Gear Armbar Trade 8-in-1 Pocket Knife EDC Multitool with Blade, Pry Bar, and Hammer for Camping, Burnt Orange

The Armbar Trade is a great everyday carry option for regular tasks. I use it multiple times a day, from open packages, quick fixes, replacing toy batteries etc. I usually carry a pocket knife or a small fixed blade, but I wanted something with a bit more versatility without the bulk of a full-sized multi-tool. My Leatherman and Gerber multitools were just a bit too heavy or stood-out more than I wanted to for daily carry. This one fits seamlessly in the pocket — compact, practical, and ready when you need it. With regular use and a quick shot of WD-40, the straight blade opens much smoother while still maintaining a solid, confident lock. It strikes a perfect balance between function and convenience, making it an excellent lightweight EDC companion.

I got this for my husband. Its the perfect size to fit in his pocket. He said its very useful as well as durable. Its easy to open for quick use.

Love this multitool. Lightweight and compact. Useful array of tools. Good quality. Only a couple complaints... first, and this is the big one, sometimes I'll place my hand wrong on the back of the handle while opening one of the tools and the locking mechanism will pinch my skin, not breaking the skin, but enough to leave a painful mark. Secondly, because the screw driver is reversible, meaning you can pull the tip out and flip it over, reinserting it to swap between flat and philips, it's prone to falling out of the tool when dropped on the ground. I've been lucky enough to find it each time, but eventually it'll likely get lost.

This is a solid, quality multi tool with a slim design, yet still very robust in build quality. I cannot speak to the other functions of this knife, such as blade performance, as I mostly just purchased it for the bit driver and incase I need the other tools it contains. I always have a multi tool on me, as well as multiple pocket knives, and this Gerber Armbar Trade is the one that has been living in my pocket since it arrived. Not tiny, but I am still able to keep it in my 5th pocket on my jeans. Very happy with my purchase, as this is the BEST bit driver on any of my tools, and that is what I purchased it for. (Most of my other tools are Leatherman, which I love but their drivers don’t even come close to this design. However if you are needing a tool such as pliers, this obviously won’t be the right fit). Pick one up and see if you like it as much as I do!!

Small, light, bit holder is fine, magnet is pretty good. I see reviews complaining about the lack of lock, but mine stays put, you'd having to be getting really rough to pop it out of place during use, and in that case you really should use a dedicated screwdriver anyway.

I received the multi-tool in the original packaging brand new but was surprised to find I already came with scratches and dents all over. The blades were Sharp however the rest of the tool has these weird scratches and markings on them. Long-term durability is probably not great. The grip is pretty good, not too thin not too thick. I have not used the saw blade on this one but I have used similar saw blades on other Gerber products and can confirm that they are some of the best to use. The knife blade came Sharp and is easily able be used for light and medium use. The blade locks in place with a simple metal tension spring lock. The Dual sided screwdriver bit has a small magnet at the end however I can definitely see this being knocked loose over time (2 years perhaps). Luckily the magnetic bit stays in place. I have not used the hammer functionality yet, but this is one of the areas in which the product had previous wear and tear before I even was able to use the multi-tool brand new in the package. Bottle opener functionality is better than most thin bottle openers found in other multi-tools, seems like the bottle opener functionality was not an afterthought on this one (bottle opener is actually good!). The pointed awl component is probably one of the least used items on any multi-tool, however this one is sharp and stiff. Gerber did something right by placing the tool in the center unlike Leatherman which sometimes puts it on the edge. It functions correctly and locks in place. The integrated pocket clip is a nice touch however it is a bit stiff and may wear out quicker than other parts of this multi-tool. Overall it gets a 3 out of 5 stars, it loses one star for having arrived brand new with scratches and dents (quality control issue), and it loses one star for the overall lack of repair parts and support from Gerber for this product. Hopefully there is a second or third iteration of this specific multi-tool, with swappable parts and Blades, and the ability to choose more durable materials. But once again I tried contacting Gerber support and was not able to find any help regarding my my multi-tool came already sporting some wear and tear.

Positives -At the $20 price point this is an awesome tool. At $30 it’s still ok but I wouldn’t pay that for it. -I love the straight locking blade. It’s locks very strongly and it’s a good side for a lot of tasks. The overall side of the tool makes this a much more convenient knife to use than a lot of multitools. -The hex bit holder is the real star of the show, and it includes both a philips and flathead. The holder doesn’t truly lock but does snap into place and retains hex bits well. I never realized how much versatility a universal hex bit holder gives a tool like this. I can carry a small container of assorted heads and have more like 20-30 tools in my pocket. That’s a lot easier than carrying two whole sets of Allen keys. On the not so positive side: -I’m not sure how the head of this is in any way a hammer or a useful pry bar. It feels like it’s made of aluminum. It is a nice bottle opener though. -I don’t know why you’d want a saw on a tool like this, and if you’re going to have a saw why not have a can opener instead of an awl? I’d be happy to ditch the saw so that the tool was thinner, or I’d prefer scissors. -The thickness of the tool means it’s not especially comfortable to carry like a regular pocket knife. I usually drop it all the way into my pocket and only clip it to my jeans if I’m going to be using it a lot. It’s just not that comfortable to wear all the time. -I’d really like a little nub to make the knife one-handed opening.

I got this as a temporary use for my Leatherman surge being fixed under warranty. I'd tried the center drive and it wasn't for me quality wise. This however is about the same price as a pocket screw driver and I have a backup blade if I need it or am in a tight spot. Biggest downside is how hard it is to open simply due to the size. Arthritis makes flipping the blade out with one hand quite difficult compared to a full size multi tool like the surge or center drive. Oh there is only a lock on the blade just as an fyi the saw etc have none