Going into this review we were a little worried the Crucial would be a solution to a question no one asked. Too dainty for real tasks but too heavy for the light duty work keychain tools usually face. Our biggest questions focused on how sturdy the build was, how effectively the smaller tools work, and whether or not it felt good in your hands. Many tools of smaller size have odd handle geometry or tools that just aren’t up to snuff. Let’s dig in and see how the Gerber Crucial holds up. Gerber Crucial Tools 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 One feature that stood out was the bit drivers. The Wave Plus houses not one, but two different bit drivers, a full-sized one, and a micro driver, perfect for those tiny screws on my eyeglasses. Although I found the proprietary sized bits a tad inconvenient, the bit extender was a game-changer, allowing the use of standard ¼ inch bits. 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. 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

This one mostly comes down to your own lifestyle. The Gerber Dime does have more tools than the Style PS but its general build quality doesn’t hold up as well. Some people will like the Dime more, but if you’re looking for a TSA friendly tool we definitely recommend the Style PS. The Leatherman Style product picture Users have been comparing Gerber Crucial with some of the existing market competitors. One major advantage that this product seems to have over others is the ease of usage. For instance, the blade can be accessed without using the other hand due to the presence of a well-placed thumb stud. Pliers can be used comfortably owing to the butterfly opening design. Some people have also found the bottle opener a great addition compared to other products. 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 picture However, our product tester, with his big hands, found this multi-tool – the smallest of all on test – rather uncomfortable to use. So if you don’t have small hands, this is something you should perhaps consider before parting with any money. Interestingly, the Gerber Steady was commended for being the most comfortable to use in this group test. The tools on each of these couldn’t be more different though. The Center Drive was made for contractors and people in the building trades. The OHT has a distinctly military bent, with things like a bore brush attachment and oxygen tank wrench included.The Style PS is a great little tool designed for frequent travelers and those who often find themselves in secured buildings. It doesn’t have any blade on it at all, just a small pair of scissors, tweezers, and a nail file. Compared to the Gerber Dime it has a lot less functionality but is still an excellent specialized tool.

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 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. 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.The Gerber Crucial uses a more classic design but does some weird things with its shape. There aren’t any straight lines to be found on the Crucial, something that makes getting a firm grip difficult. Gerber chose to put standard phillips and flathead screwdrivers on the Crucial, another mark against it. It’s half an inch shorter overall than the Skeletool but we honestly think Gerber really compromised its overall usefulness to achieve this. Leatherman 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.