I work as a wastewater operator and I bought these after watching this video as the pliers are one of a kind in a multi tool. I have used this thing on disassembling chemical pumps(they got covered in a corrosive chemical called Caustic that can dissolve bodies), taking bolts off of😢 drain lines and more. The pliers are incredible and it has done everything I’ve asked it for. Couldn’t recommend more if you work with lots of bolt sizes your leatherman wont work with
As a fellow water treatment technician, I'm always glad to find comments like this. You never know if tools are actually useful to such a niche trade or if they just sound like a good idea. Thanks bro
@@dylantromp440 water treatment is one of the best kept secrets in the blue collar world. For such a basic service it’s shocking how small of an industry it is
It's A Fantastic Multitool! Hands-down one of the best I have and perfect for diy / handyman jobs... I can't say enuf good things about this Gerber. At first the plier grips seem strange BUT they are so much more useful than the standard needle-nose everyone makes. The screwdriver is bomb-proof, the knife is stellar, the file works well and the saw is great for yard work. No finicky little doo-hickeys - just a solid work-horse for around the home. I prefer it to most Leathermans any day of the week.
A great "real world" review from someone who has actually used it. Make a refreshing change & is a lot more helpful than all those table-top reviews. No awful music & no bullshit - just straight up & to the point. Thank you.
That’s the right way to review a tool. Take it to work and use it for a while. That’s real world. I have a bunch of multi tools and I always find something I don’t like about them. So far I’ve been EDCing a Leatherman Charge TTI about 4 years at work and though it isn’t perfect, it’s been the best one yet.
Victorinox Spirit X + Knipex Cobra 150 = Best combo! I also add the Victorinox Explorer, which covers everything the Spirit doesn't have,plus it adds the magnyfing glass which after 41 years on this world, becomes an essential tool.
Wow, great review! I really wish Gerber would step up their game and make a little bit higher quality stuff. People are clearly willing to pay a little more for quality - this tool would be so much better if it didn’t have any plastic.
Its weird because the original centerdrive is all metal. The detent problem he talked about is pretty much nonexistent. Wish i could mix and match pliers/grippers in multitools
Thank you for your honesty and the in depth field test on the Dual Force. I'm finding with mine that it is really serving my lighter chores and is working perfectly and ruggedly for my EDC uses. Like you put so well, it works for anyone depending on their needs. The Pliers are fantastic and have proven to be a brute with everything I put them up against. Thanks again for your time on this.
I have this Gerber. It's been on my belt for about four weeks now. It is a good unit. The Gerber - Leatherman debate will continue long after I'm gone from this earth. They both have their uses, and I appreciate your fabulous review and for being real and honest. Cheers and God Bless.... from Texas.
Leatherman is king point blank Gerber is garbage sorry but man everytime I buy gerber I hate my self all multy tools feel cheap and brake for the proce point it's sad tbh I got this model for free and still didnt like it 😂😂
I have to give Gerber credit for at least trying a whole bunch of different new things in the multi-tool space over the years. That comes at a cost, where you can't deliver every design with particularly good materials, not knowing how they'll sell at those higher price points, but they at least give novel designs with OK materials a shot in the marketplace under their name.
Fantastic review. You were honest about what you liked and even praised what the tool did well and then admitted that it didn’t suit your needs with no bashing at all. I wish all reviews could be done this well. You’ve got a new subscriber. Well done my friend.
Excellent review and thank you for that! Nothing more convincing than actually showing how the tool is used in real applications. Every tool has its strength and weakness, and your coverage of the tool is very fair, despite your bias toward the Surge.
I've been using the Center-Drive basically since it was released, and the thing I always hated was just how bad the pliers were on it (waaaay too much backlash). This looks like it solves that problem, adds the tool I wanted the most (saw), and gets rid of the tool I disliked the most (the tiny serrated blade). All in all, this looks like the ideal tool to replace my center-drive. Thanks for cluing me in to this, I somehow missed it's release.
@@zacinthewild it certainly did. Now had mine for a little over a month and they immediately fell into my EDC. For the sort of light to medium handyman tasks I've been using them for, they have been absolutely perfect.
I just bought my first pliers-based multi tool a few months ago, and it took me a while to really grasp the difference between the needle nose pliers and the bolt-turning pliers (because I’m dumb, I guess 🤷♂️). I do like the focus on bolt-turning pliers, because that’s one tool that just can’t be made too compact without sacrificing the function. I don’t work with plumbing or machinery, so I haven’t felt the need for one. But if I ever needed one, I’d most likely just go with a dedicated tool. No comment against the Dual Force. I hope it does really well. The guys behind it clearly out a lot of thought into what they were doing.
On wanting a pry-bar on the file: how would that work presumably the file is significantly higher carbon th and the blade? If so it should be relatively brittle which should mean using it to pry things should risk snapping it rather than bending it which would be considerably more annoying and potentially dangerous.
Yep. To make and effective prybar, it would probably have to be shorter and thicker (taking up 2 slots instead of 1) . After that, the next failure point the is going to be either the sheet metal construction and/or the pivots - either the pivot is going to loosen or break or the sheet metal is going to want to flex / twist or spread apart.
