The Victorinox SwissTool Spirit multi-tool isn’t new, but it’s worth a closer look. I bought one a few years ago, along with a couple of bundled accessories.
This Swiss-made tool doesn’t have fancy features, like the large and centered screwdriver of the Geber Center-Drive, or the “magnetic architecture” of the Leatherman Free-series multi-tools.
However, the Spirit is still an extraordinary multi-tool.
To start, it’s well made. The pliers open quickly, and the handles snap into place with minimal friction or effort, and without slop. The Victorinox Spirit features a thoughtful selection of tools, and they are all accessible from the outside, meaning you don’t have to open up the pliers to access any of the tools folded away in the handles.
Also, all of the tools lock into place, securing them for use.
The Victorinox SwissTool Spirit has 24 tools and functions, some of which overlap.
- Needle nose pliers
- Wire cutter (for up to 40 HRC wire)
- Hard wire cutter
- Phillips screwdriver
- Slotted screwdrivers: 2mm, 3mm, 6mm
- Combination knife blade
- Scissors
- Metal and wood saw
- Metal file
- Bottle Opener
- Can opener
- Strong Crate Opener
- Reamer
- Chisel/scraper
- Wire bender
- Wire stripper/scraper
- Round cutter
- Multi-purpose hook
- Coupling for corkscrew (optional add-on)
- Lanyard hole
It measures 4.1″long x 0.7″ wide, and weighs 7.4 oz. The ones I’ve seen are bundled with nylon or leather sheaths.
Victorinox says:
The SwissTool Spirit proves they can also be extremely elegant. It’s a lighter, more ergonomic, more beautiful multi-tool.
And, it really is. The Spirit has more polish to it, making it look a little classier than other utility-focused multi-tools.
As mentioned, I own a Spirit. Frankly, it’s a great tool, but one I still want to use a little more before formally reviewing. The tools are easy to open, but with nail nicks they can be a little slow to access. The knife blade is undersized compared to those on my Leatherman tools (except maybe for the Rebar?). On this tool, the knife is a combination-edged blade with a blunt tip, with bread knife-like character.
The Spirit is a premium tool, and built to the level of quality I would expect for the money.
Victorinox says the Spirit is the ultimate fusion of functionality, quality, and elegance. The “elegance” doesn’t take away from anything. I can’t say that I wish the knife were a little larger, because really I wish it were completely different. However, for frequent use, I’ll have a utility knife or pocket knife at the ready. For less frequent use, it’s actually kind of perfect.
I’ll never use some of the tools and functions, such as the chisel or wire bender. But, I have nothing but good things to say about the tools and functions I have used.
If I could only own just one multi-tool, this one probably wouldn’t be it. But there’s also not much about it that I wouldn’t or couldn’t recommend. Given my preferences and how I use multi-tools, it just doesn’t perfectly fit my idea of a one-tool-fits-all design. I hope you can now appreciate why I’ve been slow to formally review it. But, if there’s interest, there are only a few things I still need to test out.
The Spirit is a good tool, and is a big selling point is that it’s a quality multi-tool that’s not a Leatherman or a Gerber. It’s its own style.
I might say that the SwissTool Spirit is a better urban-environment multi-tool. A few years ago, one of my colleagues at a research lab went wide-eyed when I used my Leatherman Skeletool instead of walking back to my office for the right tool. The Spirit has “softer” looks.
If you’re shopping around for a new multi-tool, and can justify the budget, the SwissTool Spirit might check off some of your boxes.
Price: $90
Buy Now(Spirit via Amazon)
Buy Now(Spirit via BladeHQ)
See Also(Spirit X via Amazon)
There’s also the Spirit X, which has a plain edge knife blade.
Questions?
