Making Me Think Twice! Swiss Army Trekker 

In 8 years in the Military, and 46 years camping, I’ve never once needed pliers in the field. Victorinox for me 👍🏻

Great video Aaron. I’ve carried a Victorinox in my pocket for 40+ years. Various models to meet different situations however One has always been in my pocket. Carried on six different ships and on two Islands in the U.S. Navy. There are some comments that say the steel is no good in these. I understand but beg to differ. It depends on the situation that you’re using it for. In my case around salt water 90% of the time and in my pocket these knives have held up beautiful. Never a spot of rust. Some of my knives are so old I had to overhaul them and replace the handles and other pieces. After the overhaul they were like brand new again. How many knives after 20 or 30 years of abuse can you put a little work in to it and it’s like brand new again. But again it all depends on what you’re going to use it for. Me, there will always be one of my pocket.

Not a left-handed knife! The American fixation with tactical might make it seem so. Changing hands to close the knife is not a big deal. Also, the steel is a very intentional type, with a much better record of not chipping or snapping in half than many expensive knives with better steel. The blade does not wear down as fast as many like to say. Long-term users know this. The heat treat was developed out of long experience. The saw: doesn't need a lock. I have been using Victorinox pocket knife saws for decades. They are not for full tree trunks. Just smaller branches. It doesn't tend to close up. The teeth are offset, and is a bit thinner on the sine, helping to shed wood. Honestly, used for the intended light work, a lock wouldn't automatically be a better thing. I've used big-name locking multitool saws that bind much more than Victorinox pocket knives. Using the reamer blade for fero rod: Only if you do not plan on using the reamer function. Bushcrafters need that reamer, which works well. Striking a fire steel on it will make it useless as a borer in short order. I use the dedicated striker that I have attached to the Swedish fire steel I use. Blades are ruined on fire steel. I started collecting and using Victorinox pocket knives over 50 years ago. They are not multitools, and cannot be compared to all-metal pliers. Both good, but despite the clear overlapping useage, not the same. However, boy scouts around the world have done great bushcrafting with even the basic Victorinox Spartan for years. Look at the Victorinox Alox Farmer for a very popular camping and crafting knife. Many are unaware that the blade is stronger and thicker than on most Swiss Army knives. Superb, with a great saw and an inline awl/reamer/punch. Best buy for the money for a simple pocket knife for serious outdoor. Cheers and thanks for the review! David in Galilee, Israel.

I’ve used the Farmer, Hiker and Camper saws for years. Both in the woods on on construction sites. Great fir cutting holes in dry wall, and have never had an issue with it being a non locking blade.

Bought my trekker a year ago and hasn't left my side since... I use it camping hiking and fishing and just about every day trucking I'm grabbing it for one job or another even lunch's lol great tool

I've had numerous swiss army knives over the years, the ranger grip 78 is my newest addition. I've carried one daily long before "EDC" was a thing.....although I own many knives I am rarely without a swiss army knife.

Awesome piece of gear! I feel ya Aaron on being busy. 2 jobs and a single father. Till the next video

Fantastic review like always. I have the one-handed NS trekker in camo and absolutely love it. For added functionality try replacing the toothpick with a firefly Fire Starter Ferro rod from tortoise gear. It elevates this knife to the next level.

So much time waiting this review , finaly I buy the ranger grip 79 , cheers

A locking mechanism on the saw is unnecessary imho. The way you're putting pressure on it during use and being angled slightly upwards, there's no way it would close on you (unless you're doing something crazy). Locking mechanism are only necessary for stabbing and such, when force may be applied in the wrong direction.

While I own & do carry other knives, I absolutely LOVE the Victorinox products that we own. As each of my kids turns 7 they get their 1st knife: a small, basic Swiss Army knife. My oldest (9) just moved up to a Super Tinker. I carry a Swiss Champ on my belt almost always as well as a Swiss Card in both mine & my wife's wallets. I've got some of their honing steels, a pen-sized sharpener, & a pocket Arkansas stone. I've never been disappointed. Also, I recently found out that Victorinox DOES in fact make an true multi-tool called a Swiss Tool. They have different model & things that come with them, but the 1 I got for my EDC is the Sprint. Love it. I love that all of the smaller tools are accessible from the outside & lock. I've yet to hold a Trekker, but it looks good to me.