You’re exactly right. And a prybar in a multi tool anyway is not super useful. They arnt thick enough. To be a good prybar they need a curve in them. Idk I just think it would be useless and with file steel it would just snap
@@christopherscott2012 most of the tool is maded out of sheet metal that is either stamped to laser cut and then folded/bent into shape. It's typically strong enough in one direction, but doesn't do well with bending or twisting like it would experience if being used with a prybar.
Outstanding reviews bro!! You going to start a Patreon anytime soon? I personally want to support your channel with more than just likes and comments. You have the respect of many folks brother. 🤘🏽
I have a Gerber Center Drive and have used it for lighter applications. Loved the video and your honesty, I was thinking about grabbing one of these myself. Stay frosty man!
Love the review, man. Really highlights the change from Knife Salesman to Variety RUclips channel. A lot of us really appreciate your impressions, not only for your great positive attitude, but also for the expertise you’ve accumulated long before and since Blade HQ. Thanks for this.
I just sent away for these, including shipping just under $90, but after looking at all the videos and comments on RUclips I was sold.....I've owned many other one but this looks to be the most rugged and the best
I really like how the pliers are on this multi tool. It would be great for installing appliances like hoses on the washing machine, etc. The plastic parts were a big turn off though. I have a Leatherman but there’s definitely pros and cons to every multi-tool. Thanks for the review Zac!
This would be great for appliance install between the pliers and the center drive. In that environment I think the plastic bits wouldn’t be a deal killer.
I usually pinch my skin somehow when using a Leatherman multitool. I learned to just get the proper tool instead of feeling the pain. Maybe the Gerber is a better design.
@@normferguson2769 This, I can't believe Leatherman didn't fix the pinching grips. I like the design of Gerber multitools better, unfortunately where I live their warranty is basically nonexistent.
The easiest and arguably most effective way to add a small pry bar to a multitool is to just buy a small pry bar and keep it in the multitool sheath. It'll be stronger and not attached to a pivot, which is a massive weak point. If it gets damaged just replace it. Did you talk about the saw? Or did I miss it? Still, quite a nice and unique multitool. Hats off to Gerber for at least trying to come up with new designs and features. Awesome real life review, thank you. A bit too expensive now, and I like my Surge and Supertool 300 for big multitools. I'll stick with those.
Glad to see Gerber getting some good recognition! I have several different things from them. An their multitools are great, an their Warranty fantastic. Also one of my favorite pack knives, an camping belt knife is the Prodigy!
As an electrician that does strictly remodels this is an absolute essential tool. ruclips.net/user/postUgkx0vyBwjtx9GGOuiqUVT2sRoYqmDoNT_RI Being able to precision cut any material with a light weight tool is priceless.I upgraded to this Dewalt 20v from a competitor's 12v. The Dewalt 20v is just as light as the competitor's 12v. I am extremely pleased with the overall performance and battery life of this tool. As far as oscillators go, they just aren't very ergonomic tools. The dewalt oscillators have an offset handle that do make them somewhat more ergonomic than the competitors' oscillators.
Oh man that looks sweet. I’m a carpenter and carry a Gerber center drive on my hip all day every day. I love it but for the work I do those pliers would be way more helpful then the lineman style. Then you went popped out that chisel/pry bar and I started drooling.
I will say the sheaths that come with the center drives are junk. I found a good quick release 3d printed one off etsy that works well and has quick easy access for me while working.
Awesome hard use review!!! Great editing!! You and Jamie are the ultimate RUclips team! I carry the leatherman bond and a pocket size crescent wrench for nuts and bolts. I work on a beef farm and they get used multiple times a day. Would be interested to see your tool belt set up.
Standard pliers shouldn't be used on nuts and bolts when possible! What a mess that can make. The pocket size crescent wrench for nuts and bolts is a great idea, I carry the 7" Knipex pliers wrench for nuts and bolts the 10:1 gripping force and flat jaws works really well for nuts.
This is the first time I've seriously considered a non-Leatherman multi-tool; great hands-on review! I agree with all your points though. House is coming along well, thanks for the glimpse! :)
Great review. I work at an animal shelter and the amount of times I wished my current multi tool worked better on nuts and bolts is incalculable. Definitely a lighter use scenario, I may be picking one of these up.
Thanks for the review. And, check your bit holder, most likely you lost bit because you also lost magnet inside. I had the same issue, bit pulled off with a magnet.
I've carried a center drive 2 for like 3 years now. I got it because the driver is the thing i use the most since i mostly work with lets say "industrial electronics". Im not super hard on the rest of the tools, although i've used them all, all of the time. But the center drive driver is so good if you are fastening and unfastening screws all day and you cant use electric tools and don't want to go around with a whole ratchet driver set plus several other tools. Also the pliers / wire cutters on it are perfect for working on electronics.
This is a great tool, I have one and love the size and layout. It's just not as bulletproof and durable as the Leatherman however but I think that's just because it's a Gerber which is typically for casual users. Not really made for LE/Military/Fire but more for civilian home use or contractors etc. I'll still use it around the home because it has great features.
Gerber is the #1 supplier of knives and multitools to the US military. They have seen more military use than most other brands. It’s just luck of the draw these days it seems!
