I’ll admit it, I’m square as crud, so nothing gets my blood racing like a well made
multitool.
(Whistles) In fact I’ve been known to waste 10 minutes of a helpless soul’s time at
work when someone makes the poor choice of asking for a multitool recommendation.
HEY GUYS DONT WORRY I GOT THIS.
As no one gets up.
If you’ve spent some time on this channel, I wouldn’t- but if you have- you’d know
my preferred tool is a Leatherman Wave, after years of my Gateway Tool the PST.
Multitools are delightful if you’re a dark that needs to get hit, or often use a limited
tool set for stuff like say ooh stage lighting fixtures.
You have flatheads, Philips, pliers, knives- basically most of the stuff you need in a
small package, that you can carry around on your belt all day as a sex repellent.
Almost as effective as reading those steel specs, or talking about your Youtube channel.
I know Pillow talk.
Ive been told for a few years now that the Victorinox Swiss Tools are as good or even
better than Leathermans…
I reviewed the larger Swiss Tool a while back- it was nice, and now I have the chance to
check out the more compact Swiss Tool Spirit XC which is somewhere in size between a Leatherman
PST and Wave.
A cool subscriber donated his to the channel, presumably because he had another 2 dozen
laying around like I do.
I mean I didn’t have this one, just other ones.
I run a youtube channel ok!
We can talk about it if you’d like.
Hey come back, we’re getting into the good stuff like the dimensions!
It’s a multitool review, so this is no longer the slow part!
It’s the weight with and without the sheath- we’re closing in on the end of act 1!
Heavier than a PST, Lighter than a Wave and full size Swiss Tool.
Ohh the closed thickness, and lengths.
Feel free to double check my work I screw the dimensions up all the time.
The piers open and the grip area.
(Whistles) That do anything for ya?
Who wouldn’t like to wrap their hand around that.
Or hands.
The blade measurement section.
Lots to look at here.
As I look at all of this I realize this is overkill.
Note the several measurements for the cutting edges.
A great use of my time.
And the part where I measure the saw and the file.
This is it folks, what will act 2 bring.
That’s right in depth discussions of all the tools, and macros too!
There’s no minutia too mundane for a Youtube video art dissertation.
So you’re aware of the full size Swiss Tool, which has a few minor model variations concerning
main blades and scissors, and other things that make you want to punch me.
Same basic look on the outside, but a few of the internals are different.
Well the Swiss Tool spirit is no different in that there are also differences.
You have the XC seen in this video with a sheepsfoot blade, scissors, but no straight
edge, except me.
The spirit S, no scissors, but separate sheepsfoot and straight edge blades.
Cool!
Spirit X with the Scissors and a drop point probably the one I’d choose, and then some
other minor variations with deluxe kits, and black oxide or whatever, I’ll link the page
where I stole this information below the video.
It should be noted those deluxe kits with bit drivers and ratchets, those are separate
miniature tools, that come with this… not like switchable bits for the tool like a Leatherman
Wave.
There are no easily swappable parts on the Swisstool spirit.
The Swisstool spirit is like the full size in function basically, you can get nearly
identical tool sets on each one.
On both tools are accessed while the pliers are closed with your weak hands, and both
have all locking tool sets.
The spirit is just a lighter, chromier yeah thats a word look it up, more curved model.
Like a sex robot from the 1930s.
Buy the full size if you need those larger pliers and extra weight on your belt.
For my needs I like the Swiss tool spirit.
First up the pliers, the pliers on the full size open up a few millimeters larger than
the spirit for slightly larger bolts, but essentially the plier heads are close to the
sameish size, also the full size has beefier sides.
Both have wire cutters.
Ok spirit tools.
Now you get the sheepsfoot serrated.
You open the tool it locks, then you pull back to unlock.
Just stunning.
Part of the edge is straightedge, closest to the handle, which is opposite from most
partially serrated knife blades.
Then is the 7.3 mm wide chisel/scraper, with wire stripper functionality.
I prefer to use a knife blade for stripping wires rather than learning how to properly
awkwardly use these.
And no I don’t need anyone linking a video on how to do it properly.
Then the 6.3mm wide flat head and beer bottle opener.
All my beers are in the can form right now, so you’ll have to use your imagination.
So after you get your drink on, then go home with something to poke on because then there’s
the awl and hook.
Awls are for poking and the hook is there, so they can add another feature to the product
description.
Of course then is a saw.
Other side.
File with three sides.
The edge has texture, as do either side, both of the flat sides have a similar texture.
The you get your can opener with 4mm flat head on the tip.
Still get people who can go to hell saying I opened the can the wrong way on my other
multitool videos.
Yes when you go the other direction not only does it take just slightly longer to open,
you also summon Beezlebub.
