Gerber Gear Shard Keychain - Multitool Keychain with Bottle Opener, Screwdriver, and Wire Stripper - EDC Gear and Equipment - Black

Contrary to some other reviewers, I think this little tool hits the mark for every one of its advertised uses. Moreover, it's truly keychain-ready: I weighed the key of my truck (just a regular key, not a fancy one with remote keyless entry built in) and my key weighed 17.9 grams. The Gerber Shard weighed 20 grams. And, the truck key is just a tad longer than the Shard. So, it really is something you'll use and carry, not something to lay aside somewhere and not be able to find when you need it, or keep in the console of your vehicle where it isn't always at hand. That's significant because you can find dozens and dozens of multi-tools (I own several, in fact) but if they're not with you and you're going to have to go get them, you might as well just go get the actual purpose-designed tool from your toolbox and forget the multi-tool. Okay, so how does the Shard work: 1. Wire-stripper: reasonably well if you understand that the best technique for using it is to press it straight down into the insulation just until you feel it contact the conductor part of the wire, then withdraw the tool, turn the wire over, repeat at a different position to score the insulation all the way around, and then slide the insulation off using your fingernail to slide it off, not the tool, to avoid damaging the wire. (If this is hard to visualize just think of how an actual wire stripper removes insulation and use this tool to perform the same type of action.) The people who claim this doesn't work as a wire-stripper may be trying to whittle the insulation off with it, which isn't how you strip insulation off wire unless you want to damage the actual conductor. Also given the size of the tool you're probably limited to no bigger than AWG 12 wire or so. But, you know what, if you're rewiring your barn you might want to invest in an actual wire stripper that has special places to strip each gauge. The Shard is for those times when you need to put a new plug on a lamp or extension cord and you don't have all your other tools around. And, I know it works for that exact repair because I did it, using no other tool but the Shard as both a wire stripper and screwdriver. Screwdrivers (3): better than some on advanced multi-tools owing to the small size and maneuverability of this compact item. You can not get a monstrous amount of leverage though for the same reason, so it's not going to work if the screw is super tight. The Shard's Phillips driver worked great for tightening some loose screws on a family member's screen door. Also very appropriate for minor electronic repair, such as removing the case from a computer. Flathead drivers (2) give a nice sizing variety and seem to fit a lot of commonly-seen screws. Bottle opener: pretty straightforward, no complaints. Does tend to distort the cap some on some bottles so it's sometimes better to use the opener in two different positions, making it a two-step operation. Minor issue, for certain. Prying: works great as long as the size of this tool gives you adequate leverage. Way better (and safer) than messing up your knives or screwdrivers by using them to pry. Lanyard hole: okay, calling this a "use" of the tool, as Gerber does, may be a stretch, but this ability to slip it right on your keychain is what makes it so valuable. Maybe they should replace the hole with a standard or metric wrench size/shape and then you have a bona fide seventh use, plus it doubles as a lanyard hole. In the overall picture, every single claimed function of this tool works great - and it's the size and weight of a key, and only costs a few bucks. The Gerber Shard is an outstanding, worthy little tool that everyone should own.

Your opinion of this product may well be dictated by what you intend on using it for and how well it performs that task (or tasks). For me, I was looking for a bottle opener that I could carry on my key chain, as there have been several instances where I've needed one but one wasn't at hand. With that in mind, my expectations were pretty low about how useful this item would be but I would say that it has exceeded my expectations. If you've ever found yourself in one of those "oh, if only I had this or that, I could fix it" situations (and who hasn't) then you may well find this "tool" useful. I hesitate to call it a tool outright because it's not exactly going to find it's way into every professional contractor's toolbox (or pocket) but it certainly has it's uses for a variety of day-to-day tasks (although by the basic dictionary definition it is a tool). In terms of what I wanted to use it for, bottle opening, it performs well enough. It's just about long enough to give you adequate leverage and while it might not be the cleanest at removing tops, or the most elegant, it works. What makes me appreciate this tool more though are the other uses. I've already used the screwdriver heads (both Phillips and flat) and they work well enough if you're caught in a situation without access to a real screwdriver. I'd mirror the mild complaints about the flat head screwdrivers not being quite right, as the primary function of those two heads is as a pry-bar. As such they seem a little off-kilter when screwing with. I'm not so taken with the Phillips head but perhaps I just haven't found the sweet spot in terms of screw head size that it works with. I was thinking it might be useful for removing battery compartments from toys but I've had limited success (I've actually had more success with the flat heads for that task even with Phillips head screws). Other reviews have praised the usefulness of the Phillips head screwdriver so I'll give it the benefit of the doubt. I haven't used the pry-bar feature yet but opening cans of paint immediately springs to mind. I very much doubt I'd be using this to strip wires (I make a bad job of that with the best of tools) but again I suppose you never know when you might need it (and let's face it, if it's a situation where you get to show off your hidden MacGyver talents who wouldn't be up for that?). Calling the lanyard hole a "use" is pushing it a bit in my opinion but nevertheless, the large hole does make it easy to attach to your key chain. I had concerns that I might be stabbing myself regularly in the thigh while carrying this thing in my pocket but that has proved unfounded so far, I don't know the thing is there (until I actually need it of course). Overall the product seems well made; the black finished steel gives me a sense that it's durable and will stand the test of time. It's not overly bulky (3/4" or 2cm longer than my longest key, at about 2.75" or 7cms long), just the right size to be useable even with sausage fingers and weighty enough that it doesn't feel like it's about to snap without feeling excessively heavy. I certainly don't look at the product and feel that anything destined to break on it any time soon (like you sometimes do with cheap pocket knives). I'm a little skeptical that I'd get this thing past airport security without a fuss but I have no first-hand experience of that yet. Perhaps if I offer to open a bottle of beer for them I'll be good to go. I'm happy with my purchase but as I said, my expectations were low because I was really only interested in one particular feature and so it was perhaps easier for my expectations to be exceeded.

