Bought a victorinox handyman as a cheap option after my wife permanently “ borrowed “ my leatherman free p4. Haven’t gone back. The handyman pliers are actually very usefull all sorts of everyday tasks and once paired with a knipex it really has everything I need
I went for a Fieldmaster as my "out and about" SAK, but for my daily pocket EDC I settled on a Super Tinker. Whatever you choose, they're a solid little multitool 😊
Huntsman is a great smaller knife. Have to has scissors as much as a blade, and the saw is fantastic. As you say, hard to argue with 125+ years of design, engineering, metalurgy, heritage, and quality.
Thanks for this. I carry a broadly similar tool set, though I am still toying with a pry bar or not. One thing I have not seen you mention is cordage. I tend to also carry 2-3m of para cord. Hanked up, it is very small and light. Emergency shoelace if nothing else! But the times I’ve used the cord is wrapping something to carry (wood for a fire and some books from a charity shop) which then is absolutely a good time to use the hook tool on the SAK.
I have a similar philosophy too where I needed those exact tools. What I do is have a Victorinox Rambler on a keychain 'but' when I go hiking I bring a Victorinox Walker (can't find it anymore, discontinued) but it perfectly complements the Rambler because it has only the saw and knife (2 things the Rambler doesn't have) so they synergize together.
I wish I got the walker before it got discontinued. I have exactly the same use case (hiking) and find I'm pretty content with a small victorinox except for lacking a saw and large blade.
Hello Ben. Great choice of SAK. I’ve seen a few people place a small disc Neodymium magnet in the round part of the carry hook, parking it there for them to use as needed (eg. magnetising the pin to use as a compass, magnetising the tip of a screwdriver to hold the screw, attaching the magnet to length of cord to fish out a set of keys dropped in a drain, etc). Not earth shattering stuff really but another little thing that may be of benefit one rainy day
Stoked you’ve added a Victorinox Swiss Army Knife to your EDC Ben. Great showcase video. 😍 Been carrying a Huntsman for over a decade and it’s never let me down. 👌 Keep up the great work! ❤️
8:28 Hi there! I agree with you, and I have carried, firstly a 3-layer and later 4-layer SAKs for decades. My latest 4-layer does unfortunately NOT have the saw, being an older model. Now, as to ergonomics and carrying. I made myself a little 3-4 inch long leather loop with a snap hook on it. This I snap onto the SAK's carry ring and slip the loop over my trouser belt and the knife dangling inside my trouser/jeans pocket. This way it's easy to access and one does not feel the weight at all. It works like a dream. This is my normal carry. For outdoors though, I'd upgrade to a Hercules! I'd have a belt pouch, but retain the lanyard option depending on circumstances. For hiking I'd take the lighter 4-layer. I've had a Swiss Champ for many years as my "heavy carry" but I think the Hercules is a better outdoors option, as it has that little extra length, especially the saw! Cheers mate!
Been carrying the huntsman myself for a few years. Even tried that aftermarket screw attached clip. The knife is perfect. That clip has a small design flaw with anchoring the assembly with such a small screw, yes, it is easily broken. Basic lanyard attached carry seems to be the most practical way for me. Agree with your observations as concerns the SAK Huntsman. Spot on.
Buddy, I came across your channel watching video about Vivo barefoot, then I've watched few other videos on the channel, and with this video I realised you are the true swiss army knife of youtube content creation. Very skillfully use of light, the composition of the video, scenes, design and overall ... Really well done !
This is the only thing I wear everyday in my pocket nomater where - at work or travelling. (When home I actulally don't need anything in my pockets.) Have been wearing exactly the same swiss knife, you have since 2012 to this day. Have proven to be of a great adventage countless times! I thought I was the only one carying such thing everyday in my pockets, but I am happy to see I was wrong!
I carry the Ranger with the Clip and Carry clip and it's been life changing. You don't realize how much time it saved until you lose it for a couple of weeks and find yourself going up and down stairs for a screw driver, pair of scissors, and more. The new ARC leatherman is great but my Ranger has everything I typically use in a way smaller package. I don't using pliers on much if I don't need to since it strips bolts and I'll likely be using a set of electrical pliers anyways.
Things I use my multipurpose hook for. Pulling my shoelaces tight, pulling out really tight tent stakes (I live in Tennessee, the ground is incredibly hard in the cold months and it really grips), and the most common use case pull the hook all the way out and the can opener partially open and use it as a phone stand.
