Gerber Balance, 2012 Edition!

Grant Lamontagne · **on:** January 19, 2012, 06:55:26 AM

Since the Balance wasn't released last year I wasn't sure if I should start a new thread about it or just update the old. Bob suggested a Balance 2.0 thread, so I started a new one, then took the 2.0 out of the title because I didn't want anyone mistaking it for part of the name of the tool.

Def

Gareth · **Reply #1 on:** January 19, 2012, 08:20:02 AM

Has the plier head changed shape slightly? Anyway, I like the look of the two tone paint scheme.

Zed · **Reply #2 on:** January 19, 2012, 10:09:05 AM

i like that and the drivers look spot on

jerseydevil · **Reply #3 on:** January 19, 2012, 02:57:16 PM

Oh, man. this is going to be a costly year for me.....

Mercury · **Reply #4 on:** January 21, 2012, 10:11:04 AM

Quote from: jerseydevil on January 19, 2012, 02:57:16 PM

Oh, man. this is going to be a costly year for me.....

Ditto.

symphonyincminor · **Reply #5 on:** January 21, 2012, 08:04:59 PM

That matte lime green color is awful - they seem to put it on a handful of their cheaper tools now.

Those aluminum scales on the prototype that has been floating around here look a lot more attractive (more $$$ too when put into production).

Gareth · **Reply #6 on:** January 21, 2012, 08:25:36 PM

Matter of taste I'd say. They look all right IMO.

Grant Lamontagne · **Reply #7 on:** January 21, 2012, 08:34:20 PM

I believe it will be offered in both green & black as seen above and all black as seen in the previous photos.

Def

Grant Lamontagne · **Reply #8 on:** January 21, 2012, 10:22:26 PM

Since I have some time to kill at the airport and since I have the Gerber Press Kit out already I figured I might as well upload some more photos. These are the official Press Kit Photos for the Balance.

And of course the official sell sheets:

Def

Grant Lamontagne · **Reply #9 on:** January 21, 2012, 10:27:21 PM

Given the price, I may do one of each!

Def

symphonyincminor · **Reply #10 on:** January 21, 2012, 10:43:33 PM

Thanx for the clarification and pics.... the gray one looks a lot sleeker!

What the approx. price point on these?

Grant Lamontagne · **Reply #11 on:** January 21, 2012, 11:12:25 PM

I can't remember, but I think the MSRP is about $60, so look for them in the $35-40 range.

Def

stressmaster5000 · **Reply #12 on:** January 21, 2012, 11:19:05 PM

Glad to see they have a thumb pad on the scissors since sometimes you cut harder stuff and it will dig into your thumb or finger with prolonged use.

I have some of those old Gerber Keystyles and they do not have that bent over thumb pad.

J-sews · **Reply #13 on:** January 22, 2012, 04:26:54 AM

This was my first first-hand look at the Balance, and I was impressed.

Gerber has certainly made an effort in recent years to improve the quality of their imported knive and tools, and it is beginning to pay dividends. This new balance is a good case in point. The entire "feel" of the pliers, the sliding mechanism, and the folding blades is substantially better than their tools from just a couple years ago. Now admittedly we were not able to do any extensive testing during the short time we were allowed to handle the Balance, but it certainly made a good impression on us. You know how you can tell a lot about a car simply by slamming the door? Tinny cheap car doors sound like an aluminum screen door banging in the wind, while a solidly built car has doors that sound like a bank vault closing when they shut. That's sorta how the Balance is, with a good strong feel all around.

From a carryability / usability standpoint, I've got mixed feelings about the Balance. The good part is it has the familiar Gerber sliding pliers, which are great for one-handed deployment. And with a single slider switch on the side of the tool (instead of dual switches on each edge of the tool like an MP600) it allows those edges to be occupied by full-length folding blades and tools. Everything on the Balance is outside opening, which answers an often-heard complaint about blade access on MP600 and MP400 multitools. Also, as regards carryability, the Balance's bar-of-soap profile allows it to slip inside a pocket as if it had red scales and a white cross on its side.

Very nice.

The tradeoff for this roundiness is a tool that feels wider than most others in its class, and has pliers that are a bit smaller. I'm no engineer, but I imagine this is because in an effort to keep the thickness of the tool to a minimum, the folding blades were placed outboard of the plier-head channel (instead of stacked up alongside the plier head like is often done). This of course results in a wider tool, so the pliers were probably narrowed to keep the excess width to a minimum*

*all just pure speculation on my part of course

All in all I think the Balance will be a winner for Gerber, especially among casual users who prefer a simple to operate, straightforward, comfortable to carry multitool.

Grant Lamontagne · **Reply #14 on:** January 22, 2012, 06:43:45 AM

Bob has hit the nail on the head there. I am really looking forward to the Balance.

While I agree it does seem a bit wide, I think that is going to be offset by it's extreme comfort during carry. After all, most tools spend more time in a pocket or sheath than they do working, so it's important to make sure you have something that is going to disappear in your pocket.

Def

ari6126 · **Reply #15 on:** January 22, 2012, 07:15:24 AM

But would it kill them to have a plain edge version?

Gareth · **Reply #16 on:** January 22, 2012, 09:36:47 AM

I'm looking forward to handling a Balance myself.