Honestly, considering the price, just seems easier buying a dedicated tool with that type of head, and just supplementing it with a traditional multi-tool. I don't like the fact that the handles don't actually come together flush in the closed position.
Nah Using a dedicated tool with correct size head, socket, jaws etc won't damage the fastener / fitting enough, so the next tech, trade contractor, will be able to service the device properly and to the satisfaction of the customer. If a jobs worth doing, it's worth doing half assed with the incorrect tool 🔧 😉 🤞🤞🤞🤞
Thanks for the review! I've been considering this multi-tool just because of the pliers but think I'll pass . . . the overall quality seems to be lacking.
It seems like the pliers may be it’s strong point but I agree I wouldn’t give up my Surge for it. Maybe if Gerber made some improvements on the other tools I might give it a shot.
Now that was a super review. So well edited and produced. It looks like a swing and a miss for me. I’m actually a Gerber fan and have a few of their knives that I love and use a lot. Unfortunately I have had some issues, including a not inexpensive folder that fell apart while in my pocket. They did replace it, but the warranty claim process more work than it should have been. So I’m holding off on their products until something is really proven.
i love and use the leatherman super tool for my job on boilers and chillers. i have tried many gerber multi tools and have had them all fail soon. like less than a year soon. add to the fact leatherman honors the warranty and gerber just gives hoops to jump through i can't see using a gerber for anything except giving to someone i didn't like that much.
Great review Zac! As someone who carries the Leatherman Wave+ regularly I'd be willing to try the DF as a replacement or even as a gift to my mechanic brother
I have limited experience with Gerber. I have one that I ended up with after my uncle passed. It stays in my kitchen drawer. But I was a young private in the Army in the late 90’s when multi tools started getting popular. I bought a Leatherman Supertool at the PX. I loved it. Til it was stolen…. My sergeant thought it was great and used our section’s budget to buy the other guys Gerbers. I was watching my buddy use his to work on a generator, nothing crazy, when one of the pliers just snapped off. He had to borrow my Leatherman after that…..
Thanks for the review. It's disappointing that they use plastic on the bit holders. The Gerber Center-Drive has a metal holder, although it only has 1. I guess I'll stick with the center drive that I already have.
Im a heavy user and ya the bit holders starting flopping backwards. I gave the inner race a little crunch with some other pliers and now they seem to be back better than ever and the bit holders are nice and tight to fold out. We will see how long that continues to be the case.
As someone who does a lot of mechanical work, the slip-joint pliers do look amazing for nuts and bolts, but I don't think I could ever replace my Surge with this thing.
I was gifted one recently. Thing's plier head broke during the first use (trying to get a hose off of a pressure washer) right in front of the guy who gave it to me. Another RUclipsr suggested giving it another shot to see if the one that I was gifted was a fluke so I just grabbed two on sale and my brother will use one on the ranch we grew up on while I use one at work, in the woods, and around my house. I don't have high hopes for it since it is made in china and Gerber's chinese lines are known for not being all that great (as are all chinese made tools). Currently I have to say that the Dual-Force is more of a $25 tool because my experience is that the quality is along the lines of other $25 multitools
honestly i tend to put a small chisel grind on the end of my file on my multi tools i like having a small push type cutter for odd/hard to reach spots and a file steel is great for that but it is very hard and brittle so as a prying tool it is a hard no go
YES. killing it. fun to watch, great edit! Also, I have a leatherman wave+, Gerber centerdrive, sog poweraccess, sog power pint... The leatherman is hands down the only one I would use for work, its so much better built. The others all feel cheap, even with some great tools or designs, they just don't quite get the pass because of the way the handles/pliers feel when bearing down on them.
Great real world review of a product and how it worked after some use I picked up a skeletool for light use my next multitool will be a victorinox spirit or wave.
Have have had a skeletool for 10 years. I changed out the stupid half knife half serrated blade for a straight knife. Now I believe its the best EDC multi tool on the market. It does not have all the tools that others have but its light and with the clip fits great in your pocket. Its great for any little job you come across and if you need any more than what skeletool offers, then frankly a walk to the tool box to get the correct tool is probably a better idea anyway.
I bought a Gerber blunt nosed MultiPlier back in the mid 1990s after buying a Leatherman PST. I wanted to compare the two as the Leatherman actually seemed a little too light duty for my needs. I preferred the pliers on the Gerber, loved the way they deployed with just a flick of the wrist and they seemed a little stronger, really the whole MultiPlier seemed stronger than the Leatherman but overall, I still preferred the PST. Carried both intechangeably at my job for several years. I still have them both and use them from time to time but my everyday multitool these days is a Victorinox Tinker.
there is a reason you dont see a file/prybar combination. A file has to be hardened so the teeth stay sharp and last a long time, this means files usually are hard "as glass", it shatters if you twist it or impact it. A prybar has to be hard too, but it also has to be tough, so when you pry with it it can deform and take the stress you put on it, and spring back - without shattering. So you either have a file that lasts, and a prybar that shatters, or a file that wears down quickly, and a prybar that works.
