Gerber Balance

Grant Lamontagne · **on:** January 19, 2011, 05:33:42 AM

Another new Gerber is the Balance. I was really impressed with this one- it's a nice evolution of the sliding head plier design. As you can see it has a nice SAK style tweezers.

The slider is placed on the inside of the handles on this model.

This allows full sized tools on the outside, which is a really neat take on the concept.

The Balance has two bit drivers, each with a double ended bit on it, scissors and a blade.

Gerber's plan with this was to make a nice tool that slips nicely into the pocket, and the rounded edges on this tool succeed nicely. It's very smooth and would be a joy to pocket carry.

All in all it felt like a good solid tool, and I'm looking forward to seeing this one when it comes out.

Def

scrappy · **Reply #1 on:** January 19, 2011, 05:44:11 AM

looks good, was price mentioned.

ari6126 · **Reply #2 on:** January 19, 2011, 06:00:26 AM

Quote from: scrappy on January 19, 2011, 05:44:11 AM

looks good, was price mentioned.

$43

I like it too, but I'm so sick of CE.

AHB · **Reply #3 on:** January 19, 2011, 06:08:58 AM

2ho.. Thanks Gerber..

glorn · **Reply #4 on:** January 19, 2011, 07:12:15 AM

Are those nylon "scales"?

Interesting design if not a bit plasticy.

Grant Lamontagne · **Reply #5 on:** January 19, 2011, 07:14:36 AM

I think they were aluminum actually. They felt like metal. I'll check for sure when I pass Gerber again.

Def

Mr. Whippy · **Reply #6 on:** January 19, 2011, 01:20:01 PM

How thick is it? It looks thicker than a Charge.

Did you get to handle it? Those scissor handles look fairly bulky for the tool.

Neil · **Reply #7 on:** January 19, 2011, 02:39:18 PM

This looks pretty good. I'll be interested to see how the blade lock operates and more to the point if it can be defeated

Grant Lamontagne · **Reply #8 on:** January 19, 2011, 03:46:16 PM

Quote from: Mr. Whippy on January 19, 2011, 01:20:01 PM

How thick is it? It looks thicker than a Charge.

Did you get to handle it? Those scissor handles look fairly bulky for the tool.

It's actually only slightly larger than a Juice, and those are the standard sized scissors. This is a very pocketable tool!

The big button on the side below the blade is the lock release. Unfortunately I didn't see inside all that well. If I get another chance I'll try to get some inside pics.

Def

Dunc · **Reply #9 on:** January 19, 2011, 03:46:47 PM

I quite like it

Grant Lamontagne · **Reply #10 on:** January 19, 2011, 03:51:00 PM

Yeah Dunc, me too. Bear in mind this is a pre-production model, so there may be some differences between this and the final design (I made a couple of suggestions, if it's not too far along to look into them!) but this is one I am really looking forward to.

Def

EZ822 · **Reply #11 on:** January 19, 2011, 03:54:56 PM

I can't believe I'm saying this but so far The Balance and The Fit have actually impressed me more than Leathermans new stuff but with Gerber you never know when it comes to quality. Time will tell. $:-\$

Dunc · **Reply #12 on:** January 19, 2011, 03:58:35 PM

It does remind me of a Bar or soap

but I guess this is to give it the smooth pocket friendly feel .Which is something I think people will go for .

Dunc

NeitherExtreme · **Reply #13 on:** January 19, 2011, 05:25:42 PM

Looks nice, good evolution for Gerber.

Those bit holders on a small tool seem like a good idea.

zepla · **Reply #14 on:** January 19, 2011, 05:32:36 PM

I'm curious how the final production model will be. I like the bitholders

darkhawk · **Reply #15 on:** January 19, 2011, 05:40:29 PM

I too like them I would like to see other tools with em

AimlessWanderer · **Reply #16 on:** January 19, 2011, 05:44:15 PM

Quote from: Dunc on January 19, 2011, 03:58:35 PM

It does remind me of a Bar or soap but I guess this is to give it the smooth pocket friendly feel .Which is something I think people will go for .

