When I picked up the innocuous little Gerber Shard keychain tool I was a little skeptical. My trusty old keychain bottle opener had worn out (I like beer) and the matte black Shard seemed a little foreign.
My skepticism went away quickly.
No, the Shard is not a cure all, do everything ever tool. I’d be slow to even call it a multi-tool as it’s just a single piece of machined metal.
It is, however, really handy. In the past month that it’s been on my keychain, I’ve used the Shard to open packages, break down cardboard boxes, remove staples, tighten the iron sights on a rifle and, of course, open bottles of beer. —Sean McCoy
The Gear: Gerber Shard
Price: $7
Available: Now
Where To Test It: On your keychain or anywhere beer is drank, a sharp edge is needed, a screw needs tightening or a staple needs to be pulled.
Who’s It For: Those who have a keychain bottle opener and want to upgrade.
Boring But Important: The tip of this thing is sharp! I was worried it would damage my pockets but hasn’t; the sharp tip nestles into the key ring. It is, however, TSA approved.
Important Specs: Has seven “tools”: bottle opener, pry bar, wire stripper puller, small and large flat head screwdriver, small phillips screwdriver and cross driver. While not listed as a tool, I’ve found the sharp point of the tool to be a great box cutter and handy for opening plastic packages and a lot more. Made of stainless steel and coated with matte black titanium nitride.
Made In: China
Killer! It’s smaller than a bottle opener and way more useful.
Flaw: I gouged my thumb on the sharp tip when I yanked on keys that were unexpectedly stuck in a door.
First Impressions: Handy little gizmo for $7.
Who Should Buy It: Those who love bottled beer and simple, useful gadgets.
Contact Brand/More Beta: Gerber
—Sean McCoy is a contributing editor. Our “First Look” column highlights new gear arrivals at GearJunkie.com. Photos © Monopoint Media LLC