The one handed trekker non serrated has been a go to knife in my rotation for probably 7-8 years now. To me it's the perfect heavy duty swiss army knife

Thanks for the specs in metric system

This is one of my favorite knives ever

this thing has been around for almost two decades now. bought one back in '07 and been using it since. still rockin to this day

Cool video. these knife is been my edc for the past year. She's been good so far. And you're right. The wood saw needs a liner lock too, definitely.

Thanks Brother for the review. I would carry that in my pocket while having my Leatherman in my pack. I don't really use my Leatherman in the woods so often anymore, but it still goes and I have a folder (Swiss Army, Old Timer Bear Tooth Trapper, or Opinel) in my pocket and a belt knife. My EDC Leatherman gets used almost daily, but not so much in the woods.

Thumbs up for Ant cameo.

Thanks for reviewing this,I really like mine for GP and when I don't take my Leatherman, and I'm a lefty 😜 I don't remember the company but they make flat ferro rods for SAK's you just replace the toothpicks in your SAK and I did with all of mine and they work super great, also I think it's the @junkyardfox show's how to modify it to throw Sparks from the locking screwdriver, lot of work for a stainless steel blade ik but it's a great tool and we all tweak something just for shits and giggles anyway.

I just purchased the Victorinox Forester…same size, same blade and saw, but has cork screw, instead of Phillips head driver. And has anti slip pads on red scales, a bit more grippy. I carried a stock blade Vic for years and decided I wanted both one hand opening and a bit beefier longer blade. Am very pleased with mine and enjoyed your comments about its practical use. thanks!

Another great video review. Pocket clip on the trekker is a great suggestion. Even better suggestion for Victorinox is to come out with a knife/plier combo of their own. I agree with some of the other commenters, Victorinox needs to consider using other steels with their knives. The use of the electronic ruler in both metric and standard was a great. Hope to see it used in future video reviews.

SAKs are really good build quality, I have several including the Rucksack which is similar to this, but with nail nick opening and a corkscrew instead of the phillips screwdriver. A good general outdoor and camping tool, that will peel your spuds, and open your cans and beer. The best feature is the saw. All the SAK saws are good in fact but the bigger the better, and I have cut more than 1 inch in the past. Only snag is that they are not legal EDC as they lock, so only to be taken out when you are actually going to use them for camping or bushcraft or in my case as often as not, gardening.

I've had the trekker for years its my constant pocket carry for hiking and camping however my leatherman rebar is always in my pack as my back up as part of my emergency kit . I guess I just like redundancies. Great vid as always God bless.

I like my Trekker, a little bit of work with the file from my Leatherman Wave on the locking screwdriver/bottle opener and it strikes a Ferro rod just fine. I carry both of them as EDC (redundancy).

Best thing about pliers is they can pull out fish hooks! :-)

Had to give mine up at airport security. Forgot it was in my pocket. Loved that thing.

I really like my one handed trekker. I've only had it for a couple of months but I've carried it almost every day. I just strop it in the evening when I'm not busy and it's stayed sharp so the steel isn't terrible. I have a striker with almost all of my ferro rods so there's no need to use the saw for that reason though I have tried it with success. Overall it's worth the money and I'd buy it again if I lost it.

I have one and your opinions both pros and cons are spot on! I love mine and find it useful just about every day. If they would change the position of the locking can opener/lg flathead with the saw the problem would be solved. I wish I could have different scales and a more robust blade but for most of what I need, it is perfect.

The way you should use the back of the saw on a fire steel is to actually hold the sides of the saw blade between your fingers rather than holding the knife handle. This lets you do it safely. (Another option is to take a file to the cap lifter and create an edge to strike a fire steel there. But this is really not necessary once you start doing it properly with the back of the saw.)

