The Top 3 categories of 91 mm SAKs which seem to be nobody's favorite

[Simon_Templar]

While the answers to SirVicalot's current "Top 3 SAKs" poll are all over the place, I detected - in the 91mm class - three categories of SAKs which do not seem to get mentioned at all:

1) the three layer SAKs with a saw (Hiker, Camper)
2) the electronic scale SAKs
3) the LITE SAKs

Is this kind of the inverse answer to SirVicalot's original question?

Personally,

1) I indeed never see myself wearing a three layer SAK with a saw. They just suck, I guess;

2) while I like the electronic scale SAKs and carry them on rare occasions, I consider them a flawed proposition. I am always anxious about damaging the scales through gunk (the liners have holes!) or moisture, which isn't helped by the fact that these SAKs are all bloody expensive. In fact, their price adds another layer of anxiety when using any of those SAKs' tools. When further taking into consideration that these days everyone carries a smartphone anyway, it's hard to see why Vic is still producing them at their current price point.

Or do they? Has anyone of you ever gotten an electronic scale SAK with a clear housing LITE module? I didn't. Maybe Vic is currently just selling a huge amount of obsolete old stock;

3) I like the LITE SAKs a lot. Granted, even the current gen LED cannot match any smartphone's flashlight. But the simple and sturdy design of the LITE module doesn't make me worry too much about it's well-being even in wet conditions. And the LITE layer as a whole adds something quite unique to

the Huntsman (the Huntsman LITE thus becoming a great all-rounder for small overnight trips),

the Traveller (the Traveller LITE thus becoming the ideal all-rounder for small overnight trips, provided you are not concerned about the issues raised above under 2)), and
 
the Cybertool (the Cybertool thus becoming the perfect IT tool with illuminated bit driver and magnifying glass).

What do you guys think? Do you agree or do you opt for a different flop 3, and why?

[Echotech]

Interesting thread, good idea Simon

I really like the hiker and do take it with me sometimes when actually hiking as opposed to spending far too long on MTo discussing SAKs! But when we’re talking top 3 bit of an ask. I do really like it though, if you need a saw and the want full opener layer then the hiker or camper are sweet

Electronics on a SAK seem too fiddly and don’t appeal at all
Lite versions seem to add thickness I don’t need when I can carry a small nitecore on my keychain with more power and versatility, just something to get broken. Like having it on my Swiss Card Lite but that’s for the wallet not hard use

Miss for me would be the excelsior, having no tools at all, just blade/blades, would sooner carry a trad penknife of some sort if that’s all I needed

[nolongerlurking27]

I think that the huntsman is a cracking knife and is the one I would carry if there was ever any need to actually cut wood. been uk based it is probalbly the best SHTF option that you could carry every day as well as the one I use when I am trying to be Felix Imler

[Simon_Templar]

Interesting observations. I think the reason why Huntsman/Fieldmaster seem to be way more popular than Camper/Hiker might be that they are more perceived as a Climber/Super Tinker with an additional (and slim) saw layer, as opposed to Camper/Hiker with extra scissors. 

I agree the Excelsior seems utterly pointless. While Sentinel and Solo at least give you a decent blade, the Excelsior's is quite a compromise. If the only available tool in a SAK is flawed, why carry such SAK in the first place?

[Simon_Templar]

Electronics on a SAK seem too fiddly and don’t appeal at all
Lite versions seem to add thickness I don’t need when I can carry a small nitecore on my keychain with more power and versatility, just something to get broken. Like having it on my Swiss Card Lite but that’s for the wallet not hard use

I see your points. The thickness of the LITE layer is indeed a concern. That said, when staying in a hotel or at a friend's place, having the Huntsman LITE or the Traveller LITE on the bedside table gives you everything you could wish for under all circumstances.

[kkokkolis]

I agree. No SAK without scissors is useful to me and for the next layer I choose the metal file (I have many uses for the tip/nail cleaner), that's why my thinnest SAK to go is a Mountaineer. I EDC flashlights a huge Nitecore with RGBUV and a small Mecarmy SGN3 with red and UV. And my Smart watch (Casio and Suunto before that) and Smart Phone (Palm pilot before those) have watches, sensors and Internet. So, why having that on a SAK? I only have it on my self Queen, the XAVT.

[Echotech]

I see your points. The thickness of the LITE layer is indeed a concern. That said, when staying in a hotel or at a friend's place, having the Huntsman LITE or the Traveller LITE on the bedside table gives you everything you could wish for under all circumstances.

Makes sense and the inline philips is a worthwhile bonus Simon. I use my phone for that scenario but can see it’d be handy.
I know you mentioned it’s pretty rugged but think I’d still be afraid of breaking it which might stop me using any of the tools as freely as normal
I did see huntsman lite reasonably on Amazon recently, maybe it’s the SAK I didn’t know I needed
not another one!

