What Shall I Replace Gerber Octane With?

[DoosanMan]

My Gerber Octane broke and I sent it in for warranty.   I received an email today saying since they do not manufacture the Octane anymore they giving me a $52 credit to Gerber Gear.  What shall I replace it with?  I had this narrowed down to an Octane and Skeletool when I bought it.  Is the Crucial the only multi-tool that Gerber has that compares to the Octane?  I would like a smallish one with a pocket clip.  Basically the Octane fit the bill very well.  Thanks for your input!

[Gareth]

That's a shame.  Personally I was never a fan of the Crucial as it's not nearly as compact as the Octane.  It doesn't have a pocket clip but would your credit stretch to a MP400?

[DoosanMan]

That's a shame.  Personally I was never a fan of the Crucial as it's not nearly as compact as the Octane.  It doesn't have a pocket clip but would your credit stretch to a MP400?

It almost will....I have thought about that, but does it does not have a clip.

[Gareth]

I think the Crucial is probably the only Gerber I can think of with a pocket clip.  The Balance might be worth a look as well as it's smooth profile makes it very easy on the pocket.

[gregozedobe]

That's a shame.  Personally I was never a fan of the Crucial as it's not nearly as compact as the Octane.  It doesn't have a pocket clip but would your credit stretch to a MP400?

It almost will....I have thought about that, but does it does not have a clip.

Seeing as you broke your Octane I think an MP400 is an excellent (and robust) suggestion. 

Adding a stick-on clip should be pretty easy as the MP400 has nice flat sides on the handles. 

[jerseydevil]

Too bad the Octane is discontinued.    I much prefer it to the Skeletool.  As to as replacement, I say MP400 as the first choice, Balance as the second.  The 400 is a little tank (tankette?) of a tool, very robust but small enough to be pocketable.  The Balance's shape allows for comfortable pocket carry, and the pliers and scissors are excellent.  The drivers have very good reach, but the bits are a non-standard size sadly.  I think at least one member here found a fix for that though.  Be careful though, the MP400 was my first Gerber, and it led me down the path of flicky enlightenment....... 

[DoosanMan]

So I have a $52 credit on Gerber Gear, but the MP 400 is $59.  I can pay $7 more, but when I go to Amazon they have the MP 400 for $25!  So I still am not sure what to use my credit for. 

[Gareth]

Get a nice knife from Gerber Gear and find an Octane elsewhere?

[DoosanMan]

Get a nice knife from Gerber Gear and find an Octane elsewhere?

Ok, that's what I decided to do.  I ordered a Skeletool and will use the Gerber credit for some other kind of knife.

[Smaug]

I just looked, and $52 doesn't buy much from their site at Gerber's list prices. 

Give up the pocket clip for a carabiner or something, and you have a lot more options.

[Kampfer]

Get a Skeletool.

[vartz04]

Or better yet get a skeletool cx


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[AimlessWanderer]

Get a Skeletool.

He already did! Keep up 



 

[mikekoz]

So I have a $52 credit on Gerber Gear, but the MP 400 is $59.  I can pay $7 more, but when I go to Amazon they have the MP 400 for $25!  So I still am not sure what to use my credit for.

    You may already know this, but Amazon also still has the Octane for sale. Probably not much longer though if Gerber discontinued them!

[AimlessWanderer]

It'll be interesting to see if Gerber release a new "slimline" tool to replace it, as right now they don't offer a competitor to the Skeletool. I got an Octane after a protracted hunt for the right slim and light pocket tool, and was much happier with it than with the Skele, but I ended up moving on and getting hooked on the Ye Olde Sideclip instead.

With the MP700 it took many years before they re-released the same toolset in the form of the Balance. Hopefully, they'll offer another ultraslim clipped pocket tool before too long

[Kampfer]

Get a Skeletool.

He already did! Keep up 



 

Get a second one

[DoosanMan]

Or better yet get a skeletool cx


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It's a CX.  Does anyone know why the Octane was discontinued?  People seem pretty happy with it.

[Gareth]

Or better yet get a skeletool cx


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It's a CX.  Does anyone know why the Octane was discontinued?  People seem pretty happy with it.

Good question.  My guess would be poor sales.

[Kampfer]

Al talked me into buying an Octane last year, I didn't like it at all.
http://forum.multitool.org/index.php/topic,55080.msg962393.html#msg962393

[ToolJoe]

I'd say something from the MP series. I don't own any but the consensus is they seem to be rock solid.

[Gareth]

Given you've already got the CX on the way to cover the slim-line option, why not look at a MP400 again?  Trust me, they really are cracking little MTs.

[rdub934]

Given you've already got the CX on the way to cover the slim-line option, why not look at a MP400 again?  Trust me, they really are cracking little MTs.

I second this notion. MP400s are compact and pretty light-weight (not far off from a Skeletool, really) but offer a pretty full compliment of implements. I've had a MP400 for over a decade and still love it. It is, in fact, rock solid just as ToolJoe pointed out. I bet I have used mine harder than any of my other tools, including my Wave, MP600 (it's still relatively new), and Flick.

[Corwyn]

Or better yet get a skeletool cx


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It's a CX.  Does anyone know why the Octane was discontinued?  People seem pretty happy with it.

Good question.  My guess would be poor sales.

Paint it orange and call it: "Bear Grylls Extreme Survival Octapower" - it would sell like cupcakes 

[Smaug]

Given you've already got the CX on the way to cover the slim-line option, why not look at a MP400 again?  Trust me, they really are cracking little MTs.

+1.

[SAKnight]

Speaking of octane- just got one, and I love it! Plier head is a great size, and ergos are awesome. And a full tool loadout? It's got interior tools, including a full 3d Phillips, the revered (v-grind!) package opener, and two flatheads, though the thick one, being barely sharpened, is more of a prybar, and the small being sharpened too much, like an awl. It's fantastic. And for a combo edge blade, it has a full pe blade profile as well.

Thin and with a nifty clip and a unique cap lifter, I can see it getting a lot of carry time! 

[ToolJoe]

How about a bladeless mp600?