Blown Away

[blade_lover]

I'll keep this short and sweet, as it's my first post. 

I'm a long-time multi tool lover.  My collection has always predominantly been Leatherman.  I've had the Surge, a couple variations of the Wave, Wingman, Juice XE6, etc.  Along with these, I've also had plenty of Swiss Army Knives, but "knives" being the keyword there.  While SAKs are considered multi tools (my favorite is the Swiss Champ), they certainly aren't considered full size.  I've enjoyed each in my collection, but have never considered them in the same league as my Leatherman tools.  Today, everything changed.  In my eyes, Leatherman has been dethroned once and for all.

On a whim, I decided to throw some money away on another multi tool (can you blame me?).  It was time to give the good people at Victorinox a chance.  I ordered the Swisstool Spirit X.  I wasn't even excited about its arrival.  Very nonchalantly, I opened the package and was immediately taken aback by the brown leather carry pouch.  "Oh," I thought, "this is fancy."  This was only the tip of the iceberg. 

As for the actual tools on the device, everything has floored me in the short time I've had it.  Nothing wobbles, everything locks and each tool is conveniently located on the outside.  The pliers are firm and lock well into place.  The knife is razor sharp out of the box, as well as being quite ergonomic in hand.  There truly isn't anything for me to complain about. 

Feel free to refute my claims or agree with my take on this awesome multi tool!

[Lynn LeFey]

The fit and finish of the Spirit X are amazing. I had one, and traded it away, only because I find the OHO blade on the Wave more functional.

On any given day, I'll waffle between thinking the Wave or Spirit X are best, and usually for completely different reasons.

You won't find many folks here who dis the Spirit. Aside from slippery-when-oily issues, and the aforementioned no-oho, it doesn't have many shortcomings. And man, the buttery smooth operation is awesome.

[kirk13]

When I got my Spirit,I thought that was the end of me buying Multitools! I've bought others since,but I certainly Havnt bought a better one! If only they were UK legal

[captain spaulding]

Welcome to the forum! Many of us share your love for the Swisstools and I am one of them. Every time someone complains about a Leatherman or is looking into a different multitool company to try I always point them in the Swisstool direction. Now you need a full size Swisstool X. 

[Yadda]

Shhhhhhhhh!   The price will never go down on the used ones with glowing accolades like these!

[colt 1911]

Welcome, great choice on the Spirit. Hope you have deep pockets cause this bunch will have you spending some serious cash


Sak's  rule !

[jerseydevil]

Welcome aboard!  The Spirit seems almost too pretty and well-built to use hard. Almost....

[Syph007]

I LOVE the spirit line of multitools!

Its the only tools I collected all versions of. 

[Zed]

I had the opotunity to get a spirit last Christmas but went for the xe6 instead,I don't regret my disision but still would love to try a spirit one day 

[blade_lover]

I am already digging this group!  You guys are awesome.  I will say this, the one flaw of the Spirit X that I didn't initially notice was the lack of a thread hole on the awl.  Definitely not a deal breaker, but whew...I'm almost glad it isn't perfect!

[Kampfer]

I had one, it was ok, after I put it down on a flat table top, ..  ... Returned it the next morning.

Welcome to MTO

[Aloha]

   http://forum.multitool.org/index.php/topic,47468.0.html

While I don't scrutinize the spirit to this extent it hasn't kicked my Wave off my belt either.  I do like the spirit and have most of the versions.  I also like, really like the Swisstool and also have most the versions but in that category I'll take my Surge over it. 

There is something pretty terrific about how they both feel like more than a tool.  It's apparent upon first handling them, beautifully engineered and the finish is outstanding.  I can also attest to Victorinox warranty department so use the tool to its fullest and enjoy. 

   

[Kampfer]

While many members here worship the swiss tools, I do not. 
Leatherman is still the best in my book.
One hand open blades, replaceable cutter, pocket clip,  exchangeable bits, those are features I really like and swisstool don't have.

[mrog]

Welcome to the club playa. The Spirit X is my favorite medium sized multi tool.

My five favorite things about the Spirit X are
1. Compact. No wasted space. Simple and strong. Rides nice in the pocket.
2. Butter smooth tool opening, unlocking, and closing. Even the pliers click in and out with precision.
3. All outside tools. No opening of the plier handles to find your tool. Less fumbling while the person youre helping waits lol. All outside tools is underrated and genius.
4. Awl, chisel, and pry bar. Love all 3 tools very much. Saves blade from poking, scraping, and prying too.
5. Don't gotta deal with rust

[captain spaulding]

Welcome to the club playa. The Spirit X is my favorite medium sized multi tool.