Been using a standard Centerdrive at work for a few years now. Gerber always seems to come close but then totally drop the ball at the end. As much as I am tepid about Gerber they have some saving grace that I'm willing to tolerate all the other faults in the tool, whether it be the centerdrive or these actual pliers versus the needle nose that every other multi tool comes with. If only Leatherman updated their OHT a bit.
I have carried my original Leatherman (from the early 80s when there was only one model and its only name was "Leatherman") for over 30 years. It has held up for all that time. I am not a real heavy duty user of multi tools. I try to have a set of regular hand tools available whenever and wherever I am, and for the most part that has been relatively easy. However, I have that Leatherman on my belt, and can't count the number of times I needed one of the tools on it and going back to my vehicle was just too much effort. So, out comes the tool and the screw gets tightened, or the packaging gets opened, or the spur gets filed down. I've even used it on family picnics when it was discovered that no one thought to bring a can opener. But the needle nose pliers just don't handle nuts well. The long tips keep getting caught on stuff. I've rounded a few nuts off trying to turn them with the Leatherman. So I have wanted a multitool that could handle nuts better for a long time. This Gerber Dual Force seems to be the only one available. I haven't seen one in person, so I sought a video review and found this one. I like that Zac bought his. Gerber didn't send him one for free, expecting to get a sham review. This was a brutally honest review, after actually using the tool on the job. That's great! I really like what Zac had to say about it. I am concerned about the plastic parts. I thought that the center drive was going to be better made, but after what Zac said about the bit holders, I am worried about the possibility of breakage. Plastic and I don't get along very well, I admit. Still, I really want the plier feature. Right now, when I step out of my vehicle, aside from the Leatherman on my belt, I carry a pair of Wright pliers that I bought in 1978 for technical school. Yup, I still have 'em and use them regularly. But they're long and have fallen out of my cargo pocket many times. I think I may still get one of these Gerber tools and put on my belt, right next to my old Leatherman. Because without that, I would feel naked.
I’d like to vouch that the chisel is perhaps the first really serviceable chisel I’ve seen on a Multitool. Victorinox chisels don’t compare at all. Also I would not pry with a file, especially if it’s hardened, as it’s liable to snap with earnest leverage. You can’t really turn other tools into *durable* pry bars
I work as a wastewater operator and I bought these after watching this video as the pliers are one of a kind in a multi tool. I have used this thing on disassembling chemical pumps(they got covered in a corrosive chemical called Caustic that can dissolve bodies), taking bolts off of😢 drain lines and more. The pliers are incredible and it has done everything I’ve asked it for. Couldn’t recommend more if you work with lots of bolt sizes your leatherman wont work with
As a fellow water treatment technician, I'm always glad to find comments like this. You never know if tools are actually useful to such a niche trade or if they just sound like a good idea. Thanks bro
@@dylantromp440 water treatment is one of the best kept secrets in the blue collar world. For such a basic service it’s shocking how small of an industry it is
We just call wastewater worker peanutbutter factory boys. Jokes from clean water operator!😂
@@dombond6515You know what they say about water, any fool can make clean water clean 🤣
If you are a maintenance tech like myself. There is no better multi tool than the dual force
Useful product reviews don't come any better than this. Thorough, informative and practical real review. The best.
Thank you very much!👊😎
It's A Fantastic Multitool! Hands-down one of the best I have and perfect for diy / handyman jobs... I can't say enuf good things about this Gerber. At first the plier grips seem strange BUT they are so much more useful than the standard needle-nose everyone makes. The screwdriver is bomb-proof, the knife is stellar, the file works well and the saw is great for yard work. No finicky little doo-hickeys - just a solid work-horse for around the home. I prefer it to most Leathermans any day of the week.
A great "real world" review from someone who has actually used it.
Make a refreshing change & is a lot more helpful than all those table-top reviews.
No awful music & no bullshit - just straight up & to the point.
Thank you.
Dude. It's a crime that you don't have a million subs. You literally do the best multi tool reviews. Keep it up man.
not many people watch tool channels
That Harley shirt is a crime.
That’s the right way to review a tool. Take it to work and use it for a while. That’s real world. I have a bunch of multi tools and I always find something I don’t like about them. So far I’ve been EDCing a Leatherman Charge TTI about 4 years at work and though it isn’t perfect, it’s been the best one yet.
Victorinox Spirit X + Knipex Cobra 150 = Best combo! I also add the Victorinox Explorer, which covers everything the Spirit doesn't have,plus it adds the magnyfing glass which after 41 years on this world, becomes an essential tool.
Zac we need a tour of what you're keeping in your bags for the remodel!
I need to put something together. I do have a hone tool video coming next week👊
I second this comment👌🏼
Wow, great review! I really wish Gerber would step up their game and make a little bit higher quality stuff. People are clearly willing to pay a little more for quality - this tool would be so much better if it didn’t have any plastic.
The amount of plastic is minimal enough to not even matter.
Its weird because the original centerdrive is all metal. The detent problem he talked about is pretty much nonexistent. Wish i could mix and match pliers/grippers in multitools
Thank you for your honesty and the in depth field test on the Dual Force. I'm finding with mine that it is really serving my lighter chores and is working perfectly and ruggedly for my EDC uses. Like you put so well, it works for anyone depending on their needs. The Pliers are fantastic and have proven to be a brute with everything I put them up against. Thanks again for your time on this.
