When I was a kid, my friends and I wandered in the woods every minute. We chased turkeys, built fortresses, and played more hunting and flashlight games than I did. As children in the forest, we also like any equipment that can persuade our parents to let us use (if there are good reasons for giving children a chainsaw, I would definitely not think of it). Even if mobile good things are forbidden to enter, we are lucky enough to carry knives in the end.
One day, we noticed that there is something cooler than knives: multifunctional tools. We don’t know much, but we know that the bigger the better, the ordinary knife is for the old stubborn, and Gerber is just rubbish.
A lot has changed since then, both in terms of my threat team and our choices when purchasing equipment. Big-name brands like Leatherman, Victorinox and Gerber can no longer rely solely on brand recognition. Too many new companies make reliable tools to rely on past success. I am happy to see that the suggested retail price of the Gerber truss is $50, but I have to wonder how many corners have been cut to achieve it. Is this a bargain, or is the company cheap and assumes the logo can take care of the business?
Tools: spring pin pliers, ordinary pliers, wire cutters, 2.25 inch flat blade, 2.25 inch serrated blade, scissors, saw, cross screwdriver, flat screwdriver (small, medium, large), can opener, bottle opener, awl , Files, rulers, wire strippers
The Gerber truss quickly showed its intentions. To say the least, this versatile tool is eye-catching. With hollow handles, thick tool stacks and two-color steel, it is obvious that when shoppers browse Amazon or browse the local Cabela display cabinet, the designer wants it to attract attention.
The truss greeted my hand with a significant weight, as I expected, this is a tool that can withstand the arduous use in the real world. According to the Gerber website, the entire product range is made of stainless steel. If I didn’t check, I might think that truss steel is the tool-level D2 on many entry-level knives—especially considering its price. The coating on the truss can eliminate gloss well, making it a reasonable choice for tactical use, even in silver (matte black can also be used).
Tools for the truss include multi-purpose pliers, wire cutters, scissors, two serrated and non-serrated blades, various screwdrivers, can openers, bottle openers, saws, files, and awls. Gerber also touts the ruler of the tool, but the measurement is only expressed in 5 mm and quarter inch increments, up to 4 cm, and the shape of the ruler makes it difficult to exceed 3 cm, so far I can’t imagine many Where does the situation come in handy. All tools except pliers are locked in place with smart safety switches. The pliers are spring-loaded, which is an excellent touch and makes them easier to operate.
Truss comes with a black nylon shell. The velcro flap should prevent it from falling out, but remember that if you need to open it, noise discipline is actually non-existent. The strap loop allows the pouch to be installed vertically or horizontally, but cannot be installed on MOLLE. Gerber, if you are reading this article, I believe your customers will love the ability to install it on board or assault package.
Although I like to collect special tools, sometimes a good multifunctional tool is suitable for the job. Maybe it was unrealistic to drag a bunch of full-size tools while patrolling on an airplane or on foot at that time. Perhaps when you are tortured in the attic, you are dominated by 50-year-old insulating materials. I use trusses for all sorts of odd jobs around houses and garages, but it saves lives the most, rather than having to sort out faulty wiring in ceiling lights. My knee is supported on a joist above the old plaster, and I lift the creepy insulation with one hand. I am happy to have a screwdriver, pliers and wire cutters within reach. The truss is a huge help.
Since Gerber’s website is a bit vague about the type of stainless steel they use, I am curious about the corrosion resistance of the truss. As with the last multi-function tool I tested, I plan to soak it in a mixture of water and road salt, and then let the tool air dry so that the rust has a chance to work. Immediately, I noticed a layer of oil slick on the water. This is not a good sign, because any oil that enters the surface cannot protect the moving parts of the tool. Sure enough, a bright orange shell had formed on the submerged metal. All tools showed some signs of corrosion, and the movements were clearly crisp. One of the locks failed to fully engage, although it did secure the tool in place. Rinsing with tap water and applying a thin layer of oil helps, but there are still some rust spots and the movement is no longer the same as before.
Unlike most multifunctional tools I have used, Truss is held together with Torx screws rather than pins or rivets. This made me think: if I could take this thing apart like a gun, I could make it cleaner and keep it in operation for a longer time. This is a good theory, but the size of Torx is unusually small, and my standard machinist’s tool set does not have the right bits. This idea is still worth considering, but plans to purchase specialized tools to realize it.
At less than $50, I admit that this versatile tool has a fairly low threshold in my book, but the quality of the truss feels beyond my expectations based on the suggested retail price, not to mention the available sales price. This is due to the balance of size and weight. It is compact enough to fit into a spare magazine bag, toss in a bug-proof bag, or even put it in a pocket.
