• The Gerber Gear Center-Drive multitool has large screwdrivers, pliers, and blades that are capable of handling real DIY projects beyond being mere backups.
• The pliers retract into the body to condense the size of the multitool.
• The multitool also has a screwdriver with an interchangeable bit that folds out and provides more leverage than most smaller options on other multitools.

The greatest utility of any multitool is its convenience. That said, the majority don’t do as good a job as a normal tool would, particularly when you have a full-size alternative nearby. The Gerber Gear Center-Drive is the exception.

This heavy-duty multitool isn’t stuffed to the gills with tool replacements. Instead, its key tools—namely the center-axis screwdriver, the fine-edge blade, and pliers—are large enough to genuinely be close to (if not just as) effective.

In fact, this Gerber is perhaps the most utilitarian multitool I’ve tested. I was able to assemble the majority of an electric scooter with nothing more than the knife, driver, and pliers. All are accessible from the outside, and I can open them with just my thumb.

The multitool isn’t perfect. I did find that the interior tools—the serrated blade, file, awl, and pry bar—are cumbersome to extend and require opening the pliers to access (though this general design is fairly common among multitools). The Gerber is also on the high end price-wise, at $160.

The Tool Count Is (Mostly) Accurate

According to Gerber, there are 16 listed tools on the Center-Drive. The brand doesn’t even try to cheat the number by quietly listing the same tool multiple times by naming each potential function separately.

That said, there are a couple that feel like stretches, such as the lanyard hole and tool lock. So, as always, take the number with a grain of salt. (I counted 14 distinct tools.)

The Center-Axis Driver is the Real Deal

The center-axis driver functions as a traditional screwdriver with a removable bit so you can swap between a Phillips head and flat head. The version I link to above also comes with a separate set of additional bits, boosting its versatility as a driver.

What really sets the driver apart from the dozens of others I’ve tested is the foldout arm. It swings out from the body of the multitool like a blade and is a lot longer than other drivers. As such, it provides real length to reach screws in tight positions and, in combination with the thickness of the handle, gives a little bit of extra elbow grease on each twist like a stand-alone screwdriver.

This let me actually reach harder-to-access holes near the wheels of the scooter, where multitools with a short foldout screwdriver would not be able to reach because of the bulk of the body. Furthermore, I was able to get a little more torque behind each twist by using the width of the multitool body as a handle.

The Knife Is Long and Has a Premium Blade

The fine-edge blade is made of 420 high-carbon steel, which, compared to other types of steel, performs well in both edge retention and sharpness. It doesn’t score quite as high in both as MagnaCut but is a clear step above regular stainless steel.

The blade is also more than 3 inches long, which is notably larger than the knife in even our best overall recommendation, the Leatherman Arc. This helped me flick the end of the blade through plastic ties and cut through the box of scooter parts with a little extra leverage.

In addition to the main blade, the Center-Drive comes with a serrated blade similar to the bottom half of the blade on our best outdoor multitool, the Leatherman Signal, for cutting through rough items such as rope or heavy cardboard. There’s also a two-sided file.

The Pliers Are Larger Than Most and Have a Good Grip

The pliers are also on the larger side of the multitools I’ve tested, dwarfing the size of those on our pick for slimmest profile, the Victorinox Spirit X. The needle-nose portion is quite skinny, while the overall width of the main pliers lets me get a stronger grip on a few bolts I was tightening near the folding point in the scooter. The pliers also retract into the body, rather than requiring you to flip the arms open to access them.

There’s No Denying It’s Bulky

One of the major drawbacks to the multitool is the size and bulk of the body. With a thick build and a relatively long shape even when the pliers are retracted, I can feel it in my pocket when I walk around. Perhaps that’s the trade-off for designing a multitool with three main tools that are a legit stand-in for full-size versions.

It also doesn’t have a clip to hook it onto the outside of my pants. If you want to carry it with you without it poking your leg, you need to strap the sheath onto your belt.

Is It Worth It?

The Center-Drive is by no means the most affordable multitool. However, the cost is backed up by real tools that are about as close to full-size tool effectiveness as I’ve tested.

The fine-edge blade is the longest of any multitool I’ve used, and the long arm on the driver makes it actually feasible for daily use and not just as multitool window dressing. While the bulk prevents it from being a pocket staple and the interior tools aren’t the easiest to access, the Gerber Center-Drive might end up being the multitool you use most often.

Shop the Gerber Gear Center-Drive Multitool