Review of Gerber 30-000334 Strata Multi Plier with Sheath

Updated: Changed rating from 4 stars to 3 because of the difficulty in closing the tools.

As my other reviews will show, I am a big fan of the Gerber Suspension.The Strata just arrived today and I have been putting it through its paces.

Initial impressions are favorable. The size is very similar to the Suspension (a little larger than the Leatherman Wave). The toolsets are similar, with the Strata containing pliers, blade, scissors, saw, bottle and can openers, file and screwdrivers. Good news is that the tools are very much improved. The pliers are sturdy enough to bend a penny *and* spring loaded. The spring load is my biggest beef with the otherwise perfect Leatherman Wave, as it's extremely useful when pulling staples and small nails. The blade is partially serrated and of a useful size.The Phillips screwdriver is markedly improved and is now a proper driver instead of the pointy flat Phillips of the Suspension. The saw is also about 1/2" longer. Doesn't seem like much, but now can be useful (I have yet to use the saw in anything but testing, though). The scissors also gains a thumb shelf so cutting is much easier. It has an interesting lock feature for the tools that takes a moment to understand. Another nice feature is that the wire cutter is replaceable. For the most part, the tools are conveniently located and opening the pliers is not necessary to access the tools. For the most part (but see the issues below) they are easily accessible.

There are some downsides. The fit is not quite as good as the Leatherman Wave. The rear of the handles are skewed by about 2mm when closed. That's shameful given the cost of this tool. Don't misunderstand, it does feel quite solid and opens with reassuring sturdiness, but for $65 there should be no skew. The Suspension gets high marks because it is a serviceable $30 tool. This is twice as expensive. I am also not fond of plastic on a tool, but time will tell how that holds up.

One annoyance is that the Phillips driver and flathead/package cutter are difficult to open. You can get the Phillips open by using not the notch but using your fingernail to grab the tip of the tool. The notch just didn't give enough leverage to open. However, try as I might, accessing the flathead driver next to it was impossible without opening either the saw or the Phillips first.

A larger issue is the locking system for the tools. Unlike the Suspension which has a thumb stud -- which though small was easy to operate -- the Strata has a flat plastic slide. The problem is that it's difficult to slide the lock because it's so smooth (and the coating of oil over the entire unit didn't help at all). If it wasn't for the small gap to insert a fingernail, you'd be hard pressed to close the Strata. The tools lock very securely with this system, but it can be frustrating to close. The obvious improvement is to change the flat sliding mechanism to a protruding tab. This wouldn't add much width -- just 2mm or so -- but would drastically reduce the force needed to slide the tab. After a day of fighting it, I'm still unable to close one side of the tools without gripping with a cloth or gloves.

My final quibble is the sheath. It's a poor fit and if you insert the tool in all the way, it's quite difficult to remove. I found myself pushing the tool up from the bottom of the sheath rather than pulling it as I do the Suspension.

In short, I am disappointed with the Strata. I had high expectations from Gerber as they make an absolutely perfect knife (the LMF II) and their value was the best of the major players. The deficiencies in the Strata makes me wonder if anyone from Gerber actually tried it out before commiting to manufacture.

How would I improve this multi-tool?

First, change the slider from a flat plastic to a slightly angled and more easily grippable button. The only piece that would need to be changed is the slider itself as it is just bolted on.

Second, modify the thumb notch on the Phillips and flathead driver by putting them closer to the tip of the tool in order to provide better leverage in opening. It appears that the current design was done to make the tip of the Phillips line up with the center of rotation (important in a screwdriver), but this can still be achieved with a minor adjustment.

Third, improve the manufacturing process. The Suspension, despite some minor flaws, is an incredible tool for the price. The Strata is twice as much and yet is not built to the same tolerances as the Suspension.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Gerber 30-000334 Strata Multi Plier with Sheath

Product Description:
217871 Features: Clean and compact, this tool when closed is only 4 inches long and 6 inches overall; store it in the included nylon sheath Stay safe thanks to the SAFTPLUS Locking system that keeps components in the open and closed positions when you want them to be Butterfly style opening Everyone struggles with plastic clam shell packaging, and this tool comes with a clam packaging opening tool Always ready with pliers, carbide pinch cutters, a saw, 1-2 fine edge and serrated blade, can and bottle opener, scissors, large flathead driver, small driver, cross driver, and file Specifications: Weight: 74 ounces Overall length: 6 inches Closed length: 4 inches

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