The Victorinox Manager is the best mini. It is basically a Rambler with the pen. You get the tweezers, pen, knife, nail file & flathead screwdriver, scissors, the bottle opener, crosshead screwdriver and the wire stripper. Perfect keychain knife.
Totally agree. In 2019 I bought a blue Victorinox Manager. it has been on my keychain ever since then. It has everything I need. I also carry the Nightcore Tini 2 torch. I’m still looking for a better torch. (I’m not looking for a better multi tool😊)
@@Probelem619 if it's the plastic bits you can replace them and even get new colors. i don't really know where to buy them though. victorinox calls them "scales" if that is any help.
@@5HeadDestroyer Thanks, i had a plan to get a cheper version and swap the "case/scales" at first but the thing to push out the pen is also broken so i gave up :). Still EDC it though.
@@MarcusCreates Hi ,new subscriber here...Great video ... my own favourite sak is without doubt the ranger .( 43 quid ,NO BRAINER ) The " cuticle pusher " Is obviously a cocaine spoon ..😅😂
The manager is my favorite edc tool, and if I didn't car about the pen, and alox rambler should be perfect. The fact that neither are in production is a shame.
Hi Marcus, long timer viewer first time commenting. The tool on the MiniChamp that you refer to a as seatbelt cutter is actually an orange peeler. The Victorinox orange peeler is found on a few 2 1/4" (58mm) Swiss Army knives. It's a small tool with a notch and a sharp edge on the inside side of the notch, which slices when you pull on the tool cutting the skin of an orange but not the fruit. FOUND ON: Victorinox Midnight MiniChamp Victorinox MiniChamp Victorinox Pharmacy Knife (retired) Victorinox Vagabond (retired)
I think the orange-peeler is (was?) also on the “Executive”, which I used as my fishing companion - its scissors I used for cutting nylon. Other tools when eating my lunch!
Years ago I carried the mini champ on my keys, but over time found that I used only a few of the tools regularly… so for the past 8-9 years I’ve been carrying the rambler on my keys. Of course, i switch out the scales to make it more ‘mine’.
@@Ryan.KooperThat spoon is great for loosening really tight jar lids, as a shim for opening paint cans, as a flat head screwdriver, or (if you sharpen the end) as a chisel when you need to shape wood/plastic.
@@jotan4u2 Agree completely. Mini Champ for the win in my book. The only thing I haven't used is the ruler, but I have a spool of thread wrapped around it and a sewing needle tucked inside the tweezers which I've used for shirt buttons that have come loose. I'm always amazed at how so many grown men can complain so much about having one extra tool that they can't figure out a use for on a utility smaller than their pinky finger. 😂
Great video. I was going to mention the standard Manager only to see others beat me to it. I’m surprised it’s discontinued. I think it has the best selection of useful tools without superfluous bulk. Pen+tweezers are the best scale tool combo for me, and The small Phillips + bottle opener blade is great. I have an Alox Minichamp but I feel the 4 additional blades on the Minichamp series just don’t add enough actual functionality.
I actually ended up ordering a Manager after this video because it’s the best overall combo of tools for the smallest size. It’s a pity they discontinued it and an even bigger pity how expensive they are now. But worth having in the collection for $45 I reckon.
Surprised too. Standard manager is what I carry, but I created one from a rambler buy retrofitting the pen into it-because unfortunately, its discontinued.
I have victorinox saks I like them but But What the Fck happens with them ? Why they do not want to give to people all the possibilities no manager anymore ? Are you sadists ? Maybe you are propably your grandparents were nazis but nevertheless we pay you for your products Can I have a ranger without scissors ? -nooot Can I have an a 130 ranger big sack with a file - Nooot Can I have a handyman with a Philips -nooot
Great video. My favourite 58mm is the discontinued manager. It has the pen and also the tweezers or the toothpick but not both. You can still buy manager scales and convert a rambler to manager and have the pen.
I didn't realise they'd discontinued the manager! I bought one for my wife as a fun gift when she was promoted to manager. I also bought the rambler for my daughter on her Duke of Edinburgh expedition as it's so useful whilst being very unthreatening. One of the best qualities of Swiss army knives as EDC is they're familiar and unthreatening to most people if you take it out in company.
