which mini-tool do you prefer

Rsmith_77

Rsmith_77

Joined
Jun 4, 2010
Messages
4,250
So, I spent a little time looking at the edc forums and made the mistake of looking at the keychain tool subforum
got me thinking...

which do you prefer for your everyday uses, and more importantly, WHY?

Leatherman PS4
Leatherman Micra
Victorinox Classic (or some variation of it, rambler, midnight manager etc etc)

currently i edc a classic on my keyring, in fact i JUST upgraded to an alox model (the plastic scales on my original classic kept getting loose and i even lost the toothpick out of it because of it)

just curious what folks use/prefer and the reasoning for their decision
 
I own several Leatherman Micra's, several Victorinox Classics, Ramblers and Mini Champs. Right now I have a yellow scaled Rambler on my keychain. I used to carry the Micra when it first came out but found it too heavy. The classic doesn't suit me well because of one main reason...the knife blade hinges on the same end as the keyring. That's why I prefer the Rambler. The knife blade and scissors both hinge on the opposite end of the keyring and make it more practical in my opinion. Before the Rambler, I did carry the Mini Champ some but I found that I didn't really use all the implements it provided. If I'm going to be in a specific work environment, I'll ditch the Rambler and go with the Mini Champ loose in pocket with keys...paired with an Explorer in a Victorinox nylon sheath. I have picked up a silver Alox Rambler and Mini Champ as well....just collectors though. They are nice and slim if you don't have the need for the toothpick or tweezers.

John
 
I've become increasingly contented and pleased by my Stayglow Rambler, it's my ideal lightweight tool. The amount of utility it packs, while remaining almost unnoticeable, is really amazing.

Something really cool about the Rambler, if you deploy both the blade and the phillips/cap opener, it basically adds a 4 finger grip (as opposed to a 3 finger grip if you don't). I find that it adds a lot more control when using, which again, I'm surprised by how much the little blade can do.
 
It used to be ONLY the LM Squirt PS4 for me, but I have since switched to the Vic Classic SD in black. Reasons: got tired of sanding rust spots off of the PS4, classic is much lighter considering their weight class, tweezers and toothpick come in more handy for me in EDC role than pliers (which I keep in my bag anyways in the form of a LM Wave), scissors are better on the Classic.
 
The Victorinox Midnight Manager. I like having a backup pen and especially during summer I don't carry a pen on me and then it's often the only pen I have on me. Now that it's getting colder and I'm wearing a jacket, I have a pen in my jacket, but a backup pen is handy. Other than that, the MM includes some other tools in a small package that's light enough for me to carry on a keyring.
 
personally i agree, love my classic, love my alox classic even more

just got looking around and was wondering if i wasnt missing something :p
 
I have a Leatherman Style PS on my keyring. Scissors are good, pliers are useful for light duty, tweezers and bottle opener come in handy. Detaches easy from the keyring with its carabiner style clip. No knife blade but that is the reason I carry it - apart from airports, it doesn't seem to bother officialdom.
 
Adventure Wolf said:
There is nothing like the basic swiss army knife. IT's time tested an proven.
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I gotta agree with this. I've never carried a plier based tool, just not worth it to me for the once in 15 years I may need a plier. On the other hand, a SAK has let me fix more stuff out someplace, than I can name. Outboard trolling motors, motor scooters, guns, fishing reels, door knob mechanisms, toasters, and more. It's surprising what you can fix if you can just unscrew the cover and get into it. Most things are held together with a small phillips screw, and my SD tip on my classic has fixed the clothes drier door latch, and household stuff, saving me a walk downstairs to get my tool box. Heck, my classic SD even helped me when my better half's Vespa GT200 had a dead battery, and the classic SD unscrewed the phillips holding the floor plate down, and unscrewed the battery terminals. After few hours on a charger, I put it all back together with the classic SD and we went for a ride.

Add the fact that it's a pretty good knife, and what's not to like?

I'm begining to think most anything can be fixed with a SAK and a little thought.

Carl.
 
Among these choices, I prefer the Victorinox Classic variations. I love the Rambler and the Classic because they allow me to have on my person a toolset of the most basic things I need with the ease of use and the simplicity of pulling it out without anyone caring (well okay they care in the sense that "ohh that's so cool" not "oh a weapon") that you can't find in most other tools. Also, I love the SwissChamp. Maybe not as common around here, but I love the thickness and the weight of this SAK. And although it is always around me, in my bag or in my car or on my table somewhere, I can't always have it on my person. This is where the Classic and its variations come in. I always need to have a knife on me and this is the lightest, most useful and most non-threatening tool that gives me the capacity to cut. It's awesome.

And for that occassion when I need something more than that, I go to my bag and grab my fat SAK.

It's a good combination. A fat sak in the bag and a really small and light one in the pocket. Like a sidearm you always carry, and a heavier gun somewhere close.
 
I like the manager for keychain. Tweezer and pen, I've never needed a toothpick.


victorinox-manager-swiss-army-knives-range.jpg
 
EarthboundV1 said:
Even though I keep losing them I think the Leatherman Micra is the best.
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Yes, I believe Leatherman got it right with their first keychainer, but with one exception. Those screw caps for the pivots are sharp and keep on trying to shred their way out of the jeans watch pocket where I usually keep it. There are a few small holes worn in the fabric, although only in older, beat up jeans so far. I think Leatherman was aware of this issue and has offered a leather slip for the Micra. I tried one, but it's a clumsy solution, and I would prefer to go commando. Carried on a keychain there should be less of a problem, but I don't like to overburden my key collection with too many extras. The Squirt models are more hand and pocket friendly, but the screwdrivers are not as good and the cap lifter is a disgrace. I like the torx screws they now use in the Style series, which are small and smooth.
 
+1 on the SAK Rambler. It is the best keychain tool that I have ever used and it gets used alot, especially the philips head!

I like Leatherman multi tools but havent really needed to carry one daily but I do throw a Juice s2 in my pocket from time to time just to go with my Rambler on my keys!
 
Rsmith_77 said:
which do you prefer for your everyday uses, and more importantly, WHY?
Click to expand...

I have a mixed view on this one. One one hand, the Victorinox Manager packs a boat load of tools in a small space that can easily be managed (har har) on a key ring. For me, it has just about everything needed for EDC. There is just a lot of stuff on a Manager, including a pen.

Conversely, I like to have a small plier on me at all times, even though I rarely use it. So if a plier is added to the mix, the PS4 takes first place. The scissor on the PS4 is not nearly as precise as those on the Manager and its progeny, but you get a good combo of tools in a small package.

As of late, I've been carrying a medium sized MT on my belt (Rebar or Swisstool Spirit), plus a Classic on my keys (primarily for the scissor). However, when I grow tired of the big MT on my belt, I regress to the PS4 in my pocket.

For the average person, and one who is not neurotic like me who often wants to have the plier capability, I strongly recommend the Manager.

Of course the Explorer Plus is another mainstay of mine, but thats a full sized SAK.

IMG_2339.jpg

Vic Manager.

IMG_7710.jpg

PS4.
 
The Rambler gets my vote!

The scissors, Philips, toothpick and tweezers frees me up to also carry one of the Alox (or other) models, which does not have these tools.

IMHO its one of the best 58 mm SAKs.
 
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