Best use for me is carrying plastic shopping bags from the grocery store and 5 gallon buckets with that white plastic handle broken off the bail. The hook is rated by Victorinox to carry up to 200 lbs.
I went with the Huntsman too, for reason of the saw and opposing corkscrew. Coalcracker' made a video of screwing the whole knife (using corkscrew) to a longish branch to the scales at end of branch and open the saw. ~ That in itself knocked me off the fence to get a SAK. ~ Retrieve that fish lure from branch just out of reach (whups), or harvest a bit of fatwood just out of reach. With straight forward and back discipline, lashing knife isn't needed. ~~ Mine goes in the canteen daypack/kitbag partnered with my '94 PST Leatherman..Firebox Nano, etc. I've been happy with the fit 'n finish of my Huntsman.
I enjoy the Huntsman, and carry them in multiple outdoors packs. I don't, however, enjoy a 4 layer in my pocket. So years ago I had a custom SAK built starting with a Compact and adding the wood saw to it, right down the middle of the other layers. IT is my perfect pocket carry. All the utility of the Huntsman, with three layers.
My brother owns a Huntsman as well, where as I have a Victorinox Camper which I've owned for over 10 years now probably. The Camper is kind of a lite version of the Huntsman I believe, since it has no scissors and no multi-purpose hook. Since a couple of years I've added the Victorinox Locksmith to my collection as well, which is a bit larger so you have more push and pull with your saw (which just feels so much better) and it is a onehander, so you can open the knife with one hand. On top of that you can saw wood as well as metal with the saw and there is a metal file as well.
I have EDCed my Swiss Champ for 37 years. It has saved my bacon many many times. I also have a Huntsman Light that I put in my checked bag when I visit my daughter in Scotland. I can't risk losing my Swiss Champ, I bought it for my 16th birthday.
I found a different solution to the same equation. I carry the Compact everyday. When the need arises I also have a German issue 111mm Soldier. The same combination of tools with the bonus of saving pocket space that would be needed for a dedicated single blade folding knife and a separate pry tool. It's not for everyone, but it sure works for me.
Great carry! You could eliminate several of those tools by just carrying the Victorinox with a Leatherman Skeletool and LM's even slimmer bit kit. The Skeletool would cover your dedicated one-hand opening knife, all drivers, and pliers all in one. Plus adds a small hammer/striking tool if you add one from etsy. And the pliers have the addition of wire cutter, which is missing from the Knipex. My assumption is that the locking blade might be an issue in the UK though.
Ben, I’ve watched a LOT of vids on SAKs. This is one of the very best that I’ve seen. Really excellent review and practical examples of how the tools can be used!
I went with the Farmer X Alox simply cuz the awl is located at the end of the tool which I find much more useful as well as being a good clamshell package opener. I find the awl in the middle of the handle to be more dangerous than useful. I carry an Uncle Bill's Sliver Gripper on my keychain since I prefer a pointed tweezer. I feel the toothpick is unsanitary but maybe I have been over programmed from the pandemic. I wish that Victorinox would make tools that compliment each other as sets rather than being redundant. Then people could mix and match for their perfect setup rather than carry multiple can and bottle openers which oddly enough I rarely use. Really enjoy your perspective which seems based on being realistically practical rather than catastrophic survival.
Exactly. I can use the awl on my Pioneer X exactly like I would use a smaller blade. And I would never put that toothpick anywhere near my mouth either. You can kind of mix and match the keychain SAKs with the 91 mm or the alox ones to minimize redundancy. The Rambler goes very well with any alox SAKs for example.
Huntsman is quite a comprehensive standalone tool, but 4-layer is starting to stick out a bit in the trouser pocket. As you mentioned in the video, a medium SAK with a 58mm on the keychain, especially one with scissors, is nicely complementary: e.g. Spartan or Camper or Farmer + Classic. You have your pry tool as a driver with bits, but if you can try a SAK with an inline Phillips, then do - it is awesome.
Spot-on video thank you for sharing. For me it was a struggle deciding Huntsman or Ranger. For my EDC I choose the Huntsman, outstanding piece of kit. As expected a couple of times I needed tools of the Ranger; it may well be my next SAK. The corkscrew holds the small gray screwdriver and my own homemade tinder, I have the complete small screwdriver set. The tooth pick is replaced with the ferro rod. Pen idea is intriguing, so I have been thinking about plus scales as well. Also, to stop the SAK banging around at the bottom of my pocket I added a Nite Ize clip.