Who starts a Youtube channel, where he reviews Hentai and headphones, and has an Instagram
featuring food trucks.
Then is the Philips head, then the 2.7 mm flat head, all kinds of screwing options,
and then scissors so you can give your friends haircuts.
The scissors are better than the Leatherman wave and Charge, You’re like haha told you
Swiss tool was better.
Oh yeah?
Well the surge has the best.
Take that Nerd!
Ok let’s talk sheaths for about 2o minutes.
Here you see the Spirit sheath, the new Wave partial leather sheath, the PST sheath, and
the new improved nylon sheath that comes with the Charge TTi Plus.
Literally one of the most boring things you’ve ever looked at.
I prefer slim Leather Sheaths, and not something bordering on a personal tool chest.
The Sprit sheath is made of leather and affixes with velcro.
I like the snap on the PST sheath better as it’s lasted just fine for about 18 years
of use.
Ok so what about comparisons what tool is the best.
Probably a SOG, because I haven’t reviewed one of those, and someone will tell me below
the SOGs are better.
The spirit is really nice.
It has slightly longer handles than a Wave, and if you’re really feeling for it- like
an asshole on Youtube might probably slightly more comfortable handles.
At the expense though of traction.
If you’re a nerd, you’re hands might be sweatier and clammier than those of a standard
person with his T levels, so take that into consideration.
By the way though, none of these pliers are spring loaded.
When squeezing the swisstool there’s more flex in the handle inward.
The Wave is still my favorite.
I like that you don’t have to trade off any of the following tools like you do on
a Swiss tool… you can’t get a serrated, saw, straight edge, and scissors on the wave.
I don’t necessarily use those that often- but it’s nice having them in survival situations.
The Leatherman uses an combination can and bottle opener, so it actually saves a tool,
and then there’s the bit system.
The Leatherman Wave is more efficient with the space and tools given.
Ok there’s no awl on the Wave.
However I often use a blade in place of the awl.
Believe it or not you can poke stuff without breaking your knife tip if you’re careful.
Leatherman also has the 25 year warranty.
You break anything on it, they fix it.
Ship it to them, and ship it back.
I have never used a Victorinox warranty, but the wording isn’t quite as unconditional,
although it is for a lifetime.
The Wave’s needle nose is thinner and longer near the tip, so in theory it would get into
tighter spaces.
The file on the Wave and Charge is also better than a victorinox, a diamond side and a metal
side.
The Charge?
The Charge is like the wave, but with thicker squarer handles.
Same tools as wave but somehow heavier… because of the titanium scales on top of the
stainless steel frame.
There is a little more traction to the handle, and you get that s30v blade and gut hook on
the serrated.
So that’s the improvement… from an ergonomic and weight standpoint the wave is better.
Save yourself $80.
Here is is next to the Full size multitool again.
Just in case you forgot.
What about the Leatherman Surge.
This is a larger multitool like the full size Swiss tool.
Too big for me to carry and not any tool advantages over the Wave.
What about the Swiss Army Knife Champion?
It’s not really comparable to a plier based multitool.
But here it is, just for the hell of it.
Let’s look at some of the tools side by side while we wrap it up.
I still prefer the Wave, while it’s true someone might say well there are technically
more tools to pull out on the spirit, well that’s true.
It’s also true Leatherman tools break.
It’s happened to me, and Leatherman has taken care of it every time no questions asked.
The Wave is more efficient in it’s tool usage.
The bit system gives each screw driver dual functionality… and that small tweaker screw
driver on the Wave, neither Swiss tool has that- and that’s one of my favorite tools
on it.
The Victorinox though has it’s advantages.
The pliers open and function much smoother.
There’s a noticeable difference, Waves and Charges close pretty awkwardly sometimes.
If you don’t close them the right way they jam up.
For what it’s worth here is how I close a Wave, to keep it from jamming.
The Swiss tool spirit is more comfortable to hold and it’s easier on the eyes.
Yes on the internet we can admire the beauty of a tool, and at least we can’t hear the
laughter, and see the judging gaze of others.
Also the locking system on the Victornix tools is cleaner and smoother.
I cant make a decision which tool works best for you.
The Swisstool is a more refined, but the Leatherman in it’s ugliness makes better use of it’s
space.
I happen to have a job where a Swiss tool would work about 80% of the time well, and
the Leatherman Wave works at about 95%- although I work about 60% of the time well.
If you like this sort of review, subscribe to the channel, give the video a thumbs up,
donate to the Patreon if you would like to support this sort of Youtube bullshit, leave
a comment, and watch some of my other multitool videos- because if you’ve watched this far,
let’s face it you don’t manage your time as well as you should.
I mean I make the videos, so I get it- its a huge waste of time- thanks for watching!