Powerlock and Swisstool comparison

[Dunc]

Def was very kind and sent me a Sog Powerlock to try out and i thought i would try it along side one of my Swisstools , an X model due to them both having files and scissors.I wont spend time going over the Swisstool in too much detail as I have done this many times before and my review can be found here http://www.sosakonline.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=129&Itemid=35  and here http://www.britishblades.com/forums/showthread.php?t=25311
The Sog is a large multitool and without looking at the exact figures I would say weighs about the same as the Swisstool .The first thing I noticed was the floppy wings on the handles , whats that all about ? I can only imagine they are there to make the handles more comfortable when using the pliers, They dont ! and also made using the tape measure nearly impossible. I understand they can be removed and if this was my tool and a user then they would be history by now .They make the tool look cheap and they also look like an afterthought.... Big time . This isnt going too well is it ? , better move on to the pliers then . These have got to be the most smooth opening pliers I have ever used on a multitool.The compound leaverage works a treat and the plier jaws have zero play in them and the wire cutters are also top notch.But all this comes at a price , those sharp pointy bits on the gears for the pliers can only really make this tool a sheath carry option. There is no way I would carry this in my pocket like I often do with the Swisstool ( although you know its there ) . I wouldnt even want it in my coat/jacket pocket either unless it was in its sheath ( which btw is very well made although the sides are a little low and exposed ) .One thing I did wonder was if the tool was dropped and the gears got slightly bent would this effect the operation of the pliers ?

Knife blade .
                  This is a combo plain/serrated drop point blade with a chisel grind . Some people dont like combo blades but I dont mind them as long as they can be easily sharpened .One downside I noticed was after opening the blade and closing the handle I had also deployed the caplifter/screwdriver which I can see as being a bit of a problem if you need the blade in a hurry .Also like on many other multitools there is the other handle below the cutting edge which makes cutting some things difficult ( see picture ) .
Caplifter .
             This got a good workout and proved very good .

Bit adaptor
                To be honest I didnt use this because I didnt have any bits that fitted but if I owned the tool then I would get some and I imagine it would be used quite alot .

Scissors
             These worked well and I wouldnt like to say which was best the Sogs or the Vics so I called on the help of my two daughters to try them out .They are always using small scissors for making things etc. One prefered the Sog the other the Swisstools , so I guess they are as good as each other , its just I'm more used to Victorinox scissors .
Saw   
            This worked well and was equal to the Swisstools

Awl
           At first I thought this was a small chisel and the I realised its a square awl , and a very good one it is too .

File
         This was very good and I liked it better then the Swisstools , although I do like the Swisstools metal saw but didnt get to try that on the Sog .

Can openers
                    The Sogs can opener sucked but not as hard as a Leathermans .One thing I will say for Victorinox is they know how to get into food and drink and no other multitool maker comes close .

Screwdivers
                   The Sogs screwdrivers I found to be very good and sharper and less polished then Vic ones . It could do with a very large one that can be used as a pry bar like the Swisstool as I find this very usefull .
 
Conclusion
           
                  The Sog is a serious tool that means business , its very well made and I think it would stand up to alot but and this is a big but , the gears hurt your hands , they will hurt your leg if pocket carried , not to mention putting a hole in your pocket .The clumping is a problem because of the caplifter comes out with the blade and goes unnoticed if in a hurry.Last but by no means least is the stupid wings that are attached to the handles , they really annoyed me , on opening the handles they covered up the tool selection so you cant see what you want quickly and all the other bad things I said about them earlier . I liked the idea of being able to change the bits about and purchase other tools , this is a great idea and one day I am going to look further into the idea of replacing the locking knife blade and have a UK legal carry one .The pliers are really good and would rate them even better then the LM charge .

   I really wanted to like the SOG but if I had one it would always get left at home in a drawer while the Swisstool got EDCed .I would like one to have as part of my small collection and would use it but more so for the pliers .

Now for the pics













Painfull


Caplifter deployed with knife


Swisstools tape measure is far superior to the Sogs


Swisstools blade is flush with bottom of tool for more precise cutting


So there you have it .

Dunc

[Ging]

Nice review Dunc!!  Now the million pound question, will it replace your Swiss tools?? 

[J-sews]

(I think I know the answer to that question.) 


Nice comparison Dunc!

[parnass]

Good comparison article.  I have a PowerLock S60 and SwissTool X, too, and concur with most of your observations. 

Removing the SOG's handle covers makes the PowerLock lighter than the SwissTool and my hands are still comfortable.

The PowerLock's thick leather belt case is the best of the bunch, reminiscent of the early Leatherman leather cases.  The PowerLock's sharp gear teeth would probably puncture a thinner case.

[Dunc]

Nice review Dunc!!  Now the million pound question, will it replace your Swiss tools?? 

No chance 

Dunc

[Ging]

No chance 

Didnt think so...

[17Chap]

Great Review!  Tool by tool right down the line.

