Gerber Suspension NXT Review: Worth It? (November 2026)
The Gerber Suspension NXT is a strong buy for a first full-size multitool. It packs 15 locking tools into 8.48 ounces and folds to 4.25 inches, so it clips to a pocket without the bulk of a heavy-duty tool. Pick a different multitool if you want a one-hand opening blade or a tool built around car work.
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The Gerber Suspension NXT is a strong buy for a first full-size multitool. It packs 15 locking tools into a body that folds to 4.25 inches and weighs 8.48 ounces, so it rides in a pocket without the heft of a heavy-duty tool.
This Gerber Suspension NXT review covers what the tools do, how the locks behave and where the design falls short. Pick it if you want one tool for camp repairs, loose screws and everyday fixes.
Skip it if you need a blade you can flick open with one hand or a tool built around car work.
The Gerber Suspension NXT at a glance
The Suspension NXT is a 15-in-1 stainless steel multitool with butterfly opening and locking tools. Gerber sells it as the lighter, thinner evolution of its older Suspension design, and the new tool count includes a wire stripper, an awl, a file and a ruler.
Gerber Suspension NXT 15-in-1 EDC Multitool: Best for a first full-size multitool
- 15 tools
- Butterfly opening
- Tool lock
- Pocket clip
- 2.25 in partially serrated blade
A light full-size tool with locking outboard tools, a pocket clip and a price tier that suits a first buy. It covers camp repairs, quick fixes and everyday carry in one package.
Pros
- 15 tools including pliers, scissors and a wire stripper
- All outboard tools lock open
- Pocket clip and lanyard point
- Folds to 4.25 inches and weighs 8.48 ounces
Cons
- No one-hand opening blade
- Not built around car or mechanic work
- Butterfly opening takes two hands
The black finish and the clip keep it discreet on a belt or in a pocket. Its score of 9.6 weighs the tool count, the locking feature, the size and the build against what a shopper wants from a full-size multitool.
The tool list is worth reading in full, because the spread of jobs is the argument for the Suspension NXT. It carries needle nose pliers, a wire stripper, small, medium and large flathead drivers, two cross drivers, an awl, a nail file, scissors, a can opener, a bottle opener and a 2.25 inch partially serrated blade.
A tool lock, a lanyard point and a pocket clip round out the package. That mix puts pliers, a blade and the drivers you reach for most in one body.
Gerber also lists the drive system as an armbar drive, which describes how the handle tools are held and released. The model number is 30-001777 and the UPC is 013658161535 if you want to match it in a store.
The tool ships as a single unit, which makes it easy to treat as a gift or a spare for a pack.
Who the Suspension NXT suits
Buy it if you want one tool that covers many small jobs without weighing down your pocket. Campers, hikers, hunters and tradespeople who tighten a screw or cut a cord a few times a day get the most from it.
It also suits someone buying a first multitool who doesn't want to spend premium money. The 15 tools mean you rarely reach for a separate screwdriver or scissors.
Skip it if you work on cars all day. The pliers are fine for light pulling and bending, but a tool built around mechanic work puts the sockets and drivers you need up front.
Camp duty is a good fit. The can opener, bottle opener and scissors handle kitchen jobs at a site, and the awl and file cover small repairs.
Hunters get the blade and the awl for gear fixes. Tradespeople get the drivers and wire stripper for quick jobs between proper tools.
It also works as a stocking stuffer or a gift for someone who likes the outdoors. Gerber markets it as a holiday gift for dads, boyfriends and outdoor enthusiasts, and the single-unit package suits that.
The specs that matter in daily use
The numbers that shape daily use are 4.25 inches folded, 8.48 ounces and 15 tools. Each one affects how often you will actually carry it.
The folded length fits a jeans pocket or a belt pouch. At 8.48 ounces you stop noticing it, which matters more than any single tool on the list.
Open, the tool measures 6.18 x 2.99 x 2.01 inches, so plan for that much hand space when you grip the pliers. The 2.01 inch depth is the width across the folded handles, so the body is not as slim as a pocket knife.
Gerber says all the outboard tools lock, so the blade and drivers stay open under load instead of folding on your fingers. That matters most for the blade and drivers, because they see the most force.
The blade is 2.25 inches and partially serrated. It handles package tape, cord and rope, and the serrated section grips slick material better than a plain edge.
The wire stripper is a small notch in the pliers. It suits light jobs like stripping a lamp cord, not repeated electrical work.
The three flathead drivers cover small, medium and large slots, and the two cross drivers cover the screws a household collects.
Setting up and carrying the Suspension NXT
Open the tool with two hands on the handles, the way butterfly pliers work. Pull the handles apart and the pliers come out; open a handle tool and press the lock to hold it.
Test every lock when the tool is new. Open each tool in turn, push it back until it clicks and then press the release.
A lock that sticks will loosen with use, but check it before you rely on it outdoors. Run through all 15 tools in one sitting so you know which ones need a firmer press.
Clip it to a pocket edge or a belt loop with the pocket clip. The lanyard point gives you a second option: a short cord keeps the tool attached to a pack or a belt.
A pack loop is a good home on a hike, because the tool stays reachable without sitting loose in a pocket. Keep the blade closed when you aren't cutting.
The lock holds tools open; folding it away is still your job. The butterfly opening is also what protects the tools when the tool sits closed, so fold it fully between jobs.
Check your local carry rules before you clip it on. Knife and multitool laws vary by state and city, and a 2.25 inch blade still counts as a blade.