I was just going to say the same thing. Through trial and error I realized that I needed the bottle opener, scissors, pen, tweezers, and the blade. No need for the toothpick and the light was way less useful than having a separate tiny flashlight. The Victorinox site has the Manager listed as Out of Stock currently as it also was June of '21 when I came across it. Not certain about the time in between.
Yeah I did a similar thing. I bought a midnight manager, removed the flashlight scale and replaced it with a regular one so I could still carry tweezers
The midnight Manager also includes the Pen! (The rambler that you're comparing it to often in the video does not) This is the one I've been carrying around for over 15 years now, it pre-dates my cell phone lights, and at the time having a light was amazing, although I agree it's probably not as necessary now - then pen though it wonderful in a pinch. I've been in plenty of post office and other goverment lines where there's some form to fill out and it's my only pen!
For me the rambler is the sweet spot it’s got all I generally need without the additional size. Though I have got midnight manager that I find useful on occasion. Another great video Marcus 👍
I have used many Swiss Army knives over the last 50 years but by far the most useful is the classic which I've always known as a pen knife (the blade is designed to make quill pens) the flat head screw driver can be used as a Phillips in a pinch and the scissors ✂️ can be used for God knows how many things the file is diamond and the pink 🩷 ones make great gifts for the girls in your life.😊
I just picked up a Midnight Manager. I bought it primarily to use in my office when I am depositing checks with my phone. I'll use the Midnight Manager's light to shine onto the endorsement side of the check so the remote deposit goes through. The bank's app often says it can't detect the endorsement so the extra light helps. This compact knife fills in well with features I don't have on my 44 year old Fisherman Swiss Army knife. I just cleaned and oiled the Fisherman and it still functions like it did when it was new.
Loving the channel! I wanted to get my wife a multitool for the holidays. Her most used tool in her grooming kit, by a mile, is the cuticle pusher. Just learned the mini champ had these and bought one immediately. She loves it and now I need one too haha
Victorinox Signature is my favourite with a pen inside I bought it years ago and having an emergency pen was next to the small knife the most useful feature.
Spot on. I've probably got a dozen SAKs and multitools around the house, but the two that I use all the time are the Rambler in the door handle of my car, and the alox Minichamp on my keyring.
Very well presented . I have owned the Classic in black . I have owned it for about 9 years and no problems . Next time , the Rambler will be my choice . I will be subsribing to your excellent channel .
I got a Midnight Manager three days ago, and it has the Rambler tools, the pen, and the light. I think it's perfect. I think the model without the light has been discontinued.
I have three EDC Victorinoxs with me: A Forester, a Huntsman and a Nail Clip 580. The Huntsman is always first and clipped into my pocket. The Forester is the last stored deeply in my bag. Because of these two knives I don't need all the tools again in a mini version. The Nail Clip 580 is the real champ for me in the mini line.
I'm wearing Rambler with my keys for the last 10 years or so, still in very good condition ( except scratches on celidor scales). I've even managed to smuggle it trough the airport security, I guess European airport security is not that thight as TSA 😀
The nice thing about the light, is it’s on the same side as the pen, so it’s super useful if you need to write in the dark. I have run into that a few times, and was glad to have the light.
The normal manager is the rambler with the pen added, which IMO makes it the top pick. I like it better than the one with the light (midnite manager) as the light just adds bulk and removes the tweezers. I also think the classic is a strong contender. It's a great example of pure minimalism and elegance in design. It's so thin and light you will never know it's in your pocket and has all the essential tools (minus a pen).
The toothpick is pretty useful when you have to poke around in cavities other than in your teeth. The lightning connector on my iPhone for example, it tends to collect lint which blocks the connector.
It’s the Minichamp and the Rambler for me. The Jetsetter is an honorable mention because I’m a traveler. I would carry it with an empty keychain utility knife and just buy a new blade when i land and put it in. Razorblades are cheap, easy to find, and very useful.
One I think you've missed, and if we bend the rules a bit, the Nail Clip 580. It is slightly longer than the standard 58mm size. Includes knive, nail file with a point, serated scissors with a lever, toothpick, tweezers, and the best nail clipper I have ever had. Hang nails no more! Paired up with a keysmart hook, it is still nearly un-noticeable in a pocket. The scissors are divisive for some, but i prefer to the spring.
