Is the Victorinox Swiss Army Compact the perfect EDC knife? Maybe.

REVIEW – The Victorinox Swiss Army Compact Pocket Knife

The Victorinox Swiss Army Compact EDC knife makes a strong case for being the best pocket knife as well as the folding knife you carry above all others. Being produced by Victorinox, arguably the best pocket knife brands of all time and complete with 15 functions stored in a pocket-friendly two layer design, the Victorinox Compact is a pocket knife that needs recognition. In this post we’ll discuss the features and benefits of the Compact and why I continue to reach for it time and time again.

Functions

• Blade, large
• Scissors
• Bottle Opener
• Can Opener
• Screwdriver, 5mm
• Corkscrew
• Multipurpose hook
• Mini screwdriver 1.5mm
• Wire Stripper
• Pin
• Pressurized ballpoint pen
• Tweezers
• Toothpick
• Key ring
• File

Swiss Army Compact Main functions

The main reasons this pocket knife continues to find itself in my hand are plenty. The blade size is ideal for opening packages, cutting fruit and food, removing clothing tags, and much more. A well made knife blade does not need much justification. What does need pointing out is how easily it is to forget you have it in your pocket – in a good way. I’ve carried many pocket knives through the years and as many people will tell you there is nothing more frustrating than always feeling like you are carrying a pocket knife. The Victorinox Compact is exactly that – compact. Credit to the marketing team for choosing the ideal EDC tool to don the name. Secondly, the bottle opener needs no introduction. There are endless situations you can find yourself in when someone grabs their favorite beer and says “Anybody have something to open this with?” before being relieved that you remembered your Compact. Lastly, the Scissors just don’t get enough credit. From clothing tags, threads on a jacket or sweater, a quick trim of your dogs paws – the use cases are constantly growing for me. The most impressive aspect is arguable just how sharp the scissors are. They are spring-loaded and extremely well put together. No wiggling, they don’t feel ‘loose’. They just work.

Mini tools that pull their weight

Aside from the main tools above, the Victorinox Compact separates itself by wasting zero space. Every additional aspect of this EDC knife finds itself getting use on a weekly basis. The nail file is something I never thought to myself as missing out on, but you’d be surprised how often you pull this out in a waiting room or on a morning commute to work. The corkscrew, like the bottle open, can be an instant party saver. We drink wine fairly often in our house, and while we have a handful of quality, dedicated wine opening tools it is never a bad thing to always have one in your pocket. What’s even more impressive is the clever accomplishment to store an additional tools inside of the wine opener. The mini screwdriver can save a day. Whether it be your necessary glasses or sunglasses on a sunny day that come loose, this tool can make a big problem a moot point quickly. I’ve also used it on watches and other small electronics. From the ballpoint pen, to the small pin for poking holes or resetting electronic devices back to factory settings, down to the tweezers – this pocket knife has endless opportunities to perform.

Size matters for the Swiss Army Compact

Victorinox lists the Compact as 3.6″ length by 1″ width and I’d argue that’s larger than it feels. The absolute truth is that this knife feels weightless and fits perfectly in the pocket of jeans, an accessory EDC pouch, or in the small pouch of a backpack. I’ve carried it in the pocket of athletic shorts and it’s felt smaller and lighter than my key ring and wallet. An EDC knife that is too bulky or problematic in a pocket is hardly an EDC item, it’s just a knife at that point. The Victorinox Compact Swiss Army Knife lives up to its compact nature and is the true, perfect EDC pocket knife.

Overall

The Victorinox Swiss Army Compact Pocket Knife is the perfect EDC tool to bring everywhere. It’s versatile, lightweight, and carries with it an endless list of uses to get you out of a jam or make life easier. I continue to use this as my primary pocket knife and will do so for a very long time. If there were ever a knife to be your sole pocket knife at home – it’s the Victorinox Compact.