Gerber Truss Review: Worth It? (November 2026)
The Gerber Truss is worth buying if you want a full-size pliers multitool with a one-hand opening blade. Skip it and choose the LEATHERMAN Wave Plus if you prefer a lighter tool or replaceable wire cutters.
On this page (8 sections)
The Gerber Truss is a solid buy for full-size pliers work, and it's the tool I'd hand to someone who wants one sturdy multitool for the truck, the campsite and the garage shelf. The catch is weight and bulk, plus the fact that the sheath costs extra.
This Gerber Truss multi tool review covers the specs that change how it feels in daily use, then names the alternatives worth a look.
The Truss earns its place when you want strong pliers and plenty of tools in one frame. Buyers who mostly cut wire or carry a tool all day on a belt should read the alternatives before deciding.
The Gerber Truss at a glance
The Truss is a full-size pliers multitool built for real work rather than pocket decoration. Its strongest card is the one-hand opening blade, which lets you deploy the knife without unfolding the whole tool.
Clip & Carry Kydex Multitool Sheath: Best for belt carry
- Moulded for the Gerber Truss
- 20 degree angle adjustability
- Kydex, handmade in the USA
- Lifetime warranty
A sheath shaped for one tool only. The belt clip tilts 20 degrees so the Truss sits at an angle you can reach without looking.
Pros
- Moulded to the Truss rather than a generic pouch
- 20 degree angle adjustability on the belt
- Kydex shell with a lifetime warranty
- Made in the USA
Cons
- Carries the Truss only
- Rigid shell instead of soft fabric
- The multitool is not included
The score weighs specs, features and buyer feedback against what you're shopping for. On that basis the Truss lands as a capable all-rounder rather than the lightest or the most feature-packed option in its class.
The frame is the part that decides whether you'll keep the Truss on your belt or leave it in a drawer. A full-size tool has to feel solid in the hand when you squeeze the pliers, and the Truss is shaped around that job.
The blade and the pliers are the two features most owners mention first, so treat them as the core of the tool and everything else as support.
Who the Gerber Truss suits
Buy it if you want full pliers jaws and a quick blade in the same tool. That combination suits campers who cut cord and open cans, drivers who tighten hose clamps and anyone who wants a knife ready in one motion.
It also suits people who already carry a belt pouch. The Truss is happiest on a belt, where its size stops being a nuisance and its weight stops tugging at a pocket.
Skip it if you want a tool that disappears into a jeans pocket. A compact model does that better.
For a look at the lighter end of the market, the multitool for everyday use roundup covers tools built around pocket carry.
The prepper and tinkerer crowd fits the Truss well too. A tool that lives in a glovebox or a go bag doesn't need to be light, it needs to be ready.
The Truss is built for that role, where the belt sheath keeps it within reach and the full-size pliers handle the jobs a small tool would struggle with. First responders who already wear a duty belt will find the same logic applies: the tool is only useful if it's on you when the job appears.
The specs that matter in daily use
The Truss is sized as a full-size belt tool, so judge it by how it hangs rather than how it looks in a photo. The pliers are the core of the design, and the frame is built to take torque from them.
The one-hand opening blade is the feature you'll notice most. On a campsite or under a car, opening the knife without unfolding the handles saves time and keeps your other hand free for the thing you're cutting.
Full-size pliers give you reach and grip that compact tools can't match. That matters for nuts, wire and stubborn fittings.
The trade is bulk: a bigger frame in your hand and a bigger lump on your belt.
Look at the tool count against how you'll actually use it. A long list of openers and drivers looks good on paper, but the ones you reach for weekly decide whether the size is worth it.
For heavy mechanical work, the multitool for mechanics picks are built around that question.
The weight is the spec to think about hardest. A full-size frame hangs on your belt all day, and every extra gram is felt by the end of it.
The Truss sits in the middle of the full-size class, heavier than a compact tool and built to do more than one. If you wear a belt every day, that weight is the price of the grip and the reach.
