Trying to decide: Swisstool vs. Swisstool Spirit

Macchina

Macchina

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Apr 7, 2006
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I am trying to find a new Multitool for EDC. I have and love my LM Wave, but want another nice MT.
Could somebody post a pic of either knife vs. a LM Wave?

Also, which do you like more for EDC? Which do you like more for hiking/woods carry?
 
I love my Victorinox Swisstool. The thing is indestructable. I carry it fishing, hiking and EDC. It's always on my belt. I bring it with me on bike rides too, gives me the peace of mind that i'm prepared for most stuff, i carry an allen wrench tool also. Get the swisstool, you won't be sorry.
 
may-4.jpg

Spirit is lower left; Black Wave is bottom center, and more Waves on the right. You recognize 'em.

The thing that will first jump out at you about the Spirit is how smoothly it opens (unlike the Wave) and its polished finish. In its leather sheath, the Spirit also rides a little smaller on the belt than the Wave's leather or nylon sheath. Check for the best prices on Amazon from time to time. Its probably the best buy among all multitools when price is factored in, IMO.

:thumbup:
 
Well, I bought the Spirit S. It seems like in most all of the reviews I read, the people who own both seem to carry the Sprint.
Thanks for the advice, pics, and links.
 
I had two Swisstools and one Spirit . Now I only have one Swisstool ( for an end of the world scenario ) , and two Spirits for EDC . The Spirit has nearly equal capability , in a smaller , smoother envelope .

Chris
 
I have the BO Spirit S for 2 years now, it's the one I reach for.
mrbvhl.jpg


at first the "ButterKnife" seems weird, wrong, where's my point?!
but the more you use it, the more you appreciate it, most of us have
dedicated blades (pointy's) and the ButterKnife comes in handy ;)
 
The "Butterknife " is a very practical working blade . Looks butt ugly , but it works !

Chris
 
I love my spirit much more than my swiss tool. Same thing in a smaller package as far as I found. Both work great though. I keep my reg swiss tool in my room for back up and keep the spirit in my edc man purse bag thing
 
Haven't used my Wave or XE6 since i bought Victorinox multis.
Bought a Swisstool X and loved it.
Then i fluked into a Swisstool Spirit mint for $25, haven't carried the Swisstool X since i got the Spirit.
The nail nicks on the Spirit are just slightly raised outside the frame making for very easy access with fingernails.
With most other multis you really have to stick your finger nail into the frame to engage the nail nick.
If you keep your fingernails short this feature is a major advantage.

For me the Wave was especially hard on the fingernails, you really had to dig deep and the interior tools were difficult to pry out.
Often i'd use my SAK can-opener blade to help pry out tools on my Wave.(yes i do clean and lube my multis, lol)
The tools are equally deep on the Swisstool X but the action is incredibly smooth so once you actually get your nail in the nick the implement will open easily.

If i was starting from scratch i'd go straight to the Spirit and just bypass the other models.
 
tholiver said:
Haven't used my Wave or XE6 since i bought Victorinox multis.
Bought a Swisstool X and loved it.
Then i fluked into a Swisstool Spirit mint for $25, haven't carried the Swisstool X since i got the Spirit.
The nail nicks on the Spirit are just slightly raised outside the frame making for very easy access with fingernails.
With most other multis you really have to stick your finger nail into the frame to engage the nail nick.
If you keep your fingernails short this feature is a major advantage.

For me the Wave was especially hard on the fingernails, you really had to dig deep and the interior tools were difficult to pry out.
Often i'd use my SAK can-opener blade to help pry out tools on my Wave.(yes i do clean and lube my multis, lol)
The tools are equally deep on the Swisstool X but the action is incredibly smooth so once you actually get your nail in the nick the implement will open easily.

