I’m a sucker for a multi-tool. I had a great Swiss Army one – I think it was Victorinox – but I lost that and then I got a Leatherman. This one looks nice, though. It has a caribiner, a saw, two screwdrivers, and a knife. Best of all it’s only $37, which is considerably less than I paid for my Leatherman.
It will be available at RockyNational in July.
I hates the multi-tools that have a nearly useless Phillips Head Screwdriver. One of the most common things a tech needs to open is hardware with Phillips Head Screws. If the screws are recessed, this tool becomes nearly useless. I love the idea of a good multi-tool but PLEASE make them with realistic screwdriver heads. That’s the most common “multi” that we need.
The only problem I have had with Gerber is that they are an aluminum alloy, and I have broken3 or 4 that work has bought me over the past 10+ years. I bought a leatherman though 3 years ago and haven’t broken one piece. It’s 100% steel as far as I know. But I think I lost it at work yesterday?? Darn
pretty nice design.
One question though….what would the caribiner be used for?
I clip my knife and/or my multitool to my backpack or fishing vest all the time for quick use. A caribiner is “crucial”
No saw. Pliers.
This is basically Gerber’s answer to the Leatherman Skeletool.
Can’t be sure about the carbiner on this one but the Leatherman’s carbiner is designed to double as a bottle opener. (no sound on my laptop right now so can’t tell if they discuss that in the vid for the Crucial).
Both are really neat but the price point on the Crucial is a bit easier to stomach. I just bought a Skeletool on Amazon for $60 marked down from around $100.
The Crucial is on Amazon’s site now for about $58, but it won’t be in stock for about two months.
The Skeletool is still selling for $59, shipped.
The gadget nerd in me will likely get the Crucial when it comes out.
FYI there is a gray version of this tool too if green is not your thing.
The carabiner is the bottle opener. AND you can open it one handed. which is nice. also, the design of the tool allows you to open the knife, then fold open the handle to create a long-handled knife for the occasions you need to use more force when cutting–such as padding. i have a leatherman wave, which just got dropped in the backpack for heavier use. Crucial will be my daily carry. oh, i think the guy who said it has a saw was referring to the half serrated blade. sweet “little” tool.
One other big plus on these tools is that because the handles are anodized, laser engraving looks amazing on them. http://www.rockynational.com/6036_30-000140_Gerber_Crucial_Green.html
I’ve been using this tool since Christmas. I can’t fault it. There have been so many occasions I, or other folk around me have needed a tool and the crucial was there clipped to my pocket. The flat head driver also serves as a great paint tin opener and the blade is great at cutting thru tough materials by running it downwards so the serations start a cut and the blade follows through it. I love the fact that it is easy to open one handed too. Buy one