Gerber Octane Multi-plier - Lightweight multi-tool
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Gerber Octane Multi-plier - Lightweight multi-tool
UK price: £49.99
Pros: Light, sturdy, versatile
Cons: Needs two hands to open, some bits awkward to access
Verdict: Lovely multi-tool but a bit pricey
Rating: 
Available from: www.gerbergear.com
Product Review
Gerber's multi-tools are so sexy! They feel well designed, engineered and constructed to survive a major explosion. Everything clunks into place firmly and whatever configuration is in your hand, it feels taught and well weighted. I just know that this Octane multi-plier is going to last for ever.
Of course, just out of a sense of duty, I tried throwing it around the garden a bit, then used the side of it as a hammer and finally invented a new exercise trying to pull the two sides of it apart till my face turned purple.
Then I used the Octane to fix a lighting job in the kitchen. Neat. It did everything and then slipped in my pocket like the good little modest tool that it is.
It's light (5oz/141g) and small enough to fit even a small pocket: just four inches long and one and a half inches wide when folded up.
Gerber claim it can be opened and used single-handedly. Well, they neglect to mention they mean by a skilled card sharp, because ordinary hands can't do it. You have to press the releases on either side at the same time as you press them grips upwards. I can just do it with two hands. Some of the tools in the handles are similarly awkward to extract.
So what are the tool goodies within? Obviously there are pliers, with a narrow head, grooved teeth and a wire cutter. Then there's a locking knife blade that's darned sharp, with a normal blade and serrated section.
In the handles are three different screwdriver heads, a pointy file thing, a bottle-opener and a hooked sharp thing. They used to say this was for getting stones out of horses' hooves. Now Gerber say this is for opening "clam packages" whatever they might be.
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