If i was starting from scratch i'd go straight to the Spirit and just bypass the other models.
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While I agree that the Spirit provides easy access nail nicks, I haven't found any difficulty in getting out the implements in my Charge (same layout as Wave) despite short fingernails, and I probably clean and lube it less than optimal. As for the larger Swisstool, I didn't have a hard time getting to the nail nicks, but the implements seemed to be sprung pretty stiff. After a few hours of repeatedly pulling them out, my fingernail beds would complain something awful. That was one of several reasons I eventually gave up on it and went to the Leatherman, which I find more versatile and much easier to use. Although I kept the Spirit (because it's so nice :) ), it hasn't been used since I got the Charge.
This could be a matter of individual sample variations, but that has been my experience.
 
My Wave is the first gen version.
Maybe the newer ones are smoother? I've handled the new Waves but don't own one.
On average Leatherman's are bulkier than the Spirit.
The Spirit is one of the slenderest most ergonomic multis out there.
My SOG Paratool is slightly slimmer but not by much.
I can comfortably pocket carry my Spirit, the Wave is just too thick/boxy for me to pocket carry comfortably. (would still like to try the new Wave with the pocket clip accessory though).
Still IMO the Spirit has the easiest tool access i've seen and they all lock as well.
I'm not fixated on the locking function though, thats just a fringe benefit.
Not knocking Leathermans (i do like them, i have 6 Micras, 1 Wave , 1 XE6 and a used CS4 on the way) i just generally like Victorinox better.
If i had to go with a Leatherman right now i'd probably take the XE6 or the CS4 (whenever it gets here), lol.
 
tholiver said:
My Wave is the first gen version.
Maybe the newer ones are smoother? I've handled the new Waves but don't own one.
On average Leatherman's are bulkier than the Spirit.
The Spirit is one of the slenderest most ergonomic multis out there.
My SOG Paratool is slightly slimmer but not by much.
I can comfortably pocket carry my Spirit, the Wave is just too thick/boxy for me to pocket carry comfortably. (would still like to try the new Wave with the pocket clip accessory though).
Still IMO the Spirit has the easiest tool access i've seen and they all lock as well.
I'm not fixated on the locking function though, thats just a fringe benefit.
Not knocking Leathermans (i do like them, i have 6 Micras, 1 Wave , 1 XE6 and a used CS4 on the way) i just generally like Victorinox better.
If i had to go with a Leatherman right now i'd probably take the XE6 or the CS4 (whenever it gets here), lol.
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Anyone who doesn't like the Spirit has no soul :D. It's a great multitool from a great company. For decades, I was strictly a SAK toter ;), Victorinox only, no others need apply. Then, in 1996, I got acquainted with Leatherman pliers based multitools and ever since have been swinging from one to the other, considering both "best of breed." Each offers products based on different design and manufacturing philosophies and I see merit in both.

This year I presented my brother, a dedicated SOG kind of guy, with a Spirit. It messed up his mind pretty good (part of the master plan ;).) Now, like me, he's all conflicted about what to put in his pocket on a given day :D .

Life used to be simpler and less expensive, but I guess that's true about most things :rolleyes: :) .
 
I had a Charge once but since I got the Spirit I don't use anything else. It's as close to perfect as you can get.
 
Unless you plan to pack the tool in a man bag , the Spirit is a no brainer !

Chris
 
Somewhere awhile back I read a review from someone in the military suggesting different multi-tools, but forgot which one they suggested. Can anyone recommend a tool that will seriously cut heavy fence wire. I cut some with a leatherman, but had to work at it a little. Thanks
 
jyearly said:
Somewhere awhile back I read a review from someone in the military suggesting different multi-tools, but forgot which one they suggested. Can anyone recommend a tool that will seriously cut heavy fence wire. I cut some with a leatherman, but had to work at it a little. Thanks
Click to expand...

Almost all multi's have cast as opposed to forged jaws , I wouldn't trust any of them to put up with a steady diet of fence cutting . Try Klien 200 side cutters !

Chris
 
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