Gerber Crucial Multi-Tool, Black, Medium

Product Information

The wire cutters were another disappointing feature. Gerber describes them as “V-cut” wire cutters but they definitely weren’t as good as those on other multitools. They were designed to meet together rather than overlap but we found that they often had trouble getting through even mid gauge copper wire. Hard wire was just about impossible to cut through, especially given the uncomfortable handles. Knife Blade 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.

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. 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 Leatherman 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. 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. The pliers on the Crucial are only available in a needlenose configuration, though they also have a regular plier area as well. We found the teeth on the pliers to line up well and give you a good grip. The only issue we had was with the shape of the handles.We think Gerber beats out Leatherman in this category. Folding knives are the companies bread and butter, they’re just more experienced that Leatherman and produced an overall better product. The Gerber Obsidian product picture

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.

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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. Meet the tough but light Crucial. With professional-grade components of precise needle nose pliers along with eight other carefully selected features, this everyday carry essential multi-tool belongs to the ever-diverse, ever-popular series of Gerber multi-tools.