Gerber Crucial Multi-Tool, Black, Medium

Product Information

Next we’ll look at the Leatherman Squirt PS4. The Squirt and the Dime have very similar tool loadouts. The Dime does beat out the Squirt with its inclusion of tweezers and a useful little box cutter. One thing we really like about the Dime when compared to the Squirt are the removable torx bolts instead of rivets used in its construction. It’s a small thing, but we like being able to take apart our tools for regular cleanings. This exceptional product is equipped with almost every imaginable tool, organized and optimized for compact function

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. At this price point, however, there are some compromises. The lone blade features a hybrid straight and serrated edge made of mid-grade steel, which will require regular sharpening depending on your use. The straight portion is easily reconditioned, but sharpening serrations requires special techniques. Further, that blade is significantly shorter than it needs to be. There is almost a half inch of extra space in the handle that Leatherman conspicuously does not utilize. Overall, you get far more than you pay for with the Leatherman Wingman, including some truly unique features not seen in even high-end models. If you're willing to spend a little more, the Leatherman Skeletool CX offers better ergonomics but fewer functions. If you use a multi-tool for basic tasks but are prone to losing it, the Wingman won't hurt quite as much to replace. Leatherman wins this one by a pretty big margin. The Crucial just doesn’t feel as put together as the Skeletool. The screwdrivers don’t work as well as the interchangeable bits on the Skeletool and both the pliers and knife are less useful. The final nail in the coffin was its odd shape. We found it to be much less comfortable to hold and use than the Leatherman Skeletool. The Leatherman Skeletool product pictureLeatherman 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.

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 combination carabiner and bottle opener on the Gerber Crucial was honestly one of our favorite features. It’s actually built into the handle and folds out like any other tool. Most of the multi tool carabiners we’ve seen before either attach to a keychain/lanyard hole or are aftermarket additions. Leatherman wins here as well. The Wingman is only marginally more expensive than the Gerber Suspension but it feels like a much nicer multi tool. The Leatherman Wingman product picture We honestly found the Brewzer to be the more attractively designed of the two. It’s a sleek little tool that looks good on your keychain, but in terms of actual usefulness it loses out to the Shard. The Brewzer does exactly what it says it will of course. Overall though it just can’t stand up to the outsized value the Gerber Shard provides you. The Leatherman Shard product picture 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 few tools it includes — an upgraded steel blade, good pliers, screwdrivers, and a bottle opener — are the most often used, and this tool gets these right. But that's it; if you're seeking all the tools possible, you'll be let down with this stripped-down modal. Of the remaining tools, though, our biggest complaint is with the bit driver. With the Skeletool CX, even more than with other models, Leatherman could have easily included a standard 1/4" bit driver. Still, we have tested this model for over three years, and it has slowly grown on us. Thus, the Skeletool is our top recommendation for a portable, daily multi-tool to leave clipped on your person at all times. 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 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