Changes of heart, Victorinox Swisstool Spirit X

freedoom

freedoom

Joined
Jan 31, 2010
Messages
1,897
I had this notion in my head that i would never buy a multitool that wasn't a leatherman. I have handled gerbers and i didn't like them, i have handled SOGs and i haven't liked them but the Swisstool Spirit was so shiny.

The weight on the tool is fairly light considering it's tool compliment. It's significantly lighter than my beloved Charge TTi. It's light enough for me to pocket carry. I didn't even notice it in my back pocket but it rattles around in a front pocket a bit due to it's size.

I am going to keep comparing it to the Charge TTi because i carried one for years so it's my point of reference. The lockup on the Swisstool is perfect, 0 play in any direction on all of the tools. My charge has a little up and down wiggle on the internal tools, nothing that has ever been a problem. However the swisstool the lockup is just perfect.

The fact that all the tools are on the outside when it's closed is fantastic. makes things much easier to access. However the lack of any one hand opening tools is a hit, not a big one but it's a down side.

The scissors on the Spirit are the best cutters of any multitool scissors i have ever used. i usually use a knife to cut paracord but these cut paracord smooth and evenly. However the mouth on the scissors are very small, if you have anything big you need to snip it's going to be a problem.

The hinge on the pliers aren't as tight as i like, i prefer my pliers to stay as open or closed as i leave them and the Spirit pliers kind of flop open and closed if i tilt the tool left and right. However there is no flexing or lateral wiggle in them so the lose pliers aren't a big deal.

The screw drivers are nice and long to get into smaller places which is fantastic.

I'm not sure if i have a use for the chisel but the awl is a fantastic addition to a multitool.

I got mine without the ratchet because it looked like a piece of crap.

The sheath is good, nice quality leather with a velcro clasp, i would have preferred a snap but velcro is ok. it foots the tool nice and snug and is a lot lower profile than the leatherman charge sheath, fits on the belt better tool.

I have been trying to find my best EDC multitool for a while and i think i've found it. Recently i have gone through the skeletool, skeletool+micra, vic super tinker, juice s2, fuse and most recently the swisstool spirit x. I'm pretty sure this one is going to stick with me for a while.
 
The Swisstool Spirit is a fine piece of multitool. It is slightly smaller than the comparable Leathermans, and is certainly more refined in its tolerances and smoother to operate.
 
It's the only plier based tool I EDC .I think you will actually find lots of use for the Chisel blade , once you get the hang of it .

Chris
 
I think out of all the multi tools I own the Spirit is the best in-hand feel. I have the model with 2 blades, as the scissors were not out yet when I purchased mine. The fit and finish of the Vic multi tools (I own one of each model) is well above all of my Leatherman tools IMHO.

I keep wanting to do the pocket clip mod to my Spirit but lack the time. I think Felinevet sells the clip and has a link on how to do it.

I carry my LM Charge AL a lot because it comes with a clip, and I hate carrying things on my belt.
 
I know what you mean. I for years thought my LM Supertool was the greatest thing ever. Then I got a LM TTi Charge and it was the best. But when I got my hands on my Vic SwissTool it was over for the others. It is just plain beautiful in every way. I can only imagine how my Leathermans feel right now...:(

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Those are awesome tools, though I have no firsthand experience. Can't wait to get my hands on one. I don't have a lot of cash these days (went on a huge knife buying binge recently) so I am waiting to get my hands on one for a good price.
 
I'm glad you like the Spirit! :) I don't know if you read my comparison review, but I still feel the same exacty way about the points I said. I had an in depth conversation with Leatherman's vice president Ben Rivera. I didn't realize how many components go into quality, it's not just a mirror polish finish (which makes the screwdrivers inferior to even Gerber tools) and clicks when you open tools. The fact that the Spirit has semi blunt pliers, sub par wire cutters compared to the Charge's two blades, scissors, the diamond file, Ti scales for scratch resistance, real needlenose pliers, and the versatile bit driver the Charge is a winner for me.
 
Nikkogi said:
I'm glad you like the Spirit! :) I don't know if you read my comparison review, but I still feel the same exacty way about the points I said. I had an in depth conversation with Leatherman's vice president Ben Rivera. I didn't realize how many components go into quality, it's not just a mirror polish finish (which makes the screwdrivers inferior to even Gerber tools) and clicks when you open tools. The fact that the Spirit has semi blunt pliers, sub par wire cutters compared to the Charge's two blades, scissors, the diamond file, Ti scales for scratch resistance, real needlenose pliers, and the versatile bit driver the Charge is a winner for me.
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I just read your review. the biggest reason i like the spirit better is because of the weight, it's significantly lighter than the charge. I don't use a lot of features of my EDC multitool, at my job i could get by with just a screw driver. I just like to have the other tools ready.

My criteria for a multitool are:
screw drivers, flat and philips
blade
good scissors
i can live without pliers but i miss them if i carry a SAK instead.

To that end i have gone through the tools i listed in my original post in order to streamline my EDC. Anything else the tool provides is just gravy so that's why weight is so important. the swiss spirit is just a better tool than my leahterman fuse(and anything else in the blast, kick, fuse line) Is it a better tool than the charge tti? maybe not but it sure is pretty and having a classy EDC is also important to me. to be honest if the juice had locking tools i probably would have never moved on to the spirit.
 