I have this Gerber. It's been on my belt for about four weeks now. It is a good unit. The Gerber - Leatherman debate will continue long after I'm gone from this earth. They both have their uses, and I appreciate your fabulous review and for being real and honest. Cheers and God Bless.... from Texas.
Glad you you’re liking it! Thanks for tuning in👊
Leatherman is king point blank Gerber is garbage sorry but man everytime I buy gerber I hate my self all multy tools feel cheap and brake for the proce point it's sad tbh I got this model for free and still didnt like it 😂😂
I have to give Gerber credit for at least trying a whole bunch of different new things in the multi-tool space over the years. That comes at a cost, where you can't deliver every design with particularly good materials, not knowing how they'll sell at those higher price points, but they at least give novel designs with OK materials a shot in the marketplace under their name.
sooo impressed with this review...thanks for your usage! without ppl putting it through hard use..it's really difficult to know how it performs
Fantastic review. You were honest about what you liked and even praised what the tool did well and then admitted that it didn’t suit your needs with no bashing at all. I wish all reviews could be done this well. You’ve got a new subscriber. Well done my friend.
Glad you enjoyed! Thank you so much for the sub!🙏
Excellent review and thank you for that! Nothing more convincing than actually showing how the tool is used in real applications. Every tool has its strength and weakness, and your coverage of the tool is very fair, despite your bias toward the Surge.
I've been using the Center-Drive basically since it was released, and the thing I always hated was just how bad the pliers were on it (waaaay too much backlash). This looks like it solves that problem, adds the tool I wanted the most (saw), and gets rid of the tool I disliked the most (the tiny serrated blade). All in all, this looks like the ideal tool to replace my center-drive. Thanks for cluing me in to this, I somehow missed it's release.
Glad it helped👊
@@zacinthewild it certainly did. Now had mine for a little over a month and they immediately fell into my EDC. For the sort of light to medium handyman tasks I've been using them for, they have been absolutely perfect.
That is my biggest gripe with my center drive plus. Just got the dual force and I like it a lot
I like those.. I’ve been a leather man user for 25 years.. but these pliers are a game changer!! 👍🏽
I just bought my first pliers-based multi tool a few months ago, and it took me a while to really grasp the difference between the needle nose pliers and the bolt-turning pliers (because I’m dumb, I guess 🤷♂️).
I do like the focus on bolt-turning pliers, because that’s one tool that just can’t be made too compact without sacrificing the function. I don’t work with plumbing or machinery, so I haven’t felt the need for one. But if I ever needed one, I’d most likely just go with a dedicated tool.
No comment against the Dual Force. I hope it does really well. The guys behind it clearly out a lot of thought into what they were doing.
On wanting a pry-bar on the file: how would that work presumably the file is significantly higher carbon th and the blade? If so it should be relatively brittle which should mean using it to pry things should risk snapping it rather than bending it which would be considerably more annoying and potentially dangerous.
ya that's what i think especially liable to snap at the base where the grab hole is
Yep. To make and effective prybar, it would probably have to be shorter and thicker (taking up 2 slots instead of 1) . After that, the next failure point the is going to be either the sheet metal construction and/or the pivots - either the pivot is going to loosen or break or the sheet metal is going to want to flex / twist or spread apart.
You’re exactly right. And a prybar in a multi tool anyway is not super useful. They arnt thick enough. To be a good prybar they need a curve in them. Idk I just think it would be useless and with file steel it would just snap
@@justinv4036 what sheet metal.
@@christopherscott2012 most of the tool is maded out of sheet metal that is either stamped to laser cut and then folded/bent into shape.
It's typically strong enough in one direction, but doesn't do well with bending or twisting like it would experience if being used with a prybar.
You did a great unbiased review here. Thank you!
Thank you for watching!👊
Zac appreciate how honest you are with your reviews. That's what keeps me coming back time after time. I can count on an honest review
I always try to shoot straight. I’m glad you dug it👊
Outstanding reviews bro!! You going to start a Patreon anytime soon? I personally want to support your channel with more than just likes and comments. You have the respect of many folks brother. 🤘🏽
I’ll have to look into it. Really appreciate the support👊🤘
I have a Gerber Center Drive and have used it for lighter applications. Loved the video and your honesty, I was thinking about grabbing one of these myself. Stay frosty man!
👊
Love the review, man. Really highlights the change from Knife Salesman to Variety RUclips channel. A lot of us really appreciate your impressions, not only for your great positive attitude, but also for the expertise you’ve accumulated long before and since Blade HQ. Thanks for this.
Glad you enjoyed it!
I just sent away for these, including shipping just under $90, but after looking at all the videos and comments on RUclips I was sold.....I've owned many other one but this looks to be the most rugged and the best
Would love to see how these multi-part pliers hold up over the long term!
I really like how the pliers are on this multi tool. It would be great for installing appliances like hoses on the washing machine, etc. The plastic parts were a big turn off though. I have a Leatherman but there’s definitely pros and cons to every multi-tool. Thanks for the review Zac!