Agree so much here. The Huntsman is so popular now you can get it for $33. Impossible to beat it at that price. Especially if you rarely need pliers. But that Ranger file really great if you might need it. For keychain, the Manager is great with the multitool, scissors, blade, and pen. If you don't need a pen, the Rambler is pretty cheap too. Lots of great options these days.
I have been carrying one of these for years and would not leave home without it. I have upgraded mine by replacing the toothpick with a ferro rod and helix tinder (held in the cork screw) both by Firefly. This enables you to have an emergency fire lighting system. I further improved this with by cutting the helix tinder in half which means you can have it with the mini screwdriver in the corkscrew - all held in place with a bit of heatshrink. If I need a toothpick, I can make one with the SAK and a stick.
I bought the Cybertool about 25 years ago for dismantling PCs and I've been carrying it on and off for ever since. The driver and bits are much more useful to me than a saw day by day.
The more multitools and such I get to try, the more I gravitate back towards a SAK. My all time favorite is the tinker deluxe because I do want those pliers, spesifically because the kind of pliers on a victorinox is not the same type as a leatherman or a knipex. Its small and pointy and just really good at gripping or pinching things where id normally try to dig my nails into it 20 times before finally getting any grip. I find its better at pulling splinters and loose skin than the actual tweezers are, and ive used them to pick up a spent syringe someone tossed on the street or even dead mice just to not have to touch those things. I hear people say that "X pliers is better, these are useless" but to me thats like saying a hammer is better than a sledge. They are for different things. But yeah, I love my SAK more the more time I use it. These days I typically carry an olight i1r2 and a otacle P1 on my keychain, and slip my SAK in the pocket when I go anywhere. I find that having 2 small multitools often compliment eachother very well, even with the same toolsets on them. Having 2 small pliers for instance can be an absolute godsend sometimes. So as the SAK is becoming more important to me, ive started to see some of its shortcomings too, and started modding it. So far the big blade is replaced with a better steel one that actually holds an edge, the small one is replaced with the victorinox electrician blade, and im currently working on milling out my own liners and scales. I wish victorinox wouldnt rest on their laurels as much and give us more/better options, because these things have sooo much potential! Sorry for the rant, good video though! :D
I carry a Hiker, and just keep a Classic on my keys for the scissors. Between the near perfect width and how well all the tools nest when closed, its uncanny how comfortable the grip on the Hiker is. Even using it for very heavy carving, that handle is darn near as comfortable as a Buck 110, and significantly better than any traditional or modern folder I've owned. I add a Hatchet when I'm in the backcountry, and have run across very little I cant handle.
Can't beat the Classic SD for me, and personal preference for the Alox. Disappears on a keychain, great scissors, little blade for packages and a handy screwdriver. Aside from that, if I'm headed somewhere where I might need a more robust tool I use a Leatherman Bond, does the job nicely while being one of the few UK friendly options from Leatherman. Victorinox Swiss Champ is the tool of choice for the suitcase on holidays. Of course all just personal preference really!
Its also great for digging out slivers, clearing paint/ varnish out of the eyes of new fishing hooks, and popping out spring clips. I use the awl a ton, but almost never for its intended purpose.
I've become a Huntsman groupie over the last year or two. I carried a Spartan for maybe 40 years on and off (always had some kind of small knife in my pocket but lost a few over the years). I preferred the slightly slimmer profile but now happily accept that slightly wider size for the extra tools. As for the 'hook', I use it from time to time and while its very niche it works a treat. I use it to pull a gate shut when walking a neighbours dog from time to time. Whatever works eh ?
"4 layer SAKs are the biggest, thickest ones that I wanna carry" Same here. Even 4 layers are a bit thick in the pocket for me. I found the 3 layer ones to be the most comfortable both in hand and in pocket. But for hiking etc. the Huntsman is the best 91 mm choice. Also, I don't know if you ever held an alox SAK before (you did your research, that's for sure). Sure, it hasn't got any scale tools and it's a bit heavier but the whole thing is also more robust, the flathead end of the bottle opener can confidently be used as a prybar and if you swap your Classic SD for a Rambler you also have your PH screwing needs covered so no need for that prybar+screwdriver you also carry.
I have the Swiss Army knife clip add on and it’s great but I like using them as neck knives or with a paracord lanyard thru the key ring and looped around my belt or sweatpants string so I don’t lose it. The clip also gets in the way of the tweezers and blocks the key ring which can be handy to put extra tools on in leu of or in addition too the lanyard
What kind of belt/suspenders do you recommend for holding up your trousers with all of that stuff in the pockets? Seriously, the butane lighter is a stroke of genius, and I always carry a Victorinox Super Tinker. The scissors are indispensable!
