Truss Multi-Tool

The Gerber Truss is a full-size 17-tool multi-tool built around spring-loaded needlenose pliers, with every tool opening from the outside of the handles and locking in place. The Gerber Truss weighs 238 g, has 5.7 cm plain and serrated blades, a saw, scissors and four drivers, and comes with a belt sheath. We stock it in Stainless and Black.

What it actually does

Seventeen tools, picked for the jobs that actually come up at camp, on the farm, in the shed and on a four-day walk:

• Pliers: spring-loaded needlenose pliers, regular pliers and a wire cutter
• Blades: a 5.7 cm plain edge blade and a 5.7 cm serrated edge blade
• Cutting: scissors and a saw
• Drivers: a cross driver and small, medium and large flathead drivers
• Everything else: can opener, bottle opener, awl, file, ruler and wire stripper

The spring in the pliers opens the jaws for you after every squeeze, which your hand notices by the fifth hose clamp or tent-peg extraction. The drivers are fixed blades rather than a bit holder, so there is nothing to drop in the grass; for a bike with Torx or hex bolts, pair the Truss with a dedicated bike tool.

Size, weight and carrying

At 238 g the Truss is a proper full-size plier tool, but the one-piece steel handle keeps it slimmer than most tools with this much in them. It rides in the included low-profile sheath, which mounts on your belt either vertically or horizontally, so it can sit flat under a pack hip belt or hang upright on a work belt. It also drops easily into the lid pocket of a pack.

Build quality

The handle is cut from a single piece of steel, which is where the strength comes from without the bulk. Every tool is outboard, meaning it opens from the outside with the handles closed, and every tool locks open, so a blade or driver stays put when you lean on it. The blades are stainless steel. The Black version is the same tool with a blacked-out finish.

Looking after it

Stainless steel resists rust, it does not make a tool rust-proof. After a day at the beach or in the rain, rinse the Truss in fresh water, dry it, and put a drop of light oil on the pivots and the pliers spring. Keep the blades sharp with a small stone; a sharp blade is safer than one you have to force.