Pliers Vs. Magnifying Glass

[Simon_Templar]

This is an absurdly difficult question, one which my whole SAK life seems to revolve around: After the essential layers (=Climber toolset), what is "best to have" in a SAK that can still be considered EDC (assuming casual wear)?

For me, it's impossible to choose between these two layers, so I went for a CT 34 (and didn't vote in this thread). Until this morning, that is, when I really needed a magnifier: now I carry the CT Lite and try to convince myself it is a suitable EDC

But once this wears off, I guess I will end up EDC'ing the CT 34 again. Oh, these damn SAKs

[Aloha]

 

Just yesterday I was looking at my 84mm SAKs.  Recruit, Tinker, Cadet 2, and Wengers S10.  The merits of each was worth picking them up.  The internal debate on which to carry and why or why not 

[Alan K.]

Magnifying glass every time.  I carry a pliers based tool every day anyway along with a Sak, and the glass is one thing that you don't find in any pliers based tool.  However, I would have said both if given the option because I usually carry a Swiss Champ along with a Spirit and sometimes you need two pliers when tightening a nut and bolt for example.

[Altis]

Magnifying glass every time.  I carry a pliers based tool every day anyway along with a Sak, and the glass is one thing that you don't find in any pliers based tool.  However, I would have said both if given the option because I usually carry a Swiss Champ along with a Spirit and sometimes you need two pliers when tightening a nut and bolt for example.

These are pro strats. 

I've actually started to use the magnifying glass more and more lately (I don't own any non-SAK mags.). I do electronics work and it makes it easy to read even the tiniest component labels, check for debris, and verify solder joints. I often forget how clear and powerful the mag. glass is.

Having said that, I absolutely love the SAK pliers. The teeth are so sharp that it grasps hex bolts very easily (much more than my Leatherman Squirt). I also like how you can hold the main body with a solid grip and control the pliers with just your thumb. It would be nice if they had slightly bigger wire cutters built in.

Solution: Swiss Champ  Alternatively, I use CT34 and Explorer.

[ReamerPunch]

wow, 50-50 now.

I went with Pliers. My edc is a Deluxe Tinker. I love those little pliers. Not that I do not like the in-line phillips, but the can opener works fine and is an effective substitute most of the time. You can argue that the pliers add a lot of weight, and it is true, but they are great as super heavy duty tweezers. And they'll still turn small nuts.

[TazzieRob]

I went with mag and Phillips, but that's really only because I don't have any SAKs with the pliers. But then, as I don't have those SAKs, it is pretty clear that I have already chosen one over the other 

[Acuphys1]

Wow, close poll and great reading everyone's preferences and experiences!
I  voted mag/inline sd since I use them more than any pliers, love my Explorer I put BS Stayglow scales on, and I carry a small MT with pliers for those rare cases.

[Zanza]

As I don't mind carrying my Swisschamp, I always have these two useful layers with me 

But TBH, I use the screwdriver, but rarely the magnifier, even if it's nice.
I prefer to rely on CozyApp in my phone which can magnify way better

[ToolJoe]

Power noodle has the right idea with the Cobra Pliers! Back to op, pliers get my vote.

[ulzhan]

Don't like choosing. Why not both?

XLT to the rescue.

[dmattaponi]

I like both the pliers and the mag glass, inline Phillips (and use them all quite a bit), but if choosing one, I’ll do what some of the others have here...that is choose the mag glass inline and pair it with a Squirt (which is what a I’ve been doing for a number of months now).


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[theonew]

The Vic pliers are kind of cool but they lack the most important, for me, aspect of having pliers, which is the ability to cut wire, zip ties, etc. Yes the new ones have a micro notch at the base but any wire that that can cut could be cut with the scissors. Thus I would never carry a Vic with pliers and would go with a smaller Vic and a LM PS4 or one of my faves, the SOG Crossgrip.

[MacGyver]

I'd definitely carry something like this (if it existed):



Don't know why Vic have never put this model together...