How the locks change the way you work
The tool lock is the feature that separates the Suspension NXT from a cheap folding tool. When you open a driver or the blade, it clicks into place and stays there until you press the release.
That lets you lean into a screw without the tool folding on your knuckles. The lock also slows you down in a good way.
You open one tool at a time and press the release to put it away. That habit keeps the edges and slots clean and stops a tool from swinging loose in your hand.
Because all the outboard tools lock, the blade is as safe as the drivers. Check the lock on each tool when the tool is new and press the release firmly when you close it.
Care and upkeep for a stainless multitool
Wipe the tool after wet or dirty work and dry the pivot points before folding it. Stainless steel resists rust, but grit left in the joints makes the opening stiff.
Open and close every tool now and then so the pivots stay free. A drop of light oil on the main pivot keeps the butterfly action smooth, so add it after a wet trip rather than waiting for the action to seize.
Clean the blade and drivers with a cloth after use, since sap, tape glue and grit build up on the edge and in the screw slots. A stiff brush clears the serrations, where residue collects fastest.
Keep the tool out of sand and salt water where you can. If it does get wet, rinse it, dry it and store it folded, because salt air on a coast trip is the main risk for a stainless tool.
Check the screws that hold the handles together from time to time. If a handle starts to wobble, tighten it before the tool feels loose in your hand.
The blade needs the most attention. A partially serrated edge is harder to sharpen than a plain one, so touch up the plain section with a stone and leave the serrations to a round file.
A sharp blade cuts cord and tape with less force, which puts less strain on the lock.
The trade-offs of the Suspension NXT
The main trade-off is that the blade needs two hands to open. You spread the handles, pull the blade out and lock it, and that is slower than a one-hand blade when your other hand is full.
The drivers and scissors work the same way.
The second is that this tool is not built around car work. The three flathead drivers, two cross drivers and wire stripper cover light jobs, but there is no socket driver or bit set for heavy fasteners.
The pliers handle light pulling and bending, not the torque of a stuck bolt.
The butterfly opening is also slower in tight spots. You spread both handles before the pliers are ready, and a tool with spring-loaded pliers opens faster when you need them in a hurry.
The light weight has a cost in feel too. At 8.48 ounces the thin body feels less solid in a hard twist, so for steady force on a rusted screw a heavier tool feels more planted.
None of these are faults for a general-purpose tool. They are the price of the light, compact body and the broad tool count.
Alternatives worth comparing
The Suspension NXT is not the only choice at its size. The alternatives below cover the needs it doesn't, each starting from a different priority.
Match the alternative to the job you do most and the Suspension NXT becomes a backup rather than the main tool.
Best for everyday carry in a smaller size
A compact tool makes sense if you want less bulk in a pocket. Our guide to the best multitool for everyday use covers the small tools that handle quick fixes.
A smaller tool gives up the full pliers and the long blade, but it disappears in a pocket and opens faster for a quick cut. If your day is mostly opening packages and tightening a loose screw, the size saving is worth more than the extra tools.
Best for camping and hiking
If the tool lives in a pack rather than a pocket, camp duty is the deciding need. Our roundup of the best multitool for camping covers picks with a saw and a heavier build for fire prep.
The Suspension NXT already carries a can opener and a bottle opener, so it covers the kitchen side of camp. Pick by the jobs your trips actually need.
Best for car work and mechanic jobs
For repeated torque and tight bolts, a tool with a bit set and a socket driver wins. See the best multitool for mechanics for tools built around that work.
The Suspension NXT covers the light end with its flathead and cross drivers. A mechanic-focused tool trades the broad tool count for the fasteners you meet under a hood.
If you keep a toolbox in the car, that is the better home for this kind of work.
Best for keychain carry
If you want a tool on your keys rather than in a pocket, a small keychain model is the answer. Our comparison of the Leatherman Micra vs Gerber Dime shows how the two small tools differ.
Keychain tools drop the full pliers and the 2.25 inch blade in favor of a light body that hangs with your keys. They suit quick fixes, not camp repairs.
The Suspension NXT is the better pick when the tool has to do real work.
The verdict on the Gerber Suspension NXT
Buy the Gerber Suspension NXT if you want a light full-size multitool with locking tools and a broad tool count. The 15 tools, the 4.25 inch folded size and the 8.48 ounce weight make it easy to carry and hard to outgrow for everyday fixes and camp duty.
The locking outboard tools and the pocket clip are what make it work as an everyday carry. The blade, the drivers and the scissors cover the jobs you meet most, and the light body means you actually keep it with you.
The trade-offs are real but narrow: a two-hand blade and no mechanic setup. Skip it if you need a one-hand opening blade or a tool for repeated car work.
For everyone else, this Gerber Suspension NXT review lands on a clear buy: it is the pick for a first full-size multitool that covers many small jobs without the bulk.
Frequently asked questions
How many tools does the Gerber Suspension NXT have?
Gerber counts 15 tools. They include needle nose pliers, a wire stripper, three flathead drivers, two cross drivers, an awl, a nail file, scissors, a can opener, a bottle opener and a 2.25 inch partially serrated blade.
Is the Gerber Suspension NXT legal to carry every day?
It folds to 4.25 inches and has a pocket clip, so it carries like a large pocket knife. Knife and multitool carry laws vary by state and city, so check your local rules before clipping it on.
Does the Gerber Suspension NXT blade lock?
Yes. Gerber says all outboard tools lock, and the blade is one of them.
You press the lock to release a tool, so it stays open while you cut or turn a screw.
