Victorinox Explorer review: Is this too much or too little for EDC?

[@roboaffe8770]

for me the Tinker Deluxe is the perfect EDC

[@accoutrements4469]

Deluxe tinker is fantastic! It’s *almost* perfect for me, I just don’t get on with that backside Phillips so much. 🤷‍♂️

[@grovesy333]

Too bulky for me I don’t often need pliers often

[@edgaraquino2324]

The Explorer is a great urban tool...the Huntsman is the country-rural equivalent...If you want to be fully equipped, the Swisschamp will meet your needs, regardless of the "bulk"....personally, I like the minichamp....the Handyman would be perfect for those who do not wish to carry a Swisschamp...however, it lacks an in-line Phillips....if it had one, it would be perfect...Good video! 😊

[@The-Homecook-0000]

I love the compact

[@accoutrements4469]

Thanks very much😊 Yeah the Explorer is a very good one imho 👍

[@accoutrements4469]

Yeah, love the Huntsman for in the woods! I had a Handyman but sent that one back exactly because it lacks the Phillips: if you’re going for a bigger model might as well get the Champ and have the Phillips, I say 👍 Personally I prefer the Manager over the Minichamp but I know the Minichamp has tons of fans! Thank you for commenting 🙂

[@accoutrements4469]

@@The-Homecook-0000yeah the Compact is a good choice for general edc I think: my perfect general edc would take the Compact and add the Phillips and the Pliers 👍 Wouldn’t be nearly as ‘compact’ then though would it!? lol 🤷‍♂️ Thank you for commenting 🙂

[@simonh6371]

If the Handyman had the inline Phillips it would be about 2mm thinner than the Swisschamp, and if I got one I'd suddenly find myself with a bunch of fish I need to scale knowing my luck. In all seriousness though the fish scaler is a handy little prodding implement and can be used as a fork in a pinch.

[@ParkerBinion]

Right there with you! I carried the Manager for years. Love that thing. And I much prefer the in-line Phillips to the back-layer Phillips. Great trick with the paper clip BTW! Would a safety pin work there too? I vacillate between four SAKs for EDC: Pioneer X if I want something thin. Otherwise: Leatherman Free T4, Modeler Plus (Explorer + file & plus scales) and a custom Cyber Companion (Cybertool layer added to Companion). My EDC pocket priorities in order are 1) blade, 2) scissors, T3) file, T3) screwdrivers distantly followed by 5) pliers, 6) saw. The Free T4, Modeler Plus and Cyber Companion are all about the same size and weight. Each is great in its own right. I carry the Cyber Companion the most during the day. The Modeler Plus the most at night (mag glass comes in handy at some restaurants). To each Victorinox, I have attached a Skilhunt EK1 high CRI flashlight. I have a nice Handyman (Climber + pliers, file & saw) which clocks in a little wider at 28mm width (compared to 25mm above) and heavier at 5.5 oz (compared to 4.3 oz above). The Handyman is getting a little weighty and bulky for the sake of "tweezer" pliers. At that size and weight, if I want pliers and a saw I'd rather carry a Spirit MX Clip (7.6 oz).

[@accoutrements4469]

Thank you for commenting 🙂 Yes, a safety pin fits in that position behind the corkscrew as well - I just prefer the paper lip as I always already have a pin in the little slot 👍 Sounds like you have some great tools/system there! I always change around what I carry depending on what I think I’ll be doing on any given day Must say, I sent my Handyman back: I figured if you’re going bigger then just use the Swiss Champ, then you get that great Phillips driver too 👍

[@simon.voggeneder]

Decisions, decisions. As you say, it's always a compromise with these SAKs. These last few months, my EDC consists of a Minichamp in my fifth jeans pocket (or right pocket if I wear a suit) and the Ranger on a suspension clip in the left pocket. If I'm on the go with my backpack, I do not pack the ranger, because I always carry the Swisschamp in my backpack. For me, the combination of the small and large SAK is perfect. I, too, was someone who worried about bulk in the beginning, but I do not even really notice the Ranger on the clip by now. I believe it's largely a non-issue and there are no real reasons not to pack a capable tool like the Ranger, the Explorer or the Deluxe Tinker. I chose the Ranger over the Explorer (which I also own and EDC'd beforehand) because I believe the file/metal saw to be a more useful addition than the inline screwdriver - the can opener can manage most screws and for smaller screws, there's always the driver on the Minichamp.