Dunc

I was thinking more "office stapler" ... but I can see what you mean. The bit holders are a clever move. I like the simplicity of this tool, makes a refreshing change not to try too many functions in too small a package

Gareth · **Reply #17 on:** January 19, 2011, 07:55:03 PM

I think it's an interesting design. I think it looks very pocket friendly. I think it could be very popular. But I still think it's ugly as heck.

mtool78 · **Reply #18 on:** January 19, 2011, 09:58:34 PM

...what's the reason for that second bit holder?

thebullfrog · **Reply #19 on:** January 20, 2011, 01:23:50 AM

Overall a very nice design. I'd rather see one of the bit drivers replaced with other tools as it's unnecessarily redundant, but it's a real nice step in the right direction for Gerber. I'll bet it sells like crazy.

scrappy · **Reply #20 on:** January 20, 2011, 02:12:37 AM

Is there a release date?

J-sews · **Reply #21 on:** January 20, 2011, 03:32:02 AM

Hmmmm, I'll give them points for innovation!

Hopefully the quality is up to snuff.

Poncho65 · **Reply #22 on:** January 20, 2011, 04:14:35 AM

Quote from: J-sews on January 20, 2011, 03:32:02 AM

Hmmmm, I'll give them points for innovation! Hopefully the quality is up to snuff.

If the quality is there this looks like a very promising MT

Good for Gerber this year

I really do hope they turn around things and start making more solid tools again

hankenstein60 · **Reply #23 on:** January 20, 2011, 09:02:29 PM

I was down on gerber for awhile now but this looks sleek and cool very SAK ese I can dig it !

SlackOne · **Reply #24 on:** January 20, 2011, 10:28:20 PM

Quote from: mtool78 on January 19, 2011, 09:58:34 PM

...what's the reason for that second bit holder?

One is sized for standard 1/4" bits, the other for precision microbits. Probably the same size as Wiha's excellent microbits, meaning that this thing could be a tech's new pocket friend.

Like so many other "urbanista" tools, I wish this one had a pen on board.

fly104857 · **Reply #25 on:** January 21, 2011, 12:57:37 AM

Quote from: EZ822 on January 19, 2011, 03:54:56 PM

I can't believe I'm saying this but so far The Balance and The Fit have actually impressed me more than Leathermans new stuff but with Gerber you never know when it comes to quality. Time will tell. $:-\$

Ditto on the wait and see as to the quality on the Gerber. I used to love them, I have even given them try again once in a while only to be let down again.

I really like on that they went back to some "real" screwdriver bits. That is a great sign.

thebullfrog · **Reply #26 on:** January 21, 2011, 01:15:23 AM

Wait, so the second bit driver is a different size? Well if that's the case it's not as redundant as I thought. It could be very handy indeed.

Grant Lamontagne · **Reply #27 on:** January 21, 2011, 01:44:59 AM

Quote from: thebullfrog on January 21, 2011, 01:15:23 AM

Wait, so the second bit driver is a different size? Well if that's the case it's not as redundant as I thought. It could be very handy indeed.

They are indeed different sizes- somewhat unbalanced when you think about it...

Def

J-sews · **Reply #28 on:** January 21, 2011, 04:31:58 AM

Quote from: Grant Lamontagne on January 21, 2011, 01:44:59 AM

Quote from: thebullfrog on January 21, 2011, 01:15:23 AM
Wait, so the second bit driver is a different size? Well if that's the case it's not as redundant as I thought. It could be very handy indeed.

They are indeed different sizes- somewhat unbalanced when you think about it...

Def

Hey, just like a lot of us!

thebullfrog · **Reply #29 on:** January 21, 2011, 06:41:45 AM

Unbalanced? Us? Naahh...

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