The awl is one hella great tool outdoors! For drilling holes in wood it works really well!

Good overall description. I agree with almost every point. I have the Victorinox Rangergrip 78 (big brother to this knife), never had a problem with the saw. My technique with the saw is different than demonstrated here. I do not like pocket clips on folding knives and never use them.

I choose the soldier version, my first folding knife. Great video Aaron 👍

I sharpened inner edge to the bottle opener for a ferro rod striker. Works like a charm and it's a locking tool.

Good review. One thing that you left out is that they guarantee them for life. (Although to be fair I think Leatherman do too). I've had the nail nick version for three years and it's done some pretty serious stuff and my hand never gets sore. And it still looks new. I wish they would put a lock on the saw too. Having said that I put a chisel grind on the end of the bottle opener and it's really good when you want to clean a notch out. I also filed down the back edge of the bottle opener to strike ferro rods. Sadly that would mean that I've screwed the warranty should I ever need it. But it's so well made I doubt I will. They have been making that stainless steel for over a hundred years and the Victrinox classic is the world highest selling knife. Good review I've been curious what an American reviewer would think of it. I think you did a great job. Use it for a while, see how you go. At the very least in my opinion it makes an amazing back up.

I use to EDC carry an SAK and a Leatherman as a technician before we were directed not to. The SAK flat head was ideal for Zeus fasteners on aircraft control boxes as you could flip it open fast. The SAK was always great for world travels and camp/cooking type stuff. The Leatherman was better for more technical mechanical work and bike maintenance. I dont EDC anymore but they are always handy in glove boxes, TT, backpack and night stand. I want to buy a Trekker. One other comment regarding the corkscrew on SAKs. They have come in handy at home and traveling with wine bottles. 30 years ago my friend and I had a full on party going on a train table heading up to Nottingham UK. Some of the bottles would not have been opened without it. An oil rig worker from the North Sea really appreciated it.

Thanks for the review. Take care.

I love my Trekker...I added a little Leatherman Squirt...a decent little set of pliers and scissors in a small, light unit. Negates the need for a (to me, at least) too-heavy full size Leatherman.

The blade on the two handed version has a sharper point. The outside edge of the Victorinox can opener can be used as a scraper, the point as a scriber, and the straight inside part can be sharpened and used as a cutting tool when pulling.

You can always carry cheap pair of slip-joint pliers in your pack.

Another way to use a fire steel with this is to turn the saw blade down with the tip grounded next to the tinder and draw the fire steel across it. That would eliminate the problem with the saw trying to close.

I agree with your assessment of the Trekker. But, despite the shortcoming of the non-locking saw, it is still the mainstay of my EDC.. I just created a 90 degree edge on the locking screw driver. It works great with the fire steel. Oh, since I am left handed, I love the one-handed open and close feature and the fact that you whined about it pleased me greatly.

I really like the OH Trekker. I'm glad I have one with a plain edge, too.

I have the soldiers knife I find it’s a great day hiker tool where weight is a premium. It’s a great camp knife in combo with a folding spoon/ fork or spork . If it a longer stay hike a great companion to a larger fixed blade

Love the channel bro!!! Could you possibly do a trekker vs rangergrip video review?

We keep a one-handed trekker in each of our vehicle emergency (get home) kits. It's primarily our backup to a carried belt knife. We do carry a pair of pliers on a cheaper, (lighter Leatherman... Rev or Skeletool) as well. None of these NEED to be in a pack... all can be carried on belt or in a pocket.

i carry the SAK Camper a smaller non-locking blade but the same but lighter neither will be a primary knife so go with the lighter knife

I have 2 of the older model with a spear point. I also have the spear point forester with a side lock that I really like .I love SAK's. And I carry a climber SAK for daily carry

Swiss Army Ranger Grip 78 is right hand friendly, thumb open and press Swiss Shield 🛡 logo to release lock.

A Leatherman has more tools, but cannot come close in quality of workmanship. People are complaining about the steel quality, but I've used mine for 15 years with no sharpness issues whatsoever. But its a good review.

