Should I get Farmer or Hiker ? help me choose

[Gee.B]

So I know choosing a SAK really depends on your personal use but to be honest I can't really decide between the two.
Oh and I can't afford a mod SAK right now so...that's not really an option

I really like the Alox Farmer and the fact that the blade is a bit thicker than on traditional SAK (not to sure about the other tools though.) Also I prefer the awl of the Alox models  However, the cross-head screwdriver on the Hiker seems to be a pretty convenient tool from times to time.

The small blade, twizzers and toothpick are cool but I feel a bit neutral about them.

Sure the price of the Farmer is about twice the price of the Hiker. But say someone want to offer you a SAK, which one would you instantly ask for between those two models ?

Edit : I should add that this should be going in my pocket and i'm looking for a model that's not too big

[Thunderpants]

If you like saws, which you seem to, you'll probably be happier with the bigger one on the Farmer.

Personally I would skip the Hiker altogether. Why not contemplate the Fieldmaster, which gives you your Philips, saw, and - most importantly - scissors!

But from the two SAKs you mention I suspect 99% of the people here will urge you to go for the Farmer.

[firiki]

Voted. I'll just say I think a Pioneer + Huntsman (or Fieldmaster if you must have a T-shaped Phillips) is a fantastic combo.

[Gee.B]

Unfortunately, the FieldMaster is not sold in France (anymore ?). Listed as unavailable on Amazon.fr...

[pfrsantos]

Hey, this is MTo!

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Just get both and be done with it!

 

[magentus]

You have been here long enough to know that it's never as easy as ' should I buy this or that'! You must buy it all!

Seriously though I would recommend the Farmer out of the two choices you've offered. The thicker blade and other tools plus the saw make it a very useful thing to carry round and you don't have to worry about the scales getting damaged.

If you decide to go for the Hiker though - that's a good choice too.

Bon Chance mon ami!

[SteveC]

Hard to beat a Farmer   

[glenfiddich1983]

Unfortunately, the FieldMaster is not sold in France (anymore ?). Listed as unavailable on Amazon.fr...

www.victorinoxstore.nl sells the Fieldmaster and ships to France, and the Fieldmaster is probably also available on eBay.

[firiki]

Well, the Farmer may not be my personal favourite (one day I'll burn as a heretic, I know) but I agree with the others, it is one pretty reliable SAK that I'd almost certainly pick over a Hiker.

[Gee.B]

I found a store in Switzerland that would sell the Fieldmaster, but I actually don't see the point.
I never have to use scissors ; the small blade would be enough. Nor do i see a use for a hook

Removing those tools gets me back to the Hiker vs Farmer.

Are the can opener and bottle opener a bit thicker on the Farmer as well ?
i'm wondering because I sometimes use them as levers

[Thunderpants]

Well, the Farmer may not be my personal favourite (one day I'll burn as a heretic, I know)

I'm not a huge fan either. I have one but never use it!

[glenfiddich1983]

I found a store in Switzerland that would sell the Fieldmaster, but I actually don't see the point.
I never have to use scissors ; the small blade would be enough. Nor do i see a use for a hook

Removing those tools gets me back to the Hiker vs Farmer.

Are the can opener and bottle opener a bit thicker on the Farmer as well ?
i'm wondering because I sometimes use them as levers

The main question is of course the scissors. If the scissors are worth having an extra layer (which I personally think they do) the hook, how useless it may seem, is simply a free extra (it doesn't take an extra layer) 

Oh.. if only a Compact with added woodsaw existed 
(of Trail Guide with woodsaw instead of metal saw)

[Thunderpants]

Are the can opener and bottle opener a bit thicker on the Farmer as well ?
i'm wondering because I sometimes use them as levers

The can opener is the same (also on 111mm Vics, by the way) but the flat head/bottle opener is slightly bigger.

[firiki]

Both openers are thicker on the Farmer and the so are the rivets.

Regarding Huntsman/Fieldmaster; you never know when you might need scissors (or the hook ) and I just like how it sits in my hand. The saw is much more comfortable to use, too. Like I said earlier, for me a Pioneer (or Rancher) + Huntsman is a great combo.

[firiki]

Well, the Farmer may not be my personal favourite (one day I'll burn as a heretic, I know)

I'm not a huge fan either. I have one but never use it!

Brave soul, not afraid to admit it  

[magentus]

I agree witth firiki - the celidor models seem more comfortable in the hand - the lanyard point on the alox models seems extremely uncomfortable. So much so that I modded my Farmer with a hollow bail. Now it is sweet as a nut.

[Thunderpants]

So far the score is looking like Brazil vs Germany in the World Cup.

[Dean51]

I voted farmer, you are really only giving up the phillips driver. So it comes down to, do you need the phillips driver.

[Gee.B]

I know. It's just that most of the screws nowadays are cross-head so I believe this can be useful.

But I would not necessarily use it too often.

