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Victorinox Classic Alox Swiss Army Knife

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Victorinox Classic Alox Knife Review

Trail Testers Recommended 100%

Dawn Smith - Ed

Victorinox Web Page

SRP £18.99

Whenever I go out into the hills I always carry a Swiss Army Classic penknife with me. It is so lightweight I keep it on a cord around my neck, along with my safety whistle and mini flashlight. Always ready if I need it.

The Classic is one of the most popular of the Victorinox range of knives and multi-tools and costs under £20.

One of the latest variations on the theme is the Alox.

The standard Classic, or Classic SD as it is called, normally comes with a nylon handle, but this new model features an all alloy chequer plate handle and is available in blue, green, orange, pink and silver. On the reverse side there is a name plate, so the knife can be engraved and personalised.

The Classic SD also has a toothpick and tweezers that slide into the handle, but these have been omitted on this model.

The Alox retails for £18.99, but if you shop around you will find it much cheaper.

It is good practice to carry a penknife when you go out on the hill as you never know when you will need it, to cut gear free, make repairs, eat foil packed meals, peel fruit or attend to personal hygiene.

The knife, compared to many of the others knives in the Victorinox range is minimalist with just four tools, but I find this an advantage in terms of size and weight.

The Alox has a razor sharp blade, flat blade screwdriver, nail file, nail cleaner and scissors all in a tiny package 58mm long and weighing a mere 15g.

When I am wild camping I find these tools perfectly adequate.

The blade is super sharp when new and will cut a snagged rope, or feather a stick with ease.

The nail file has a flat blade screwdriver, which also doubles as a tool to clean the muck out from under your nails!

The scissors are perfect for opening dehydrated food packets and of course are ideal for trimming back broken nails, something that we all suffer from out on the trail.

I have had a number of these knives over the years. At one time the Classic SD was a popular corporate gift and I still have a couple adorned with the names of companies who used to give them away at trade shows.

All of the Classic’s come with a key ring as standard, so you can carry the knife wherever you go.

As well as the one I carry when out in the hills, I also keep one clipped to my car keys and another one in my handbag.

In conclusion the Victorinox Classic is a very useful, inexpensive, lightweight piece of kit, that everyone should carry with them out on the hill.

Swiss Army Classic Alox

Weighing in at 15g it is light enough to wear around the neck

The Alox is only slightly bigger than an AA battery!

The scissors are very useful for opening packets