Gerber’s minimalist multi-tool
Gerber Crucial multi-tool
Pros: Compact; Ergonomic design; Lifetime warranty
Cons: Feels heavy in hand; Belt clip and carabiner clip are redundant; Blade doesn’t always fully lock
Bottom Line: The Gerber Crucial multi-tool is perfect if you want the basic multi-tool functions and nothing more, and it rivals other comparable models in weight, size and functions.
MSRP: $59
Gerber’s Web site
As the lightest butterfly-opening multi-tool in Gerber’s line, the Crucial tool is built for the outdoorsperson who wants basic features and nothing more.
The Crucial, which first hit shelves in July, weighs just 5 ounces and includes a pliers, a blade, and little else.
- Gerber Crucial multi-tool
Likely as a response to Leatherman’s Skeletool, the Crucial has all the features you really need and absolutely nothing you don’t.
Besides the needle-nose pliers – which of course contains a wire cutter – it has a combination straight and serrated locking blade that easily opens using one hand and your thumb.
There’s also a flat-head and Phillips screwdriver as well as a carabiner clip that doubles as a bottle opener.
As a second attachment option, besides the carabiner clip, the Crucial has a belt clip. Plus, it comes with a carrying pouch.
Gerber could have easily eliminated one of the clips to save weight.
- Gerber Crucial multi-tool closed
It’d be nice if the company eliminated the carabiner clip and incorporated the bottle opener into one of the screwdrivers to possibly shed an ounce.
At 5 ounces – I confirmed the weight on my scale - weight isn’t much of an issue, but the multi-tool felt heavy in my hand. However, its ergonomic shape was comfortable no matter what tool I used.
For $60, the Crucial definitely rivals comparable multi-tools on the market.
