Widely considered to be the gold standard for ultralight backpacking multitools, this 21 gram pocket knife houses 6 tools in a body that’s only 2 1/4 inches long. However, real-world usefulness of the tools varies widely and the most useful can be replaced by dedicated alternatives which are more functional and just as light.

Stats

  • Make: Victorinox
  • Model: Swiss Army Classic SD
  • Model Year: 2018
  • Measured Weight: 21 grams
  • Date Purchased: 2018-05-19
  • Price Paid: $16.00
  • Usage: 2018 – present

Tools

  • 1 5/16″ non-locking smooth-edge drop-point knife. The knife is short to the point of uselessness and only good for cutting food, tape is best cut using scissors. Used once or twice.
  • Nail file. Might come in handy on longer thru hikes but you can also trim your nails using scissors. Regular folks on shorter trips are better off adding nail care to their pre-trip checklist. Never used.
  • 2.5mm flat head screwdriver. When was the last time you saw a screw in the woods, much less one that needed turning? Never used.
  • 5/8″ scissors. By far the most useful tool, great for cutting Leukotape. Used multiple times on every trip.
  • Flat-tipped tweezers. Handy in a pinch but more functional alternatives exist. Used once or twice.
  • Toothpick. I’ve never had a backpacking situation where there was something lodged in my teeth that I couldn’t remove via brushing or poking at it with my fingers or tongue. Never used.

The only three tools which get any use are the scissors, knife, and tweezers. The scissors can substitute for a knife in many cases and although the tweezers are rarely used when you need them you really need them. Conclusion: the only two tools you actually need are scissors and tweezers.

Alternatives

The Opinel No.02 is an ultralight knife with an imperceptibly longer blade ($10.00, 5g). However, if you’re bringing food that needs a knife (cheeses, cured meats, etc.) consider cutting it up at home and skipping the knife entirely.

The 3″ Cuda mini serrated scissors ($4.95, 20g) have significantly larger handles and a dull tip to keep your gear safe. At a third of the weight another popular alternative is the Westcott 2.5″ titanium sewing scissors ($6, 7g) but beware the sharp tip.

Silver Gripper tweezers have pointed tips which are better at removing splinters than the flat tips on the set that come in the Classic ($4.95, 5g with case). For a dedicated flat-tipped pair in titanium weighing only one gram take a gander at the Ti Tweezers ($12, 1g).

Verdict

If you’re just starting out and the simplicity of a single lightweight “do-it-all” multitool sounds appealing you can’t beat the Classic SD, especially if you’re certain you’ll be using more than a couple of the tools. However, real-world experience shows that for most people a dedicated scissor and tweezer combo will be more functional, cheaper, and possibly even lighter.

Links

History

  • 2020-01-05: Original version.
  • 2020-01-06: Some minor edits (generic scissor/tweezer combo recommendation instead of a specific set, moved meat and cheese example to Alternatives section, etc.).