Well I just got my set in today. This means plenty of photographs and some ramblings on my part.
Although I am no Bear Grylls fan, this hasn't stopped me from collecting a few pieces of the Gerber merchandize for the old collection.
I am going to say right off the bat, that this one is the best BG MT yet. I just love the tactile rubber coating on this one. Yes, this is a great fondler's MT folks.
It is also a very pretty one. The contrast from the blaze orange to the gray and black is striking. This Strata based BG tool is a looker.
Now for the sheath. I was honestly prepared to hate this thing on sight. Hard plastic cases and I have never gotten along. However, the case is actually not that bad. The reason being there was some thought into designing this sheath. For example, I like how there is a drain hole for everything. Not only does the drain hole drain liquids, it will also allow you to use the flashlight still in the sheath. The large cutout for the multi-tool is needed, as the tool is a tight fit, and it sits deep in the sheath. That hole allows you to pull out the tool. All in all, not bad.
There is a rubber strip that acts as both belt flap and closure top. This is quickly removed from both ends by simply pulling the rubber down and off two hard plastic detents. The tools will not fall out, ever. It is this combination of hard plastic and rubber which makes me like the sheath a lot more then I was prepared to. It is a serviceable piece of kit.
There is a place for the included flashlight and fire starter. I find the flashlight seating is good. I am a little worried about the fire starter however, as it might loosen and fall out if tipped upside down. There is a tab located on the sheath that is supposed to hold the starter in place, but this is negated by two similar tabs on the starter itself. This pushed the starter out far enough that it won't engage the sheath's tab.
I like this sheath a little more than the cloth one that came with the Suspension based "Ultimate Survival Tool". Hmmm... could this newer version be the "Super Duper Ultimate Survival Tool"?
Now that we have that out of the way, let's compare this BG branded version to its daddy, the Strata.
Overall, the BG tool feels a lot better than the Strata. The rubber coating, the texture, and the improvement on the locking mechanism are big plusses. I will admit, i am not a big fan of the Strata. I think the BG version is a big improvement over the original. I even like the slight change in shape.
I was a bit surprised to find out that the removable cutters have been well, removed from the BG model over those found in the Strata. Not exactly sure why this was done. Possibly another failure point in the bush...no clue. Both do feature anvil type cutters though.
The tool selection between the two is almost identical, with a few differences. Some of those differences are cosmetic, such as Bear Grylls signature on the saw, and a fire symbol on the file telling people that they can strike the fire starter there. Others are more functional and puzzling. For instance, the Strata has a nice wire stripper located on the small flat driver which the BG version does not have. The BG knife blade has a modified Tanto tip compared to the sharp point on the Strata. Also of interest, the plastic opening aid on the knife blade is improved on the BG compared to the Strata. It is a slight change, but i did find deploying the BG blade easier to the older base model.
So there you have it. The BG is a lot better than the Strata on feel and looks alone. There are a few nice little things that make living with this tool a slight pleasure over the Strata. One big improvement is the added grip to the Strata's slippery and hard to use tool locking levers. The sheath is also not that bad. It is well designed and thought out. The combination of hard plastic and rubber should mean that the flap won' t break off with repeated use. Likewise, the addition of a small flashlight and a fire starting kit means that this is a perfect jump off point for a nice compact survival kit. If the price is right, i can heartily recommend this one. Better than the rest of the BG gear out there. In fact, I am having trouble typing this as I can't seem to put this one down.
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