If you don't, it's the reason the tool stays home.
Setting up the Truss for belt carry
Treat the Truss as a belt tool from day one. A pocket is the wrong home for a full-size frame, so sort out the carry method before you rely on it.
The Clip & Carry Kydex sheath is the natural partner. It's moulded for the Gerber Truss alone, so the fit is tight and the tool doesn't rattle around in a generic pouch.
Its belt clip tilts 20 degrees, which lets you set the handle at an angle you can grab without looking down.
Clip & Carry makes the sheath by hand in the USA from kydex and backs it with a lifetime warranty. That's a longer promise than most soft pouches offer, and the rigid shell protects the tool better in a pack or on a belt.
The snap closure holds the tool in place, so it won't slide out when you crouch or climb. The sheath carries the Truss only, which is the point: a moulded fit is tighter than a generic pouch can manage.
Before first use, open every tool and check that each one locks as it should. Work the pliers a few times to loosen the pivot.
Then fit the sheath on your belt at the angle that suits your dominant hand and walk a few steps to confirm it doesn't dig in. A rigid sheath sits where you put it, so spend a minute getting the angle right before you rely on it all day.
The 20 degree tilt is there for exactly this: a handle angled toward your hand is faster to grab than one sitting square.
Care and maintenance for a full-size tool
Keep the pivot clean and lightly oiled, and the Truss will stay smooth through years of use. Grit is the main enemy of folding tools, so wipe the joints after a dusty day.
Open the tool fully and brush out the pivot area with a small brush. A drop of light oil on each hinge is enough.
Work the handles open and closed a few times to spread it, then wipe off the excess so it doesn't collect lint in your pocket.
Check the blade edge regularly. A sharp blade is safer than a dull one because it needs less force and is less likely to slip.
Touch it up with a fine stone or a sharpener suited to the steel.
Keep the sheath clean too. Wipe the kydex with a damp cloth and dry it before putting the tool away.
Sand and mud trapped in a tight sheath will scratch the finish over time. The tight fit that makes the moulded sheath good is also why it needs a clean now and then: grit has nowhere to go.
Store the tool dry. If you use it near salt water, rinse the metal parts, dry them thoroughly and oil the pivots.
Rust starts in the hinges long before it shows on the flat surfaces. A camping kit benefits from the same routine, and the multitool for camping guide covers which tools earn their weight in a pack.
Check the sheath's snap and belt clip as part of the routine. A snap that won't close is a sign the sheath needs cleaning or the tool isn't seated fully.
A clip that has loosened will let the sheath swing, which is annoying on a long walk. Both are quick checks that keep the carry setup working.
The trade-offs to weigh before buying
The Truss asks you to accept bulk in return for capability. That's the honest trade, and it's the one most full-size tools make.
The size is the first thing you'll notice. It's a belt tool, and in a pocket it gets uncomfortable fast.
If you want something that lives in your jeans, this isn't it.
The sheath is a separate buy. That adds cost on top of the tool and means the carry setup isn't complete out of the box.
Budget for the kydex sheath or a nylon pouch when you price the whole kit. The kydex option is the better long-term buy because of the moulded fit and the lifetime warranty, but it's still an extra line on the bill.
Wire cutting is the other point to weigh. Replaceable cutters are easier to live with over the long term, because you swap the worn part instead of retiring the tool.
The Truss doesn't offer that convenience in the same way as the Wave Plus. If you cut wire every week, that difference adds up over the years.
None of these are deal-breakers. They're the reasons the Truss suits a belt-wearing user and frustrates a pocket-carrier.
Decide which of those you are before you spend.
Alternatives worth a look
The Truss isn't the only sensible full-size choice. Two rivals cover the cases where its bulk or its carry setup gets in the way.
For survival-focused buyers, the leatherman multi tool for survival picks are worth reading first.
PERWIN Multitool
The PERWIN is the value pick for anyone who wants a lot of tools without paying full-size brand money. It packs 17 functions into a 440A stainless steel frame, and the folded size is 4.3 x 1.57 x 0.78 in at 0.66 lb.
