I am thinking of buying a spartan lite. I already own a tinker and I love it especially because of the Phillips screw driver.

Now the Spartan Lite has the Phillips on the side and that's what grabbed my attention.



I was curious... Which one do you think is more practical? The tinker phillips or the spartan lite phillips?

Also what do you think of the flashlight of the Spartan Lite? Is it that powerful in the dark?

Cheers

I'd say the Spartan Lite looks to be the better option. I'd like to see the screw driver blade have a longer shaft on it - the same length as the main blade would be good, but even so having it on the end means you can use it in tighter spaces and it comes with the extra functions of a white LED light and the jewelers screw driver.

My only hesitation would be about the water resistance of the LED light. My SAKs go with me when I'm hiking which in the summer time means swimming through mountain streams so they need to be able to handle the outdoors. But if your not taking it into that sort of environment it should be fine.

Thanks KiwiTek... Your review helped a lot...

Water is no concern for me so I think I will go for it...

As regards the flashlight, I have just seen a video on youtube and is quite bright in a dark room...

Thumbs up...

I just watched a review video. It's a 3 layer!! Might even be a 3.5 layer, it's pretty thick. That's changed my mind. I personally don't like 3 layer knives. I find them too cumbersome to carry around in my pocket all the time.

Also the reviewer I just watched said the light is only really good for finding a keyhole in the dark and it doesn't have a lockoff function so it can be pressed on while in your pocket.

Yeah I know, but I already own a climber and I do not find it that cumbersome in my pocket...

Tastes I guess. However still my knife of choice would be the Tinker...

I want to add the Spartan Lite to my collection though

Yeah I know about the light... However check this review and see the light

Youtube Spartan Lite Review

It is in Italian though, but the light efficiency can be clearly shown around 1:20...

The light doesn't look too bad. Not like a flashlight, but OK for finding something in the dark or lighting up a dark corner or something.

Yeah that's what I thought as well...

Will have to order it and check myself

Sounds interesting. Even more to have the whole thing as one product. Still, I would just settle for a Maglite if i was using it. Living in the outdoors, this would naturally not be the choice of knife. But given this in the tech world of today, fits the practicality.

check out this page... I couldn't explain it better than that I guess...

Victorinox Spartan Lite Review

I love SAKS but the lites, imo, are all extremely antiquated with the ongoing and rapid advancement of the technology. Over Christmas I was given a free tiny keychain LED flashlight at the local electronics shop that is so bright & focused that I would not hesitate to use it on a steep mountain trail at midnight.

Great review, thanks for posting the link. Although i applaud the LED implementation, they should have made a better plan to enhance the power of the light. Even an adjustment to control the lense would have made a vast improvement.

If you are looking to carry as little as possible & you need it all in one tool, this might be your best option, but if it is awarding results given the flaws, you might be disappointed.

Let us know how it works for you whenyou get it. Maybe even a LED lighting test. And of course that Phillips screwdriver. With the key chain in the way and all that.

I do not get your point here Joe SAKic. Are you referring to the light addition on the SAK?

Sure I will. Will order it soon and hopefully post a short review (when I find time )

Do you mean the flashlights?

Yes I'm referring to the led beams that Victorinox incorporates into some of their models and for which the name 'lite' is often applied. Calling them a 'flashlight' might be a bit of a stretch though ..... I have 4 or 5 of them in different models and find them too dim for most of my night time endeavors.

"Night time endeavors"? Joe SAKic is a cat bugler. Teehee!

I use to have one of the tiny models with a usb drive in it and a led light. The light wasn't impressive but it was better than nothing and kind cool how they built it in.

Oh gawd yes they're fantastic for cat burgling .... but ever since MacGyver nabbed me, I've changed my stripes and have come over to the good side.

No, I mostly need them for exciting woodland trails after dark and so that I don't stumble on jutting roots &/or poke my eye with wayward branches. They are just a little too insufficient for that et al and the technology (re: battery life, reflector and beam intensity & minute size) coupled with the cheap cost as a result of Chinese manufacture of the latest products make the SAK lites look a little long in the tooth currently.

denizen, after reading some other reviews I think I am not going to buy the Spartan lite after all. Its phillips screwdriver is shorter than the tinker one and, as you correctly indicated, with the key chain in the way, it becomes more shorter for someone to work properly with it.

I have seen the Explorer model with the same screwdriver as the Spartan lite but it is on the other side of the key chain. However I do not need that much tools on my EDC knife.

However, thanks everyone for your input. I guess the tinker was, is and will remain my EDC knife of choice...

Egads WHAT?! China you say? Is nothing sacred?! I was pretty sure my old usb model was Swiss made, even the electronics I thought. Wow. I think Mac would be ashamed, considering China's shining history of human rights and virtual slave labor.

The last time I had a tool replaced under warranty at Sears I noticed the new one was labeled China. There's not much left that isn't, pretty soon our food will come from there as well.

No, the sak lites aren't being made in China (althought the LEDs may well be) perse ..... but the competition that you can find at most Dollar stores are .... and they are exceptional for their price tag. Incidentally, I just found an LLBean Flashlight that incorporates a windup generator for power and with options for 1 or 3 LEDS ,,,, at the local thriftshop for $1.99. Mac would be impressed with those eco gizmos one would think.

In my opinion the phillips srewdriver is much easier/better to use when it's like in victorinox explorer, champion or swisschamp knife models. In older models of swisschamp, champion and explorer phillips blade is longer than present ones. I have noticed over the years using the can openers little srewdriver blade is very good for phillips head screws, so then you don't need more than two layer victorinox knife and it doesn't have to be tinker model.

denizen, after reading some other reviews I think I am not going to buy the Spartan lite after all. Its phillips screwdriver is shorter than the tinker one and, as you correctly indicated, with the key chain in the way, it becomes more shorter for someone to work properly with it.

I have seen the Explorer model with the same screwdriver as the Spartan lite but it is on the other side of the key chain. However I do not need that much tools on my EDC knife.

However, thanks everyone for your input. I guess the tinker was, is and will remain my EDC knife of choice...

Hey no sweat. There are dozens of models out there and each to their own. Had the Spartan Lite been more soughtly planned, hence no key chain and adjustable light, it might have been a thorough winner.

Personally, I love the Phillips screwdriver on the Tinker. Probably would have preferred it on the side instead of the middle but its not a train wreck.

I m not planning on going to the desert with just a SAK attached so I think I will survive.

Guess what ... I just got a present from my wife

The Explorer and The Spartan Lite

I can say that I am really happy.

The light on the Spartan Lite is really good in the dark (and not just to find the keyhole). You can easily find your way in the dark.

Both have the inline phillips screwdriver.

But the Explorer model does not have the key chain in the way.

Still have to use both knives to give a good review...

What do you guys prefer: 1. the Inline Phillips or the BackSide Phillips?

Hey hey! Thats awesome, Bert. Good to know about the Spartan's light. Something to consideer then...

I prefer the Phillips' Tinker screwdriver. Wishe that specific one was used for other models that have it on the side.

Thanks for your opinion mate