There’s no shortage of multi-tools available out there. They come in all sorts of configurations, too, so you can get the exact combination of functions that you’ll need for any undertaking. If you’re spending time camping, the Gerber Stake Out just may be the multi-tool you need.
Billed as a “camp tool,” the contraption bundles a selection of functions that you’re likely to find useful when roughing it up in the outdoors. Whether you’re backpacking, car camping, or spending most of the day on a hike, this thing is designed to support the kind of tasks you’ll need to get done the whole time you’re there.
The Gerber Stake Out is a pocket multi-tool that measures 4.5 inches when closed, so it’s compact enough to fit in most pockets, although it also comes with an integrated carabiner that lets you hang it on a belt loop or a ring on your pack. It comes with just 11 functions, including the carabiner at the outer end of the exterior, which is one of the reasons why it’s quite compact compared to plenty of multi-tools out there. What really sets it apart, of course, is the selection of tools meant to help you manage life at the backcountry.
Among the functions is a ferro rod striker to help you get a fire going as soon as you decide where to set up your camp site, as well as a tent stake puller, a reinforced hook that you can use to quickly take out stakes when it’s time to break down and pack up your camp. There are, of course, various cutting tools, namely a 2.2-inch plain edge knife blade with a Scandi grind, a pair of larger-then-usual scissors (larger than ones typically on multi-tools anyway), a saw, and an awl for quickly piercing holes, allowing you to cut all sorts of items, from tinder and kindling to rope and twine to whatever else you need to keep camp cozy.
The Gerber Stake Out also gets pull-out tweezers for picking out splinters and similar tiny hazards, as well as a file, in case you need to smooth out the surface on any tools or supplies. It also comes with a ruler whatever measuring tasks come up, while the carabiner’s opening can also double as a bottle opener for popping the cap off any drinks you packed in the cooler. Yes, we would have preferred a dedicated can opener function, but we guess the knife can also handle that just fine.
With the knife blade deployed, the whole thing measures 6.6 inches, allowing for comfortable use, whether you’re cutting kindling, cords, or whatever food you’re preparing for dinner, while the integrated liner lock should keep the blade in place even when performing tougher, more challenging cutting tasks. The whole thing weighs just 3.32 ounces, making it light enough to allow full control, regardless of what function you’re using. It comes in three colors: silver, graphite, and bronze.
The Gerber Stake Out comes out in the spring, priced at $55.
