Gerber Tool > Reviews > GERBER 800 MULTI TOOL - DON'T BUY ANYTHING ELSE

Author's product rating:   

Durability	Excellent
Value for Money	Excellent

Advantages:	Strong, reliable, spring - loaded pliers, rust proof
Disadvantages:	Scissors have small cut size

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

Being a military man, I have had both a LEATHERMAN© and a GERBER© in the last 10 years, so am in a position to speak with authority on both. The Leatherman is a good tool. However, the Gerber 800 puts it in the shade. Gerber make several models of multitool, but I chose the 800 because it is the most robust and useful in terms of tools provided. It's official colour is 'champagne', I prefer to think of it more as 'light bronze'!!!!

The 800 has 18 features, each of which has been thought out to be of ACTUAL use rather than fantasy use. What I mean is, how many of us have found ourselves needing to get a stone out of a horses hoof, whilst needing to get a splinter out of our hand with tiny tweezers whilst trying to measure a 4-inch fish?

I've put the specifications at the end so that you can see everything it's got, but I'll concentrate on the main features which I have used most:

PLIERS:
Without a doubt, the main 'tool' on the 800 is the strong stainless steel pliers which sit, when it is closed, completely within the handle housing. This makes it all nicely compact when you have it in it's case on your belt. When open, you can see straight away that the teeth on the pliers are up to the job - they are not going to sheer off the moment you try to tighten a nut on your mountain bike. The pliers incorporate small Tungsten carbide steel wire cutters and sheath stripper - I have use this many, many times. Also, the cutters are triangular, so can be rotated in the future to keep them effective. The best feature on the pliers is their spring-loading. They default to the open position so that you can easily use them with one hand. I can't describe how useful this is when you're 'in the field', stripping comms wires, tightening nuts on vehicles or adjusting equipment.

KNIFE:
There is only one knife on the 800, but you don't need any more - it is more than up to the job. The front half of it is smooth and razor sharp. I've had my gerber for over 5 years now and it's still got a very good edge. The back half of the blade is serrated, giving you extra cutting power. The blade can be opened quickly using just your thumb - However, you have to hold it in your right hand to do it!

SCISSORS
The scissors are on the opposite side to the blade, and again can be operated with one hand - the right hand! They are spring loaded, which gives you similar advantages to the pliers (see above). One minor disadvantage is the size of the cut - it's only 15mm, which limits their use. They are good when giving First Aid, as they cut through crepe bandages and surgical tape easily.

ACCESSABILITY:
Unlike the Leatherman tool, you can access all the tools without opening the handles. This is a major advantage when you need to do something quickly and your other hand is already trying to keep whatever it is you need to fix in one piece!

LOCKING MECHANISM:
Once you've selected your tool from the handle, it locks into place to provide extra security. This is a re-assuring feature when you are using the (very) sharp knife or the saw, as it gives you the confidence to 'go-for-it' without the risk of loosing a couple of fingers!

SCREWDRIVERS:
The screwdrivers (1 x Phillips, 1 x Large flat, 1 x Medium Flat, 1 x Small Flat) have been well thought out and fit most standard screw heads. The medium sized flat screwdriver also has a bottle opener on it - vital!

SAW:
Although the saw is small in length (55mm), it is good for general use. You can't cut down large trees with it, but it's good for cutting small diameter tubing (Eg. Landrover engine pipes) and drain-pipe type tubing. The saw is replaceable, but I haven't had to replace mine yet.

OTHER FEATURES:
Gator TEX grips
Weather resistant handles
Patented saw coupler with replaceable RemGrit blade
Ergonomic grip
Lightweight Aerospace handle material
Field adjustable axle fastener
Medium / coarse file
Ballistic sheath
Complete with ballistic sheath
Weight 243g
Size closed 110mm, size open 160mm

SUMMARY:
In summary, the GERBER 800 is, in my opinion, a far superior tool to the LEATHERMAN. It is robust and well-thought out, leaving out the gimmicks and concentrating on what you need in the field. I have used mine in many situations, in many different climates, around the world. I would not even consider buying a different make if I lost this one.