Gerber Armbar Slim Drive

[@txtoolcrib]

Armbar Slim Drive - amzn.to/3o8LGpv Armbar Slim Cut - amzn.to/3uSaapT Armbar Drive - amzn.to/3oa5Gbt Armbar Cork - amzn.to/2Qbd0aj

[@andreigolovik3047]

"I like this design concept, I just think the implementation isn't quite there". Damn, you just described Gerber's entire product lineup

[@txtoolcrib]

Yeah, it does seem to apply to a number of their products.

[@andreigolovik3047]

@@txtoolcrib Gerber and CRKT in particular underdo so many of their frankly excellent designs. Really sad to see. Hoping they improve

[@tesau315]

Besides the Strongarm of course.

[@jaykingsun7093]

It's so nice to listen to an American KZbinr who does say "go ahead" in every sentence.

[@brxtmp106]

Great review! I completely agree with the need for a locking driver…soooo close but not there yet. Since I always have a knife with me I’m wishing there was a blade less compact multi_tool that does have a locking driver.

[@callmedad1256]

Check out the Milwaukee 5 in 1. Little bigger but its a beast and super affordable

[@transatlant1c]

I think you're on a winner with re-orientating the driver to add a liner lock, definitely would improve the tool. I think that they could get creative and retain a bottle cap lifter, but built into the shaft of the driver, it's already pretty angular anyway, so they only need to add a notch and it's golden

[@txtoolcrib]

I would at minimum like to have that driver locked.

[@TheTuneAce]

I was initially excited to see this announced by gerber. It was an opportunity to fix the issues from the full size versions. But of course they didn't fix the slip joint driver and still have bottom of the barrel Steel on the knife blade. No reason to get this over the Milwaukee six in one fastback

[@txtoolcrib]

I was really hoping they would fix the driver issue with this version myself.

[@lmontoyad]

I agree with you on the cap lifter. Perhaps, changing the side of the driver to make ir lock would leave space to add a carabiner/cap lifter.

[@kahuna1247]

I accidently ordered the slim instead of the original Armbar on Amazon, and just realised it now while watching your video! I'm not sure if I should change my order though. Great video btw! Edit: I've been using this for a few days now and for my light-duty needs, the driver is fine without the lock.

[@JonGadget]

totally agree with your conclusions - scissor version would also work as a great option for flight hand carry - I would want the driver locked though as you say

[@txtoolcrib]

I would like to see a version that incorporated locking scissors and driver for you and all our other friends in the UK. I think a knifeless version of this tool could be successful. Would love to hear what you think.

[@JonGadget]

@@txtoolcrib Yes totally agree - then if you need a knife you could carry separately based on need and local laws. Would be great for light travel too.

[@willb3018]

Thanks for another great review. Best multi tool reviews on KZbin IMHO.

[@txtoolcrib]

Thank you, always appreciated.

[@badger-6377]

I'm not a steel snob by any means (been carrying a Buck in 420HC to work lately) but 3Cr... thats edging into "knife-like object" territory.

[@soundknight]

(Ha he) good call

[@devenwearshats7450]

I would like a hex milled into the top of the scale and the side so you can use the bit as a t handle and low profile driver

[@txtoolcrib]

There’s an idea.

[@Ell-HR]

Adjusting your grip to holding the divet cut into the driver and the body instead of just the body helps a ton with the folding driver problem.

[@sturmgewehr70]

Picked one of these up at Academy Sports this afternoon.

[@mattrhoton9219]

I would sharpen the cap lifter into an awl/scraper

[@RobertJinks]

Thanks for the review. I'd love a minimalist multi-tool with a knife, screwdriver (flat and Philips), and a prybar/bottle opener. I don't want a pocket clip. I don't love the design of this 100% but this seems like the closest tool for what I'm looking for. Anyone know of any other tools that match what I'm looking for? After a lot of googleing, I can't find anything else.

