Gerber Multi-Plier 600 Bluntnose Stainless

If you got miles to go before dark (or dawn) and some heavy snipping, bending, driving or prying to do, here’s the multi-tool for you.  Much is made of the single-handed, wrist-snap deployable pliers, a practical maneuver that becomes more automatic with practice (and getting the 9oz 600 grooved in, mechanically).  Testers pictured this one onboard a disabled fishing boat miles off the Pacific Coast – with a deadly storm approaching.

“Bam” and the normally-quiet deck hand breaks out the bluntnose like some repair ninja.  Motor rises from the dead to a deep-throated rumble, steering linkages snap into position and the storm is outrun.  To wit, this untethered, 4.9” (closed) tool is more like an unpowered mash-up version of pneumatic metal cutters, electric screwdrivers and bench-mounted bending jigs. 

In fact, the tungsten wire cutter heads can be rotated three times to maintain sharpness before mandating replacement. Handling metal is this product’s forte as test results didn’t favor it for straight-up rope cutting, wood carving and sawing. Testers rated the file, smallest slotted driver head and can opener as exceptional contributions to the tool’s overall value.