This would be great for appliance install between the pliers and the center drive. In that environment I think the plastic bits wouldn’t be a deal killer.
I usually pinch my skin somehow when using a Leatherman multitool. I learned to just get the proper tool instead of feeling the pain. Maybe the Gerber is a better design.
@@normferguson2769 This, I can't believe Leatherman didn't fix the pinching grips. I like the design of Gerber multitools better, unfortunately where I live their warranty is basically nonexistent.
I have the Gerber center drive. It's awesome. Best multitool I've ever used
Great real world review/use and honesty. I've had a leatherman wave for about 8 years and its awesome. Loving the content ✌️
Thanks! The Wave is legendary👊
The easiest and arguably most effective way to add a small pry bar to a multitool is to just buy a small pry bar and keep it in the multitool sheath. It'll be stronger and not attached to a pivot, which is a massive weak point. If it gets damaged just replace it. Did you talk about the saw? Or did I miss it?
Still, quite a nice and unique multitool. Hats off to Gerber for at least trying to come up with new designs and features.
Awesome real life review, thank you. A bit too expensive now, and I like my Surge and Supertool 300 for big multitools. I'll stick with those.
Glad to see Gerber getting some good recognition! I have several different things from them. An their multitools are great, an their Warranty fantastic. Also one of my favorite pack knives, an camping belt knife is the Prodigy!
The Prodigy is a good one for sure!
As an electrician that does strictly remodels this is an absolute essential tool. ruclips.net/user/postUgkx0vyBwjtx9GGOuiqUVT2sRoYqmDoNT_RI Being able to precision cut any material with a light weight tool is priceless.I upgraded to this Dewalt 20v from a competitor's 12v. The Dewalt 20v is just as light as the competitor's 12v. I am extremely pleased with the overall performance and battery life of this tool. As far as oscillators go, they just aren't very ergonomic tools. The dewalt oscillators have an offset handle that do make them somewhat more ergonomic than the competitors' oscillators.
Oh man that looks sweet. I’m a carpenter and carry a Gerber center drive on my hip all day every day. I love it but for the work I do those pliers would be way more helpful then the lineman style. Then you went popped out that chisel/pry bar and I started drooling.
I will say the sheaths that come with the center drives are junk. I found a good quick release 3d printed one off etsy that works well and has quick easy access for me while working.
Leatherman Surge (with extension) for the win. But I was intrigued by this for a minute.
Awesome hard use review!!! Great editing!! You and Jamie are the ultimate RUclips team! I carry the leatherman bond and a pocket size crescent wrench for nuts and bolts. I work on a beef farm and they get used multiple times a day. Would be interested to see your tool belt set up.
Thanks! I carry a Wave and Cresent basically everywhere I go too. I have a tool video coming soon👊
Standard pliers shouldn't be used on nuts and bolts when possible! What a mess that can make. The pocket size crescent wrench for nuts and bolts is a great idea, I carry the 7" Knipex pliers wrench for nuts and bolts the 10:1 gripping force and flat jaws works really well for nuts.
This is the first time I've seriously considered a non-Leatherman multi-tool; great hands-on review! I agree with all your points though. House is coming along well, thanks for the glimpse! :)
Honestly it could be great in certain places. Got some house stuff coming soon👊
Honestly those pliers alone might get me! I think that’s a very useful design more so than the needle nose style!
Gerber makes good multi tools, but I do not think I would get this one. Thank you , for the video.
Great review. I work at an animal shelter and the amount of times I wished my current multi tool worked better on nuts and bolts is incalculable. Definitely a lighter use scenario, I may be picking one of these up.
Sounds like it would be a great fit!
Just ordered one of these from Gerber for about $55 thanks to their End of Summer Sale. Can’t wait.
You deserve your own TV show. You are really engaging, likeable and produce great content. Good stuff. Love from the UK
Thanks a ton! Jamie is definitely responsible for the polish✨😁
Great review!! I could never abandon my wave.
Imagine a Leatherman Surge with THOSE pliers.
If gerber come's out with a improved version of this I would get one. Thanks for the vid I've been looking at one of these
Glad it was helpful!
Thanks for reviewing this. I’ll probably stick with my Charge®.
Such a great tool!🤘
An actual real world review! Well done.
Thanks for the review. And, check your bit holder, most likely you lost bit because you also lost magnet inside. I had the same issue, bit pulled off with a magnet.
Thanks Zac for the review. I am a die hard surge fan though. I just can’t give it up. I can see how these would be good.
Same😁!
I've carried a center drive 2 for like 3 years now. I got it because the driver is the thing i use the most since i mostly work with lets say "industrial electronics". Im not super hard on the rest of the tools, although i've used them all, all of the time. But the center drive driver is so good if you are fastening and unfastening screws all day and you cant use electric tools and don't want to go around with a whole ratchet driver set plus several other tools. Also the pliers / wire cutters on it are perfect for working on electronics.
Thanks for the honesty!
Great review. Cant ask for more. You put it through what most would and you were honest.
Fantastic review, I love real world tests. Keep them coming.
Thanks much! More coming👊
This is a great tool, I have one and love the size and layout. It's just not as bulletproof and durable as the Leatherman however but I think that's just because it's a Gerber which is typically for casual users. Not really made for LE/Military/Fire but more for civilian home use or contractors etc. I'll still use it around the home because it has great features.
