Gerber’s Ultra-Compact New Multi-Tool Is Super Affordable, Surprisingly Robust and TSA-Friendly

Riding discreetly on your keychain, the aptly named Driver offers a good deal more than screw-turning bona fides.

Published April 15, 2025

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Updated April 15, 2025

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Nothing ruins a vacation faster than having to surrender a beloved pocket knife or bladed multi-tool to the TSA before you even board your flight.

Alas, this calamity happens so often, the TSA finds itself offloading thousands of deeply discounted knives and multi-tools through state-run thrift, consignment and surplus stores every year.

gerber driver full — The Driver packs a surprising amount of functionality within its space-efficient 2.5-inch body.

Thankfully, lots of brands sell defanged multi-tools that will never land you in this trap.

Given how often we forget we even have them on us, an un-bladed option is probably best for your keychain multi-tool, assuming it can still pack a punch.

One strong candidate in that regard is Gerber’s Driver, which — despite its small size and slim $16 price tag — boasts substantive screw-driving chops and additional handy functions, too.

Screw this (no, really)

As its name suggests, the Driver’s most noteworthy capability is the turning of the screw, so to speak.

It accomplishes this feat quite competently thanks to two distinct bits — a flathead and a Phillips head — that nest neatly within the multi-tool’s frame until called upon.

gerber driver phillips head screwdriver — The Driver’s flat and Phillips head bits are a bit more robust those you’ll find on many keychain/mini multi-tools.

Housed in glass-filled nylon, the Driver’s bit socket is magnetic, ensuring the bits stay in place, while their sturdy stainless steel construction helps them tackle even rusty, strip-sensitive screws.

One thing I particularly like about these bits — as compared to those on many other mini multi-tools, including frankly some of Gerber’s own — is that there’s some real meat to these puppies, enabling you to tackle bigger screws, not just itty-bitty ones.

gerber driver prying paint can — Its easy to overlook the Driver’s formidable prying powers, but they’re there when you need them.

Beyond the bits, the Driver offers a few other handy functions, the total number of which varies depending on how you define things.

Gerber itself claims three other functions: a package opener, a pry bar and a bottle opener.

If you go by the reasoning that almost anything can be a package opener, perhaps you subtract one.

gerber driver on keychain — As you can see here, the Driver takes up just a bit more space on the chain than a set of actual keys.

If you subdivide the pry bar to include “nail puller,” maybe you add one.

Either way, this 1.4-ounce, 2.5-inch by 1.6-inch dynamo should prove a handy keychain accessory — not to mention one that’ll still be attached at vacation’s end.

Availability and pricing

The Gerber Driver is available now in two colors, Baltic Haze and Urban Blue, for $16.

Gerber Driver

This 1.4-ounce, 2.5-inch by 1.6-inch dynamo of a keychain multi-tool boasts more useful functions than you might expect. In addition to offering robust flathead and Phillips head screwdrivers that nest securely in the magnetic bit socket, the aptly named Driver can also open packages, serve as a pry bar and nail puller and, of course, pop bottles.