Official 30-Day Minimalist SAK Challenge!

[AimlessWanderer]

Just one of the jobs that would have overwhelmed my minimalist EDC .... harvesting a couple of leeks. Cold Steel Roach Belly used for this one.

[tylosaurus]

I cut open a couple of popsicles on Saturday, and pulled a cactus thorn yesterday. 

[Monrogue]

Today has just been some typical knife tasks - opening a couple boxes, some mail...think that's it so far. 

[Etherealicer]

Day 6

No challenge for the Midnight Manager (letter opening, apple cutting).

[AimlessWanderer]

  Gerber Diesel I think tomorrow ... 




 

[colt 1911]

Gerber Diesel I think tomorrow ... 




 

Yeah the Spirit was missed heavily today. Several trips back and forth to the shop for pliers today.


Sak's  rule !

[colt 1911]

The minimal carry is fine for me during vacation or off work but during work it just SUCKS.


Sak's  rule !

[derekmac]

So far this challenge has me realizing that I don't really need to carry anything other than a SAK.

I do miss having one on me around home though, as I do use it more here than at work.
Sent from my Nokia Lumia 1020 using Tapatalk

[Etherealicer]

So far this challenge has me realizing that I don't really need to carry anything other than a SAK.

I do miss having one on me around home though, as I do use it more here than at work.
Sent from my Nokia Lumia 1020 using Tapatalk

Yep, me too. Although a larger blade would be nice and OHO and a screwdriver that has a larger handle for a better grip. I think as long as there are no torque screws I can pretty much do everything with the Midnight Manager. The magnetic combo tool is actually very handy if you have to fish out a screw from a computer case (something the CyberTool lacks).

[Toolslinger]

So far this challenge has me realizing that I don't really need to carry anything other than a SAK.

Same here. I'm also realizing I can get away with only a few tools on that SAK. Which makes me wonder why I've been carrying so much bulk/weight (comparatively speaking) for so long. Also, why I've spent so much time and money on MT's and SAKs...

Before this challenge (ie the day before the first thread started) I had been debating carrying only my SwissChamp for a month or more and documenting each tool that I used. The goal being to mod it down to the absolute minimum toolset (eliminating unused ones) possible. I probably would have ended up with a Climber.

[AimlessWanderer]

We're only six days in guys ... plenty of time for things to change 

Temptation is your friend ... no, wait ... your enemy ... no, wait ... your labrador .....




What was I on about? 




Oh yeah, I reckon there'll be a few more joining me by the end of the month 

[kirk13]

Report of days five and six:

Blah! Sunday seen no action what so ever,as to honest,I went nowhere and done nothing...not that I'm complaining

Today...eh,well I have sinned I couldn't resist giving my new Delemont Evo11 an outing. Well,it's still two layers!

I did have to use both my big LED Lenser to light up targets at the club tonight,and I needed the P.U.G to adjust my scope,but I couldn't have done these tasks with a SAK or the Fauxton

[AimlessWanderer]

Report of days five and six:

Blah! Sunday seen no action what so ever,as to honest,I went nowhere and done nothing...not that I'm complaining

Today...eh,well I have sinned I couldn't resist giving my new Delemont Evo11 an outing. Well,it's still two layers!

I did have to use both my big LED Lenser to light up targets at the club tonight,and I needed the P.U.G to adjust my scope,but I couldn't have done these tasks with a SAK or the Fauxton

P.U.G .... ?

[kirk13]

Report of days five and six:

Blah! Sunday seen no action what so ever,as to honest,I went nowhere and done nothing...not that I'm complaining

Today...eh,well I have sinned I couldn't resist giving my new Delemont Evo11 an outing. Well,it's still two layers!

I did have to use both my big LED Lenser to light up targets at the club tonight,and I needed the P.U.G to adjust my scope,but I couldn't have done these tasks with a SAK or the Fauxton

P.U.G .... ?

Pretty Useful Guntool

[AimlessWanderer]

Ahhh the Wave mod 

So in a single day you've sinned on SAK, full sized MT AND on the light  That's not bad going, John. 
If you're going to fail, you might as well fail in style 

[Caranthanus]

s10 challenge proceeds straight to success ... till now

May the Force be with us

[shark_za]

I think the Climber can be replaced by the Compact if you don't use the Awl and think that the Phillips on the can opener is not so great. I'm thinking that is the SAK for EDC.

This exercise is helping me narrow it down to a "Waiter Plus with scissors" aka the Compact.
I'll still use my Evo 10 (On Wednesday I see) but can see the Compact taking center stage.

[getahl]

Day six, didn't use nuthin fer nuthin.

[zoidberg]

Went to use the minimalist this morning but its gone. I really really really hope its sitting on the bench at home where I was making lunches.

Sent from the land of the long white cloud.

[colt 1911]

Went to use the minimalist this morning but its gone. I really really really hope its sitting on the bench at home where I was making lunches.

Sent from the land of the long white cloud.

I hope it's there pal !


Sak's  rule !

