With its compact size and ample skillset, the Victorinox Rambler is perfect for lovers of the original Swiss Army Classic who want a little extra functionality.
As a GearJunkie reader, odds are you’ve hung one of Victorinox’s multitools from your pack or keychain. When it came time to replace my own long-suffering Classic SD, I was curious to see what else the company had to offer. Enter the Rambler, a $36 upgrade with several new additions to the Classic’s bag of tricks.
Victorinox Rambler Multitool Review
In the mix-and-match world of Swiss Army Knife tooling, few versions offer better balance than the Rambler. Along with the seven mainstays of the Classic (small blade, toothpick, tweezers, nail file, flathead driver, scissors, and key ring), the Rambler manages to cram a wire-stripper, bottle-opener, and magnetic Phillips driver into a nearly identical frame.
The dimensional cost of these added features is minimal — just 0.059″ of height and a scant 0.3 oz. of weight versus the Classic. Altogether, this 1.1-oz. tool packs 11 functions into a space just 2.3″ long and 0.04″ high.
Construction is standard Swiss Army: ABS side scales cover the stainless-steel tools and frame. But, unlike the manufacturers of the no-name multitools found at most retail giants, Victorinox backs the Rambler against material and workmanship defects for life.
One caveat here — if you’re looking for a wide selection of colors, you’re out of luck. Unlike its Classic cousin, the Rambler is only available in red. It’s sort of a perplexing choice, given that the two knives appear to share the same scales.
The Right Tool
The Rambler’s main blade is sharp, and the scissors are hefty enough to snip through a length of paracord. They’ll also serve as adequate nail clippers, should the need for personal maintenance arise.
The file and flathead sit next door, with the grinding surface facing outward. Users will have to reach over the scissors to deploy this limb. This takes a bit of adjustment for those used to the Classic’s inward-facing layout, and could result in additional wear on the exposed portion of the file.
On the blade-side lies the Rambler’s additional appendages: wire-stripper, bottle-opener, and Phillips driver. While you won’t have much luck with large or even medium-size threads, the Phillips will flawlessly turn and capture the smaller screws found on most sunglasses or electronics.
Rounding out the Rambler’s roster are the toothpick and tweezers. If you’ve ever owned a Swiss Army Knife, you know what you’re getting here. The tweezers are sharp and precise, great for delicate tasks like removing splinters. The toothpick is plastic, washable, and easily replaced with spares from Victorinox.
The Right Job
It’s important to consider not just what the Rambler is, but also what it is not. Like most of Victorinox’s smaller multitools, it excels at light-duty use, or as a backup for your sturdier EDC tools. Warranty aside, it isn’t designed for full-on field use.
Yet, the Rambler makes a strong play for its place in the Swiss Army ranks. Its quality construction, affordable price, and carefully considered toolset have made it an indispensable part of my work and wilderness loadouts. Pick one up today for around $36 through your local outdoor retailer or straight from the source at Victorinox’s website.