:) I did think about it, but it's one of those things. I prefer using the scissors on the 58mm for nail trimming and have never been a fan of the traditional clippers. It's also, as you say, a slightly larger pocket knife. But thanks for sharing and glad you have something you love.
Yes! When I saw this one with the nail clippers, I got it immediately! I get hangnails a lot even though I moisturize often. If Victorinox offered customization, I think I’d get rid of the knife in my Nail Clip 580 and replace that with the Philips screw/bottle opener. That should make it suitable for air travel.
I got a Manager on ebay two years back. It is a Rambler with a pen instead of the toothpick. I'd love if Victorinox would someday figure out an alox scale with the pen so I could have a Manager in Alox.
Great Video I honestly enjoyed this, I personally own both Mini Champ and Mini Champ Alox, and used to EDC the first with the compact, but then opted to the Bantam Alox since it fits in my wallet, and Alox mini with my own twist for tweezers and pen. Also that tool you talked about is labeled as an orange peeler and scraper, works great as both and as bonus can open those welded plastic packaging without injury to you or the item inside.
Ah yes. I remember now. When I did the video on my Alox Minichamp a bunch of people informed me it’s an orange peeler. Either way, super powerful little tool.
@@fastandcurious I carry a Bantam Alox and a rite in the rain bullet pen in a wallet from Tale of Knives called the mini bandit shadow, and the tweezers are in my keyring next to the mini champ, Uncle Bill's silver grippers, since I only have about 2 keys at all times, I have plenty of space.
Alox Minichamp FTW. The "orange peeler" will zip through seat belt, leather, textiles, plastic... just punch through and pull. Sharpen the cuticle pusher and you can scrape stickers off surfaces. Turn the end of the file into a mini flathead. With a keychain flashlight and a full size folder you now have a perfect EDC!
I carry a rambler with a RovyVon A8 on a small pocket clip. Amazing pair and fits into the 5th pocket of my jeans and the weight is almost unnoticeable
@@scottfechtig9668 Just some generic clips sold in packs of 5 on amazon, temu, ebay etc. I know the keysmart nano clips are popular but they're way overpriced for being a bent piece of steel
The Rambker and the Manager are the same tool set, except the Manager has the additional ballpoint pen. If you are interested in the Rambler, I would look into the Manager.
I have one floating around somewhere that is decades old and has a corkscrew on it. These days I don't need the corkscrew much, but that pen is tempting.
As a college professor the midnite manager@work was amazing. I used a fountain pen as my main pen, but I always had that sak as a back up in case I left it at my desk. Had a light for getting behind podium desktops to find the proper port. Has a USB a OR c for my presentation, then had the whole rambler toolset for everything else I could need!
The Philips screw driver is the tool I use the most! I carry with me a standard sized Victorinox (90 something mm) but after getting the Manager I always carry both - the tip of the screwdriver is the best I ever used, even better than ones made by companies that specialise in precision drivers, it single handedly got me to carry the Manager (and the pen is a huge bonus, considering my 90mm doesn't have one)
Rambler, has the functions I need but, can be submerged in water for a deep clean followed by a few drops of food grade oil. Thanks for the video, good content.
I discovered the Signature shortly before they discontinued it and it’s been my favorite 58mm for over a year. Although I really like the combo tool on the manager, I find that the flathead screwdriver on the classic works fine on every small Philips screw I’ve ever thrown at it, making the primary use of that tool a bit redundant. I did carry the minichamp for about a year and yeah it’s great, just a little more than I need.
I have several Midnight Manager @Work with the 32Gb very nice way of take the office with you daily. both USB-C and USB-A, very nice and with Ventoy installed it can be a complete mobile office. I carry atleast 2 daily
Hello Marcus ! I really enjoyed this comparison, thank you very much ! My favorite Victorinox in this catergory and which I luckily own has not been mentioned, certainly because it's unfortunately discontinued : the Manager ! It's the perfect one for me and it's moreover beautiful with its translucent blue scales 😃 have a great day 🌿🌸
I carry a Classic one every day and i use it 5 Times a day ! So handy. Just bought a Signature one for my dad (without the light) for 15 euros, and might take one for me too when the first one is Lost ;)
I'm on my 2nd Mini-Champ, i used the orange peeler to try and pick a lock and, well that's why i bought the 2nd. You really should use your toothpick, keeps your immune system in tip-top condition. The Midnight Manager is tempting, as a little pressie to myself. Good video.