At the same time, Truss will definitely not make people feel cheap. This multi-function tool weighs 8.4 ounces. Obviously, it is designed to resist hits, and no plastic specifications can be found outside the lanyard loop. I also like that all tools are opened outwards, so every time users want to hold something other than pliers, they don’t have to stretch out the handle.
Finally, a major part of reviewing equipment is to put each piece of equipment in terms of price. Will I pay $100 for the truss like other multi-function tools? Absolutely not-it just can’t justify the premium. Cut it in half, and the prospect of owning one starts to look much better. With the selling price falling below $40, it’s hard not to recommend one of them as an entry-level tool for beginners, or a backup tool for those of us with existing collections. It is worth reiterating that this is cheap; not cheap.
As always, there is room for improvement. If you plan to use it as a more tactical tool than an EDC project, there are a few things you need to be aware of.
The most obvious problem with the truss is its performance in my corrosion tests. To be honest, this is my expectation for a $50 multifunctional tool, and Gerber specifically warns against contact with salt water in the FAQ section of his website. My experiment is to torture the truss, and I definitely go further than any responsible owner. Nevertheless, other (albeit more expensive) multi-function tools have passed the same test.
In recent years, Gerber has positioned itself as a tactical brand that aims to provide services to military, law enforcement and first aid customers other than civilians and outdoor enthusiasts. One of the things I look for in tools designed to execute in that world is the ability to use them with gloves. Many military units require service personnel to wear gloves, it is important to take into account the inclement weather. It’s as easy to use as a truss, and it’s a bit cumbersome to wear gloves. You may be lucky to use pliers and the outermost tools (knives, saws, and scissors), but nails are needed for everything else. This is not a deal breaker, and it is certainly not limited to this particular multifunctional tool, but it is worth mentioning.
My other complaints are subjective. On the one hand, I can avoid some excessive styling. I know what trusses are in the engineering field, but the shape of the side of the multi-tool is not a truss; they are cuts that (probably) reduce weight. I don’t know how much weight they actually reduced, but I would rather have it than pay for designers who spend countless hours deciding what shape to carve into this thing.
This reminds me of the name. If there is a connection here, maybe Gerber can make it clearer, because it seems rather casual. Again, these are personal complaints, and you may disagree. If you do, continue to snatch one of them, because the truss is still a useful tool and it’s affordable.
After successfully using the truss and then pushing it very close to the edge of failure, where does it stack up? Well, this is a classic case of getting what you pay for. I can continue to talk about how Gerber designed it to look cool, instead of using the money to improve features, complain because it is not more corrosion resistant, or point out that I would rather carry a multi-purpose tool. These are valid points of view, but they do not describe the entire picture.
The truss is also very cost-effective. Most people who use it will never take it near the ocean or abuse it with road salt, and they may be very satisfied with their purchase. If you ask for the best, please continue to save money. If you need something affordable to get the job done and don’t mind some preventive maintenance, go ahead. I will not hinder you.
For a while, Gerber seemed to be one of the most well-known figures in the industry. As far as my childhood friends and I are concerned, owning a Gerber knife means that you are serious about tactical equipment, either working in a dynamic environment or (like us) watching enough Discovery Channel documentaries to understand Things that those people carry. These days, things are not that simple. The competition has become more intense, and my expectations of the brand may not necessarily be the same as my expectations of Spyderco or Victorinox. This is partly because these brands are very frank about the type of steel they use and the research and development they do.
A. Gerber listed the suggested retail price of the truss at $50, but we found a smoking deal that allows you to buy it for $39.99.
Answer: Truss provides all the tools you expect from a high-quality multi-function tool. It includes spring pliers, scissors, two flat-head screwdrivers, a cross-head screwdriver, wire cutters, wire strippers, saws, serrated blades, traditional blades, can openers, bottle openers, awls, (small) rulers and files . There is also a lanyard loop, suitable for those who like to use virtual ropes to secure equipment.
A. Gerber did not specify which steel they used, but they described it as “100% high-grade stainless steel.” This is good, but not very helpful. This information is also hidden in the FAQ section of the website and can only be found by scrolling all the way down to the footer. If I use top-quality materials to make products, I will post specifications on every product page I own.
Answer: What I want to say is that trusses have a place in the multifunctional tool market. Of course there are more powerful options-including very professional tools-and I can see that Gerber’s goal is a price point that makes it easy to use. However, I think the performance of the truss is higher than Gerber’s asking price. For entry-level multi-function tools, this is a good choice.
A. Truss is an engineering term used to describe structures made of rigid materials, connected at the ends to gain strength by supporting each other. You can see this on bridges or attics, where metal or wooden beams form triangles to make the structure more able to withstand heavy loads while remaining relatively light. What does this have to do with multi-tools? If I know, damn it.
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Scott Murdock is a Marine Corps veteran and a contributor to Task & Purpose. He is selflessly committed to serving readers, experiencing the best equipment, gadgets, stories and alcoholic beverages.
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