Gerber Made One of My Favorite Multi-Tools Smaller, Cheaper and Maybe Even Better

Stripped down to the barest essentials, the compact and affordable Armbar Mini emerges as a nearly indispensable EDC item.

By Steve Mazzucchi

Published April 8, 2025

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Updated April 8, 2025

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“In the ’60s and ’70s, I would say I had quite a lot of material, but afterwards I learned to leave it behind… My art was not to use better and better materials or more and more equipment. My art was to eliminate. My art is reduction.”

So said legendary mountaineer Reinhold Messner in an interview with former Gear Patrol watches editor Zen Love five years ago.

gerber armbar mini display side folded — At 2.7 inches closed, the Armbar Mini is small enough to be ignored until you need it.

Those words have resonated with me ever since, and they immediately come to mind as I behold a recently introduced Gerber multi-tool that clearly adheres to a similar philosophy.

Because, while the brand’s popular Armbar is available in close to a dozen varieties to suit different purposes, the most compelling might just be the super streamlined, super affordable Armbar Mini.

Diminutive dynamo

To be fair, the range of full-sized Armbar multi-tools is pretty excellent in its own way.

Typically offering eight tools, including reliable blades, burly screwdrivers and other task-specific elements such saws, corkscrews, scissors and can openers, they make great EDC items.

gerber armbar mini black with blade — The Mini’s six essential tools are sized just big enough to tackle their designated functions.

I often throw my trusty Armbar Trade in my snowboard pack, as it’s handy for tightening binding screws and other on-the-fly tweaks.

That being said, there’s a reason it goes in the pack, not on a keychain. At a closed length of 3.625 inches and a weight of 3.1 ounces, the $52 item is a bit big for the latter location.

gerber armbar mini lifestyle — As you can see here, 1.5 inches is more than enough blade for slicing through box tape, among other tasks.

Enter the Armbar Mini, which slims down everything but your wallet.

At $21 and 1.3 ounces, it’s well under half the price and weight of the standard models — and at 2.7 inches closed, the Mini is nearly an inch shorter, too.

gerber armbar mini keychain — This photo nicely demonstrates the Armbar Mini’s “keychain-ability.”

Not surprisingly, its tools are smaller and less plentiful, but I’m pretty sure Messner would agree with what has been subtracted — and what has been left behind to tackle the vast majority of everyday tasks.

The Mini’s tools include a 1.5-inch stainless steel blade (perfect for cutting boxes and tape and twine and plastic packaging) and two small screwdrivers (the size you need to work on sunglasses, some watches and similar items).

gerber armbar mini off side deployed — The Armbar Mini is also available with a more TSA-friendly “package opener” in lieu of a blade.

You also get spring-loaded scissors (great for cutting tags off clothing), slide-out tweezers (ideal for removing thorns and splinters) and a prybar-like bottle opener (because, of course).

Oh, and just so you don’t end up accidentally donating it to the TSA, the Mini is also available with a “package opener” instead of a blade.