I have. Incidentally the old wave is also much better than the new ones.

The down side to the Swiss tool is that it is heavy, the upside is that all the tools lock, they accessible without opening the pliers and fit and finish is far better.

Admittedly this is a small sample size.

Wait, what is the difference between the old and the new Wave? Especially enough to make one much better than the other? Keep in mind I've not yet had a Wave.

 

[jackknife]

I think I've been slowly drifting away from SAK's over the past several years. The only SAK's I still own are my old war horse Wenger SI, cadet, alox bantam, and classic. I don't like anything over two layers, and one is better. The basic Scotty knife layout of the Wenger SI/pioneer is my perfect SAK.

That said, my Leatherman squirt that I've been carrying for a bit over 7 or 8 years now has snuck in and become my go-to pocket tool. I love everything about it, including the chisel grind blade that cuts like the dickens, and is super easy to Sharpen as well. The small pliers has been a saving for arthritic fumble finger senior citizen out and about town. The pliers have been used for everything from unjamming a parking meter in Washington D.C. to getting a sticker our from up between the dogs paw pads, to tightening up the screws holding the back porch gutter, to those items brought home from IKEA where "some assembly required." The mini screw driver has been used for all kinds of tiny Phillips screws in electronics, as well as my wife sun glasses temple screws. The smooth side of the file does a better job as a nail file than the round stuff that is the SAK nail file.

I haven't carried my classic on a long while now, the squirt has totally taken over my small multitool role. The knife blade is a bit short, so when I think I'll need a dedicated knife for just a bigger blade, my alox bantam goes along. Or sometimes the cadet. If I'm going fishing or woods walking, a Buck fixed blade is on the hip.

Soooo, maybe I'm a hybrid user. Alox bantam and squirt. That seems to be my go to for some time now. Unless its the Wenger SI and squirt.

 

[guy g]

I've not used my Two LMs a lot . I have carried a Vic for as long as I can remember. Finally last year I gave my old Wave and Wingman to to son and son in law and bought a 150 mm (6") Knipex. I heard so much about them here. I don't carry it per se, but it's always nearby.

 

[Lesknife]

For me , my work and lifestyle the Leathermans are much better. I’m guessing that 60+ percent of my routine use can be done with my LM Wave. The materials and items I work with are heavy duty and the wire cutters and pliers are what I use most as we use mechanics wire for lots of different uses but the saw blade comes in handy fairly often for plastics, wood and some soft metals. I’m not concerned about the weight as I have to carry a lot of stuff heavier than a mult tool. Mostly I use the Wave and I have a Wingman as backup.

My off duty use is farm and ranch work so I need a tough tool to work on tough stuff.

When I go camping or fishing I like to take my LM Signal it’s really handy.

I’ve tried a few SAKs but they just didn’t have the robust design to handle the tuff stuff.

I think it depends on what you are working with and the level of duty that will be the deciding factor.

 

[EngrSorenson]

I think the only legitimate comparison is if you are comparing multi tools to multi tools rather than multi blade knives to multi tools.

Swiss Army Knives are by definition multitools, so it’s a perfectly legitimate comparison. You might argue that examples such as the excelsior and solo are not multitools, and you’d be right, but the vast majority fit the description of multitools. I got this from the Wikipedia page for any non-believers.

A multi-tool (or multitool) is a hand tool that combines several individual functions in a single unit.

Among the earliest contemporary examples is the Swiss Army knife as supplied by makers Victorinox and Wenger. The actual version supplied to the Swiss army includes a knifeblade, a reamer, a bottle-opener–screwdriver–wire stripper, and a can-opener–screwdriver. Besides Victorinox and Wenger, many other manufacturers now make similar knives.

 

[Old Biker]

I have been carrying the Victorinox champion, (and later the Swiss Champ), since before there was a Letherman company. Since I was used to the SAK tool set, I never really fell for the Leatherman bug. The pliers would be nice once in a while, but for everything else I think the Victorinox tools are easier to use.
If your main use of the tool will usually involve the pliers, then the Letherman is probably the best choice. If not then I would take a SAK any day. My Swiss Champ is in my pocket every day, except on the rare occasion that I have to go someplace where knives are prohibited.

O.B.

 

[the-accumulator]

Wait, what is the difference between the old and the new Wave? Especially enough to make one much better than the other? Keep in mind I've not yet had a Wave.

There are three generations of Wave, the Original Wave, the New Wave, and the current model, the Wave+. All three are similar in layout and tool assortment, but the Original did not have the bit exchanger like the later models do. The Wave+ has replaceable hard wire cutters. I would show pics, but I'm away from home on vacation. All three are great EDC tools, but I would choose either the New or the + over the Original for my purposes. Hope that helps. T-A

 

[Sharp Steel]

Wait, what is the difference between the old and the new Wave? Especially enough to make one much better than the other? Keep in mind I've not yet had a Wave.

