Reviews > Knives > Multi-tools > Victorinox SwissTool Spirit > Anthony Smith > Initial Report

Tester Bio
Name: Anthony (TJ) Smith
Age: 30 years old
Gender: Male
Height: 5’10” (1.78 m)
Weight: 160 lbs (73 kg)
Email address: tj@leaess.com
City, State, Country: Pensacola, Florida USA
Date: April 5, 2005

Backpacking Background: I have been camping for a little over 5 years now, mostly car camping. I have recently begun backpacking, and I am constantly adding new gear to my “collection” in an effort to get my gear list tailored more towards backpacking, specifically lightweight backpacking. Most of my backpacking trips are short duration, not more than one or two nights. However, I am planning some longer trips in the near future.

Product Information

Year of Manufacture – 2005
Manufacturer URL – www.victorinox.com
Stated Weight – 7.23 oz (205 g)
Weight as Delivered – Tool 7.34 oz (208 g), Pouch 1.41 oz (40 g)
Size as Delivered – Tool 4.25x0.63x1.38 in (10.8x1.6x3.51 cm)

Initial Information/Observations

I received this item on March 30 2005. Based on the request for testers and the initial information I gathered from the website, I was a bit confused and thought there were some items missing from the package. However, upon further review of the website, I found there are actually several versions of the same basic multi-tool. The additional features I had been expecting are actually included in the Spirit Plus (corkscrew, ratchet and socket bits.) The Spirit arrived in what I am assuming is the retail paperboard box. The box is approximately the size of the tool and sheath, and the tool was packaged in the sheath within the box. Also enclosed were two brochures, one detailing the features of the tool and a second one covering specific operations of a few of the attachments as well as some care and maintenance issues (oiling, care after exposure to salt water.)
The Spirit appears very well constructed and more solid than many other multi-tools I have used in the past. The features as listed on the information from Victorinox are as follows:

There are a variety of other items available for the Spirit, which are included with upgraded models of the tool. However, I feel the remaining items provide a very wide range of options for a tool of this size. The various tools are located on 5 different attachments on each of the two sides of the tool, along with the pliers being their own attachment within the middle of the tool. Each attachment pivots out from the tool in a similar manner to most other multi-tools I’ve used in the past, with a very solid-feeling locking mechanism when fully extended. When the tool is folded open to use the pliers, I feel a solid “click” as they lock into place, although this is not a true “locking” open of the tool. All of the cutting implements appear well sharpened, with the combi-edge blade being sharp enough I was able to shave hair off my arm with it (in addition to nicking my knuckle the first time I used it.) Overall, I am initially very pleased with my initial impressions of the Spirit.

Test Plan

I will be using the Spirit on a variety of trips during the test period, ranging from day trips to multi-night trips. I intend to carry the tool on backpacking treks and car camping adventures throughout the test period. In addition, I intend to carry the Spirit with me for everyday use, hoping to encounter situations allowing testing of aspects that may not present themselves during the camping trips. The environment I currently backpack and camp in presents unique challenges to equipment due to the abundance of fine-grain sand and wide variety of humidity levels. There is also a high salt content in the area due to the proximity to the Gulf of Mexico. This tends to cause most items to wear out differently than in other areas.

Test plan or strategy - The following are a list of issues I intend to explore:
1. How durable is the tool and how well does it handle everyday use, and occasional heavy use? How well does the Spirit hold up under the harsh salty environment of Northwest Florida and Southern Alabama?
2. How easy and self-explanatory are the various attachments on the Spirit? Do I have to constantly refer to the description to remember what some of the less common tools are for, or do they lend to ease of memory? How many of the attachments are so specialized in their functions that they rarely if ever get used?
3. How does the Spirit compare to the other multi-tools I have used and currently continue to use? Is it more functional, less functional, does it fill a different niche? Is the Spirit something easy to carry along on backpacking trips, or is it something I will end up leaving behind due to a lack of functionality when backpacking?
4. Does the Spirit lend itself to being a “Jack of all trades” as many other Victorinox products have become, or is the hype overrated?
5. Any other issues that may present themselves during the test period will also be reported on.

My thanks to Victorinox and BackpackGearTest for allowing me the opportunity to test this item.

Reviews > Knives > Multi-tools > Victorinox SwissTool Spirit > Anthony Smith > Initial Report