Victorinox Companion Collection: Four Bladeless-Friendly EDC Picks Worth a Look

Introduction

After a long wait for anything genuinely new from Victorinox, the Companion Collection finally arrives. It brings three new Alox models with textured aluminium scales, plus one more accessible version of an existing traditional red knife. The theme is practical: opening sealed deliveries, handling everyday tasks, and offering carry options where a blade is not welcome.

All three Alox models are bladeless, which is a genuine positive in three specific cases: carrying alongside a dedicated quality knife, carrying where knives are prohibited such as schools, courthouses, or certain public events, and improving the odds of getting a useful tool through airport security with hand luggage only.

The Companion Collection at a Glance

The range consists of one new 58 mm Alox model and two new 93 mm Alox models, each available in three colours: traditional silver, a new gold, and a dark red that is arguably the pick of the trio. The fourth member of the family is a traditional red Swiss Army knife that makes an existing tool set widely available at a friendlier price.

Victorinox positions the collection around shifting consumer habits and safe, practical solutions for everyday tasks, with an emphasis on opening and unpacking sealed deliveries and containers. These are practical evolutions rather than headline innovation, and more releases are expected before the end of the year, with bigger changes rumoured for 2026.

Best Keyring Pick: Victorinox Companion S Alox

The Companion S Alox is the 58 mm option: one layer thick, keyring friendly, and just 17 g. It carries Victorinox’s small but very effective scissors plus a combination tool with a small Phillips screwdriver, bottle opener, and wire stripper. In effect it is a Jet Setter in Alox clothing, thinner and 5 g lighter than the original, though you lose the tweezers and toothpick.

If you want the smallest, lightest keyring tool with genuine practicality, this is an easy recommendation. UK pricing is £33, on par with similar-sized Alox models, which reflects that small Alox bodies are trickier to manufacture.

Best Travel Pick: Victorinox Companion X Alox

The Companion X Alox is a single-layer 93 mm Alox with one tool: the larger scissors found on medium-sized Victorinox knives. That may not sound exciting, but if you could pick just one tool besides a knife, this would be it. At 44 g it is slim, light, and feels secure in the hand, with no fumbling to find the tool. Note there is no keyring loop on this model.

This is arguably the single most practical Victorinox you can supposedly carry in hand luggage. Scissors rules are comparatively clear, though airport staff can always overrule them, so check your own local flying rules and expect differences between departure and return airports.

Best No-Knife Carry: Victorinox Companion Slim Alox

The Companion Slim Alox is a two-layer 93 mm model, and despite the name it is the least slim of the new Alox trio. It combines the larger scissors with a large flathead screwdriver and pry bar with bottle opener and wire stripper, plus the box opener and screwdriver tool first introduced in 2023.

That box opener has a short, sharp rounded edge and a serrated edge ideal for cardboard and packaging, getting you into most sealed deliveries with less risk of damaging the contents than a knife blade. It also houses a 3 mm screwdriver that doubles as a two-dimensional Phillips. At 66 g it is the heaviest of the three, and again there is no keyring loop. It is a strong choice for places where knives are prohibited, or as added capability alongside a dedicated knife. UK price: £39.

The Traditional Pick: Victorinox Companion

The red Victorinox Companion is not a new knife as such, but a new widely available colour. Until now the same knife was only sold in a box set with a lanyard and mini carabiner, with fashion-focused scale options at a premium £75. Making this desirable tool set part of the general range, without the frills, closes a real gap.

The tool set includes a main blade, a nail file and nail cleaner in place of the usual secondary small blade, scissors, a screwdriver and pry bar with bottle opener and wire stripper, and the box opener and screwdriver opposite. The back layer holds a corkscrew, utility hook, and awl, and the plus scales add a pen, toothpick, and tweezers. Unlike the Alox models, you do get a keyring loop. Weight is 85 g, and UK pricing is £45, which looks right next to other three-layer knives in the range.

Buying Advice and Hand Luggage Notes

If value matters most, the Companion X Alox at £29 stands out: it is bigger, cheaper, and arguably more capable than the smaller S. For a keyring, the S Alox is a no-brainer. For knife-prohibited environments, the Slim Alox earns its slot, though the box cutter’s exposed edge makes it a poor bet at airport security.

On flights, the rules are frustratingly vague. Scissors are generally allowed up to 6 cm from the pivot in the UK and EU, or 4 inches in the US, and small tools under 6 cm (UK/EU) or 7 inches (US) may be allowed, but conflicting wording and discretionary confiscations mean there is no certainty. The small S Alox and the scissor-based X Alox are the most plausible travel picks; leave the Slim Alox at home. Always check your own local rules.

Conclusion

The Companion Collection is more practical evolution than revolution, but it delivers sensible new carry options with Victorinox’s usual quality and value. Pick the S Alox for the keyring, the X Alox for travel, the Slim Alox for blade-free EDC, and the traditional Companion for a well-rounded urban tool set at a fair price.