[Toolslinger]

Day 6 over and done. Scissors for tags, blade for mail. Pretty quiet day.

[gustophersmob]

So far this challenge has me realizing that I don't really need to carry anything other than a SAK.

Same here. I'm also realizing I can get away with only a few tools on that SAK. Which makes me wonder why I've been carrying so much bulk/weight (comparatively speaking) for so long. Also, why I've spent so much time and money on MT's and SAKs...

Before this challenge (ie the day before the first thread started) I had been debating carrying only my SwissChamp for a month or more and documenting each tool that I used. The goal being to mod it down to the absolute minimum toolset (eliminating unused ones) possible. I probably would have ended up with a Climber.

YES, the minimalism bug is biting! 

[Higgins617]

So far this challenge has me realizing that I don't really need to carry anything other than a SAK.

Same here. I'm also realizing I can get away with only a few tools on that SAK. Which makes me wonder why I've been carrying so much bulk/weight (comparatively speaking) for so long. Also, why I've spent so much time and money on MT's and SAKs...

Before this challenge (ie the day before the first thread started) I had been debating carrying only my SwissChamp for a month or more and documenting each tool that I used. The goal being to mod it down to the absolute minimum toolset (eliminating unused ones) possible. I probably would have ended up with a Climber.

YES, the minimalism bug is biting! 

Blasphemy! Speak like that will be the end of this forum! This challenge is simply a test of our might to prove we are worthy to the multigods!!!!!

[gustophersmob]

We're only six days in guys ... plenty of time for things to change 

Temptation is your friend ... no, wait ... your enemy ... no, wait ... your labrador .....




What was I on about? 




Oh yeah, I reckon there'll be a few more joining me by the end of the month 

Quiet you!     I've almost got them all converted. 

Step two, EDC only a one-piece tool 

[Monrogue]

You haven't converted me yet you fiend

In all honesty though, I could likely get by just fine with my Compact.  My Rogueneer is looking more like overkill (not that such a fact has stopped me before), with the only two things I miss being a small secondary blade and the metal file.  As much as I like to have the mag/phillips layer, I rarely use it, and the main thing I want is the magnifier.  I wish there was something besides the phillips that could go there, especially since I have the can opener for phillips driver needs.  I'm beginning to think that I would like the Compact with the metal file (I think that's the Trailguide).  Still, the Rogueneer is the max of what I want in a SAK, and still my fave.  I think the big thing helping the Compact is just how well it rides in the pocket, and how I barely notice it there in comparison with the 5 layer Rogueneer beast. 

[nate j]

Before this challenge (ie the day before the first thread started) I had been debating carrying only my SwissChamp for a month or more and documenting each tool that I used. The goal being to mod it down to the absolute minimum toolset (eliminating unused ones) possible. I probably would have ended up with a Climber.

I pretty much did just that myself, though it has been years ago now.  I bought a Swisschamp and decided to start carrying it, with the intent that I would ultimately either (1) get on with the Swisschamp well enough to make it my long-term EDC, or (2) figure out which tools I actually used and get a slimmer EDC with only those tools.  It only took me a week or two to decide that the Swisschamp was more than I wanted to carry around; and that, in addition to the basic Spartan tool set (the fact that I carried a Spartan exclusively for years might have biased this outcome), the scissors were the one additional tool I really used regularly.  So, while I didn't mod the Swisschamp down, I did end up with the Climber as probably the closest to perfect EDC for me.

I think the Climber can be replaced by the Compact if you don't use the Awl and think that the Phillips on the can opener is not so great. I'm thinking that is the SAK for EDC.

This exercise is helping me narrow it down to a "Waiter Plus with scissors" aka the Compact.
I'll still use my Evo 10 (On Wednesday I see) but can see the Compact taking center stage.

The Compact has many fans, and deservedly so.  Though I tried the Compact, I ultimately returned to the Climber, for the following reasons:

• the opener layer beats out the combo tool not only due to the can opener Phillips driver, but also because the beefier bottle opener makes a better light pry tool (and better flat screwdriver for stubborn screws) than the combo tool
• I do use the awl
• it is nice to have at least two knife blades; one for "dirty" work and one for "clean" work

But to each his own...

[SAK Guy]

Before starting the challenge, I was alternating between a Marly Trail Guide and a Wenger Traveler with a Swiss Champ in my EDC Bag. There were ALOX Pioneers/ Farmers available if a really yucky/hard use/saw task came up but was really happy with the 3 layer Traveler/Trail guide combo.

I used to EDC a 93mm with along with another knife so just carrying the Pioneer was a change, but not an unfamiliar one.

I do miss my 3+ layer knives though.....

[arizonaranchman]

Quiet day at home again... The Pioneer opened a bag of bird feed.

[SAK Guy]

I really like that pic AZR!

[zoidberg]

Went to use the minimalist this morning but its gone. I really really really hope its sitting on the bench at home where I was making lunches.

Sent from the land of the long white cloud.

I hope it's there pal !


Sak's  rule !

And it is!