Favorite SAK/multitool combos

[nate j]

Would you rather recommend super tinker over explorer?

Personally, I would take an Explorer over a Super Tinker.  You get the mag glass, corkscrew, and inline Phillips (which is more versatile and easier to use than the back-mounted Phillips).  The only negative is going from three layers up to four.

Now, there could be an argument for Deluxe Tinker over Explorer, depending on whether you consider the loss of the corkscrew, mag glass, and inline Phillips worth the trade for the small pliers (which are really excellent by the way, just not large enough for some applications).

[fullbreakfast]

Personally, I would take an Explorer over a Super Tinker.  You get the mag glass, corkscrew, and inline Phillips (which is more versatile and easier to use than the back-mounted Phillips).  The only negative is going from three layers up to four.

Now, there could be an argument for Deluxe Tinker over Explorer, depending on whether you consider the loss of the corkscrew, mag glass, and inline Phillips worth the trade for the small pliers (which are really excellent by the way, just not large enough for some applications).

It is great, and I carried one daily for a while, but I seem to have less tolerance for fat SAKs in pocket than I used to. I don't think I would have it as a pocket carry now.

[Grand_Banana]

Would you rather recommend super tinker over explorer?

Like Nate I would take the Explorer.  I prefer the Explorer for the inline Phillips and the mag lens, but that’s also because I carry a pliers based multitool for the pliers.  I agree with Nate that 4 layers is really my limit for comfortable pocket carry and you could make the argument for either the super tinker or explorer.  I don’t really notice a difference between 3 and 4 layers SAKs but both are more noticeable in the pocket than say a regular 2 layers Tinker. 

To be fair, I really don’t care for the back spring Tinker Phillips as the T handle style makes it unusable in most applications I need a driver.  But I have both only after deciding to see what the Tinker was all about. 

I think you’d be happy with the Explorer if you can find a good deal.  They’re $65 USD on the Vic website, but I got mine for less than $40 a couple years ago.  Still more than a Tinker. 

Regarding the knife laws and Uni rules, seems like a reasonable approach.  SAKs seem to be fairly universally accepted in places without very strict 0 tolerance laws as long as you’re not swinging it around.  Hell, TSA here missed my wife’s Explorer and alox Minichamp on 2 flights so it’s really up to whomever is watching.