[@duggrim3946]

I totally agree with your assessment of this micro multi-tool. I suggest instead of that stupid bottle opener replace it with a small lanyard Loop at the same attachment point of the bottle opener. It could function as a stop for the driver arm as well as an attachment point to add it to a keychain perhaps. Use a small s beaner or carabiner 4 easy removal/ replacement if sturdily enough it could easily replicate the function of the striking surface

[@txtoolcrib]

Agreed!

[@Cory_BROP]

I can’t believe they went through the trouble of “redesigning” this tool, just to STILL not give it a locking driver, this is an absolute waste.

[@mattdrives4757]

Meanwhile Leatherman actually listened to their customers and made an updated PST. No excuse for Gerber’s engineers not to get on KZbin and listen to feedback.

[@txtoolcrib]

I was really hoping that they would correct this issue with this generation. Perhaps with the third generation.

[@Cory_BROP]

@@txtoolcrib here’s hoping brother! I really like the idea of the armbar series, just can’t get behind the execution. A little blade & driver combo would be great for carrying light during the summer.

[@txtoolcrib]

I completely agree.

[@theomnipresent1]

Gotta have locking screwdrivers, learned that from my PST.

[@txtoolcrib]

I agree.

[@carstenhm]

Are the bitholder normal size bits? I know the one here is doublesided and therefore a little longer - I would cut the holder of in the length so it could use normal length bits. And find some other use of the bottle opener

[@brokecsstudent]

Guys i'm getting the orange slim drive. It should arrive this week before June

[@TrevorandRana]

Us: Wow this tool is very cool, maybe throw a better steel on there and a locking driver. Gerber: ✨slim✨

[@edisontrent5244]

Basically if they made a swiss army compact with a locking bit holder and blade would be great. I would like the following: locking blade, scissors, basic screwdriver ability, eye glass screwdriver, and a good way to keep it in my pocket whether via keyring or clip at ideally a price under $40. Until then I will keep carrying my s18 and ps4. Still looking for a lighter but still useful pocket carry for office wear.

[@Skatelifefool]

Just got one of these, much smaller than I thought it'd be

[@13rebeltitans]

Where did you get your Texas mat from

[@Prepping2endure]

agree 100% the driver needs to lock into position., I have the armbar drive and have had the driver close on me as you exactly described. C MON GERBER!! LISTEN TO YOUR USERS Stop with the Flair and get to the root functions.. OH and Ditch the cap lifter.. Thanks for your always honest review Maybe Gen 3 will meet all our needs

[@txtoolcrib]

There is the potential to have a true winner with this design.

[@caramelzappa]

Definitely agree. Good concept, could be better. Lose the cap lifter. Add some sort of lock, even if it's a slipjoint. It shoud lock at 90 degrees so you can get leverage or fit in small spaces. Personally I have enough great knives, but I would love to carry a simple multi-tool like this that had a good driver and some scissors like the Roxon K/S.

[@txtoolcrib]

I think they are thinking in the right direction, they just need to modify the implementation.

[@joedart2932]

I also like the direction their going. Although as you've said that bottle opener needs to go! I'd like it replaced with a chisel slash package opener. A bottle can be opened with the frame of the knives or basically anything..just a waste. Good review as always👍

[@The_Story_Channel]

I don't get multitool manufacturers, surely they must know that a locking driver or a locking anything is preferred and in this case it would not be difficult to make that driver lock.

[@txtoolcrib]

One would think so.

[@flippantb]

You and Steve1989 are the 2 KZbin reviewers I really think should be hired as consultants for product design in your fields. A width of experience grants you a view that few others will have. I look at this feature set and think initially that i would love it, and maybe go out and buy. Not realizing until too late that every screwdriver in a multitool i currently use is liner locked and this one is going to annoy the heck out of me. Thanks for the review!

[@txtoolcrib]

Well I greatly appreciate the vote of confidence, thank you.

[@prime2214]

completely agree and anyone who opens bottles even semi often can do it with a flat head..or lighter or pretty much anything

[@Ottomojo]

Just bought one, does yours also have a quite loose bit socket? The bit turns a quite bit when I wiggle it.

