Spirit owners club

[thebullfrog]

Hey, welcome to the club mate.

That's an interesting idea, but its thinness is one of the things that appeal to me in the Spirit. I mean, if it had an extra layer it would roughly be as wide and heavy as my TTi which is imo hands-down the best MT you can get at its size/weight.

I guess you got just the tool and not the "plus" package. You could always get the corkscrew+mini screwdriver from Tim. I'm always carrying them in my wallet, as they take up virtually no space.

Just to set things straight, the Surge is not a good comparison for the Spirit, as it belongs to a completely different size/weight league. However, I do agree with you on it being "stronger" than the Spirit. That's why I EDC my Spirit when in urban environments, but go for my TTi when going orienteering or camping etc. Anyway, the main strifes people have with the Spirit do not regard its build quality or tool density, but the efficiency of some of its implements. For example, the scissors don't open up very wide, the wire cutter is not that good with soft wire, the pliers head is neither blunt- nor needle-nose, the blade(s) are not OH and the steel used is not something to write home about, the phillips screwdriver doesn't have enough grip (supposedly, although I can attest to the opposite), there is no ruler, the handles can get slippery being that polished, and the lanyard hole is seriously weird. Spirithuggers , like myself, just don't bump into these problems; I like the scissors, as I don't cut that thick materials to require a wider opening, I'm mostly into thicker wire and I don't mind taking softer wire through the cutters 2-3 times, I love the "combo" plier head, OH blades would certainly raise some sheeple eyebrows, I don't do lanyards on my MTs, I cope with the lack of a ruler with throwing an IKEA paper ruler in my wallet, and the BO coating on my current EDC Spirit seems to make it as grippy as I'd like it to be. So, is it the perfect tool? Certainly not. Is it the best for my day-to-day needs and my work/house/urban environment? Certainly yes.

I agree, the thinness is one of it's biggest appeals to me, but one layer would still keep it fairly thin and really round out it's features. To be fair I don't really see it as a flaw, just a design compromise.

I didn't get the plus package specifically because I didn't want to carry extra parts around. I'm still deciding what to do with the eyeglass driver issue. I've thought about finding the thinnest SAK available with the driver, or maybe even just grinding the file/driver in my swisscard down to eyeglass size.

I realize it doesn't compare evenly with the Surge. That's the realm of the Swisstool. The reason I make the comparison is because the Surge has been my EDC for going on almost 3 years. It's not comparing the tools directly so much as comparing the "EDC-ability" of the two tools, if that makes sense. The fact that the two can be compared pretty evenly speaks volumes for the design of the much smaller yet still feature rich and solidly built Spirit.

I got the "S" so I don't have the half-assed scissors. I already have half-assed scissors in my Swisscard for the tiny things. I'd rather have a second good blade to increase it's versatility than add in redundancy with two sets of nearly useless scissors.

As far as soft wire goes, it can't be worse than my Surge. That thing could never cut wire correctly. Or really at all for that matter. I kept my Powerlock with a broken pliers head around just for cutting wire if I didn't wanna head to the toolbox. If the Spirit can actually get through wire correctly at all then it's a step up.

I haven't tried out the driver yet (will do so today) but examining it, I don't think I'll have too much of a problem there.

I agree, I feel the pliers head is perfectly fine. I kinda expected to be disappointed in it after reading other people's comments and looking at pics, but seeing it in person I think it's pointy enough for most things, and will have plenty of strength at the tip. It's a good compromise for the size and versatility of the tool IMO.
 
I couldn't care less about the lanyard hole. In my use I've never needed a lanyard. I'm not using it on boats or ladders all the time so a lanyard would just get in the way.

I never used the leatherman ruler anyway, so I couldn't care less that it doesn't have one.

As far as I can tell it's the same steel they used in the SAK for the last 125+ years. It may not be the latest and greatest, but its served bazillions of people the world over faithfully for over a century so far, I see no reason it can't continue to do so in a differently shaped tool 

Then there's the finish...yeah holding onto it may be a problem, but whatever. It's just so darned pretty that I don't care  . It's size means I can pretty easily get a good hold on it, and I'm really frakin sick of de-rustifying my Surge all the time.

OH blades? Honestly the LACK of one handed opening is one of the things that pushed me towards the spirit. MUCH more sheeple friendly, and working in retail not scaring away the skittish customers every time I open something is an important feature. The blades being on the outside means I can access them quickly enough for 99.999% of the situations where I need a blade. That other .0001% of the time, I'm probably screwed anyway.

