Multitools come in a variety of styles and designs. Their sole purpose is in their name, to provide a multitude of tools at your fingertips to make each day just a bit easier when obstacles come your way. Gerber Gear, a premier knife and tool company, has one such item in the form of the Dual-Force.
This multitool diverges from the norm with its large mouth pliers taking the lead and enough power behind them to lock onto materials and not let go. This beast of a belt-carry buddy is a literal powerhouse in terms of both construction and performance. With a sample sent to me by Gerber, I’ll either agree to this statement or refute it by performing some hardcore testing. Stand by for my verdict as the Dual-Force’s reputation either stands tall or falls hard.
Dual-Force First Impressions
The Dual-Force multitool exhibited an impressive presence straight out of the box with its solid construction and notable weight within my hand. For some people, a hefty tool may be a slight turnoff, but to me, it nearly always equates to durability when used and that’s what you definitely need in a daily workhorse.
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The Dual-Force offers a butterfly fold-down design that keeps the unit both compact and secure. Folding out the unit to its full “open” state was a bit tricky. Extra tight joints resisted my force a bit, but after a few wiggles back and forth, they conformed well under repeated openings.
What was surprising when the Dual Force was fully transformed into its operating state where the prominent rounded jaws that formed the “head” of the multitool. Typically you see needle-nose pliers as the lead tool, but here was an intriguing change that just urged me further to test both its bite strength and ease of use. Overall, the Dual-Force was striking in its all black coating and machined parts that were layered throughout the tool.
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Versatility Of Tools
What most people do first when receiving a multitool, no matter its design, is to explore its vast offerings of useful gadgets, and I was no different. The aforementioned rounded jaws were front and center on this beast, but many hidden treasures were integrated into the jam-packed design.
The construction jaw’s little brothers included a small fastener plier and regular pliers that assist with a variety of gripping tasks. Within the handles were additional items including the always-included straight blade, which here was an impressive three-and-a-quarter-inches in length. The thick handle provided a solid, yet sometimes awkward grip when holding and using the knife.
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On the opposite handle was a saw, which was impressively thick. Many times a multitool saw is more flash than substance and can barely cut through even the weakest materials. Other saws are either too thin to be effective or the teeth don’t provide the bite they need to effectively cut. Even prior to testing its mettle, I could surmise it wouldn’t fall into this disappointing group.
For urban use, the unit also offers a center-bit driver with extra attachments ingeniously secured within their own storage units at the base of both handles. A file, with both fine and coarse surfaces, a ruler, wire cutters, and wire strippers, round out this unit’s vast and diverse tool assortment, Additionally, a lanyard hole and included nylon sheath are included for easy carrying and storage.
Dual-Force Proof Is In The Performance
Though the overall construction, tool inclusions, and carrying specs are important with this or any multitool, the make it or break it category is definitely performance in-the-field. Now, the field could be either a rural or an urban setting and, in truth, it really doesn’t matter as a knife has to cut, a saw has to eat through material, and a wire cutter has to snip cleanly, no matter the physical location.
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The blade was the first tool tested because it’s arguably the most used on a multitool (yes, many people can debate it’s the pliers, but not for me.) I used cardboard, paracord, and a wood dowel to test its effectiveness. Overall the blade was sharp straight out-of-the-box, though nowhere to razor keenness. It did cut the cardboard box and paracord well, with slight hesitation on the cardboard until I applied some elbow grease and made it through. Cardboard has a reputation of stubbornness against some blades and my piece did fight back a bit. However, I believe that after I sharpen the blade a bit, this will no longer be a problem.
The Other Tools
The wooden dowel took the place of what in reality would be a thin log for shaving tinder when out in the deep woods. Here, the Dual Force shined as its beefy handle allowed for clean, controlled slices that created a pile of useful tinder in just a few minutes. Several other tools were employed to further test this multitool’s overall usefulness and in nearly all tests, it delivered top marks.
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The center drive bit driver didn’t stumble, even on the most stubborn screws buried deep within a hardwood casing. The bits were easy to change and all delivered the goods upon numerous trials.
The prominent front plier jaws (you probably thought I forgot about these) were incredible under hardcore use. They bit down and held the material firmly in place. Its two position design allowed for easy adjusting with little effort. If the pliers didn’t function to their fullest, then this tool would be a waste to carry. It boasted a vicious bite, and it delivered in a big way. Finally, all the outboard tools locked into place which gave me peace of mind that an accident, if I applied excess force, wouldn’t occur.
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And The Verdict Is…
Would I recommend this tool as a viable everyday assistant? That would be a definite “yes” on my part, if you don’t mind two things, a hefty belt attachment at your waist and some tweaking to the blade to increase its keenness to an optimal level. Aside from those very minimal negatives, this multitool is a keeper. It doesn’t just boast its toughness and performance, it delivers the goods at or above your needed requirements. Also, as I mentioned, any multitool is only as good as its durability and reliability when in use, and the Dual Force exudes both of these traits in spades!
