Thanks Sos.
Yes the inline Phillips is one of the best SAK tools imo
Day 8The last 3-layer with corkscrew I’m reviewing is the Traveler. This is really just a Climber with a digital top scale.
As I reviewed the Climber a few days ago, I’ll focus on the digital side of this SAK. Grab a cup of coffee, there’s a bit of reading here...
Victorinox used to have two different digital scale options in the 91mm range; one for time functions (the Voyager), and one for atmospheric measurements (the Altimeter). Presumably Victorinox took the opportunity to combine both when they were forced to do a redesign, possibly due to an EOL component such as the LCD display. Today we are left with just the Traveler in the 3-layer range.
The digital scale uses a real-time clock, powered by a single button cell, to keep time. Functions include hour:min display, with PM icon or 24-hours...but no seconds.
It also has a single alarm function with a basic ‘beep...beep...beep’ sound that may (or may not) wake you up.
In keeping with all good digital timepieces, it also has a countdown timer that can be set to count down to a beep...beep alarm, from 9hrs 59min, and including seconds below 10 minutes.
And it also has a stopwatch that counts up in seconds, without any sub-second recording (sorry, no chance to do the Casio start/stop reflex test here...)
Timing functions run independently, so you can time your hard-boiled eggs while you check how long the toaster takes to pop.
Rather than spoil the sleek lines of the SAK with protruding buttons, Victorinox cleverly engineered the button into the shield on the scale. Yes...just one button.
Pressing and releasing it steps through the various functions, with a little icon on the top row indicating the mode you’re in. Round clock face, wind-up alarm clock, ding-dong bell and old-fashioned stopwatch.
Holding the button down in any of the time modes does two things. After 1 second, the back-light comes on for a few seconds (electroluminescent). Keeping the button pressed for a further second will cause it to beep once and enter the setting mode, or starting the stopwatch if in that mode.
Now the fun starts! As there is only one button, the display shows a little up arrow, allowing you to advance the time (for the clock, alarm or timer), either by press/release (single step), or by holding in (fast and after a few second, faster). If you pause and release for 2-3 seconds, the arrow automatically changes to point down, and now you can press the button to step the values backwards. If you do nothing, you get another chance (2-3 seconds later) to increase again as the arrow switches to up, and one final time down again. If you wait for the arrow to cycle up/down, you can press and adjust the time up and down indefinitely (or until the novelty wears off). Once you’re satisfied (if not a bit confused), you simply wait the 2-3 seconds without pressing the button, and the value is set. Confusingly simple.
Starting/stopping the stopwatch is a similar press-and-wait affair. The stopwatch will run 2 seconds behind the event you are timing due to the press/hold requirement, but the 2-second stop delay (also needs press/hold) means the timing will be accurate overall...somewhat clever.
Press/hold for a few more seconds resets the stopwatch.
Using just one button for all this functionality is quite challenging, and can test your patience. But with a little muscle-memory and practice, it begins to make sense.
Independent to the time-keeping circuitry, the digital scale also includes an atmospheric pressure/temperature sensor. This is utilized to calculate the estimated altitude (selectable in m or ft), barometric trend (weather forecast) and temperature (selectable in C or F).
Pressing the single button cycles through these three functions, but mixed in-between the timing functions. For some reason, Victorinox chose to have the order Time/Altitude/Baro trend/Alarm/Timer/Stopwatch/Temperature. A little triangular Matterhorn mounting icon for altitude, the word ‘baro’ for the weather trend, and no icon for temp, as I guess the degree C or F gives it away.
Press/hold in these modes also allows setting. In the altitude mode you can set the altitude to a known reference and tell the system what algorithm to use to calculate the altitude based on the measured pressure and temperature (standard, hot or cold climate). You can reset the barometric trend graph and adjust all the units when in the temperature mode.
The circuitry is fairly basic compared to some sensor-equipped watches. You cannot tell the system if you are stationary (so that pressure changes are interpreted as weather-related), so the barometric trend graph is only accurate if your altitude is relatively constant over a few hours. This also means that the altitude value will drift at one location as pressure varies due to weather.
But the sensor is extremely accurate at measuring pressure, and when calibrated (against a GPS altitude), it gives accurate readings. Just climbing one flight or stairs will show a change, and the readings across 2 devices are never more than a couple of meters apart.
The temperature needs a good half-hour to adjust from pocket to ambient (similar issue with watch-based sensors), but is also accurate to within a couple of degrees when compared to other sensors that I have.
Overall, the seven modes are quite useful and not too gimmicky. If I had the chance to suggest improvements, I’d change the bell icon to an hourglass as it’s easy to confuse the bell (timer) with the alarm clock. I’d also add the option for a hourly beep as this hardly uses any power, but is a nice reminder as time goes by. I’d also add a light sensor so that the press/hold does not activate the backlighting and drain the battery, unless it’s dark. But these are small gripes and don’t detract from the usefulness of this device.
While I’ve been tempted to pop off the digital scale (it appears to attach the conventional way), there are no tool recesses (tweezers, etc), so I’d likely damage the scales’s plastic edge or twist the circuitry which would not be good. Fortunately, the scale is transparent, although frosted, so some of the electronics are visible for the curious onlooker.
The LCD display has a really tough plastic window overlay, clearly beefed-up to prevent damage for knocks and drops. It’s also slightly recessed, reducing scratches when the SAK slides around on its top scale. The digital scale is a couple mm thicker than a normal scale, but it’s hardly noticeable and in this Climber version, does not affect its carry-ability.
With some design genius, Victorinox managed to squeeze all four Plus tools on the non-digital scale by using slightly shorter tweezers that are stored in a slot on the opposite side to the pen and toothpick. Vic also include the pin and mini-screwdriver with the digital Climber (sorry, Traveler).
One consideration is that you can never let the Traveler get wet. The electronics and battery compartment are not sealed so it could be easily damaged by water ingress if dropped in a puddle. This also means that the standard soak/rinse cleaning method is a no-no. As a side note, water generally damages low-voltage electronics not from short-circuits, but from electrolysis corrosion. Equipment can be saved if you remove the battery immediately on water contact, and dry the circuitry fully. Something worth remembering if you accidentally dunk your Traveler.
Pros:
- Fun digital features that actually work
- Digital scale is built to be tough
- Climber tool set always a winner
Cons:
- Single button interface can be frustrating
- Not sealed against water
- Very expensive for what it is
Bottom line:
While there’s really no need to have a digital timepiece with atmospheric sensors on your SAK, it’s a fun addition that adds to the already excellent “fiddle” quality of any SAK. Makes a great gift or as an emergency egg timer.
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