Dude, the Spirit is 7.4 ounces and the Charge is 8.2....not even an ounce lol!
 
An ounce of weight may be substantial depending on how you carry it. On a belt in a sheath, .8 of an ounce is hard to notice, but .8 of an ounce in a pocket will feel pretty substantial. It's all up to the user. Luckily we are when we have so many dang options on what we carry (though our wives and wallets might not agree with that :D )
 
oguruma said:
An ounce of weight may be substantial depending on how you carry it. On a belt in a sheath, .8 of an ounce is hard to notice, but .8 of an ounce in a pocket will feel pretty substantial. It's all up to the user. Luckily we are when we have so many dang options on what we carry (though our wives and wallets might not agree with that :D )
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i think there is something about the shape of the spirit as well. the leatherman charge in my pocket feels clunky, heck even the leatherman fuse in my pocket felt clunky. The spirit i forgot about when it was in my pocket.
 
freedoom said:
The hinge on the pliers aren't as tight as i like, i prefer my pliers to stay as open or closed as i leave them and the Spirit pliers kind of flop open and closed if i tilt the tool left and right.
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You'll come to appreciate this. There's a reason every decent pair of dedicated pliers is the same way - it let's you use them easily with one hand.
 
The problem I have with the Spirit is actually in the plier pivot. It's loose and when holding one handle in each hand and wiggling them laterally you can feel the play in the pivot...this really bugs me, LOL
 
I have purchased or been issued just about every multitool you can imagine. Back in the early 90's EVERYBODY in the Army had a Leatherman, but we grew tired of hurting our hands when using the pliers. About that thime Gerber really entered the scene and most people switched to a gerber....myself included. I really loved that Gerber (I forget what the model was) but I would go hunting and always have to carry a Swiss Army Knife so I would have a small saw for trimming branches and other tasks. I have always been a huge fan of SAKs.....they are just about perfect if you will not need a pair of pliers.

My wife bought me a Swisstool and I fell in love with it. I have owned the basic model, the X and the RS. I absolutely have to have the scissors so the X model is the one for me.

I have had the SOG with the gears that give you more power when using the pliers, but the tool actually started to rust in Afghanistan from being carried next to my body.

I have also owned two or three Gerbers, but they always seemed to be too loose, and I did not like the grind on the screwdriver blades. I even broke a screwdriver when just trying to loosen a screw on a wall locker.

The full-sized swisstool is a heavy tool, but it is designed and built better than any of the others. Period. At least for me...... Everybody has different preferences and needs, so whatever works for you is good.

The SwissTool is heavy enough that sometimes it is not practical for EDC....depending on what you are wearing, (in some situations I can't walk around in business/business casual with a multi-tool sheath on my belt) so when I don't have my Swisstool, I carry a Leatherman Juice XE6. If I am in business attire I carry a Leaterman Juice S2. If Victorinox would make a version of the Swisstool that was the size of the juice models I would carry one of those in a heartbeat.
 
While testing with Law Enforcement, I worked at REI. I had the opportunity to own or use them all. The Swiss tool was my favorite. I'd see other models come back to us for repairs but not the Swiss tool. I like the solid feel, comfort in the hand, and fit and finish.
 
I love my Spirit, it's simply a great tool. The only thing I'm not as keen on is the Phillips driver, the Leatherman's Phillips just feels more robust and digs into screws better.
 
Love my Spirit, I also had the Leatherman Charge for a while before I got my Spirit, but it has just a wonderful feel, not as full featured as the Charge, but feels much nicer

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bennwj said:
My wife bought me a Swisstool and I fell in love with it. I have owned the basic model, the X and the RS. I absolutely have to have the scissors so the X model is the one for me.
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I have carried the Leatherman Wave for about a decade and then a couple of months ago I switched to a SwissTool X - I feel that the SwissTool X is a better MT with a better selection of tools and better made. I love the fact that all tools lock and are accessible without having to open up the pliers and that the tool is more comfortable when using the pliers. I also like having a chisel, an awl, a ruler and a better pry tool. I think I'll keep my SwissTool X in its pouch on my belt for the next 10 years and then probably for another 10 years after that.
 
After a lengthy trial period with both a Spirit and full sized Swisstool, I went back to my Charge TTi.

With all due props to Swisstool F&F, the Leatherman wins with one-hand opening blades, one of which made of premium S30v steel; true needle nose pliers that open wider than the Vics'; diamond file best on any multitool; wider opening scissors; more sharply machined screwdrivers much less likely to slip; better wire cutters; highly versatile and compact bit holder system; and a pocket clip that is one of the best available on any pocket knife.

Even though the Vics offer outside opening implements, they can be challenging to pull out by their nail nicks when your hands are cold or fingernails softened from the wet and impossible to lift with gloves on, while those on the Charge can be accessed without having to take them off. My only serious criticism of the Charge is lack of an awl, fortunately finessed with the addition of a mod that fits the lanyard ring slot.

Much as I admire the design, engineering and construction of the Swisstools, for my purposes the Leathermen are better tools.
 
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