I Can't Live Without the Swiss Army SwissCard with Mag-Lite Solitaire: A Review
Written: May 17 '02 (Updated May 17 '02)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Swisscard is extremely handy and compact, torch gives excellent light.
Cons: Ruler on Swisscard a bit hard to read.
The Bottom Line: Once you've got the Swiss Army SwissCard with Mag-Lite Solitaire, you'll wonder how you ever survived without them. A perfect package!
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| freelancer1's Full Review: Swiss Army SwissCard with Mag-Lite Solitaire |
I received the Swiss Army SwissCard with Mag-Lite Solitaire as a Christmas present last year and I've been really pleased with it. Actually that'sd an understatement - it's the best present I've ever received. Mag-lite make the highest quality torches available and Swiss Army make the very best knives, so I think it's a perfect combination!
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Features of the Swiss Army SwissCard with Mag-Lite Solitaire
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------------------The Swisscard-------------------
The Swisscard is a credit card-sized piece of plastic only a few millimeters thick; I keep mine in my wallet and it isn't at all bulky. But inside this tiny card, Swiss Army have cunningly hidden some pretty useful tools for everyday life:-
Small, sharp blade - This lies along the top of the card and flicks out. It is made of stainless steel, so it won't rust, and it is very sharp indeed. It cuts through string, wire, paper, food and practically anything else you want to cut. You might think that you rarely need to do these things, but when you get the Swiss Army SwissCard with Mag-Lite Solitaire, you'll realize that it is incredibly useful; yesterday, for instance, I found myself buying my kids a candy bar and using the blade to cut it fairly in half for them to share.
Nail file - this is also metal and the tip can be used as a screwdriver (only for screws with one groove, though - not cross-headed ones). The file on the Swiss Army SwissCard sometimes comes in handy to file down a "rag-nail"(a broken finger-nail that you just know is going to get caught on something and rip off).
Scissors - One of the corners of the Swiss Army SwissCard can be turned around and the scissors are kept in here (I can't explain it very well, but you can get an enlarged picture on Ebags.com). I always find myself needing scissors in the most unusual situations and these are always handy in my wallet when I need them. I'm sure the scissors would be useful in an emergency as well - to cut a length of bandage when out mountaineering or even to remove somebody's clothes if you are unfortunate enough to be at the scene of a car crash. The scissors are probably the most useful tool in the Swiss Army SwissCard.
Ball Point Pen - How many times do you find yourself needing to write a check or thinking, "I must write that down before I forget" and never having a pen to do it with. For me, the answer is pretty much everyday and even though this pen is absolutely minute, it is still up to the job. A fantastic idea and a useful one too!
Mini Ruler - The side of the Swiss Army SwissCard has measurements along it, but they are not written very clearly and you rarely need to measure anything as small as a credit card anyway. I personally don't use it, but it's good to know it's there all the same.
Pin - This is a small metal pin and will come in handy...ummm...if you need to pin anything, I suppose. You slide it out of the Swiss Army SwissCard by pulling on a small piece of gray plastic in the bottom left-hand corner (again, you'll see this on Ebags.com). I haven't had to use it yet, but I suppose it could come in handy for holding a bandage in place in an emergency - you never really know when you're going to find yourself needing to use it.
Toothpick - This must be for those who like to travel - a nifty littl toothpick at your disposal wherever you might be. Being a less-well-mannered-person (ie. rude!), I just go to the rest-rooms and pick my teeth with my fingernails if I get food stuck, but this would be considered far more polite. It is the white piece of plastic on the left-hand side of the Swiss Army SwissCard.
Tweezers - I tend to use these metal tweezers if I ever get a splinter and I'm away from home. They also come in useful for fiddly little jobs. Dare I say my wife also uses them to pluck her eyebrows when we go on holiday?!? (I am SO dead!). They're attached to another one of the gray pieces of plastic on the Swiss Army SwissCard.
-----------------The Mag-lite Solitare---------------
The Mag-lite Solitare is a small torch that I carry around in my pocket or, when I'm out walking in the hills, in my backpack. I most commonly seem to use it for finding the keyhole on my car or house at night and looking for things I've lost down the back of the sofa (where do they go down there? There must be about $50 worth of change the lurking down the back of my sofa).
Bright light For such a tiny torch (it's around 3" long), the Mag-lite Solitare is surprisingly bright and gives a well-focused beam. You turn it on and off by turning the end.
Tough metal casing - Feel free to drop your Mag-lite - it's really tough. The metal outer casing also has an excellent grip on it.
Battery Included? - Mine had a battery in it when I got it, but that may depend on where you get it; I advise checking with the retailer before you buy - they'll also be able to tell you the exact size of the battery needed. Mine hasn't needed a new battery yet and I use it practically everyday.
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The Verdict on the Swiss Army SwissCard with Mag-Lite Solitaire
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The Swiss Army SwissCard with Mag-Lite Solitaire
is a most excellent product and if I had my way it would be a legal requirement to have one on you art all times. The Swisscard is just so useful to have in your wallet, purse or glove compartment and is far more practical for day-to-day life than a pocket knife or multi-tool. The Swiss Army SwissCard with Mag-Lite Solitaire makes an excellent gift because it comes in a felt-lined tin and really looks like something very special. I love mine more than words can describe and I implore you to get one for yourself and every one of your friends. Highly recommended.
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Details of the Swiss Army SwissCard with Mag-Lite Solitaire
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Colors - Translucent Onyx, Translucent Ruby and Translucent Sapphire (that's see-through green, red and blue to me and you!). Both the Swiss Army SwissCard and the Mag-Lite Solitaire come in the same color in each set. I personally have the red set.
Cost - around $40
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Similar reviews in shop tools:
Swiss Army Classic Barleycorn pocket knife - http://www.epinions.com/content_64280366724
Victorinox Swiss Army Esquire Translucent Swiss Army Knife - http://www.epinions.com/content_64256511620
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What are you doing still reading this review? Go and buy a Swiss Army SwissCard with Mag-Lite Solitaire!
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
freelancer1
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Location: USA
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