My five favorite things about the Spirit X are
1. Compact. No wasted space. Simple and strong. Rides nice in the pocket.
2. Butter smooth tool opening, unlocking, and closing. Even the pliers click in and out with precision.
3. All outside tools. No opening of the plier handles to find your tool. Less fumbling while the person youre helping waits lol. All outside tools is underrated and genius.
4. Awl, chisel, and pry bar. Love all 3 tools very much. Saves blade from poking, scraping, and prying too.
5. Don't gotta deal with rust

I agree with all listed. Just to add something. The outside opening tools make it so when using the pliers their is absolutely no sharp edges and makes the grip excellent. The very little worry of rust is a huge up side for me.

[HarleyXJGuy]

Enablers each and every one of you.

I have been blissfully tooling along here ignorant of the Swisstools. Well more like trying to ignore them.

All my work is now ruined.

[colt 1911]

Enablers each and every one of you.

I have been blissfully tooling along here ignorant of the Swisstools. Well more like trying to ignore them.

All my work is now ruined.

Yeah, your toast ! Just give in .


Sak's  rule !

[Monrogue]

Enablers each and every one of you.

I have been blissfully tooling along here ignorant of the Swisstools. Well more like trying to ignore them.

All my work is now ruined.

Lol-it sounds like this place has been a bad influence on you with all the Personal Shopping Assistants (enablers ) here  

I have the regular Spirit (butterblade version) and really like it.  It has that versatility of being able to extend the handles for more reach, etc., which is something I enjoy about that design, with the bonus of all tools being on the outside. 

Despite this, it is one of the MTs I haven't seemed to really carry as much compared to my other main MTs.  I honestly don't know why this is   There's nothing wrong with it, and it has such variety of implements and functions that I would think it should be right up there as a main carry.  I'll have to give my Spirit some much needed attention once I have access to it again (currently in storage).

[Kampfer]

All my work is now ruined.

Since the day you signed up for MTO...

[JAfromMn]

Enablers each and every one of you.

I have been blissfully tooling along here ignorant of the Swisstools. Well more like trying to ignore them.

All my work is now ruined.

You got to try a spirit Robert.

It's the only multitool I own 2 of.

[Top-Gear-24]

The Spirit is a sweet tool ...



So is the Swisstool ...



The biggest issue I have with them is that they are just too pretty to use.

The first one I got was the Road Tour Edition, I thought it was so nice that I only carried it once (without really using it  ).

So I bought myself a "regular" Spirit with the butterblade as a user.  Only problem with that one was ... that it was too pretty  . 

So I got myself another "regular" Spirit and I've been carrying that one every day to work since then.  And guess what ?  They can take a true beating, it's hard to see which one is my user and which ones aren't. 

So I went through the same phases wen I got my first Swisstool (and my second ... and my third  ).

[Monrogue]

Yeah, TG-24 has like 27 Spirits....minus 1 once he sends me that Road Tour edition

[jerseydevil]

The biggest issue I have with them is that they are just almost, but not quite, too pretty to use.

Fixed that for you.    I have two Victorinox multitools.  The first is my Spirit RT, and it's a straight up user.  The second is a not too common one, an Aussie issue Swisstool.  That hasn't stopped it from opening paint cans, loosening and tightening screws, all the other things I use a multitool for at work.    The only thing is that the Aussie hasn't been used as a paint can closer - at least, not yet........

[Cupboard]

Spirits are fine and lovely until you need to cut any wire. And that's why mine is languishing in a drawer and never gets carried.

It's pretty, the pliers are fine (though for me the Leathermans work better), the handles are comfortable to use, the tools are fine (Leatherman are better in some respects, Vic in others) but the wire cutters are IMO dire. Apart from MIG wire, I haven't found anything they cut well. And MIG wire isn't exactly difficult to cut.

[Top-Gear-24]

Yeah, TG-24 has like 27 Spirits....minus 1 once he sends me that Road Tour edition

Keep trying buddy, keep trying ... 

[enki_ck]

Welcome to the forum, and yes, the Spirit is a sweet multi.

[Monrogue]

Yeah, TG-24 has like 27 Spirits....minus 1 once he sends me that Road Tour edition

Keep trying buddy, keep trying ... 

Oh I will my friend

[HarleyXJGuy]

Enablers each and every one of you.

I have been blissfully tooling along here ignorant of the Swisstools. Well more like trying to ignore them.

All my work is now ruined.

You got to try a spirit Robert.

It's the only multitool I own 2 of.

What the smurf Joel now you are on the make Robert buy more smurf bandwagon?

I am already this close to buying my third SAK and the first one ain't even got here yet. 

[hiraethus]

When I got my Spirit,I thought that was the end of me buying Multitools! I've bought others since,but I certainly Havnt bought a better one! If only they were UK legal

+1

I wish it had a pocket clip too - would be the perfect tool then.  I can handle a SAK and torch bumping around in my pocket but a multi is too much and having some way of holding it in place would be great.

[Huntsman]

Yep - The Vic pliers based Multi tools are truly amazing - 'Blown away' is exactly the word for it!!

Read my brief post in this thread when I first set eyes on a Swisstool.

http://forum.multitool.org/index.php/topic,55465.0.html