This knive is basically designed for the swiss military rifle which i think is the reason for the weird philips screwdriver. The swiss military uses the camo version without the thootpick and pliers

Cool video Aaron!👍 The saw wasn’t made for fire starting! Just bring a lighter or other fire starter tools!

I have this package only with a hook likage opener only on the other end from the blade. This is a wonderful thing to own and my wife and I use it every day

They are popular around the world because they mostly are slipjoints. People can carry them

For urban EDC, I ablosute need my Leatherman wave. But for hiking or gereneral wilderness tasks, the Victorinox ist far Superior. The weight, ergonomics are fabulous, and I really never had a problem with the not blocking saw blade...

I've seen that pocket knife for some time now and some other pocket knifes and as of right now the pocket knife i have right now it does not have a small saw. But to have a saw that really will be a real plus when i go fishing i like to at night time someone's and i can start a fire and for some to and a sall saw can come in handy to make some saw shavings on that dry wood to help my fire. And thanks you for showing and telling keep cool and peace to you and your family and friends....

im righty, i just press the liner lock and close the blade on my leg

My victorinox folder with just the blade is a lefty unlock too. I think it's the Spartan. My girlfriend loves it.

ditch the toothpick (u can easily make one in the woods) and put in a little firesteel, than it is an awesome tool for the outdoors I have the Victorinox Hercules, you might want to take a look at that too

I always wanted pliers for undoing knots because I hated eating rope when I couldn't t undo the knots I knew... though knowing a couple of other knots would help , knowing knots which should slip didn't usually slip after being tied all night in the wind...

Shout out to that ant

I have this model, not a bad knife. Mine wasnt as sharp as I would like but didn't take long to get it shaving sharp on a Work Sharp Guided Sharpener

Hey just a thought ! Maybe it’s left handed because it’s not meant to be a primary hand tool ? So they make it easier to access with your off hand ?

The Leatherman is a multitool with a knife. The Trekker is a knife with some tools. If I want to use a knife I prefer the Trekker. If I want the tools I prefer the Leatherman. The knife steel is very good and holds an edge nicely. It is better than most Gerber knives. I don't like Buck in general so I have no comparison.

Well the way you were holding the stick any saw would bind up trying to cut through it. I've never had to baby an SAK saw, just steady object being cut better, problem solved.

Take one stick(1inc), put it on the theeth of the saw, press with thumb that stick when scratch firesteel... Hope you understand😉

I filed down the back of the screwdriver bottle opener. To make a 90° spine It locks and won't collapse on you as your striking hard.

Check out Firefly Strikers. It will replace the toothpick with a fire steel. Really nice swap!

Looking for one unfortunately the smooth blade version does not seem to be available at the moment. Replacing the toothpick with a firefly is a good option for SAK . Looking for other higher vis scale options

I only use pliars outdoors to lift hot pots and pans from the campfire.

I love your videos. Better yet, I think I can actually trust them. I’ve been looking at this knife, For a possible addition to my collection. (My collection of knives and firearms, are for use only! I have no “safe queens!”). I do wish this knife had better better Blade and saw steel. And it would be nice to see a little more mild texture in various areas of the handle. However, After watching your video, I think I’m going to look closer at this knife. I do have several of this company’s red handled “Swiss Army” knives. I Like and use those on a regular basis. However, I always have at least one more serious “modern design” folder, with at least reasonably good steel. However, other than dulling sooner that I would like, I haven’t had any problems with their other knives. I just carry a pocket stone. (I found a new one with diamond one side, ceramic on the other-it’s great! DMT I think) Again, I find that your videos are a great and trustful source of information!

the saw is awesome for striking your Rod 😁

Another you tuber named junkyard fox turned me onto this knife a while back. I’ve used it out in the field it’s been a good little addition. Even comes in handy at work though I don’t think it would replace my multi-tool. I’ve been carrying the Nextool flagship pro multi tool it’s heavy but I love the big scissors along with the pliers. Would you be interested in doing a review on it?

