GERBER CRUCIAL
LEATHERMAN SIDEKICK
This Gerber was one of the
comfiest knifes to use. It also had
a handy belt clip as well as a built-
in karabiner for when you can’t
put it down – great if working aloft.
It might not have many features,
but it has the basics, and more than
others around the same price.
The blade is very easy to access
singlehandedly and one of the fewpossible with gloves on, thanks
to the raised nub on the blade.
The pliers weren’t the strongest
on test but did a reasonable job.
The tool gave lots of leverage
when using the screwdrivers, but
the flex was a little disconcerting
and the screwdriver tended to
strip the screw heads.
http://www.gerbergear.co.ukThe polished stainless-steel
Sidekick looks the business. It
has two main lockable blades:
a straight blade and a wickedly
sharp saw. The tool feels solid and
you can use it singlehanded, but
the blades weren’t the easiest to
access. Unlike the pliers on the
Wave (see over page), these are
spring loaded and easier to use.
There are also wood/metal files
and a serrated blade, but all three
are shorter than the main blade,
making them a little less usable.
It has good range of tools, though
some are fiddly to access. It also
comes with a karabiner accessory
including a hex driver hole and a
bottle opener.
http://www.leatherman.co.ukSPECIFICATIONS
MAKE Gerber
MODEL Crucial
WEIGHT 142g
BLADE LENGTH 58mm
CLOSED LENGTH 109mm
LOCKING BLADE 91mm
FEATURES 9
SINGLEHANDED USE YesSPECIFICATIONS
MAKE Leatherman
MODEL Sidekick
WEIGHT 198g
BLADE LENGTH 60mm
CLOSED LENGTH 97mm
LOCKING BLADE Yes
FEATURES 14
SINGLEHANDED USE YesGROUP TESTThe karabiner
and belt clips
are super versatileThe saw is brilliantly sharp£49.99£69.95The Crucial folds neatly and
the rounded handles make
using the pliers comfortableThe Sidekick has a useful
range of tools which are
easily accessibleA good selection of practical
tools. The knife blade can
be opened with easeThe pliers, incorporating wire
cutters and coarse grip, were
among the best tested