Great little tool to have in a pinch. Slot screwdrivers work well for screws requiring low-torque. Wire stripper is good though you need to make a couple jabs for it to grab the insulation. The Philips screwdriver has a very pointy tip, which causes it to bottom out in the screw such that it cams out too easily. It's probably made for #0 screws in small electronics. However, a little work with a file or grinder to blunt the tip gets it so that it will work well with #1 and #2 Phillips screws. The bottle opener works well, though I have to pry up in one spot, then pry again in another spot about 45 degrees away. No biggie, as it only takes a few extra seconds. When on a keychain it does tend to poke while in my pocket. Now the kicker: This is billed as "airline safe" and I see no reason why it wouldn't be. No edges to cut or sharp points to stab someone. But on a recent trip, the TSA agent spotted it in the Xray, pulled me aside and claimed it could be used as a weapon. I just wanted to get to my flight and I wasn't in the mood to argue over a $6 tool when it was clear she wanted the thing, so I let it go. My suspicions were confirmed a few moments later when I looked over my shoulder and saw her slide the Shard into her pocket. Yeah, you win. Of course, this is by no means a fault of Gerber, and I won't dock any stars over this aspect, as they have no control over who might want to swipe their product. What happened to me does speak to the Shard's coolness factor, as the TSA agent clearly coveted the device. I'll have to order another and keep it in my checked bag.

Always passes airport security, easy to carry and has come useful a few times.

I expected this to be handy, it's more useful than I thought it would be. I've only had it 4 days but I've already used it to work Philips head screws (including accessing a loose indicator bulb on my car while in the middle of nowhere), tighten a loose mic holder mid-gig, open a couple of beers and pry some short nails. I'm a musician and recording engineer, both jobs involve me hauling a lot of gear around, and working to tight time margins. Having this in my pocket has already saved me a couple of trips to my car for a proper screwdriver, and a couple of trips from the couch to the kitchen for a proper bottle opener (there's a Rugby World Cup on, dontcha know). I'm not a tradesman. I'm not drilling into walls, cutting sheet metal or sawing through 2x4s while on a gig. I just need small, capable tools that'll do the job well enough, without adding much weight or bulk to the pile of gear I'm already hauling around. Between this and the Leatherman Surge that lives in my cable bag (the Surge is too big and heavy to keep in a pocket), I've got pretty much all the hand tools I find myself needing while out and about. Obviously, neither are replacements for the full size hand tools they share functions with. However, the Shard is excellent to have on a key chain for those simple little jobs when you don't have your tool box at hand. When I'm doing something that requires real tools, I use real tools. I'd assumed the Philips driver would be pokey in the pocket, but I've not noticed this thing on my keychain at all (my keychain also has a car key, some house keys, a drum key and a small pill box containing ear plugs, all hanging off a locking carabiner for quick removal). I was deciding between this and the Leatherman Brewzer. I'm very pleased I went with the Gerber Shard, it costs less and seems to do more. It's smaller than it looks from the photos online, but it's well designed and fits surprisingly well in my XL hands. I'll probably buy a few more of these to give as presents. Pros: Useful Philips/flat head drivers (these are the winners for me so far) Useful mini pry bar Decent bottle opener (Better than the cheapo aluminium one it replaced) Solid build quality. I don't expect this to fail, ever (it'll take a lot of abuse before the steel is stripped off the Philips driver) Disappears onto your keychain until you need it Comfortable to use, plus the shape of the body lends a surprising amount of torque to the Philips driver Cons: £6+ is a lot for 5p worth of steel The flat-head drivers are too thick for glasses screws (not an issue for me, but it might be for you) Because of the pry bend, it doesn't sit well in pockets on its own

Bon produit, bien réalisé, assez fin et costaud, très light pas encombrant facile à mettre à son trousseau de clé, ça peut dépanner, je verrais à l'usage, la marque fait parti du groupe Fiskars ce qui est un gage de qualité.

buen producto

In kurzen Worten. Klein, Satbil, massiv, praktisch, unverwüstlich, enorm widerstandsfähig. Immer wieder nützlich. Daumen hoch. Ich bereu den Kauf nicht.