[DaveK]

[snigger]Spirithuggers[/snigger]

[Nikos]

[snigger]Spirithuggers[/snigger]

[thebullfrog]

You know, I really do almost feel like I'm cheating on my wife. I have been as big a LM fan as anyone for the last 6-7 years. I would tell anyone who would listen (or at least smile and nod politely) how great LM was and why they should own one over every other MT out there. But Vic. really got this thing right. There's just no denying how much thought, engineering, and effort went into this thing. I see most other multis as trying to copy and cash in on Tim's original design. Sure, some of them try and be better or different in some ways, but they never seem to have that quality and durability of a Leatherman (/cough Gerber /cough). The Powerlock is probably the most successful variation on the leatherman "theme". But Victorinox really evolved the pliers based multi in the right direction for every day use. It's everything that makes a SAK great in the (IMO) much better pliers based form factor. If the bombs fell this afternoon, my Surge would be the first thing I grab, but for around the house, going to work, shopping, etc. I find the Spirit really hard to top, and the bar for which other EDC tools should be aiming for.

[Sazabi]

TheBullFrog, my suggestion would be to pair the Spirit with a Waiter; it's the smallest SAK that comes with a corkscrew (and thus, can hold the eyeglass screwdriver), while hardly adding any bulk to your pockets whatsoever, simultaneously complementing the larger tool, though.   Or perhaps either an 84mm Golfer or the 91mm Compact to give you scissors, too?

[edap617]

I wish to be a member soon. Wishes do come true sometimes.

[thebullfrog]

TheBullFrog, my suggestion would be to pair the Spirit with a Waiter; it's the smallest SAK that comes with a corkscrew (and thus, can hold the eyeglass screwdriver), while hardly adding any bulk to your pockets whatsoever, simultaneously complementing the larger tool, though.  Or perhaps either an 84mm Golfer or the 91mm Compact to give you scissors, too?

Yeah I was basically thinking along those same lines, or possibly even a Sportsman or Climber. It doesn't have to be super small since it'll live on my keychain alongside my Fenix L0D, but I def. want something smaller and lighter than my CT-34. I gotta say though, a black Compact is VERY appealing.

[andrea.from.roma]

So I got home from having dinner at my Mom's, and I had a Spirit waiting for me  
Been looking it over and fidgeting with it for the last couple hours. I gotta say I really don't get what all the fuss is about. I'm not really all that impressed. I mean don't get me wrong: it is very shiny. The design is simply brilliant, the build quality is indeed the standard to which not only multi-tools, but all products in general should me judged against. The precision of the construction does make it hard to believe it's a mass produced item. And sure, the attention to detail is almost unheard of. Okay okay, granted it is almost paradoxical in both it's beauty and strength. Hell, I can't even find a single flaw of any kind in the tool anywhere. But overall, I don't know, it just....oh who am I kidding? It's probably the single greatest EDC multi on the planet and I am absolutely in love  

I am seriously in awe of how well made it is. My only complaint is that it's actually a bit too thin to be totally comfortable in my hand. If it were up to me it'd have one more layer. Then it would fit my hand perfectly and would allow for the addition of scissors with both blades and an eyeglass screwdriver. Honestly the lack of an eyeglass driver is the only thing that keeps it from being absolutely perfect as an EDC (I wear glasses and rely on being able to fix them if needed). But overall it gets a 9.999 out of 10.

I have never seen something so perfectly made. The point where I really fell in love was when I looked closely at the spring for the lock bar. Looking at pics that seemed a weak link to me- that tiny little spring that can wear out. I thought i was like the spring they use in the SAK scissors. But it does seem to be a bit beefier and certainly stiffer. That's not what made me so happy though. It's the way it's laid out. The way it sits, and the way everything around it is shaped is perfect. It never really bends very far and all the curves maintain a nice long arc. It's virtually guaranteed to not wear out for a very very long time. It's so clear somebody spent a lot of time thinking about that littlest of details. Seeing that, and the ridiculously tight tolerances on ,well everything, including how tight the gaps between the backsprings are just restores my faith in companies' ability to still make truly well made products. If Victorinox can pump out a bazillion of these things every year at an affordable price, then every other manufacturer of anything really needs to step up their game.