Gerber is the #1 supplier of knives and multitools to the US military. They have seen more military use than most other brands. It’s just luck of the draw these days it seems!
Thanks for the review.
Before both got so fething overpriced, I always kept a Gerber and Leatherman just for the different pliers when working.
Very visual review. Now I know about that multi tool. Thanks man.
Glad it was helpful👊
Honestly, considering the price, just seems easier buying a dedicated tool with that type of head, and just supplementing it with a traditional multi-tool. I don't like the fact that the handles don't actually come together flush in the closed position.
Nah
Using a dedicated tool with correct size head, socket, jaws etc won't damage the fastener / fitting enough, so the next tech, trade contractor, will be able to service the device properly and to the satisfaction of the customer.
If a jobs worth doing, it's worth doing half assed with the incorrect tool 🔧 😉 🤞🤞🤞🤞
I love my victorinox Swiss tool. Had it for seven years. I don't think I will ever replace it.
Thanks for the review! I've been considering this multi-tool just because of the pliers but think I'll pass . . . the overall quality seems to be lacking.
Thanks fort the honest review!
It seems like the pliers may be it’s strong point but I agree I wouldn’t give up my Surge for it. Maybe if Gerber made some improvements on the other tools I might give it a shot.
Now that was a super review. So well edited and produced. It looks like a swing and a miss for me. I’m actually a Gerber fan and have a few of their knives that I love and use a lot. Unfortunately I have had some issues, including a not inexpensive folder that fell apart while in my pocket. They did replace it, but the warranty claim process more work than it should have been. So I’m holding off on their products until something is really proven.
i love and use the leatherman super tool for my job on boilers and chillers. i have tried many gerber multi tools and have had them all fail soon. like less than a year soon. add to the fact leatherman honors the warranty and gerber just gives hoops to jump through i can't see using a gerber for anything except giving to someone i didn't like that much.
Gerber DualForce is on sale for 55 bucks right now! great video!
Great review. Seems like it's a great pair of pliers with some ok accessories from what see from you vide.
Thanks for the review.
Great review Zac! As someone who carries the Leatherman Wave+ regularly I'd be willing to try the DF as a replacement or even as a gift to my mechanic brother
This could be super useful in a mechanic setting for sure!
I have limited experience with Gerber. I have one that I ended up with after my uncle passed. It stays in my kitchen drawer. But I was a young private in the Army in the late 90’s when multi tools started getting popular. I bought a Leatherman Supertool at the PX. I loved it. Til it was stolen…. My sergeant thought it was great and used our section’s budget to buy the other guys Gerbers. I was watching my buddy use his to work on a generator, nothing crazy, when one of the pliers just snapped off. He had to borrow my Leatherman after that…..
Killer edit! Nice work.
Jamie slayed it on this one!
Thanks for the review. It's disappointing that they use plastic on the bit holders. The Gerber Center-Drive has a metal holder, although it only has 1. I guess I'll stick with the center drive that I already have.
Well Done Zac! -Spencer
Hello, Zac! Could you share a detailed photo of the pliers' teeth, please? I wonder how is metal strong.
Great review! Can we all appreciate the amount of effort that got put into this?
It was a fun one to make for sure!
Im a heavy user and ya the bit holders starting flopping backwards. I gave the inner race a little crunch with some other pliers and now they seem to be back better than ever and the bit holders are nice and tight to fold out. We will see how long that continues to be the case.
That is a great work around🤘
Just found this on clearance for $30 at Walmart and grabbed it because I remembered this video!
Using Skeletool or Gerber Suspension here at high mountain desert plateau hideout NM.
Good test!!! Looks good....
I don’t care for multi tools at all I’m just here for your reviews lol. You rock sir.
Thank you very much🙏
Those pliers look amazing for a multi tool. I'm a Victorinox Spirit X with ratchet, Leatherman wave plus guy. :)
I will NEVER give up my surge!
Great video. Can’t wait to see the house
Thanks!
Great real-life review! Leatherman Surge plus pair of Knipex pliers could be used instead of Gerber Dual-Force. Keep up the good work!
That is the golden combo for sure!
Zac,
Very good and honest review. Very well done.
JT
thanks for your review. I have been looking at them just for the Pliers I love those but the rest like you, not so sure of.
I use my Leatherman Wave everyday. Love it.
As someone who does a lot of mechanical work, the slip-joint pliers do look amazing for nuts and bolts, but I don't think I could ever replace my Surge with this thing.
I was gifted one recently. Thing's plier head broke during the first use (trying to get a hose off of a pressure washer) right in front of the guy who gave it to me. Another RUclipsr suggested giving it another shot to see if the one that I was gifted was a fluke so I just grabbed two on sale and my brother will use one on the ranch we grew up on while I use one at work, in the woods, and around my house. I don't have high hopes for it since it is made in china and Gerber's chinese lines are known for not being all that great (as are all chinese made tools). Currently I have to say that the Dual-Force is more of a $25 tool because my experience is that the quality is along the lines of other $25 multitools
Great stuff as always man keep it up. Would love to see your surge in action on some of the projects your doing.
