Gerber Crucial Multi-Tool, Black, Medium

Product Information

When the tool is closed you can access all of the implements, thus only needing to unfold the tool when using the pliers is necessary. The one hand opening blade features a ramp styled thumb stud which helps make opening the blade very easy. Opening and closing of the blade is almost second nature and if it was not for the sheer bulk of the tool (compared to a knife) you would not notice much of a difference. When using the knife the handle is very comfortable, placement for your thumb and index finger is very thought out. The blade style is reminiscent of a sheep’s foot blade and does not feature a pronounced point at the end. The blade is designed for utility style work and looks like something you would see on a rescue/EMT type of tool. The knife blade is also partly serrated; the serrations are not carved out very deep and offer enough to cut through tough materials without binding on them. Made out of 440A steel it holds a decent edge and needs the occasional touch ups, most folks don’t need anything beyond steel like this. Overall the Juice C2 wins out against the Crucial as well. The C2 was lighter, better made, included more tools, and just generally more comfortable to use. Did we mention it’s also less expensive? We rest our case. Conclusion – Final Thoughts On the Gerber Crucial The MP600 is without a doubt one of the most widely used multi tools in the world. This is due in no small part to its status as the standard issue multi tool of the U.S. military. It’s a big, heavy duty tool that’s designed to stand up to extreme conditions without complaint. Gerber went with a significantly different design for the MP600 than Leatherman did for the Wave+. What tools can you expect to find on a standard multitool? The list can vary widely, but it should include a screwdriver (with a Phillips and flat-head driver, at least), pliers, scissors and possibly a knife or two. Most will also have a bottle opener or something you can use as one. It’s a good bet that this tool is the one that will see the most actual use among weekend warriors. Both Leatherman and Gerber produce high-quality multi-tools. Leatherman is known for its durable construction, premium materials, and excellent craftsmanship. Gerber also offers reliable multi-tools that are designed to withstand rugged use. Ultimately, the choice between the two may come down to personal preference and specific tool requirements.

The Wave Plus wasn’t without its minor qualms. The nylon sheath felt a little on the cheaper side, and I did find the ‘one-handed open internal tools’ to usually require a bit of a struggle, demanding both hands more often than not. However, our product tester, with his big hands, found this multi-tool – the smallest of all on test – rather uncomfortable to use. So if you don’t have small hands, this is something you should perhaps consider before parting with any money. Interestingly, the Gerber Steady was commended for being the most comfortable to use in this group test. Simply put it’s too narrow to work effectively. You might as well use the flathead for phillips head screws as try to turn them with the cross driver. Unless you found a screw that was exactly the size of the cross driver it would frequently slip and scratch your screw head. Strap CutterLeatherman understands their market, they know what their customers want, and they provide it. How many companies exist nowadays with that kind of dedication and focus? If you’re looking for just about the best multi tools available, whatever your budget, you can’t go wrong with a Leatherman. The pliers themselves are reasonably good quality but the shape of the handles makes them very uncomfortable to use. The knife blade is a good length for the Crucial’s size but doesn’t hold an edge long enough for most people. The same issues apply to the included screwdrivers. The flathead is decent but the cross driver is far too narrow to fit well in most phillips head screws.

The Leatherman Micra is just about the first keychain tool to hit the market. It has been continuously available since the mid 90’s and is one of the best tools of its kind. It has a pair of scissors rather than pliers for a main tool and includes things like a knife, attached tweezers, and screwdrivers. It has all metal construction similar to the the Gerber Dime but it just feels a bit better made. There’s only a single knife blade on the Crucial, a 2.2 in combo blade with a rounded off point. It came from the factory reasonably sharp and was easy to put a new edge on but didn’t keep it for long. The steel seemed to be pretty soft compared to other multi tools and folding knives we’ve used before. As long as you don’t mind frequent sharpening it’s a functional blade at a reasonable size. Carabiner/Bottle Opener A purpose-built, specialized tool for outdoor adventure and wilderness survival, while also serving purpose around the house

The diamond-coated file was a handy tool to sharpen my blades on the go, a useful trait when out in the wild. The ruler markings along the edge of the outer handles were a modest but handy feature, aiding in small measurement tasks.