Thanks for your continued entertaining and informative efforts Marcus. My 58mm favourites are the Alox Minichamp which is thinner and more compact than the cellidor version albeit without scale tools. The other is (perhaps discontinued) the plain cellidor Manager. Both provide great use case options.
Mine are always attached to the keychains and I switched to the alox versions after scratching them with the keys and sometimes breaking the plastic ones. It is worth the small premium you pay.
As many have also commented the regular Manager is still my top pick and in my EDC most days. My second most carried one is actually the Rally, because its nice and light, and usually paired with a larger 91mm in my pocket that has a scissors (who only carries one SAK ;) anyway). Ive also modded my Rally by swapping the toothpick scales for the one with a pen, so now its actually the same as a discontinued model called the Talisman. My first 58mm was actually the Minichamp which was my EDC knife for a few years, but find it too bulky and heavy for the number of tools I actually use. I also agree that the flashlight is not really worth it on a SAK.
Not sure what to call it other than the Lumberjack deluxe. I love having my saw, and scissors, along with all other functions. It has been a part of my everyday carry for 17 years.
I carry and use the Rambler every day. If I need something larger, and, perhaps, the caplifter/screwdriver - can opener/screwdriver, I go with the Evogrip 14 - which has everything the Rambler has at the larger size, 84 mm, with the larger blade and the cap lifter/can opener tools…and the corkscrew (with a place for the jeweler’s screwdriver) and the awl/reamer. For everyday use, those two have everything I need.
great video comparison. One correction regarding manager and midnight manager: You said tweezers and light, but its named manager bacause of the pen you have there so manager is rambler + pen (and either tweezers or tooth pick on other side , you get both in the box) and midnight manager is rambler + pen + light IMO the best you can have is Manager, but its sadly discontinued. i ordered one but its was out of stock after the purchase and midnight manager arrived instead :D cant be mad for getting more expensive knife... but in conclusion, i recomend Rabmbler or Midnight manager if you can find regular Manager in stock. Mini champ i feel like you just carry o lot more bulk and weight and you never need the other tools and the price differance between rambler and minichamp is crazy and they do the same thing
My favourite that I always carry on my keychain is Victorinox Manager (no Midnite, no at work) it's basically a Rambler with a pen and you loose the toothpick. All I need and not too clunky. Luckily in EU you can take one of those small folks with blade on board and I always do.
For me, the Minichamp is the absolute best. I've been carrying the alox version for about 3 years now and loving it. Doubt I'll ever need/want anything else. Funnily enough, I actually use ALL the tools on it regularly. I do a lot of work with camera rigs, and I use the long edge of the cuticle pusher to tighten down or loosen tripod plates.
I like the midnight manager at work one.. I hate having to carry a dedicated USB in my EDC bag.... I usually use the thumb drive to put birth certificates pictures important information car titles and stuff... that way I always have a copy with me in case I get robbed or something I can show my ID still kinda and have those things on me.... anyways I'm a newer sub and wanted to say thank you I watched your other premium EDC carry and saw this one... anyways thanks have a great day😎👍
Great comparison. For me the new version of the Midnite Manager is near perfect and I use mine 2/3x per day! The pen is used just for emergencies. The flashlight is perfect for finding something dropped at night.
The midnight manager also has the ballpoint pen as well. So the rambler with a light and pen. Had it for years and truly does tick most boxes. Seems like the best of both your top choices.
It trades the tweezers for the light. Even at the same price point I would prefer tweezers. There was another option just called "Manager" without the "Midnite" before, which was the Rambler + a pen (but no light), which would have been the ideal choice for me. But they discontinued it and it was of course sold out immediately.
I carried the Midnight Manager for many years but have switched to the Swisscard Nailcare plus the Bantam Alox. For air travel I can just leave the Bantam at home or put it in my checked luggage. I always felt the blade on the small Victorinoxes was a bit too small and the size of the Bantam is perfect. The Swisscard includes a magnifying glass which I find very useful, a pin, the standalone scissors which I find easier to use and a glass nail file which does a better job than the metal one. I never use the Victorinox toothpick as a toothpick but find it useful for other things, pushing in small buttons, prying out small parts, etc. If you did want to use it as a toothpick you could carry some small alcohol wipes with you and clean it before putting it away.