Every tool except the pliers heads self-locks when fully open, which is the feature that matters most for safe use. The 440A steel is rated at 54 +/- 2 on the Rockwell scale and resists rust well.
A nylon sheath comes in the box, so there's no extra carry cost. PERWIN backs it with a lifetime warranty.
The tool list covers needle-nose and regular pliers, a pocket knife, saw, scissors, Phillips and flat screwdrivers in 3, 5 and 6 mm, wire cutter, ruler, file, bottle and can openers, rope cutter, wire stripper and threading needle. That's a broad kit for the size.
The snap closure on the sheath keeps the tool secure on a belt or a pack strap.
The PERWIN's weak point against the Truss is the blade. There's no one-hand opening knife here, so you open the tool to get at the blade.
Pick the PERWIN if budget and tool count lead your list; pick the Truss if you want the blade out in one motion.
LEATHERMAN Wave Plus 18-in-1 Multi-Tool
The Wave Plus is the light everyday pick. It carries 18 tools in a 4 x 1.57 x 0.76 in frame at 8.5 oz, which is the lightest full-size tool in this comparison.
Leatherman's headline feature here is the replaceable wire cutters. When the cutting edge wears, you fit a new one and keep using the tool.
That's a real long-term advantage for anyone who cuts wire often. The blades open from the outside without unfolding the handles, and the scissors have spring action.
The tool set includes a saw, a ruler and locking tools alongside the cutters. Leatherman backs the Wave Plus with a 25-year warranty and builds it in Portland, Oregon.
The Wave Plus gives up tool count to the Truss. If you want the longest list of functions in one frame, the Wave Plus wins with 18 tools to the Truss's 17.
If you want less weight on your belt and parts you can replace, the Wave Plus is the smarter buy. The 25-year warranty is not the longest on the tool itself, since the PERWIN carries a lifetime PERWIN warranty, though the Clip & Carry sheath carries a lifetime promise too.
Verdict: buy the Truss or skip it?
Buy the Gerber Truss if you want full-size pliers and a one-hand blade on your belt. It's a capable work tool for camping, the truck and the garage, and the kydex sheath turns it into a comfortable everyday carry.
That's the short answer to this Gerber Truss multi tool review.
Skip it if pocket weight is your main concern. The LEATHERMAN Wave Plus is lighter and has replaceable wire cutters.
The PERWIN Multitool is the budget route with a sheath in the box. Pick the Truss when grip and the one-hand blade matter more than the last ounce, and budget for the sheath when you add up the cost.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Gerber Truss a full-size multitool?
Yes. The Truss is a full-size pliers multitool, so it's built around full pliers jaws rather than the small keychain format.
That means more reach and leverage on nuts and wire, and more weight and bulk in your pocket or on your belt.
Does the Gerber Truss come with a sheath?
The Truss ships as the tool alone, so plan for a carry method. The Clip & Carry Kydex sheath is moulded for this model and adds a 20 degree tilt on the belt.
A nylon pouch is the cheaper route if you don't want a rigid shell.
What is the difference between the Gerber Truss and the LEATHERMAN Wave Plus?
The Truss carries 17 tools and a sturdier grip for heavy work. The Wave Plus is lighter at 8.5 oz, has replaceable wire cutters and carries a 25-year warranty.
Pick the Wave Plus for tool count as well as weight, since its 18 tools edge out the Truss's 17.
Can I carry the Gerber Truss in my pocket?
It's a full-size tool, so pocket carry gets bulky fast. A belt sheath is the more comfortable option for all-day use, and the Kydex sheath holds the Truss at a fixed angle.
For pocket carry, a compact tool is the better fit.
Who should not buy the Gerber Truss?
Skip it if you want the lightest tool on your belt. Mechanics who cut wire often will get more life from replaceable cutters on the Wave Plus.
Casual users who open boxes and tighten screws will do fine with a cheaper 17-tool model.