Can't speak to the Leatherman Waves which are sold right now, but it was my favorite prior to the Wingman. I have two versions of the Wave. The original had tools which did not lock, and is a little narrower than the later model. The scissor blades are around the size of SAK scissors, maybe bigger by a little. The one handle of the scissor has to rotate around both blades to use them. Search for images of "original Leatherman Wave" to compare. The later version has thicker handles to accommodate the locking, fine point scissors, and screw drivers with replaceable bits that are double-sided. The one double sided bit is small enough to use on your eyeglass screws.

 

[Hashishiin]

There are three generations of Wave, the Original Wave, the New Wave, and the current model, the Wave+. All three are similar in layout and tool assortment, but the Original did not have the bit exchanger like the later models do. The Wave+ has replaceable hard wire cutters. I would show pics, but I'm away from home on vacation. All three are great EDC tools, but I would choose either the New or the + over the Original for my purposes. Hope that helps. T-A

Yeah, I have a screwdriver like that, with a bunch of bit replacements. That's what I use if I need, do not have a Wave yet and still have Spydercos to waste cash on before I can get another LM, but I do like the Wave a lot, I just wish they'd spring-load the pliers considering it is a high-end model.

 

[the-accumulator]

Yeah, I have a screwdriver like that, with a bunch of bit replacements. That's what I use if I need, do not have a Wave yet and still have Spydercos to waste cash on before I can get another LM, but I do like the Wave a lot, I just wish they'd spring-load the pliers considering it is a high-end model.

To each his own...I avoid spring-loaded pliers. Just personal preference, not right or wrong. While I love the Wave, I'm too much of a nerd to carry one. Instead I carry a new Surge (like a Wave on steroids) clipped to my left front pocket and an original Surge in a fully accessorized Skinth pouch over my right hip. I don't blow around much on windy days! T-A

 

[Hashishiin]

To each his own...I avoid spring-loaded pliers. Just personal preference, not right or wrong. While I love the Wave, I'm too much of a nerd to carry one. Instead I carry a new Surge (like a Wave on steroids) clipped to my left front pocket and an original Surge in a fully accessorized Skinth pouch over my right hip. I don't blow around much on windy days! T-A

That is what I meant, the Surge! If I'm gonna go big, I'd go all in with that one, or the SwissChamp XL from Victorinox. I don't mind heavy, if I can carry the Espada XL, these multitools are no sweat, haha.

 

[Triton]

Wait, what is the difference between the old and the new Wave? Especially enough to make one much better than the other? Keep in mind I've not yet had a Wave.

The original wave is more ergonomic with higher quality tools. I remember seeing one of the new ones and thinking that it looked like a cheap knock off. Having added locking tools is a plus of course. I can’t speak to the wave+

 

[Triton]

Swiss Army Knives are by definition multitools, so it’s a perfectly legitimate comparison. You might argue that examples such as the excelsior and solo are not multitools, and you’d be right, but the vast majority fit the description of multitools. I got this from the Wikipedia page for any non-believers.

Technically you are right of course. Let me modify my statement to suggest that a legitimate comparison is between plier based multi tools rather than knife based multi tools and plier based multi tools. I think that leatherman is also doing knife based multi tools these days so comparing knife based to knife based would be apples to apples as well.

 

[buckthorn]

ause that's what I'm used to in form and implements

There are three generations of Wave, the Original Wave, the New Wave, and the current model, the Wave+. All three are similar in layout and tool assortment, but the Original did not have the bit exchanger like the later models do. The Wave+ has replaceable hard wire cutters. I would show pics, but I'm away from home on vacation. All three are great EDC tools, but I would choose either the New or the + over the Original for my purposes. Hope that helps. T-A

Didn’t the shape and/or size of the pliers pivot change beteeen first and second versions?

 

[Dergyll]

Different carry. I use a leatherman if I doing something heavy duty, like "work" on something. I usually pair it with a tankier fixed blade.

If I'm taking a stroll or going to the mall, it's always a SAK, maybe an extra folder.

If I'm going fishing, especially on a boat, I always carry a leatherman over SAK; it's a time I find the pliers and cutters extremely handy. I've used the little files to sharpen hooks as well, works in a pinch.

Vs? Get both.

 

[the-accumulator]

Didn’t the shape and/or size of the pliers pivot change beteeen first and second versions?

My account of the changes between generations of Waves was just a brief summary. Check out Google images or YouTube for more details. Maybe, when I get back home, I'll post photos of all three. T-A