I think i might actually be sold on the Farmer

I voted farmer, you are really only giving up the phillips driver. So it comes down to, do you need the phillips driver.

[gene stoner]

I don't have a Hiker but here's a Camper compared to a Farmer. The blade and  cap lifter are bigger on the farmer but the saw on the 91mm is the same as the 93mm. Everything on the Farmer is built more robust then The 91mm line. If you want more comparison shots let me know and I'll help you out.

[SteveC]

You should be able to get by with the Farmers can opener/ combo for most phillips. I find the back tool Phillips to be fairly limited anyway.

[Thunderpants]

You should be able to get by with the Farmers can opener/ combo for most phillips. I find the back tool Phillips to be fairly limited anyway.

Hm, I hear this a lot, but in reality? On most electrical appliances philips head screws are deeply recessed in plastic; you haven't a hope of reaching them with anything other than a straight and narrow screwdriver. And even if they are accessible, it is generally advisable to open and close screws with tools of the right shape. The much maligned Tinker-type philips has a longer reach than the dedicated in-line variant - and it doesn't widen towards the base, which can be a nuisance So in my view the back-side philips is a darned useful component to any SAK, and not to be dismissed as the in-line's useless little brother.

I wish they made a Pioneer or a Farmer with a philips instead of an awl. I need a philips pretty much every day. An awl I have used, I dunno, twice in my entire life...
That's Awl Folks!

[Aloha]

You should be able to get by with the Farmers can opener/ combo for most phillips. I find the back tool Phillips to be fairly limited anyway.

Hm, I hear this a lot, but in reality? On most electrical appliances philips head screws are deeply recessed in plastic; you haven't a hope of reaching them with anything other than a straight and narrow screwdriver. And even if they are accessible, it is generally advisable to open and close screws with tools of the right shape. The much maligned Tinker-type philips has a longer reach than the dedicated in-line variant - and it doesn't widen towards the base, which can be a nuisance So in my view the back-side philips is a darned useful component to any SAK, and not to be dismissed as the in-line's useless little brother.

I wish they made a Pioneer or a Farmer with a philips instead of an awl. I need a philips pretty much every day. An awl I have used, I dunno, twice in my entire life...
That's Awl Folks!

Thats one heck of a reponse.  Terrific, just terrific.  I am one who looks at the backside phillips as a "get by" tool.  I will now look at it in a much different light.  Thanks.

[Steinar]

I voted Hiker simply because I find it more comfortable to use. The stronger construction of 93 mm is more of a theoretical advantage to me. Sorry for screwing up the football reference in the votes.   

[Thunderpants]

Sorry for screwing up the football reference in the votes.   

Haha! Great to see Brazil the Hiker is still in the race....

[getahl]

I vote for the Hiker, because it's lighter. To me, the primary differences between the two knives are the scales and position of the awl.  The backside Phillips is worthless toe because the rest of the knife hits things when trying to us it. I next use an awl, except as a firesteel
scraper with my BBQ, because the ignitor is out. I like the alox scales, but they do add significant amount of weight. I also like the small blade, but that's just me. The keyring attach point also doesn't dig into your hand on the cellidor models versus the 93mm alox.

Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk

[Gee.B]

So in the end I just ordered a Hiker and yes, despite my previous saying,  the price finally won me over. It was listed at 21 euros on Amazon.fr but for some reasons there was a promo code (-30%) and I got it at 15 euros. That's pretty unbeatable

The Farmer has a -20% reduction, that makes it at 30 euros.
I don't want to publish ads or anything but now may be a good time to check out your local Amazon to view the back to school promotional offers if you want to buy another SAK

Anyways, I have the feeling that i should get the two anyway (yeh...hanging out here had me become wise, you see ?)  to at least try them and i got the 30-day return on Amazon so...

Thanks for helping me choose. Now I need to see if I really need that  Alox thicker blade which, again, is quite tempting. (Though my wisdom is telling me that i probably don't "NEED" it to buy it at some point )

[glenfiddich1983]

So in the end I just ordered a Hiker and yes, despite my previous saying,  the price finally won me over. It was listed at 21 euros on Amazon.fr but for some reasons there was a promo code (-30%) and I got it at 15 euros. That's pretty inbeatable

The Farmer has a -20% reduction, that makes it at 30 euros.
I don't want to publish ads or anything but now may be a good time to check out your local Amazon to view the back to school promotional offers if you want to buy another SAK

Anyways, I have the feeling that i should get the two anyway (yeh...hanging out here had me become wise, you see ?)  to at least try them and i got the 30-day return on Amazon so...

Thanks for helping me choose. Now I need to see if I really need that  Alox thicker blade which, again, is quite tempting. (Though my wisdom is telling me that i probably don't it to buy it at some point )

  

[Thunderpants]

there was a promo code (-30%)

Fantastique!

[magentus]

Nice price! Remember to post pics once it arrives.