New To Me - Victorinox Rambler

[Old Boy]

Hello, I need some advice and I thought I would ask our more experienced members.

Whenever I need to carry a light MT I grab the skeletool. I don’t abuse it but I will admit I have lightly done things with it that I would not recommend to anyone else. Example the other day I was earthproofing the house so I was popping zip ties with the blade, lightly overtorquing the screwdrivers, using the blade tip to light pry the zip lock tab to unlock it, etc.

With that said I wanted to get something even lighter that I can carry when I wear a suit (use a cadet for that) as well. So dual duty.

My question is, would the Rambler be up for the job like the examples I mentioned? I don’t plan to baton or anything but would love to carry something lighter that can do the work above it’s class. For the pliers I plan to carry my Leatherman Minitool.

FYI I’m not open to trying other tools, been there done that😀. My question is specific to the Rambler vs Skeletool.

Thanks in advance!!!

[smiller43147]

The Rambler is a great little tool, and it does "punch above it's weight", but I think you might be expecting a little too much from it.  I would recommend a Leatherman Squirt PS4.

[Old Boy]

Thanks for the advice. I’m going for non tool duplication as much as possible and I upgraded my P4 to the Minitool for the pliers.

But you bring a good point. Is the PS4 sturdier than the Rambler?

[smiller43147]

Yes.  The Rambler, as I'm sure you know, is a Classic with the addition of the bottle opener.  Great tool, but much smaller than a Skeletool and pretty light duty.  If you were "llightly overtorquing the screwdrivers" on a Skeletool, I suspect you would bust any 58mm SAK.
The Squirt is also much smaller than the Skeletool, but considerably more heavy duty than the Rambler.


I think you'll get a lot more opinions posting this in the General Tool Discussion.

[PitCarver]

Why pop the zip ties?
I used a Rambler to slip the catch on some zipties today.

[sir_mike]

The Rambler is a great little sak which seems to be underrated.  I have one on my house key/mini light as my quick out the door EDC.  I would not compare it to a multitool like the Skeletool as that is a different class completely but it would compliment the Skeletool carry for sure!

[Old Boy]

Why pop the zip ties?
I used a Rambler to slip the catch on some zipties today.

All I had was the Skeletool at that time, and I needed to open a package that had zip ties. But other times yes I’ll unlock the zip ties if I want to reuse.

[Old Boy]

The Rambler is a great little sak which seems to be underrated.  I have one on my house key/mini light as my quick out the door EDC.  I would not compare it to a multitool like the Skeletool as that is a different class completely but it would compliment the Skeletool carry for sure!

Thanks for the advice. Funny just used the Rambler that came today to change out a toy battery. If I had to use the Skeletool I would need the bit extender. Starting to like the little sucker.

Funny, I break down and buy a new MT once in awhile. But always end up with the Skeletool and cadet. Anything heavier I use my Gerber MP or Wave. The cadet I’m sure is sturdier than the Rambler, I used it to set up a playground for a fundraiser.

One day I’ll have to regretfully go through my collection and sell them off. One of the reasons why I got the Rambler is I heard that most ultra light hikers carry only a Classic or Rambler. I figured they must beat the heck out of it?

[sir_mike]

Thanks for the advice. Funny just used the Rambler that came today to change out a toy battery. If I had to use the Skeletool I would need the bit extender. Starting to like the little sucker.

Funny, I break down and buy a new MT once in awhile. But always end up with the Skeletool and cadet. Anything heavier I use my Gerber MP or Wave. The cadet I’m sure is sturdier than the Rambler, I used it to set up a playground for a fundraiser.

One day I’ll have to regretfully go through my collection and sell them off. One of the reasons why I got the Rambler is I heard that most ultra light hikers carry only a Classic or Rambler. I figured they must beat the heck out of it?

Yeah I really like that small philips driver!    My other EDC sak is the Explorer which I also love cause of the awesome inline philip, the mag lens which I use and the cork screw that I use to carry the mini screw driver.  That gives me alot of tools to use in my daily EDC.   I don't carry a MT unless I am going out hiking/biking or just out for an extended period somewhere where I think I may need plier's!

The Rambler is a tough tool and used ones are decent, price wise sometimes!  The second Rambler I have rides in my FAK so I have a back up small blade, scissor's etc.
 

[Old Boy]

Yeah I really like that small philips driver!    My other EDC sak is the Explorer which I also love cause of the awesome inline philip, the mag lens which I use and the cork screw that I use to carry the mini screw driver.  That gives me alot of tools to use in my daily EDC.   I don't carry a MT unless I am going out hiking/biking or just out for an extended period somewhere where I think I may need plier's!

The Rambler is a tough tool and used ones are decent, price wise sometimes!  The second Rambler I have rides in my FAK so I have a back up small blade, scissor's etc.

Don’t know how you can go through your day without pliers! Even on the days I don’t use it I get a bit insecure. I guess I have a problem. 

[Sos24]

Yeah I really like that small philips driver!    My other EDC sak is the Explorer which I also love cause of the awesome inline philip, the mag lens which I use and the cork screw that I use to carry the mini screw driver.  That gives me alot of tools to use in my daily EDC.   I don't carry a MT unless I am going out hiking/biking or just out for an extended period somewhere where I think I may need plier's!

The Rambler is a tough tool and used ones are decent, price wise sometimes!  The second Rambler I have rides in my FAK so I have a back up small blade, scissor's etc.

I’m in agreement, except I carry a Yeoman vice Explorer, which is pretty much the same toolset.

[sir_mike]

Don’t know how you can go through your day without pliers! Even on the days I don’t use it I get a bit insecure. I guess I have a problem. 

Try it for awhile, you will be fine! 

I’m in agreement, except I carry a Yeoman vice Explorer, which is pretty much the same toolset.

Yeah that is basically the same so good choice also! 

[Old Boy]

Just looked up the Yeoman and Explorer, both excellent tools! I used to have a Swiss Champ and the magnifying lens and can opener was very handy.

[Old Boy]

Yeah I really like that small philips driver!    My other EDC sak is the Explorer which I also love cause of the awesome inline philip, the mag lens which I use and the cork screw that I use to carry the mini screw driver.  That gives me alot of tools to use in my daily EDC.   I don't carry a MT unless I am going out hiking/biking or just out for an extended period somewhere where I think I may need plier's!

The Rambler is a tough tool and used ones are decent, price wise sometimes!  The second Rambler I have rides in my FAK so I have a back up small blade, scissor's etc.

So seriously what’s your secret without the pliers? I use them maybe 1 or more times a week. Along with the repair stuff sometimes I just need a longer reach for something that fell under the couch or a screw that fell into a narrow crack that won’t fit my fingers.