I'm still not convinced of the need for two bit drivers, I know they're different sizes, but surely the point behind using a bit set is that the 'tip' can be any size/shape you want?

Grant Lamontagne · **Reply #17 on:** January 23, 2012, 04:11:07 AM

Ordinarily I agree- I often complain about the two bit drivers on the Charge XTi/ALX models, but in this case the different sizes I feel are worth having. You have the standard 1/4" bits on one side and the "technical" type bit size on the other for electronics and so on. It's actually a pretty decent arrangement I think.

Def

Mercury · **Reply #18 on:** January 23, 2012, 06:23:17 AM

I think the rounded edges will make this a pleasure to carry and use. I plan on buying one simply for fun, but depending on how much I like it, it may find itself a permanent spot in my pocket next to my wallet. Its been a while since I last carried a MT there, but I do miss the ability to go without a sheath on my belt.

Grant Lamontagne · **Reply #19 on:** January 23, 2012, 02:28:42 PM

Imagine a bar of soap after a week's use- it's still mostly there but all the edges are worn away and it's smooth and round. That's what the Balance is like. Either that or a smooth rock found on the beach. It really is unlike any tool we've encountered before, and it is quite a joy to hold. It balances the smooth, almost organic lines of something designed to slip in and out of a pocket easily with the reassuring heft (not weight, but a solid feel) of a good tool.

While the Balance has a limited number of functions compared to some similar type models (Juice line comes to mind) it really does seem like it would be the easiest possible tool to carry with you everywhere. And, as we all know, the tool that's with you is a thousand times better than the nicer tool you left at home.

Def

Raukodur · **Reply #20 on:** January 24, 2012, 06:48:33 PM

I really think they missed a trick with this tool in not making it the size of a juice.

Two bit drivers, well, at least they are different sizes, but maybe they should have had one bit driver, and like with the cybertool, used the other space as a secure storage space for bits with different sized ends.

J-sews · **Reply #21 on:** January 25, 2012, 03:28:49 AM

I think a Juice-sized Balance would be a good idea too

Grant Lamontagne · **Reply #22 on:** January 25, 2012, 03:39:30 AM

The Balance may be a bit bigger but it is significantly more pocketable. I think its a lot easier to carry around than the Juice on account of it's shape.

Def

Mercury · **Reply #23 on:** January 25, 2012, 03:48:37 AM

Something that always bothered me with my juice models is the shape. While it is slim, it still has weight enough to make sure it stays horizontal(I hate that, laying across my leg and pushing my jeans up) and it can wear through your pockets in a matter of weeks if you let it. I like either very slim items or very rounded items to ride in my pockets. They have to be, for lack of a better term, aerodynamic so they slip in and out easily. The balance looks pretty close to what I would like in that area.

kirk13 · **Reply #24 on:** July 28, 2012, 11:38:51 PM

Daft question gang,is the blade liner locked,or is it a slippie of some sort?

Max Archer · **Reply #25 on:** August 25, 2012, 05:58:27 AM

I just picked up a Balance, and it seems pretty cool so far. Very much an EDC-oriented tool.

FYI, REI is clearancing them for $25 as part of their fall sale, so now's a great time to grab one. All I saw on clearance were the green/grey ones, by the way.

MultiMat · **Reply #26 on:** August 25, 2012, 07:45:03 AM

These slipped kinda under the radar

I am keen to hear how they perform

Grant Lamontagne · **Reply #27 on:** August 25, 2012, 09:13:10 AM

For $25 I'd think they would be an excellent EDC item.

Def

Sent from my MB860 using Tapatalk 2

Max Archer · **Reply #28 on:** August 25, 2012, 09:18:46 AM

Been playing with it on and off for the past couple hours, here are a few early impressions.

-Pilers extend and retract pretty easily. They're not the easiest to open (spread the jaws) though. The plier head is rough compared to Leatherman, blocky, simple, and with an obvious "grain" to the metal. They line up well, though.

-Bit drivers are a cool idea. Both seem to be the same size, it's just the bits themselves that are different. Is there anywhere to get bits that will fit in this thing? Having decently long drivers is awesome.

-Bottle opener, on the driver with the small bits, looks like it'd be horrible but actually works pretty well. It's a slightly awkward motion, but did a good job when I tried it on an Amstel, which like many mass-produced beers has a tightly-crimped cap that often gives MT bottle openers a hard time.

-Knife blade is nice and solid. It has a lot of "belly", which should be nice for opening boxes. The plain edge area is pretty short, though. My big complaint is that the nail nick is right up by the pivot - it makes it tough to open, and as far as I can tell there's no reason for them to have put it there.

-Interesting scissors, although I think they're typical for Gerber. About the same edge length as a Wave, but much bigger and stronger. The little thumb pad doesn't do much for comfort.

-Comfortable handles, and rides well in the pocket. I like that they've skeletonized metal wherever they could to keep the weight down.

That's about it for now. I'll carry it for the near future and see what kind of use I can get out of it.

Gareth · **Reply #29 on:** September 27, 2012, 10:25:20 AM

Is Max Archer the only person who got a Balance? I've been looking at them on-line again but am looking for more feedback from folks who have been using theirs.

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Gerber Balance, 2012 Edition!

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