My updated EDC tools minus self defense tools: Small fixed blade (handmade but similar to Izula.) Large SAK similar to your feature. Gutted out Leatherman with only pliers and Phillips driver modded as bit driver. Bit set x8. Tiny container with needles and 3 paperclips. (And then of course flashlights, fire starter etc...)
I carry the compact and knipex i really just love the scissors on Victorinox if they made a tool with just those I would but it in a heartbeat. Great video well shot .
I recently bought the Huntsman for a friend's birthday in order to 'round out his EDC'. I too, didn't want to go thicker as he'd never carry it, but there are certain tools that are potentially useful. I usually carry a Leather man, but rarely use it.
I feel the same about Leatherman but when I don't carry it I seem to end up needing it. Maybe I just don't recognize how often I use it since I've been carrying it a long time.
I definitely favour a layered Swiss Army knife with Knipex pliers over a Leatherman - type multitool, but also over a folder or smaller SAK like the Bantam carried together with separate scissors, bit driver/ratchet and other bits and bobs. Most of the time my Climber or Farmer X, and the Knipex Cobra XS, are more than adequate to manage all kind of little tasks encountered on a daily basis. The small flat driver on the can opener can deal with most PH2 and PH1 sized screws, provided that they are not recessed. The bottle opener works as a light pry bar/scraper for all kinds of tasks. If I want to be really well kitted out I may also carry a small bit driver - the Wera 813, it's about the size of a Clipper lighter so it sits in the 5th pocket of my jeans nicely.
@@sunniearshi736 Cool! I was looking at all kind of expensive titanium EDC bit holders made by CRKT, Big Ideas Design etc. and not only were they expensive but also very poor in terms of functionality. The Wera 813 is better than all of those in terms of both design and quality, at a fraction of the price.
@@simonh6371 Agreed. The only missing thing to take it a level up would be if they made a ratcheting version. But for now it’s the best usable pocket driver handle out there.
I traded out my leatherman wave for the Huntsman, Knipex, and a small ratchet driver recently. I've carried a SAK since I was a kid, no matter what else I carried, and finally decided to reduce some of the load in my daily carry. I chose the Huntsman over other SAK models for much the same reasons you did.
I used to carry SAK, but then I switched to Swiss Army Card. I don't need a saw in my daily/weekly/monthly tasks, so Card works for me so much better. Thanks for the video!
@@BenVallack yeah, but I believe that you can replace a blade (or just take it off) and that should make it UK legal as well. Should be an easy fix ;) You don't need a blade anyway if you carry an EDC knife with you.
I've got two huntsman, a fieldmaster and my favorite, the ranger. One huntsman is from the 70's. No hook, toothpick and tweezers, no hole in the awl. Still a good knife. I'd happily trade both huntsman for a handyman though. Be careful using that 3mm flathead. They bend easily. I've bent one years ago and the 3mm on the old huntsman is bent from a prior owner being to forceful with it.
Great video Ben. I love your step by step rationale. The huntsman is a great all round SAK and I have one and carry it a lot at weekends when I am more likely to use the saw. I would'nt rule out the Farmer X alox as these alox versions have beefier blade and flathead screwdriver - with a fantastic in-line Awl!!! I haven't got one yet - but its on my list. For urban EDC the PIoneer X alox is very capable and I find I don't miss the scale tools at all. I have just got the Explorer as well ( which has the excellent in-line phillips screwdriver and a magnifier!!) - I will be trying this out. Essentially I think it's good to have a selection of SAKs, so that you can choose the best one for your day. BUT - I always carry the Midnite Manager and it's the tool I use the most. If you are carrying the Huntsman - you might as well downsize the prybar to something like the gerber shard. It is an excellent mini-multitool...
The Farmer X is excellent, I carry that when I'm doing physical activity as I don't have to worry about damaging the scales if I drop it. Otherwise I carry the Climber with plus scales. In either case I generally add a Knipex Cobra XS in my pocket, and sometimes even a dedicated bit driver - Wera 813 which is the size of a mini Clipper lighter and featherweight. Alternatively I have my Leatherman Bond, and a 4'' Bahco adjustable (vintage made in Sweden) in the Leatherman pouch with it, which also pairs up very well with the Farmer X or Climber. Funny you popped up here in the comments, I watched your vid yesterday about the pouch kit alternatives to the Leatherman Rebar but didn't get around to commenting on it yet.