[@icba4907]

It's a step backward for me, the original bottle lifter-hammer was better, and as you said they still need to lock the driver. I do use the awl and would like that locking too. The scissors I wouldn't miss. So for me: locking blade, driver and awl with hammer bottle lifter would be perfect.

[@tesau315]

Would it be possible to add in a liner lock to this tool by yourself?

[@insanogeddon]

Knife should open from the same direction as the other tools "Spydie Flick" style - a flat back to a knives handle is vital on a working blade and like Victorinox also KNOW a blade closer to the palm is best - on the outside it wants to rotate and gets amplified by a broomhandle design. Further (like all gerber cut out designs) one of the cutouts should have been an oxygen wrench.

[@MrGabrielstube]

Where did you get the Texas mat?

[@txtoolcrib]

I actually had to put it together. It is a clear mat with a Texas flag underneath. I have searched high and low but I can’t find anybody who manufactures one.

[@rapache1]

Thanks for posting. Knife makers discontinued to many of their products

[@txtoolcrib]

Absolutely, thank you for taking the time to watch.

[@luckymeziere3675]

Can the leatherman adapter kit go on the leatherman rev

[@txtoolcrib]

Not without modification

[@danielorozco1728]

Cool little tool, useful for super light weight carry, with a few bits aside.

[@txtoolcrib]

I like this concept.

[@roadrageburleson]

Great review. I wish they had stayed with the other bottle opener design because it is great and I use it daily. The driver does need a liner lock and the only decent pair of scissors I have ever found on a Gerber are on the Dime. Until they get a lock on the driver I will keep the one I already have.

[@txtoolcrib]

A lock on the driver would make all the difference in the world in my opinion.

[@stefan6316]

Hey dude, so do you know any comparable tool like this? Think it's great design but not well done, as you say. I'm searching for a minimalistic tool that includes knife, bit driver and maybe a pair of good working scissors. Any idea? Cheers from Germany!

[@randallsteele43]

This would be such a sweet tool .... But wheres the pocket clip ???? Why cant they get it right ?

[@rolandocruz9505]

Well said sir, I think that gerber should listen to people, 👍

[@Smallfi5h]

I wish they would swap the lock to the screwdriver arm and have the knife as slip lock for the UK market..

[@txtoolcrib]

There is an idea!

[@edisontrent5244]

Thanks for the review!

[@txtoolcrib]

Absolutely, thank you for watching.

[@b-rad5955]

Thanks for the great review!

[@txtoolcrib]

You’re very welcome, thank you for taking the time to watch.

[@T-Mo_]

Nice review. Think I'm going to go with the easy multiforce to knife mod maxlvledc showed on his channel. Get that nice 1/4 bit driver and scissors and then 2 of the 4 of straight blade, serrated blade, file, saw. All locking.

[@speedygonzales9993]

Good point! Good suggestion!

[@txtoolcrib]

Thank you!

[@XaeonBE]

I actually hurt myself and lost the bit in a serverroom due to it flipping back close while using it. I am skipping the slim lineup and hopefully this gets an upgrade. Also I had the armbar drive in my pocket so long a lot of dirt got between it, and opening and closing is a bit difficult now. Is there a way to open it and clean the tool that anybody knows of?

[@Ayrton4everrr]

Thanks Ben, great review 👌🏼

[@txtoolcrib]

Thank you sir.

[@OX71]

Here is where it wins for me, and this includes the original armbar tool. It affordably competes with that folding bit driver big idea design makes and charges 80 dollars for, and no one else seems to be doing that but gerber. And adds the utility of having a knife on board so you can eliminate one more thing to carry in your pocket.

[@txtoolcrib]

The idea of this design is a good one, I like this minimalist approach. I just wish that driver locked into place.

[@soundknight]

Oooo nice! Edit: :( I can't believe they didn't lock the driver (just dumb). Three are better edc drivers out there, including titanium ones.

