Home Australian Geographic Adventure Always at hand: We test five Gerber multi-tools

Always at hand: We test five Gerber multi-tools

By Aus Geo ADVENTURE • 5 June 2025

Five compact multi-tools that open up to provide all the implements you may need for that unexpected repair in the outdoors. Image credit: Justin Walker

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Nothing beats having a tough and versatile multi-tool when you need a quick fix, whether you’re outdoors or at home. We check out five of Gerber’s best.

The multi-tool is a piece of equipment that most people hope they never have to use, but at the same time, it is always one of the first things packed when heading into the outdoors. The simple reason is regardless of how well maintained your gear is – or how much extra equipment (or spares) you’ve packed to cover the worst-case scenario of gear failure in a remote area – that multi-tool is still an essential pack item (and one that is equally, if not more so, useful around home). The benefit of having a piece of kit that can, literally, perform wonders when it comes to putting things back together when all hope is lost, can never be understated, and a multi-tool fits that bill perfectly, as we were reminded when testing a variety of Gerber multi-tools recently.

Gerber Suspension

Probably the most ‘classically’ styled multi-tool we’ve had on test, the Gerber Suspension has quickly become a must-pack when anyone in the Aus Geo ADVENTURE office has headed away for a weekend (or longer) of outdoor adventures. The Suspension’s butterfly design is a common one for multi-tools but what sets this unit apart (and is common across all the Gerber products we tested) is the impressive tight tolerances of all the moving parts.

The Suspension is packed with 12 tools and still very compact and light in weight.

From the smooth spring-loaded pliers to the equally effortless-to-open knives (one serrated; one edged), the Suspension feels reassuringly tight in operation. There’s no ‘wobble’ or feeling of fragility from any of the 12 included tools when they are unfolded and when being used (on top of the two knives and pliers, there’s a wire cutter, saw, scissors, screwdriver, can and bottle openers, and both a small and medium flat driver). The Suspension measures only 89mm and weighs just 255 grams, and it is stored in a nylon sheath. Oh, and there’s also a lanyard holder for those who wish to carry it that way. As with the other Gerber products on test, the Suspension features the company’s Saf.T.Plus locking system for its knives and tools, ensuring that sharp implements won’t inadvertently ‘fold back’ on to the user’s hands, eliminating any chance of injury.

Gerber Vise

This diminutive multi-tool embodies that cliché of punching above your weight and is the definite favourite piece of Gerber kit among our test team. The main tool is its set of mini-pliers (of 20mm needle-nose style, and spring-loaded – CHECK), and these are accompanied by eight other components, including a bottle opener, Phillips- and flat-head screwdrivers (two; one medium, one small), two blades (fine and serrated) file, and keychain loop that retracts into the Vise’s aluminium handles.

The Vise was a favourite with testers thanks to its diminutive size and the fact that, despite what you may think, all those tiny tools fulfilled their intended functions well.

Measuring just 66mm and weighing a paltry 56g, this unit is tiny, to the point that you’d think it’d not function effectively. Impressively, it does and gains additional points for being able to be operated with just one hand if the situation calls for it. All the tolerances on this small multi-tool seem to be equally as tight as on the other Gerber test units. In use, all tools work effectively, with the pliers probably being the standout. Both blades are effective, with the only caveat being if you must cut through anything relatively thick, it’ll take a while, and the short handle does not provide much leverage (as you’d expect). Having said that, for cutting a large tarp guy-line that could not be unknotted (kids, hey?!) and using the pliers to pull out a particularly stubborn tent pole section, it still got the job done. The keychain compatibility may seem like a gimmick but if it means you always have this multi-tool with you (when you’ve got your keys), we’re happy to see it included.

Gerber Armbar Trade

In its marketing guff, Gerber asks us to think again about whether a compact multi-tool “can’t house the same utility as a full-sized one…”, so we did that when testing the Armbar Trade, and came away impressed with how this compact (92mm closed; 165mm open) and lightweight (88g) multi-tool answered that pseudo-question.

The Armbar Trade was one of the Gerber tools tested that we considered a very easy multi-tool to just have on you constantly, whether at a campsite, or at home, thanks to its size and that excellent belt-clip.

