Gerber Crucial Multi-Tool, Black, Medium

Product Information

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 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. We like the design of the OHT better, but overall think the Center Drive is more useful to the average person. If Leatherman released a multi tool with the OHT’s design but a more generalist set of tools we’d have to reevaluate.

When you weigh the Crucial’s good and bad points you end up with a multi tool that’s adequate, nothing more and nothing less. 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 Dime seems to give more than the Micra does. We found the Micra to have a sleeker appearance, better build quality, and generally more useful tools. This is especially true of the scissors. At keychain tool sizes scissors make more sense for a main tool. The Leatherman Micra product picture Leatherman 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 ergonomically curved body design offers a comfortable grip, and all the components are fitted in such a way that they can be used individually and easily. The size of the individual tools is enough to carry out the intended function smoothly. Compact and Durable Replacement Parts– Gerber offers an industry leading lifetime limited warranty on all their products sold in North America. They cover any defect in materials or workmanship and are known for honoring their warranty. If you have any issue with your Crucial be sure to send in a warranty request for repair or replacement. Gerber Crucial Vs Comparable tools Gerber and Leatherman are both excellent multi tool brands that produce high quality tools. For casual use you’d be fine with either a Gerber or a Leatherman. If you’re looking for the best multi tools money can buy, we think you should go Leatherman. Gerber makes some fine tools but Leatherman invented the multi tool. It’s what they do, and they do it well.

Gerber went with an aggressive curve on the Crucial’s center line. We found it really uncomfortable to squeeze the handles when trying to turn a stubborn nut or hold onto something with weight. One side would always dig into the meaty part of your palm while the other just didn’t sit well. Overall not a great handle design for applying real torque. The Crucial is a decent tool but it has some problems. The Skeletool does everything that the Crucial does, it just does them better. Crucial Vs Leatherman Freestyle There are standard models with non removable tools, needlenose pliers, bluntnose, straight blade or serrated, the list goes one. Gerber even has versions designed specifically for combat engineers performing demolitions work. 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.

The 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. Leatherman and Gerber both stand behind their products with solid warranties and reputable customer support. Leatherman offers a 25-year warranty on most of their tools, while Gerber provides a limited lifetime warranty. Both companies have responsive customer service teams that can assist with inquiries, repairs, or replacements. It’s recommended to familiarize yourself with the warranty terms and conditions for each brand to understand the coverage provided. Overall the workmanship of the Freestyle was still better than the Crucial’s. The curved shape of the Freestyle’s handles made the pliers far more effective, and the knife was both longer and held an edge better. If you really want screwdrivers you should go for the Crucial, but overall we think the Freestyle is better made. Crucial Vs Leatherman Juice C2 The MP600 uses a slide out, one handed opening design for its pliers. All the other tools can only be opened once the pliers are deployed and the handles opened out. We’d go over the included tools, but it would take a while. Gerber currently offers more than 20 different versions of the MP600 customized for any type of work imaginable.