[@waynehendry9782]

Someone should make video demonstration why not having a locking screwdriver in the armbar makes no difference. I use mine all the time and not once has it bent over. I think using PZ 2 bit in a drywall screw can cause the bit to hop out as Pz2 bits are longer than ph2, but no amount of weight will stop that. Screws don't need weight pushed on them as they do the work grabbing and pulling in. I like the video op though..

[@txtoolcrib]

I really feel like you’re in the minority on this one. Perhaps it would be best if you made the very video you are describing.

[@waynehendry9782]

@@txtoolcrib Yeah. I think your are correct. What would you say to do? Maybe standard screwdriver vs armbar with 6 inch screw and compare how far I can drive in some wood both vertical and on an angle. Would that work? Thanks for replying..

[@txtoolcrib]

I wouldn’t think it would need to be anything that long. Maybe a series of 1 1/2” screws into different types of material. After all this is only made for light weight work anyway.

[@knifetex]

Interesting piece, but I won’t be trading out my daily driver Victorinox Compact for it. I would like to see Gerber make this with the modifications you suggested. I would add to the list a modified screwdriver bit for the Phillips side that can fit #1 and #2 sizes like the stepped 2D bit that ships with the Leatherman Surge and Wave. I doubt it will happen though. Gerber, like Buck, is living in the past and when they try to innovate it just falls flat. They seem to be chugging along on brand loyalty and mass market appeal because most people out there aren’t “EDC Aficionados” and just buy it because it says Gerber on it. Great video.

[@landbelowthewind]

Lock for the Screwdriver makes good sense, otherwise this is just some fancy thing.

[@pittwm]

I just do not understand why every edc tool maker incorporated cap lifter, I don’t ever use mine since pretty much any drinks I open either with a finger or twist top.

[@wesleysonck7314]

Still no locking driver? Gerber how!?

[@mikesomerset6338]

The cap lifter is the most important tool! 🙂

[@zenderfall]

Looking carefully, the cap lifter could've been integrated into the bit driver without much work.

[@vibeslide]

So I lose 2 tools and the only improvement is a little less weight? This is kinda meh. Fully agree with you on this one, Ben.

[@txtoolcrib]

Nice to see you again. I haven’t seen your comment for a little while.

[@vibeslide]

@@txtoolcrib Yeah, the Corona situation has a pretty negative impact on my work-life balance so to say.

[@YosefArteaga]

I end up selling my armbar because the driver didn't lock, and they did the same to the slim version, too bad it looks so awesome, is not worth buying if the driver doesn't lock

[@lealamb]

Totally agree with everything you said

[@Genesis992]

I thought the slim let the one other tool lock. . . Darn it. I may have to pass on the slim Armbars, then.

[@txtoolcrib]

I thought the exact same thing!

[@Billhumphreys3370]

What a disappointment. I have the original arm bar with scissors, and really like the form of this knife. All that Gerber had to do was incorporate a lock on the bit holder arm. The new version, the slim version, is a backwards step. They have kept the same very useful knife blade, but they have retained the dysfunctional non-blocking driver bit arm. By losing the scissors and the pry bar/tapping hammer, and to a lesser extent the awl, Gerber has reduced a potentially good, useful, easy-carry multitool to a just a great blade with a non-locking bit holder. This was the main criticism of the original armbar, from dozens of commenters. You would imagine that Gerber management would avidly read all comments and suggestions, and say: "Ah... THAT's what we need to do! That's what people want!" Instead, they retained the unstable bit-holder arm, and removed some of the other useful features,to produce a tool that no-one wants.

[@txtoolcrib]

I’ll never understand what they use for criteria when developing or designing these multi tools. Seems as though they could easily improve a vast number of these designs with the right input.

[@JEEMA1966]

Hola Ben, yo tengo el modelo original de la ARMBAR y me parece genial, pero coincido que le quedaria mejor un linner al destornillador, creo es mejor inversión de dinero la version original. Saludos desde México

[@prh8068]

The very light retention for the driver is a deal breaker for me on all of the armbar models.

[@txtoolcrib]

If this driver locked into position, I could actually see myself carrying this tool.