Good morning. Nice video. Wondering about the knipex pliers. I have several and really allways have the smallest pair on me every day. Unlike the pair i carry at work-slightly larger that lock-does yours in this video have that option? Thank you and have a good day
@@BenVallack Hi. I thought maybe they were different from the pair I do carry every day and needed to add them to my carry was all. Thank you for getting back to me and have a good day
Farmer X in pocket, rambler on keyring. I sometimes veer between a huntsman with +scales or a Compact, but the farmerX has such a good configuration of tools... If they ever made a Compact with a saw, though....
Day to day I carry a Vic Compact. If I'm carrying a bag Ill chuck the Swiss Champ in. Rambler on the van fob. For work a Leatherman Wave+ and Milwaukee 1505 (run a property maintenance firm).
pulling tent pegs is a brilliant use!! Just looked up the nail file on the hook - mine definitely doesn't have it - I wonder which models have that and why they don't all have it.
I bought the fieldmaster over the huntsman because i prefer the Philips screwdriver rather than the corkscrew. I also changed the scales to the plus scales so i can carry the pen. Instead of a pin, i inserted a small needle in the hole because it can be a lot more useful
@BenVallack it protrudes about 1mm, just missing the Philips screwdriver. I am able to pull it out with the tweezers. I could probably get a slightly thinner needle so as to get it in and out a little easier but for how often i intend to use it then this one is ok
I carry a much better toothpick with me that I get from my dentist (RotaPoint dm). I also carry a much better set of tweezers on my key chain. Therefore, my vote goes for the Farmer X. Tough, reliable, more robust tools. I also prefer the awl coming out the end rather than on the backside in the middle. Much easier to use.
I did wonder if there was a better toothpick and tweezers combo out there that I could keep in my pouch that would allow for this. Good idea. Need the pen too.
Definitely not survival knife or bushcraft knife but 💯% EDC and urban knife. I have climber victorinox, fits perfect very sharp and useful. It's a Classic looking knife with lifetime guarantee.
I've thought I had a Huntsman for 30 years, but mine has a Phillips screwdriver instead of a corkscrew ¯\_(ツ)_/¯. But as the Weakerthans' song says, "bring your Swiss Army Knife / and a bottle of something..." There are knives I like more for working blades (CRKT, Opinel, for example), but none give me the warm and fuzzy feelings of the SAK overall. The closest I found was a Leatherman Micra.
I'd have reservations about using them for ticks. Not enough space between them when under pressure, risk of squeezing its contents back into your bloodstream before you get it out. Better to use a dedicated tick puller - IMO.
Honestly everyone on the planet could use a Swiss Army knife of some kind. Even if it's just a Classic SD. Those of us that do carry them not only use them for ourselves every day, but often to help someone else who isn't carrying one.
The saw is a tool for the outdoors woods person. Ive made poles, staffs, crutches with mine. The basic Spartan set of tools +scissors or a smaller compact or rambler can do most of the utility functions for urban edc. Opening packets, cutting threads, cutting hang nails. A (feminist) woman journalist once asked, why do I need to carry a knife. If I need anything done, I just call a man
@@michaelw2288 I don’t really make a distinction between urban and bushcraft needs - a saw is just as useful for cutting a pvc pipe or other plastic type thing around the house. Similarly things like pens and scissors are just as useful in an outdoors camping environment. I think that’s the beauty of the SAK approach.
I do regularly. I carry a Fällkniven PC and F1 together with a SAK Climber and Leatherman Rebar and it is very very rare that a week goes by that I didn't use any of them. Saves a lot of time not having to go to the toolbox to fix something minor or to be able to get something sorted out when away from home.
Germany too. Here I EDC a Fällkniven PC and F1 together with a SAK Climber and Leatherman Rebar, completely legal too. Fixed blades below 12cm are with a couple of exceptions (i.e. those counted as weapons) are allowed and non-one hand opening folders of any size too. For those not generally allowed you can still carry if you have a valid reason e.g. hunters carrying daggers with 25cm blades or other explainable purpose except protection against humans...
Tip of the pry wasn't fine enough to get under it without damaging the edges of the scales. I was re-using them on my son's knife so wanted to do it without damaging them (hence the hot water too).
@@BenVallack that makes sense! I’ve had that happen before-I’ve found you can, carefully, use the pressurised pen to lever the scales away by inserting it-nib first-into the toothpick or tweezer slot.