Zero Tolerance 0550 vs ZT 0560 Which do you prefer?

I actually like the 056x better. I have had a gen 1 and gen 2 0550 and an 0561. The 0561 is great. The 0550 is a little blocky for me.
 
I had both. Sold the 560 and bought a second 550 as backup. The 550 just fits my hand and pocket better. Both great knives but the 550 wins easily for me.
 
0560 for me, it was more comfortable in my hand, actually carried better in my pants despite being larger, and I absolutely fell in love with how smooth the kvt bearing system was.
 
I have the generation zero 550 - the 551!. It is my favorite ZT - same Elmax steel as my 561, too. Not so fond of flippers, either. The 551 seems more robust, although it's blade is the same steel and thickness, it is a tad shorter. If you like flippers, get the 560/1 - otherwise get the 550. You can't make a bad choice. I have a spare 551 squirreled away...

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Stainz

PS I also like the Kershaw "TILT" better than the 561 - despite it's flipper. The poor 301, my first ZT, is a distant last place - I don't care for assist, either!
 
I'm biased ... my new 0560BW (black wash!) just arrived, and so we're in that honeymoon phase... so if I had to pick one, I'd go 0560BW.

They are both amazing knives! You can't go wrong. Like you, I preferred the plain Ti look of the 0550 -- for me, the machined Ti on the 0560/0561/0561blk looked cool but just too flashy (it looks, to me, perfect in pictures, but almost ... sparkly... in person. Nothing wrong with bling, just not my thing on this knife).

But then they came out with the black wash version. Good bye, savings. Hello 0560BW!! I love it, the handle looks like a worn medieval sword or something.

I really like both knives in the hand. I prefer the 0560 in the pocket, though, because the handle thickness is thinner overall and the rounded corners help there, too. Whichever you get, enjoy, and count on getting both eventually. ;)
 
Both. They are both awesome knives. My 550 has stayed in my collection longer than any other knives. I just got the 560BW from a friend and love it! Love to see the 550 in the Blackwash finish. Personally love both knives. MY 550 has a weaker detent which is good since it's not a flipper.
 
I prefer the 0560. I just love the flipper and the bearing pivot, it opens so quick and easy. And I prefer the longer blade and thinner handle.
 
I have a 3rd generation 0550 and a 1st generation 0560 BW. I like the flipper and KVT bearing pivot on the 0560, but I have to say that my 0550 is always in my pocket. I changed the scale to a FDE G10 scale from Ripp's, and swapped the clip to a 0450 regular one. Those minor changes make my 0550 the closest thing to a "custom" I have.

0550 hands down. Solid and just plain cool.
 
I like the 0550 more. You can't go wrong with either though. The 0560 is about an inch longer, and the 0550 is slightly thicker (although because it lacks some of the contours of the 0560, it does feel bulkier). The extra bulk of the 0550 handle does fit my hand well, so I find it more comfortable than the 0560. If you're wanting a flipper on bearings, you might also check out the 0562. It's closer in size to the 0550, and I prefer that one to both of its ZT-Hinderer predecessors.

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I don't have either, but I can understand where people are coming from when they say the 0560/1 has better looks and the 0550 has better functionality.

Personally I still want to try the 0560 over the 0550.
 
I love my 0560, but it is a larger knife. I don't carry it ever day. It is more of my camping / hiking / outdoors / outside folder.

The 0550 is nice, it is a little smaller overall but is a little thicker.

Personally I like my 0560 better.

Either one is a winner though.
 
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