The Armbar Trade features a robust stainless-steel frame in which its eight tools are fitted. Those tools – a 63.5mm blade, two-sided quarter-inch bit driver, awl, saw, bottle opener and (very small) hammer and pry bar – all fold into the svelte frame neatly. The long blade is, like all the tools in the Armbar Trade, easy to access, while that frame handle allows for decent torque when using the bit driver and enough leverage to budge the tightest beer bottle lid. There’s a frame lock to ensure that the blade, when in its open position, stays that way.

Again, as with the other gear here, the tolerances are impressive; everything opens and closes with no wobble or catching, just plenty of assurance, for want of a better word. The pocket clip runs the full length of that 92mm frame and is affixed very snugly; we had little worry of it detaching.

Gerber Lockdown Slim Pry

This multi-tool belies its innocuous appearance by offering a robust (stainless steel) build – the first thing noted by testers – for its frame. That slim silhouette hides seven tools – its namesake pry bar, a bottle opener, small scissors, 50mm plain-edge blade, two flat (screw) drivers (large and small), and a nail puller, all made from stainless steel. These tools are contained within the aforementioned slim frame that is made from stainless steel (with a ceramic coating).

The fine workmanship – and that excellent spring – of the Slim Pry’s scissors were standouts.

Of all the Gerber gear we tested the Slim Pry, testers all agreed this is probably closest to whatever was the original idea of a ‘multi-tool’ was conceived as; light in weight, compact in size and yet offering enough essentials to be something you will always carry with you, the Pry Bar is the epitome of the multi-tool ideal.

In use, it does a good job. Yes, the scissors are small, but they are also sharp and those constantly mentioned tight tolerances are evident in these, too, with a firm cutting action the result. The bottle opener was always welcome at the end of a day, whether that was in the shed mucking around with bikes, or out in the field. It was probably a bit outside the Slim Pry’s remit, but one tester even put it in to use to help remove a particularly tight mountain bike tyre off a rim (don’t ask!), something which both showed its utility while providing a few laughs around the office.

Belying its ‘basic’ style, the Slim Pry is surprisingly versatile for what it is.

In short (excuse the pun) the Slim Pry is very handy, most notably for those small fiddly problems, whether at camp, or in the shed. We would probably always have another multi-tool along with us when outdoors, but this little unit also clipped into your belt as a last resort would be a welcome addition.

Gerber Dual-Force

From one of Gerber’s smaller multi-tools to one of its big-boppers, the Dual-Force is worth a look for any adventurer and any tradie. Using clever design (a layered construction) the Dual-Force reflects its moniker by offering twice the jaw strength (and force) for its two-position (via a slip joint) jaw to hold securely when trying to loosen or tighten a particularly stubborn bolt.

The 12 tools of the Dual-Force were all easy to access; those jaws provided plenty of grip for users.

The Dual-Force includes 12 tools (with lock-out), including two sets of pliers (small and large fasteners), wire-cutter and wire-stripper, 82.5mm plain-edge blade, saw, two cross drives, a medium flathead driver, a file and even a 200mm ruler. All this is housed in a relatively narrow overall form, which Gerber claims is close to half as narrow as competitors’ tools, and thus aids grip. We found this claim to bear out in practice, too, with plenty of force able to be used – this was most notable when using the Dual-Force’s centra-axis bit driver, which Gerber has cleverly aligned to replicate the angles and action of a regular bit driver. Another boost to grip stability/strength is those big teeth on the jaws; once a firm grip was established, the Dual-Force did not slip or inhibit the effect of the user’s force when being used.

The overall strength of the Dual-Force is its obvious selling point and it really does (as Gerber claims) do a decent job of replacing the need for a big set of pliers. For car-camping especially (as well as around the house/yard, of course) this burly unit is a must – our more home handyperson-oriented testers loved it.

The final word on Gerber multi-tools

Multi-tools are often used in extreme environments; when things have gone sideways, whether that’s with a piece of gear or your shelter, you will invariably bust out the multi-tool to try and fix it. So, in short, they must perform, and perform reliably, each time they’re used. On top of the brand’s sterling reputation, the fact Gerber is offering a 25-year limited warranty on these items tested shows the brand’s confidence in its products to do just that.

Fine tolerances, clever engineering and all the things you need and nothing superfluous sums up this collection of five Gerber multi-tools. We were impressed.

After six weeks of testing all this Gerber gear we haven’t found anything in each one’s performance to cast doubt on Gerber’s confidence in its products. Add in the fact each item is competitively priced, and we have no trouble saying that, for those who are looking for a new multi-tool, it’s well worth checking out the extensive Gerber range.