I’ve never carried a Swisscard but I keep meaning to pick one up. I’ve been traveling throughout Europe this past couple of weeks and you can purchase them through airport security. TSA has made things so hard here in the US.
So, I'm a person who doesn't manage to open bottles with a lighter, furthermore I don't smoke so I don't have a lighter. I like me a litl bottle opener, so I'm more inclined for the Rally than the Classic SD, the screw driver is neat to and bonus points for being cheaper :D I think I can get away without the scissors. So that's who the Rally is for
Very nice video! I really love my Rambler., but I'll be honest that i got it because i wanted a manager, but I thought that was too expensive! I have a manager now and i think it's a fabulous toolset. BUT I have to give a HUGE shout out to the Signature, which has all the most used tools plus the pen - its smaller size makes it the best keychain knife IMO.
I think the Manager is a fantastic knife if you can get it for the right price. I ended up paying $45 for mine which is too much, but I really wanted it in my collection. They come up on eBay every now and then too for more reasonable money. Glad you love the Signature. There really is one for everyone.
For me the Rambler has the absolute perfect combination of tools. It has everything that I need in my everyday use, except for a flashlight, but for that I have my lumintop frog, since it's way more powerful than anything Victorinox offers in a tiny package.
I appreciate/enjoy nearly all the Victorinox models but the 58mm models are my favorite and most carried. I am really enjoying my new Midnite manager but still love the rambler as well for size/what you get. Thanks for the video!
The Ralley lives on my keychain and several places around my house. Never got the appeal of tiny scissors on a miltitool. Most scissor tasks that go well with these tiny ones are ok to do with the knife.
Alox Minichamp is impressive bc it becomes very thin for how many tools you have since Alox gets rid of the scales functions. Also I like some of the more unique tools that i get creative for using, as well as the double knives to have a utility one and a precision one to be kept sharp!
As @MB_EDC recently pointed out on his channel, the light is actually interesting in combination with a tool. Thereby it can help you writing or cutting / slicing in the dark. As the light is barely bright enough enough for such an activity, it might not wake up your fellow campers or your spouse. It still is a function I would rarely use, because I carry headlamp or a torch which can ve attached to a hat for example. But... And for those owners of a Ramber or other Vic 58mm who wish to have a torch or a pen, why not buy those scales and apply them yourself - it really is super easy. Scales for the 58mm pen version plus a spare pen cost less than 5€ over here in Europe and very likely around the same in the US / CAN. Same for the torch, although those scales might be a bit more expensive then the pen ones - I have never bothered to check.
That’s a good suggestion. I think I’m going to do a custom 58mm rambler with copper scales and a pen. Don’t need a flashlight as, like you, I always have one
Great video. They discontinued my initial favorite, the Manager which is a Rambler with pen scales. Then I found the discontinued Vagabond. It adds the emergency blade and orange peeler from the MiniChamp but not the ruler or cuticle pusher. It is my current favorite. I added a retractable pen to it.
Love my mini champ but I have the lighter allox version. It doesn’t have the pen but I prefer both the look of it and the weight saving. I actually use the cuticle pusher (which I’ve also heard be called an orange peeler) for opening coin turns such as fuse boxes and also as a light duty pry tool. Good video and nice to see them all laid out.
The orange peeler is a different tool (referred to in this video as the seat belt cutter). Alternative names for the cuticle pusher usually refer to illicit drug use.
What you guys call the cuticle pusher is NOT the orange peeler. The Orange fruit peeler is what the presenter called the Seatbelt cutter. And why don‘t you guys stick to the names from the manufacturer, but decided to give the tools new names no one else than you uses to call them?
Great video... informative. So I went to a garage sale today. I live in the usa and i usually dont see pocket knives for sale, but today as i was looking around i stumbled upon a small green see through Keychain swiss army knife sitting on a table that was used and functioned well and everything worked, so i asked the guy selling it how much and he said $1 so i got it, so when i got home and started looking at it more under a light and not realizing what i got, i was surprised what was stamped on the tang, it said wenger, i new right away this is a collectable knife because victorinox bought out wenger in 2005. Upon researching this knife i found it is a wenger esquire. It has a small knife and a file and also serrated scissors. Thought this was a cool find and definitely keeping it.
