The Watu I won in the calendar competition was delivered yesterday. Thank you Spyderco for running the competition!! So the Watu's clip got "softened" and I fidgeted with it in front of the TV last night. Today it is in my pocket with a favourite (very, very seldom do I carry two knives).
Blade length and stock thickness are virtually identical, same steel as this particular Bugout (anecdotally I'd suggest Spyderco's is run harder but I'm not sure if that holds true for the Taiwan models as well), flat vs almost flat grind and G10 handles (CF ply vs natural). Very similar on paper. Blade shapes and ergos very different. Axis and compression locks are (were) trademark locks for the two companies. I doubt I'll cut much today but tomorrow is a holiday and I've got a few boxes to cut up. Everything I cut with the one I'll cut with the other. Not very scientific but will give me an idea of how the two knives stack up in my, urban, use.
The Watu is really going to need to blow my socks off - the Bugout (an S30V model with CF scales) is my most carried knife so it has very strong competition.