Another pocket tool, that's cool for some, but I think think I'll pass on this one... Have fun. Another good review Aaron.

If you want a more premium version of this you should check out the Ruike LD42 it's pretty much the same knife with 12c27n and g10 handles + it has scissors and it has a pocket clip

I have one, and really like it. I don't mind that the saw does not lock, but wish that the saw actually cut better. I really prefer the japanese type saw blades like a silkie but this should work in a pinch. This will compliment my Gerber 400 multitool rather than replace it. It does replace a small Coghlans Sierra saw and a medium swiss army knife that I never really liked.

Love your vids. A little to picky on A GREAT POCKET KNIFE...

try a victorinox hercules. it has all the tools ( no one handed open tho) plus several more plus it has pliers. i carry one everyday. its a great multi tool

The can opener/screwdriver works well on mid sized phillips screws.

Cool non-serrated one hand Trekker. I have the serrated one, which is the standard model. It's not easy to find the non-serrated one, even on Amazon. Check it out! For a while I refused to buy this knife because I thought I wouldn't like the serrated blade but ultimately I bought it and I'm very happy with it. I understand that sharpening a serrated blade will be a challenge eventually. I really trust Victorinox products.

Good review :) they have a version with option with pocket clip

Seems the NS version has been discontinued. I despise serrated blades. Any idea why they would discontinued the popular version?

I bought the ranger grip 78... wish I got this instead first bow drill I made with it I bent the tip.. it bent back with out breaking but still bugs me.. buyers remorse sucks lol

Need the other Swiss Army model (Rangergrip 78) where the awl has a hole in it.

Sometimes people put a square edge on the large flat driver that is locking to strike the firesteel...

What, Did we do a review of the same knife on the same day, my trekker video is from a week ago too

I carry this exact knife in my work jacket , very useful and better than a leatherman because of weight .

Please check out that knife because I found out that our military now has it. It's anodized plus the scales are OD green and black. I own one and I like it alot. There are you tube videos on it.

I think someone needs to let Swiss Army knives know that other knife steels and handle materials have been invented. They have some cool designs that have a lot of function but every year, they are basically the same. It’s not exactly a cutting edge company

I’d carry that and a leatherman rebar.. good combo

Captain Picard carried this on the bridge of the Enterprise as his EDC. Star Trek, get it? Lol

It's nice, but for the money I would prefer a folding knife with a longer and beefier blade. As I watched you using both the knife and the saw they seemed kind of short and difficult to use. I like small blades and neck knifes, but I find that the reality is that a sufficient length of handle makes any knife much more ergonomic and versatile as an all around cutting tool.

I never had any problems with my Victorinox Bundeswehr, Mauser Knife, or Ranger Grip 57.

Woods= Swiss army city environment = Leatherman for me but def don't carry Leatherman to the woods to heavy and not user friendly lol great video

OWNER OF DIFFERENT MULTITOOL(WAVE SURGE REBAR SUPER TOOL 300,CHARGE,AND VIC SPIRIT)AFTHER YEAR AND YEAR I THINK THE VICTORINOX SPIRIT IS THE BEST OF THE BEST MULTITOOL EVER CREATED

What is your favorite Victorinox and why?

I guess you may like Victorinox RangerWood 55 more 🔪✨ My favourite is Hunter Pro (wood and orange rubber)

Has anyone seen one of these rust? Not me. That's the main advantage of this steel and why people have them for decades.

I get if the super steels are your thing, me personally I like a knife that's not a pain in the ass to sharpen. I have the farmer and hiker models and love them both, of course I have a sheath knife to pair them with. Obviously you shouldn't use a pocket knife for everything, fine tasks such as whittling and food prep are where pocket knives shine. Your sheath knife should handle everything else

I really wish i could have purchased the straight edge only version when i got mine but by the time I jumped on the train, it was only combo blades. It isnt so much the serrations alone that i dislike, it is also the chisel grind :/

Fun little side story my dad's chainsaw died and I took down a 8 inch in diameter sapling, now he doesn't think I am nuts for the trekker as my edc