Edit. Just checked the price, almost double the standard huntsman, seems a lot extra but they always sting you for the plus scales and anything slightly different. Is the light any better than a Swiss card do you know?

[Simon_Templar]

Makes sense and the inline philips is a worthwhile bonus Simon. I use my phone for that scenario but can see it’d be handy.
I know you mentioned it’s pretty rugged but think I’d still be afraid of breaking it which might stop me using any of the tools as freely as normal
I did see huntsman lite reasonably on Amazon recently, maybe it’s the SAK I didn’t know I needed
not another one!

The Huntsman LITE is reasonably priced imo. I don't have concerns using it like any other SAK - it's cheap enough to replace if ever I break it. So there's no reason not to get one 

[SirVicaLot]

Concerning the Hiker/Camper: If I want to go that small with a wood saw, I can just take the Huntsman and have the fantastic scissors with an only slightly thicker SAK.

I was always intrigued by the lite versions, but considering their heftier price compared to the non-lite versions, combined with the low light output, has always stopped me from getting one. Don’t get me wrong, in my opinion torches become waaaay too bright nowadays. Almost nobody really needs that.

But they are so cheap that everyone has them. As someone who likes to take photos at night (milky way shots for example), I can tell you that it only takes one person with such a super bright light to ruin your shot. Which is extremely frustrating, because it is not easy setting up these shots in the first place.

When it comes to electronics in the scales i have the same reservation than you, Simon. Too expensive and not being able to drop them in water to clean ‘em makes me stay away from them.

[boatman422]

I attribute the lack of popularity for the camper/hiker simply due to the existence of the (nearly) same selection of tools on the Farmer. The farmer’s awl has a lot more applications than the corkscrew / backside Phillips, and everything comes in a sturdier alox package.

[Simon_Templar]

Concerning the Hiker/Camper: If I want to go that small with a wood saw, I can just take the Huntsman and have the fantastic scissors with an only slightly thicker SAK.

I was always intrigued by the lite versions, but considering their heftier price compared to the non-lite versions, combined with the low light output, has always stopped me from getting one. Don’t get me wrong, in my opinion torches become waaaay too bright nowadays. Almost nobody really needs that.

But they are so cheap that everyone has them. As someone who likes to take photos at night (milky way shots for example), I can tell you that it only takes one person with such a super bright light to ruin your shot. Which is extremely frustrating, because it is not easy setting up these shots in the first place.

When it comes to electronics in the scales i have the same reservation than you, Simon. Too expensive and not being able to drop them in water to clean ‘em makes me stay away from them.

I guess the LITE versions might appear expensive when compared to their non-LITE siblings, but I believe it is wrong to look at them this way. They should be judged on their own merits.

Take the Huntsman for example: For about 23 Euros, you get a Climber with a saw. Fair enough. With the Huntsman LITE, for about 45 Euros you add to the useful Huntsman toolset an inline Philips (and who doesn't like those?), a decent flashlight and the Plus scales, which adds a lot of all-round capability. Size-wise, the Huntsman LITE sits in a sweet spot between DT/Explorer and Handyman/Champion/CT34. In the 91 mm world, that's quite an attractive and unique offer, for which 45 Euros seems to me like a very reasonable price.

[Helvetica Bold]

You genuinely have me considering a Scientist Lite now....that would be a cool combo. Sorry gone off topic! 

[kamakiri]

Ignore this.

But I’d like to point out that you listed three SAKs/features I actually use and like to use.

Then essentially propose the knife (Huntsman Lite) as useful, when it is the one I have (I think 4) which is pretty much unused.

I like campers. It’s a great size to do detail pruning in the garden. Smallest wood saw I own aside from the 84mm in the kids’ knives. Three layers is an advantage for this primary purpose. Bulk from larger knives makes for difficult use in tight spots for cutting unwanted branches or canes is shrubs.

I like Lite modules, but don’t really need them attached to a wood saw. Ditto with the Electronic scales.

I have a couple of Traveller Lites. Mostly used for their namesake...Travelling. One is set to Daylight Savings.

[Simon_Templar]

You genuinely have me considering a Scientist Lite now....that would be a cool combo. Sorry gone off topic! 

No need to apologize, this is the MTO way  Scientist Lite sounds interesting   

[Simon_Templar]

 Is the light any better than a Swiss card do you know?

Well, I only have one of the old red LED Swiss cards, so you can guess what the answer is

For what it's worth, I just compared the Huntsman to a Midnight Manager; the Huntsman seems brighter (not sure about the condition of the MM's batteries though) and has a larger beam.

[Frailer]

Very interesting thread.

For my part, I want nothing to do with any SAK that has a electronic component, be they scales or lights.

Aside from adding an unnecessary level of complexity, I always have a watch on my wrist and a proper flashlight in my pocket.

The only non-electronic tools against which I have a strong bias is the backside Phillips screwdriver.  In all my years of SAK carrying and collecting I have never owned a Tinker.