I’ll have to get some stuff with it. It’s a great tool!
honestly i tend to put a small chisel grind on the end of my file on my multi tools i like having a small push type cutter for odd/hard to reach spots and a file steel is great for that but it is very hard and brittle so as a prying tool it is a hard no go
Been using the Leatherman surge for years!! I absolutely love it but I'm surprised they haven't made a mk2 yet...
They did make a second generation version, the Surge with replaceable wire cutters is the 2nd Gen. No 3rd Gen yet.
Love your approach and honesty here. 👍
Thank you!
YES. killing it. fun to watch, great edit! Also, I have a leatherman wave+, Gerber centerdrive, sog poweraccess, sog power pint... The leatherman is hands down the only one I would use for work, its so much better built. The others all feel cheap, even with some great tools or designs, they just don't quite get the pass because of the way the handles/pliers feel when bearing down on them.
Agree completely! There are some innovative tools out there though for sure.🤘
Thanks for showing us the good & the bad about this tool. I'm partial to the victorinox swisstool x as my hard use tool
Hear of a lot of people who love that one!
Great real world review of a product and how it worked after some use I picked up a skeletool for light use my next multitool will be a victorinox spirit or wave.
Sounds like a great kit!
Have have had a skeletool for 10 years. I changed out the stupid half knife half serrated blade for a straight knife. Now I believe its the best EDC multi tool on the market. It does not have all the tools that others have but its light and with the clip fits great in your pocket. Its great for any little job you come across and if you need any more than what skeletool offers, then frankly a walk to the tool box to get the correct tool is probably a better idea anyway.
Appreciate the review!
Thanks for tuning in👊
I bought a Gerber blunt nosed MultiPlier back in the mid 1990s after buying a Leatherman PST. I wanted to compare the two as the Leatherman actually seemed a little too light duty for my needs. I preferred the pliers on the Gerber, loved the way they deployed with just a flick of the wrist and they seemed a little stronger, really the whole MultiPlier seemed stronger than the Leatherman but overall, I still preferred the PST. Carried both intechangeably at my job for several years. I still have them both and use them from time to time but my everyday multitool these days is a Victorinox Tinker.
All awesome tools!
there is a reason you dont see a file/prybar combination.
A file has to be hardened so the teeth stay sharp and last a long time, this means files usually are hard "as glass", it shatters if you twist it or impact it.
A prybar has to be hard too, but it also has to be tough, so when you pry with it it can deform and take the stress you put on it, and spring back - without shattering.
So you either have a file that lasts, and a prybar that shatters,
or a file that wears down quickly, and a prybar that works.
Been using a standard Centerdrive at work for a few years now. Gerber always seems to come close but then totally drop the ball at the end. As much as I am tepid about Gerber they have some saving grace that I'm willing to tolerate all the other faults in the tool, whether it be the centerdrive or these actual pliers versus the needle nose that every other multi tool comes with. If only Leatherman updated their OHT a bit.
Honest n insightful- got a cpl Leatherman haven't let me down- great vid man 💥💥🍻🍻😎😎
Glad you enjoyed! Thanks for watching👊
Thank you for an actual hard use review. Great info.
Glad it was useful👊
I have carried my original Leatherman (from the early 80s when there was only one model and its only name was "Leatherman") for over 30 years. It has held up for all that time. I am not a real heavy duty user of multi tools. I try to have a set of regular hand tools available whenever and wherever I am, and for the most part that has been relatively easy. However, I have that Leatherman on my belt, and can't count the number of times I needed one of the tools on it and going back to my vehicle was just too much effort. So, out comes the tool and the screw gets tightened, or the packaging gets opened, or the spur gets filed down. I've even used it on family picnics when it was discovered that no one thought to bring a can opener. But the needle nose pliers just don't handle nuts well. The long tips keep getting caught on stuff. I've rounded a few nuts off trying to turn them with the Leatherman.
So I have wanted a multitool that could handle nuts better for a long time. This Gerber Dual Force seems to be the only one available. I haven't seen one in person, so I sought a video review and found this one. I like that Zac bought his. Gerber didn't send him one for free, expecting to get a sham review. This was a brutally honest review, after actually using the tool on the job. That's great!
I really like what Zac had to say about it. I am concerned about the plastic parts. I thought that the center drive was going to be better made, but after what Zac said about the bit holders, I am worried about the possibility of breakage. Plastic and I don't get along very well, I admit.
Still, I really want the plier feature. Right now, when I step out of my vehicle, aside from the Leatherman on my belt, I carry a pair of Wright pliers that I bought in 1978 for technical school. Yup, I still have 'em and use them regularly. But they're long and have fallen out of my cargo pocket many times. I think I may still get one of these Gerber tools and put on my belt, right next to my old Leatherman. Because without that, I would feel naked.
Good review. Thanks. For now I’ll stick with my Wave
I’d like to vouch that the chisel is perhaps the first really serviceable chisel I’ve seen on a Multitool. Victorinox chisels don’t compare at all. Also I would not pry with a file, especially if it’s hardened, as it’s liable to snap with earnest leverage. You can’t really turn other tools into *durable* pry bars