We’ve previously covered the Center Drive, you can get a more in depth look at it here. The Gerber Center Drive product picture Going into this review we were a little worried the Crucial would be a solution to a question no one asked. Too dainty for real tasks but too heavy for the light duty work keychain tools usually face. Our biggest questions focused on how sturdy the build was, how effectively the smaller tools work, and whether or not it felt good in your hands. Many tools of smaller size have odd handle geometry or tools that just aren’t up to snuff. Let’s dig in and see how the Gerber Crucial holds up. Gerber Crucial Tools But the question arises that how many tools should one carry, or how can one handle all of them all the time? Gerber has solved this problem with its huge line of multi-tools. One feature that stood out was the bit drivers. The Wave Plus houses not one, but two different bit drivers, a full-sized one, and a micro driver, perfect for those tiny screws on my eyeglasses. Although I found the proprietary sized bits a tad inconvenient, the bit extender was a game-changer, allowing the use of standard ¼ inch bits. This exceptional product is equipped with almost every imaginable tool, organized and optimized for compact functionThe pliers, with their removable wire cutters, were a revelation. Having faced the annoyance of a small divot in my Curl’s cutters, the replaceable feature on the Wave Plus was nothing short of a blessing. The wire crimper just below the hinge of the plier handles proved to be a nifty addition, making wire crimping tasks a breeze. There are two screwdrivers found on the Gerber Crucial. One is a small flathead driver and the other is a cross driver used for phillips head screws. The flathead driver worked fine for its size, though we definitely wouldn’t recommend you try even very light prying. Our real issue was with the cross driver. The Leatherman Wave+ brings heaps of value to the Leatherman line-up. Leatherman takes 90% of what makes the Charge so impressive and sells it for 60% of the cost. What you get is the Wave+ and an excellent value. The Leatherman Wingman is even less expensive, by a significant margin, but has fewer features and is made with lesser quality materials (though most users may not notice the weight savings of steel vs. titanium casing). For a full-featured tool, the Wave+ is the bargain shopper's choice. The best place to start when comparing two tool makers is with their flagship tools. For Leatherman that has to be the Wave+ and for Gerber the MP600. Both are full sized tools with lots of bells and whistles. Let’s start with Leatherman. Leatherman Wave Plus Founded in 1939, Gerber is one of the oldest companies involved in the manufacture of everyday household products. The company has now come up with a new tool to make life easier, or should we say ‘a lot’ easier. Keeping in view the difficulty in handling and carrying individual tools, Gerber has come up with Crucial. As the name suggests, it is a combination of several tools that can be used for a variety of purposes.

Leatherman and Gerber both offer a wide range of tool options to cater to different needs. Leatherman is known for its extensive lineup of multi-tools, including models with specialized tools for specific purposes. Gerber also offers a diverse selection, with a focus on functionality and innovation. It’s worth exploring the product catalogs of both brands to find the multi-tool that best suits your needs. The Gerber Center Drive took the slide out plier system in use on most of Gerber’s full sized multi tools and added a purpose built center axis bit driver. The goal was to create something capable of fully replacing pliers and screwdrivers in the handyman’s toolbox. Overall they did a pretty good job with it. The pliers work as well as any of their multi tools and the driver is actually a pretty nice innovation. Remember, while Leatherman and Gerber are popular brands, there are other reputable manufacturers that produce quality multi-tools as well. Exploring different options and considering your specific needs will help you find the perfect multi-tool for your camping, hiking, and survival adventures. ConclusionLeatherman invented the multi tool as we know it today. As a company, they only produce multi tools. They have a laser focus on creating the best designs and manufacturing them using the best techniques. Pretty much across the board Leatherman products are better made than any other manufacturer’s at the same price point. It allows you to apply more stable pressure as you’re working with screws. The Center Drive comes with many of the tools we like to see on top quality multi tools. One of our favorite features is the included awl, something a lot of manufacturers are pulling out of their tools. One thing we noticed right off the bat was how much better the Skeletool’s pliers and wire cutters were then the Crucial’s. A lot of this just came down to the much more usable handle architecture but you could also tell the general workmanship was nicer. We also really prefer the bit driver of the Skeletool to the Crucial’s mediocre cross driver. Given how closely priced these two tools are the decision was easy. The Crucial, like many of Gerber’s multi tools, is available in several different versions. Depending on which tool loadout you prefer there will be between eight and nine tools included on your Crucial. There’s also a special edition of the Crucial with an attached corkscrew but it’s difficult to find at the best of times. Leatherman and Gerber are well-known manufacturers of multi-tools. Multi-tools are compact, versatile tools that combine various functions into a single device, making them useful for camping, hiking, and survival activities.