Hi, I am a long time (from time to time) reader, first time poster. Yes, this is another multitool question, but I think my question is relatively specific, and I would very much appreciate your advice.

I used to have a Leatherman Wave (old style), courtesy of my husband, who ows a PST. I really liked it, but when it was stolen I could not justify buying a new one, because I did not use it that much. Now I have a child, and I like to be better prepared. I want a tool that has excellent scissors, and this is what keeps me from buying the new Wave. I have a Gerber Shortcut, whose scissors I like, but I still want my 'real' multitool to have good scissors too. The other tool that is important to me is a good can opener. I liked the one on my wave a lot. The one on my shortcut (combined with a screwdriver) is useless. I like an awl as well. I do not habitually carry a seperate knife, so it would be nice if the knife was okay as well (for day to day use I will mostly use it to slice/cut fruits and vegetables). I need to be able to access the tools quickly, and I care about quality.

I am not a particularly handy person, I doubt I will use the screwdrivers much, and I cannot imagine when I would use a saw. On the other hand, one of the reasons I want a (good) multitool is that I want to be a little better prepared for emergencies, so it is not a problem to carry some tools that I will not use much.

I thought of the Swisstool Spirit, I have read a lot of good reviews for that. Would you recommend that, or is there another (possibly lighter) multitool that might suit me better?

I have an old style Wave, and The Swiss Tool Spirit and the Swiss Tool-X, and others, but these 3 are the better suited of the multi tools I own to your questions, so I will confine my reply to these.
Out of these three I like the Wave scissors the best, followed by the Swiss Tool-X then the Spirit. The Spirit seems to be left handed scissors which I find a little off putting.
Both of the Swiss Tools have the same can opener, and it is far better than the Wave's which you already like.
The Wave's knife is easier to use one handed, but it doesnt stay as sharp as the Swiss Tools blades, and the Spirit has a funny blade which you may not like. I suggest you try handling a Spirit before you buy one to see if you like it. The Swiss Tool-X seems to have the better blade of the 3.
Both the Swiss Tools have an Awl as well, which the Wave does not.
The Spirit is around the same size as the Wave, but the Swiss Tool-X is slightly bigger.
From what you describe, I think either the Spirit or the Swiss Tool-X would suit you well, but I would try the Spirit first if I was you just to see if you like it. The Swiss Tool-X might be getting a little too big for your liking, but I think it is slightly better out of the two. The Swiss Tools are built better than my Wave, and with better steel.
I dont like the new Wave very much and I still havent made my mind up weather I will try a Leatherman Charge yet.
If you have any other questions other questions about these, fire away and I'll try to answer them the best I can.

You could try a leatherman micra plus a p-38 (can opener). The micra scissors are the best edc scissors I have found and P-38 are real easy to get via the internet.

I have a Swiss Spirit. It's a great tool, with small but excellent scissors. Still, it's mainly a pair of pliers. The can opener is the standard SAK model, which works well but not as well as the p38.

I have a Leatherman Micra. The scissors are the main tool on this, and they're not bad, but they aren't as nice as the Swiss Spirit scissors. On the other hand, they're a bit bigger, and that can make up for a lot. No can opener. Leatherman just doesn't feel as nice in the hand as the Victorinox products, either.

My wife carries a schrade multitool, about the size of the original Leatherman, which has scissors with 2 inch blades in place of pliers. The scissors are at least as good as the Micra's. Unfortunately, I don't think these are available any more.

If a feel of quality matters, and small scissors in a big package are OK, I'd recommend the Swiss Spirit. I really like mine; far better than the Gerber multitool it replaced, or the Leatherman I've borrowed in the past.

If you want compact, I'll agree with the other fellow who suggested a Micra and a p38.

Thanks! Now I am even more unsure <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> I am worried by your description of the spirit's knife feeling left-handed: that does not sound good. You are right that I should try them, but they are so much more expensive around here than when I buy them over the internet (about 100 dollars vs 50 including shipping), that I was hoping to be able to buy it without trying.

Thanks, I'll look into those P-38 can openers, they might come in handy anyways. However: I think I did not make this clear, but I do want a tool with pliers. They do not need to be super good, but I like them for bending and 'picking' (difficult to explain what I mean in english) small things.

Thanks! It seems like you disagree with biggzie, who described the scissors as left-handed? I have not seen anyone who was really disappointed with the Spirit, and the price (online) is great as well, so maybe I should just take the plunge, and if I do not like the scissors at all I can give it to my husband (who refuses to replace his original PST because, well, it still works).

Let me explain this a bit better. I was reffering to the scissors. If you pick up a pair of scissors, point it away from you, the left blade is the lower blade and the right blade is the cutting edge that moves down. On the spirit, the left blade is the upper blade that has the cutting edge that moves down.
Im right handed and when I cut my finger nails the spirit is the easiest scissors I own to cut my right hand because of this. They are good scissors, but for normal use they seem to me as being the wrong way around but they still work well.
I may have given the impression that the Spirit is a lesser tool than what it really is. It is a really good multi tool. Next to my Swiss Tool-X it isnt quite as good for me, and that is what I was trying to get accross.
I have no doubt that if you liked your Wave you will like the Spirit.
By saying try before you buy. Do you have any shops that sell it? If you do, go and have a quick look. You dont have to walk out of the shop with it.
I bought mine from a dealer in Australia selling on ebay and I saved $60 Austalian dollars than the local retailers. Thats almost as much as the price difference you quoted. I bought it without trying or reading any revues of it. I knew it would be a good quality tool and I wanted one a little smaller than my other Swiss Tool. I also had to buy a second Spirit 4 days after it arrived because one of my mates liked it as soon as he picked it up. He is also left handed.

I hope I cleared it up a bit.

Note there's a bigger version of the P-38 called the P-51, which is a lot easier to use. It's a couple cm longer and weighs maybe a couple grams more. Unless you're after total miniaturization I'd go for the P-51.

I've been EDCing a Leatherman Micra for the last year or so... Although I did not really abuse it, the scissors are starting to show their age. I've tried cutting a small wire once and the scissors have been performing badly since. Maybe they just need sharpening, I don't know. I might retire the Micra to a small PSK. <img src="/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

I'm looking at the Victorinox Rambler or Manager as a replacement (maybe a Leatherman Squirt)...