I have SOGs (two of them) my son has a Swisstool.  I like the sturdiness of the SOG, but the Vic seems like it is put together better.  I'd liken it to the nice sound the door on a Mercedes makes when it closes, it sounds solid like it wants to close and form a union with the car.  American cars are plenty tough but the sound of the door closing makes me think I'm forcing it to do somehting it doesn't want to do.

Wow, I'm poetic.  Now I need to go lie down.

Chap

[supratentorial]

Nice comparison and photos!

The SwissTool X and the PowerLock are two of my favorite multi-tools.

Why didn't you feel that the covers were comfortable?  They kind of remind me of ammo can covers for some reason--don't ask me why!  The covers can be easily removed and replaced without altering the tool.  You could also lift the covers (without removing them) and then test the pliers.  If you try the pliers without the covers I think you may develop a greater appreciation for the covers.   I find the covers have a few rough edges (taking a file to them might help) but I think they are more comfortable than not having them at all.  ...for an aftermarket fix, it might be possible to coat the covers with rubber or some other material to make them more comfortable.

Eventhough it lacks covers, the smaller SOG Pocket Power Plier isn't as uncomfortable to use as the Power Plier or the PowerLock (without covers) in my opinion.  It might be because the Pocket Power Plier is much smaller so there's a smaller gap between the edges.

I also am not a big fan of the exposed compound leverage gears.  The Paladin PowerPlay Multi-Tools (a collaborative effort between SOG and Paladin Tools) are very similar to the SOG multi-tools and they have covers over the gears.  In a month or so some new multi-tools will be available from SOG.  The new version of the PowerLock and the new Power Assist will have covers over the gears.

I have a SwissTool but have only tried to pocket carry it once--felt like my pants were being pulled down!  I'll sometimes carry it in a coat pocket but even then it feels like I'm carry a brick.  It's much more comfortable to carry in a sheath on my belt.   When you pocket carry the SwissTool, do you wear suspenders! 

Unlike the Pocket Power Plier which I don't even notice in a pants pocket, the SOG PowerLock gears were too uncomfortable for pocket carry.  The Paladin PowerPlay PT-525 has covers over the gears and is much more comfortable for pocket carry...I imagine the new version of the PowerLock will be more comfortable as well.  ...But I find them too heavy for pocket carry anyway.  I don't mind carrying it in a sheath on my belt. 

For everyday pocket carry, I typically choose a customized SOG Pocket Power Plier with a double bevel plain edge main blade and Paladin PT-510 handles with the gear covers-- I love it!  It's not as heavy duty as the SwissTool or the Powerlock but it works great for my purposes.  And if I'm doing anything major that requires a heavy duty tool, I typically go for my tool box anyway (even if I'm carrying the SwissTool or PowerLock).  Here's an old photo of the modified SOG before I swapped out the blade...

[Grant Lamontagne]

Great comparison Dunc!

Just to add a little bit of info, according to the Comparative Multitool Weight Chart. the SwissTool (standard, since I don't have an X) is actually about ten grams heavier than the SOG without the sheaths, but when you add in the sheaths the SOG becomes about 5 grams heavier.  As you said, the SOG sheath is heavy duty and it shows!

Comparatibe Multitool Weight Chart:
http://multitool.org/content/view/34/71/

I have to say I am a little surprised by the scissors observations.  While I find that the SOG scissors seems a little heavier duty than the Vic ones, I also find them more awkward to use as the plier handle gets in the way a bit, while most other tools have them facing "out."  Just a little thing mind you, but one I notice when using it.

Def

[Dunc]

I have to say I am a little surprised by the scissors observations.  While I find that the SOG scissors seems a little heavier duty than the Vic ones, I also find them more awkward to use as the plier handle gets in the way a bit, while most other tools have them facing "out."  Just a little thing mind you, but one I notice when using it.

Def

Like I said I prefer the Vic scissors but got my daughters to test them for an unbiased point of view . I see what you meen about the handle in the way and that was my biggest bug about the knife blade . Its things like this and the attention to detail that makes for a good multitool . Thanks for the input Def I hope we can all have a good debate over this .

Heres a pic to show you what Def ment

Dunc

[Dunc]

Thanks for all the replies so far guys and I'm glad you enjoyed it  I really did try to make it unbiased and didnt start off hoping the Swisstool would come out better or anything , to be honest it would be great for me if I found a multi tool that outperformed my needs which the Swisstool meets at the moment .


Dunc

[Grant Lamontagne]

Thanks for the input Def I hope we can all have a good debate over this .

I dunno what you and I are gonna debate except maybe which one of us likes the SwissTool more!  Of course I think you have the edge on me there too- I have been known to occasionally carry other tools! 

I love the scissors on the SOG- they are very sturdy and well designed, which I think is very important in a tool.  Compared to them, the SwissTools feel a little flimsy, especially given the ogre-like size of teh SwissTool.  Unfortunately I find that the SOG's are just too awkward to use, and to me that's a serious fault.  It doesn't matter how well designed a tool is if you can't use it.

Def

[Grant Lamontagne]

Just for the sake of reference, here are a couple of similar comparisons:

http://forum.multitool.org/index.php/topic,89.0.html

http://forum.multitool.org/index.php/topic,75.0.html

Def