[Jim the Brave]

 



Goodness.

It just goes to show how different we all are, I reckon.

I can't imagine why anyone would want the corkscrew over the phillips. Unless they're a heavy drinker, which I suppose some are. To me, the Phillips is like, daily use....and yet I don't have one I carry with me yet. I reckon I need to change that...need to find a tinker from my inventory to carry around with me. Like I need a fifth SAK on my body, but I'm a big boy, so I can handle it. I wish I could swap out the CS on my Ranger to a PSD....then it would be perfect. The corkscrew is essentially useless to me, other than carrying around the microscrewdriver, which, while potentially useful, I have not legitimately used yet, especially since I don't have glasses (yet).

I'm also not a huge fan of scissors, although I am learning to appreciate them.

I used the woodsaws on both my Farmer and Ranger today....cutting off random stickers (sticks) at the sawmill. Still have only used the Farmer's awl to scrape mold off a dried board to see how deep the discoloring went.... I find the backside awl of the Ranger, Spartan, etc. to be more properly positioned. Wish Alox had backside tools and t&t. Oh well....

What I would really like to see for a backside tool would be a 1/4 inch socket driver.... AND a phillips too. But still dreamin....

 

[Altis]

It's funny you mention 3-layer SAKs. I have about 25 unique models of SAKs and realized I didn't have a single 3-layer model until I recently bought a lot of 5 3-layers (3 climbers, 1 camper, and 1 small climber) just for the 84mm scissors of the small climber. I actually plan on giving most or all away as first-SAKs for some friends who I think would find them handy. The only one I'm interested in getting is the Pioneer X LE, but that's mostly to round-out my alox variety.

For me, I either try to go compact and keep it 1-2 layers or have the extra tools of a 4+ layer.

Having said all that, I think the Super Tinker is excellent. I gave my better half the Winter Magic Super Tinker as primary SAK and it's a great balance of size and utility... easily a solid choice for a "one SAK" person and as an EDC. 

The electronics just don't feel very "Swiss Army Knife" to me, more like the kind of thing you'd find on imitations. It's cool that they make them for those who like those features. 

[SirVicaLot]

I guess the LITE versions might appear expensive when compared to their non-LITE siblings, but I believe it is wrong to look at them this way. They should be judged on their own merits.

Take the Huntsman for example: For about 23 Euros, you get a Climber with a saw. Fair enough. With the Huntsman LITE, for about 45 Euros you add to the useful Huntsman toolset an inline Philips (and who doesn't like those?), a decent flashlight and the Plus scales, which adds a lot of all-round capability. Size-wise, the Huntsman LITE sits in a sweet spot between DT/Explorer and Handyman/Champion/CT34. In the 91 mm world, that's quite an attractive and unique offer, for which 45 Euros seems to me like a very reasonable price.

That’s what I mean. For double the price all I get is a Phillips driver and a mediocre flashlight. 45 Euros is a reasonable price, but as soon as you compare it to the Huntsman it seems too steep 

[Simon_Templar]

That’s what I mean. For double the price all I get is a Phillips driver and a mediocre flashlight. 45 Euros is a reasonable price, but as soon as you compare it to the Huntsman it seems too steep 

True, it's all a matter of perspective 

Edit: the HL also has plus scales!

[Simon_Templar]

True, it's all a matter of perspective 

On that same note: what do you think about the Compact then?

[SirVicaLot]

On that same note: what do you think about the Compact then?

I like the Compact, but it is overpriced compared to similar SAKs. We tried to explain that before, but really don’t know why it is way more expensive than say a Tinker 

[Simon_Templar]

I like the Compact, but it is overpriced compared to similar SAKs. We tried to explain that before, but really don’t know why it is way more expensive than say a Tinker 

Well, if we looked at SAKs from a pure "price-performance" perspective, we would all inevitably end up with either a Spartan, a Climber, a Huntsman or a Swisschamp. No one would ever have a Ranger, Handyman, Cybertool or Lite SAK. But where would be the fun in that?

[kamakiri]

I think I’d put three different tools on the flop list.

The lighter. Only cool and rare because it was a flop.

The divot tool. On any frame size, and even the dedicated weird looking doohickey one. And I say that as a golfer since I was 10 years old.

Waiter. Maybe I’ll take some flak for this and I know there’s enough support for this knife to have a Waiter club thread. But while I am not a combo tool hater, I don’t see the point in carrying so little, for the size or relative bulk. I mean I can’t see carrying one over say a compact for the scissors or any other 2-layer for the benefit of both openers or the small blade. Might as well carry a ‘real’ corkscrew with a proper lever.

[SirVicaLot]

I think the Waiter is a terrific SAK for a combo. Either with a tool that has only a serrated blade (Spirit XC for example) or as a companion to a knifeless tool (MP600 variant for example).