[@ryanwalsh9255]

Does anyone ever actually use a bottle opener? If you can use the leverage pinch (i.e. Bic lighter) then you already have an opener. If you want that beer bad enough you’ll find something within 6’ of you. If it were a can opener it’d be more useful. I’d rather see a good 2 sided file personally. I also love the point they use on nautical knives for opening tight knots.

[@AusMedic89]

If you take the original armbar and remove the blade entirely, then you have a compact toolset with hammer/bottle opener, awl, screwdriver and scissors which would probably suit people better as most of us have a dedicated knife anyway

[@jeffslaven]

While it's obvious that Gerber has stepped up their game with a minimalist multi-tool, I'd still rather go with the Leatherman Skeletool, which has locking everything, pocket clip, and the addition of the pliers. It will take a lot more convincing from Gerber for me to jump camp.

[@name5949]

The name is bond Leatherman bond 🤣😂👍

[@ashsmall8103]

supertool 300 EOD vs supertool 300 M and supertool 300

[@phil0083]

Looks like the milwaukee utility knife + screwdriver combo still win, only due to the locking screwdriver. When is gerber going to pull their head out of the ground and listen to people. I didnt buy the first armbar because the screwdriver didnt lock and i'm not buying this one either. too bad, these things always looked awesome and compact.

[@bandito_dino]

Steel is 5cr15mov

[@dsimon33871]

If I had a dime (not the multi tool) for every time someone asked gerber to do this I would be rich. I don't get the resistance to locking the center driver.

[@tenchraven]

Still doesn't lock? Dumb. I was hoping this could replace my Skeletool on my sweatpants days.

[@jimmac1185]

Agree 100%

[@planetdee3587]

Why did you say this would be better without a bottle opener? I think that is completely untrue as I see this tool as perfect for your typical urban person. Always need these three tools for an everyday non handy man.

[@mjnz]

Non locking tools are a requirement for the young generation to learn why non locking tools are a Really Bad Idea. Pain is the best teacher.

[@txtoolcrib]

Lol

[@ucitymetalhead]

That steel should be discontinued there's no need to go below 8cr13mov and yeah it needs a lock of some kind on the driver.

[@mikesomerset6338]

I'm thinking leatherman skeletool.

[@davidsiegel9847]

Non-locking driver is downright odd. A minimalist tool for driver and blade. And no driver lock. Bad design. I'd love to see that caplifter turned into a small awl for starting screw holes. That and driver lock!

[@txtoolcrib]

Another suggestion for the cap lifter was an integrated package opener. I kind of like that idea.

[@iamthearmul]

Was pretty excited until learned the driver does not lock.

[@txtoolcrib]

I actually thought it was going to lock when I first saw it. I anxiously read through the description hoping that it would say locking driver. Obviously I was disappointed.

[@bobinmontana777]

No pocket clip!

[@steves1749]

They really failed on this version. I wanted to love the original which I have sitting. The non locking driver is a big miss. And for me the pry end on my original creates a huge hotspot in my hand

[@txtoolcrib]

The driver is the one thing that kills this one for me.

[@duncanidaho2097]

Who is clamoring for a cheap ccp 3crmov blade steel? Atrocious. Even sticking with Chinese materials. providing a locking driver arm, keep the bottle cap lifter and blade design, maybe add an effective tweezers. In 8crmoc steel at least. Then I would get one.

[@johansso2]

Naa i Dont want the driver to lock

[@edcgearpocketknife]

3cr13mov that what gas station knives use and m-tech that’s horrible steel.

[@MrHsv123]

They stuffed up cause it doesn’t lock.

[@NavyMachinistsMate]

You sound a little under the weather.

[@txtoolcrib]

Yeah I am still, can’t get rid of a cough.

[@toolinedc]

I think the screwdriver is meant to be chocked... the way they designed with the "groove" on the screwdriver feels like you need ro choke it... so in their heads.. no need for a lock..

[@bornfree2237]

Bottle openers are so worthless/waste of space on any multitool. If you can't figure out how to leverage open a bottle with the multi tool, pocket knife, or just about anything else around you; you don't deserve to drink that beer.