[@accoutrements4469]

I’d always backed away from larger SAKs until quite recently but you’re quite right, they’re hardly massive items to haul around are they! Especially compared to some of the larger Leatherman tools or suchlike. I think the combo of a 58mm and a larger SAK is probably the optimum choice. I do really love the little Phillips on the 58mm models - has opened hundreds of battery compartments on kids toys, etc. over the years - great for fitting in places other Phillips heads can’t 👍

[@grovesy333]

I think it’s perfect ! I have this in yellow with the plus scales and it’s very none threatening I took this out in London to cut my side nail with the scissors back in the summer in front of a large crowd and no one cared whatsoever

[@The-Homecook-0000]

I just bought the compact, love it..

[@accoutrements4469]

Yeah, the Compact is a great choice! I often carry one too 👍👍👍

[@lmbraga]

Just imagine this model: Blade + Cap lifter layer (like. Waiter) + Scissors layer + Pliers layer + Philips Driver layer. ( I honestly wrote this comment before you got to it in the video :D )

[@accoutrements4469]

Ha - yes I *think* that’s exactly what I’d go for! The combo tool is inferior to the separate opener layer but it saves lots of space and is still pretty useful so I’d settle for that over the separate layer on such a knife. Think I might have to look around at the price of getting one made like this. Thank you for commenting! 👍👍👍

[@lmbraga]

@@accoutrements4469 I've seen some custom knifes where they use the Alox Bantam combo tool, which is a little thicker.

[@ricksandstorm]

I find myself surrounded by torx and hex screws. So I rarely get any use out of philips drivers.

[@accoutrements4469]

Torx and hex are definitely becoming more common now aren’t they, but for general use on an edc item, Phillips are still more likely to be encountered I think. 🤷‍♂️✌️

[@solomonkane408]

I like the explorer and did carry it for months . The compact is still the goat but....swiss mini champ in alox is in my pocket now also try the leather squirt ps4 pliers that are comparable to the deluxe and scissors,file , small slotted ,knife blade . Swiss champ in alox for the win though.

[@FiveRustyNails]

But that's just the problem isn't it? Every Swiss Army knife is perfect if only it just had one more tool, so you upgrade and upgrade until you get to the champ. I currently EDC a Ranger because I love to have the saw, pliers and scissors but if only it had that inline Philips... I suppose that working your way up to the champ would accustom one to an increasingly larger knife and by doing so it may not feel so bulky. Regrettably, my Champ was the second Swiss Army knife I ever acquired and it took me years to fall in love with it.

[@simonh6371]

That's a weird coincidence, about the same time you uploaded this, Slipjoint Sawyer replied to my comment on his Explorer vid, trying to encourage me to get this, terrible enabling behaviour only too typical of all of us SAK addicts. At the moment I'm sat here with the Farmer X and Knipex Cobra XS in my pocket, alongside a Sealey mini ratchet with a small selection of bits, because I always feel faintly uneasy if I don't have the ability to handle recessed Phillips screws which are beyond the reach of the can opener on my SAKs. I often carry the Climber with my Knipex and with that too because of this irrational yet nagging sense of being not adequately prepared, I often add the ratchet or the small Wera driver handle just in case. Please respond telling me I have no need for the Explorer, I must not relapse. Actually I've looked at the Deluxe Tinker too as well as the Explorer and found myself also thinking that a 5 layer with both the inline SD and pliers would be perfect but then it would be pretty much as big as the Swisschamp.

[@accoutrements4469]

Ha ha ha, well, it sounds to me like you almost certainly DO need an Explorer, then you can leave the extra driver kit behind in general everyday situations, thus saving you weight and bulk, thus in turn making your life better! 🤣😉 Seriously though, it’s IS a really good option for edc, and I think more SAKs should have this Phillips driver on them. 👍 Good luck with the addiction!! 🫡

[@accoutrements4469]

Also, the Swiss Champ is 7 layers, so 5 layers would feel considerably less bulky, BUT the Champ really doesn’t feel overly big imho - is a great tool that makes me feel like I’m prepared for every eventuality. Absolute steal from Millets in the uk if you local store has one at £59, as priced online with them! The Cybertool M is also an excellent choice though: that bit driver and incorporated bit holder is really cool. There’s just soooo many options with SAKs isn’t there! 😩👍

[@simonh6371]

@@accoutrements4469That's a great price for the Champ, I bought mine online just over 2 years ago for £57 and that was a bargain then too.

[@YudhishKs]

What about the cybertool m?

[@jamesconroy7030]

The tiny magnifying lens is useless. Don't you already carry a smart phone with a camera? It works great.

[@tomaszdawidziuk8512]

Victorinox Yeoman Mechanic is the perfect edc