I keep looking at it and comparing it to my beloved and ever-faithful Surge. It's almost hard to grasp how something so much smaller, and so much lighter could have just as many, if not more tools. And have tools that are so thick and sturdy, and the entire multi just feel so much more solid. Suddenly the Surge is excessively heavy for it's strength. It's minor rattles are suddenly deafening. It's large array of implements is just sloppy, inefficient, and inadequate. Don't get me wrong, I'd still bet money the Surge could take more abuse, and the bit drivers add tons of functionality the Spirit can never hope to match. But with a lot less bulk, and probably half if not less the weight, the Spirit is probably 90% as strong and packs in virtually all the functionality you'll ever need on a day to day basis- and with no extra parts to lug around. If I'm gonna be doing something I know will be abusive, or will need Torx or Robertson bits, then I'll grab my faithful Surge, but for every other day (that is to say the other 360 of them) I can't imagine anything else I'd rather carry. That is, until they add an extra layer  

You're to ambiguous: did you like it or not? 'Cause that's still unclear...  

PS Welcome!

I guess you got just the tool and not the "plus" package. You could always get the corkscrew+mini screwdriver from Tim. I'm always carrying them in my wallet, as they take up virtually no space.

I do too. Corckscrew and miniscrewdriver (I wear glasses...), no space taken but lots of advantages for me. I love wine! And I love tightening the screws on my glasses!  

A.

[WhichDawg]

yup, I can see Mike doing that!

 

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

yup, I can see Mike doing that!
(Image removed from quote.)
 

Love it

[thebullfrog]

I have no need of the corkscrew, but it HAS crossed my mind to just drop the eyeglass driver from my CT-34 into my wallet, but I don't really have anyplace to put it where it wouldn't just fall out.

[texasflyfisher]

A "spirithugger" ! LOL

[Sazabi]

yup, I can see Mike doing that!
(Image removed from quote.)
 

Love it

That's the Spirit!

[thebullfrog]

LMAO

[texasflyfisher]

Well, looks like I can officially join the club now! Tim from felinevet shipped out the Spirit X I ordered a few days ago with lightning speed as it got here today! She's a beauty! My wife was asking, "What's that clicking sound?" as I was in the living room pulling out the various implements. 

[AHB]

Welcome.. 
And what a great pic.. 

[TangoDown]

Got my Spirit 2 weeks ago and it is now my favorite of my full-sized multi-tools which includes a Swisstool RS, Sog Powerlock S62, Sog Powerlock 2.0 S69, SOG Paratool S31, LM New Wave, LM Skeletool, LM Pulse, Gerber CS 400 and Gerber Diesel. It is now my EDC multi-tool. I love the "peanut butter" blade, bottle opener/flat-head screwdriver/prybar and the wire stripper/scraper tools the best. Since I always carry a separate folding knife (usually a Kershaw Skyline, Spyderco Native, Buck Vantage Pro or Spyderco Tenacious), I really appreciate that the Spirit has only the serrated blade. I prefer a plain-edge for my knives so having a the serrated one on the Spirit compliments my EDC quite nicely. The size of the Spirit is also nice. It folds up small enough while providing plenty of real estate in use when open. I would prefer a snap closure on the sheath rather than the Velcro. I may add a snap later.

Anyways, here's some pics:

[Gareth]

Great first post.   Excellent pics and a good range of tools, you'll fit right in.   Welcome to the forum.

[Styerman]

Welcome to the forum ant the Spirit Owners Club . I too am an admirer of the " butterknife"
.

Chris

[andrea.from.roma]

I too am an admirer of the " butterknife"

Chris

Me too! Sturdy and sheeple-friendly, the best.

A.

[TangoDown]

I too am an admirer of the " butterknife"
.

Chris

Butterknife =  



Thanks for the warm welcome. 

[edap617]

I only wish i can be a member.

[Freudian Frog]

I only wish i can be a member.

Why not? It can get gotten for relatively cheap compared to other tools we all buy.

[Screwtape]

I only wish i can be a member.

Why not? It can get gotten for relatively cheap compared to other tools we all buy.

Apparently owning a Vic Spirit reduces the risk of heart disease, improves longevity, prevents premature hair loss and in general makes the day look sunny!!

Go on do it 

[texasflyfisher]

Apparently owning a Vic Spirit reduces the risk of heart disease, improves longevity, prevents premature hair loss and in general makes the day look sunny!!

You forgot that it also increases virility. Oh yeah! 

[Styerman]

Plus the handles are so shiny , you can use it as a field expedient shaving mirror . Rumour has it that genital dimensions will increase !

Chris

[Screwtape]

Joking apart, I've actually used my Spirit as a mirror to see LED displays in awkward positions,

now back in topic, it has been said that the Spirit can cause lost limbs to re-grow

[DaveK]

I've noticed that it seems to cause rose-tinted vision too 

[Nightshade]

The Spirit is the only tool that is approved and carried by Chuck Norris.

[american lockpicker]

I just realised I'm in this club.