Forester vs Trekker

[SubMY]

I've been edcing a pioneer for 5 years or so, while in the military. I usually carry it with another one hand opening folder, but as of February I'll be done with the military 

I've been living as a civie for a month or so now while on terminal leave and my pockets are feeling a little cramped. Or maybe I'm just getting antsy and want something new. 

So I'm thinking of a getting a trekker or maybe a forester one handed opener. The big river site has a red forester, with the two component scales and the trekker with the normal nylon scales with tweezers and toothpick. The forester is 10 dollars cheaper than the trekker. Now are those 10 dollars AND the loss of the non serrated blade, worth the swap of a corkscrew to a screwdriver? (I generally do prefer a screwdriver).

But I also would prefer the two component scales vs the nylon scales. So I could just throw caution to the wind and get a soldier 08 for $30 dollars more  ...probably not worth it though, I think I've had my fill of soldiering around 

So what say you all? Should I pay the extra money for the trekker? Will I come to adore the corkscrew? Or am I missing out on something magical by not trying the serrated blade? Or am I being an idiot and I'll end up with the pioneer back in my pocket within a week?

[BPRoberts]

I awlso prefer the corkscrew, and got a similar deal on a OHO Forester. Very happy with it, it's my go to knife for basic weekend camping trips. I do have an 08 Soldier (my daughter's BYSAK), but I prefer the Forester.

In theory, I prefer the plain edge blade to the semi-serrated. In practice, I'm carrying the Soldier this month for the combo edge challenge, so we'll see how it goes.

[Wessaen]

Just get a Farmer X or Pioneer X and have the best of all worlds. 

There should be multiple color options for the scales: Silver, Black, Blue, Green, and Red are all available (or were until recently) from various US based knife retailers.

I have never been a fan of the style of serrations on the OHO Victorinox tools but I've been told that they tend to stay sharp for awhile.

And congratulations on your EAS, I also suggest getting one of those blankets printed out with a copy of your DD-214.

-Wes.

[Bunk Tuppins]

I ordered a black Forester from big river recently, should be here in a day or two.  It was only 37 bux and free shipping.  Like you I considered various Trekker, Soldier, etc.  I am not sure if these are easier to open with a OHO style, but I had a pretty hard time opening a 130mm model with the thumb opening.  So that left me thinking I prefer a regular blade. The OHO blades stick out a lot. The serrated blade is cool but harder to sharpen and I already have a Spartan with serrated blade.  I have an Adventurer, 2-layer 111mm with a phillips, and I actually prefer corkscrew, so I ended up ordering the Forester.  I will say that the scales on the Soldier are pretty cool looking though maybe not 30 bux worth of cool.

[nate j]

Lots of angles to consider.  Here are my thoughts:

- You aren’t missing anything if you don’t get the serrated blade.  I prefer the PE.
- OHO is sometimes convenient to have.
- I prefer the corkscrew to the backside Phillips.  The corkscrew has many uses besides opening wine, and the tip of the can opener does a good job on Phillips screws as long as they aren’t too deeply recessed.  If you’re going to be using the knife continuously for an extended period of time, though, you may want the Phillips simply because it lays flatter with the knife handle than the corkscrew does.
- The dual density scales are a definite upgrade over the plain nylon, especially if you might be using the knife with wet or sweaty hands.
- There’s nothing wrong with getting a new knife simply because you want it, or because you want to try something different.
- I wouldn’t let a $10 or even $30 price difference factor into the decision. If you get a knife that checks all the boxes for you, you’ll be carrying and using it long after you’ve forgotten what you paid for it.  And the corollary is, if you settle just to save a few dollars, your annoyance that the knife isn’t ideal will last longer than the money you saved would have.
- I find the 111 mm SAKs just a bit larger than I like for pocket carry without a pocket clip, so when I carried a 111 mm it was usually in a belt sheath.

[z1913]

I used to have 130mm with OHO and combo edge and I was not very impressed with any of these features so I would go Forester.
The 111mms are great in hand, very different feeling vs the 93/91. Do try!

[Mitch-O]

Check out the Trailmaster. It is the same as the Forester but with the screwdriver instead of the corkscrew. I personally don't like the serrated blades because you can't get a clean cut. I also agree with Nate, I wouldn’t let a $10 or even $30 price difference factor into the decision. At the end you will buy both. At least that's what I did.

[gene stoner]

Who said you can't have all 3.

[ElevenBlade]

The One Handed Trekker is iconic. Thats probably the main reason I got it

[HarleyXJGuy]

Thanks for your service!

Don’t have much to add unfortunately. Not a 111 fan.

Just don’t underestimate how good a Farmer X or Huntsman can be.

[Aloha]

  Thank you for your service. 

Familiarity is something.  5 years is a long time to have a SAK in service.  Money is always a limiting factor.  10, 20, 30 dollars is a lot but for a tool you'll enjoy and carry,  Nate mentions the extra money spent will be long forgotten, I agree.

Good luck in your decision and with the civilian life.         

   

 

[EMZ]

The Forester would be my first choise. I use the CS often for removing small pebbles that tend to stuck in my Vibram shoe soles, unraffeling tight knots and to scraping away rust from screw threads and alike. And the SC can be used for storing the Vic mini fire steel.

[SubMY]

Check out the trailmaster. It is the same as the Forester but with the screwdriver instead of the corkscrew. I personally don't like the serrated blades because you can't get a clean cut. I also agree with Nate, I wouldn’t let a $10 or even $30 price difference factor into the decision. At the end you will buy both. At least that's what I did.

The trailmaster and the trekker are a actually the same model just with different names for European and American markets due to copyright issues. Unfortunately I don't believe they make a non-serrated version of the trailmaster/trekker anymore.

Thanks for the responses everyone, I still haven't decided which I'll order, I'm I do a lot of construction and mechanical work, with remodeling homes and rebuilding old cars, which is why I was considering the trekker or the soldier 08 for the phillips screw driver. Although I never felt like I was lacking anything with the pioneer. But before the pioneer I carried a Wenger highlander, which is similar to a tinker and used the phillips screw driver a lot.

[Mitch-O]

You are right. It is the same knife with two different names. In our store they seem to have two trailmasters, one with plain and one with serrated blade.   


https://hudaura.com/noz-victorinox-0-8463-mw3-trailmaster

https://hudaura.com/noz-victorinox-0-8463-trailmaster-rdec

https://hudaura.com/noz-victorinox-0-8363-forester-red

[Bunk Tuppins]

Just arrived

[gene stoner]

I would stay away from the CS on a SAK that may be a hard use tool. The CS sticks out farther then The Phillips and can cause a hot spot on your hand.

[Farmer X]

Good luck with your civilian life and in your decision making, and thank you for your service! What branch, and how long were you in?

[AndyS]

Soldier 08 because I have one and I love it!! 

Seriously though, I would chose by blade type first: plain edge, plain edge OHO, or combo OHO. Then determine corkscrew or screwdriver. That should narrow it down quickly!

Good luck 

[Bunk Tuppins]

[ElevenBlade]

Soldier 08 because I have one and I love it!! 

Seriously though, I would chose by blade type first: plain edge, plain edge OHO, or combo OHO. Then determine corkscrew or screwdriver. That should narrow it down quickly!

Good luck 

Thats the thing for me, I like the plain blade with the nail nick

[SubMY]

Well I still haven't made a decision.  But here's a picture of my pioneer for reference. I've been looking at the farmer and farmer x and those look pretty tempting as well, so who knows what I'll end up with. I am surprised by how much support the forester has gotten, I didn't think it would be very popular.