You forgot about my favorite mini; the victorinox 580. It has nail clippers, and I use the clipper the most by far out of the included knife and scissors.
The rambler has by far been the best and last pocket knife I have ever purchased. I’ve bought soooo many knives that I’m like this will be the last knife I ever buy and I’ll carry it forever everyday.. yet a week later it’s in the junk drawer. The rambler however truly is the only knife I carry everyday for over a year now and I have yet to buy another pocket tool. It’s the perfect size for that little mini watch pocket on jeans and the right size to go unnoticed yet you know it’s there. I’ve tried the classic but the weight from the rambler is perfect and actually gives it substance plus has all the main basics covered. I’ve used every tool many times on a regular basis. It’s also the only one (minus the mini champ) that has the blade on the opposite side of the keychain ring (which is actually more important than you would think. It’s perfect.
Great video. These 58mm are the perfect size to always have with you and the Minichamp is definitely my choice. I have found a good use for the cuticle pusher and that opening up plastic cases like car fobs. It doesn’t mar the edges like a flat screwdriver or knife. I agree 100% about the light. That is actually one of the few Victorinox tools that I have been disappointed in. The couple I had broke over time. Also agree about the USB drive, Dropbox has killed the need to have one with me all the time. I really wish Victorinox could produce these knives with Alox and scale tools, since the cellidor gets scratched up carrying on your key chain.
The Manager is on my keychain. I wish the Jetsetter had the nail file added in. I used to take the Leatherman Style PS on planes, but got stopped so often even putting it in a separate bin and opened up that I just switched to Jetsetter. The flashlights on them are so dim I just rely on my phone or watch instead. But usually carry a Rovyvon A8.
If the 58 mm has only a slot for one scale tool both are included in the box (tweeters and toothpick). The light/flash and pen scales come without these tools. So I made cases for all the range with a "pocket" for tools that don't fit on the scale and added a pin. The Alox SD and Alox minichamp, Minichamp lite and Midnite manager scales do not have tools so I purchased these separated to include them. The Onyx black for reasons irrational and unknow includes a ruler instead of a nail file. A nail file from the Swisscard stored in the case fills the gap (unfortunately not in black). Model Height Weight Companion 5.6mm 15g Classic Alox 6.1mm 16g Classic 8.88mm 21g Classic SD 8.88mm 21g Signature 10.26mm 23g Rambler 10.50mm 30g Lite 10.84mm 23g Manager 11.88mm 32g Signature Lite 12.20mm 25g Midnight Manager 13.80mm 32g Mini Champ 14.68mm 46g Midnight Champ 16.58mm 47g I agree that the best upgrade to the Classic SD is the Rambler. The Philips tool is useful. In the end I went for the 74mm Executive (in black) for the larger scissors, nail file and blade. An Executie plus with the Rambler Philip screw driver would be perfect and room to add another tool perhaps. Too easy to get feature bloat however in the larger 91mm Mountaineer, Ranger and Handyman don't replace the Champ.
For my case and use, the Manager is the perfect 58mm SAK. It is a Rambler with a pen, basically! Sadly, as of 2023, it's been discontinued (beats me why...!)
The USB on the Midnight manager @work is great for keeping copies of identity documents if you are prepping for a bugout during a disaster. Going to look for it and it’s going into my bug out bag!
I have the mini-champ, I carry it along with my Leatherman Charge as it fills in a lot of gaps. I carry a proper torch, a definite daily essential. Toothpick is a life saver for gently removing the fluff out of USB sockets in phones & things that gather it from pockets & bags to block the port.
I wish they made the pen scales from the Manager/Signature in more colors… I’ve got a few Ramblers where I’ve swapped out the scales, as I love the bottle opener/screwdriver tool… but a pen sure would be nice 👍
i live in Europe and also wanted not red scales. I searced a little bit and I found an "EuroKnife" internet shop. They offered The Signature Lite with translucent scales. I got that knife. I have listened- Victorinox offer of scale's colours is different in different regions.
