The new Gerber Suspension-NXT (pronounced Suspension Next) has a lot to live up to. Introduced in 2005, the original Suspension was one of the most popular multi-tools on the market. Gerber has moved the intended focus of the Suspension from industrial and professional use to commuters, hobbyists and weekend warriors. We’ll have a look to see if the NXT is a step forward for the Suspension or not.
Carry-ability
The NXT should be easy to carry either hooked onto your belt or pocket or clipped to your bag strap. There’s a couple of reasons for that.
One, the NXT is at the lighter end of the weight range for a full-size multi-tool. In changing the focus of the Suspension from commercial users to more enthusiast users for the NXT, Gerber has reduced the weight from 9 oz (255 gms) down to 6.7 oz (190 gms). That’s 25% less weight to carry around.
While reducing the weight, Gerber has increased the closed length. The old Suspension was only 3.5 inches (8.9 cms) and the NXT has grown an inch to 4.5 inches (10.8 cms). So the significant weight decrease is even more surprising given the extra length.
The reduced weight of the NXT makes it easier to carry but what really improves its carry score is the pocket clip. It’s new for the NXT and is a deep carry clip that’s long and follows the curve of the handle. It leaves little of the handle exposed above the pocket so it’s a stealthy carry.
Multi-Tool-Set
The NXT has 15 tool functions up from the 12 the old Suspension has. We’ll tackle the main tools first.
Like the pliers on the other new multi-tool Gerber is releasing, the Truss (reviewed here), the NXT has spring-loaded pliers. They’re needle nose pliers with a straight section and a bolt/nut gripper section. Wire cutters are included as you would expect and wire strippers as well. These have all the same functions as the Truss and looking at the 2, they look identical. Nothing wrong with that, just a bit of part sharing across the 2 new models.
There is one knife here and that’s a combo blade 2.25 inches (5.7 cms) long. Half straight edge and half serrated with an oval thumb hole for deployment. The last main tool is a pair of scissors. They are small though so it’s probably an exaggeration to count them as a ‘main tool’ in this case.
The secondary tools are headed by the Phillips head screwdriver with it’s fully formed “3D” head. That just means it’s got a head like the Phillips screwdriver you have in your toolshed rather than one of those flattened “2D” style Phillips you see on a lot of other multi-tools. The other screw management tools included are small, medium and large flathead screwdrivers.
The NXT has one of my favorite tools – an awl. Want to know 11 uses for an awl I bet you’ve never thought of? It doesn’t have a thread loop but I’ve never used an awl to sew anything so I wouldn’t miss it. There’s also a multi-sided file and a can opener and the ubiquitous bottle opener. That’s it for all the tools on the NXT except a ruler if you want to call that a tool.
Use-ability
Not having had a Suspension NXT in my hands yet, it will be interesting to experience how comfortable and solid the NXT feels in the hand because it’s grown an inch in length and reduced 25% in weight. If the weight has been taken out of the right places, the lighter weight should be a bonus for handling and carrying with no downside in tool toughness. User feedback over time will see how it performs and if the worse comes to the worst you can always call on Gerber’s Lifetime Warranty.
The pliers have the sort of functions you would expect on a full-sized multi-tool so nothing to complain about there. They are also spring loaded which apparently reduce hand fatigue. I don’t know about you but I’ve never had hand fatigue using pliers before but you might appreciate it.
What the pliers don’t have are replaceable wire cutter blades. Those of you who are regulars to my reviews will know that replaceable blades are pretty much compulsory for my regular use multi-tools. For Gerber to add replaceable blades would be easy and add a lot of peace of mind when using the wire cutters. Not sure why some makers don’t add this feature but can only guess it’s about cost or perhaps they want us to throw out our multi-tool and buy another one if we just ruin our wire cutters?
The knife is a combo blade with half straight and half serrated edges. Some people love combo blades as it gives them the option to use the part of the blade that best suits the cutting job without using the real estate 2 separate blades would take. I can take or leave a combo blade. Serrated blades are good at cutting things like rope because the serrations grip the rope surface allowing it to cut more easily. That’s true but a straight blade will do the same thing as a serrated knife if it’s sharp because it’s sharp enough to “grip” the rope.
I’m not sure why the knife is only 2.25 inches (5.7 cms) when the inside of the handles is longer than that. It would be good to see the blade at least 2.5 inches (6.3 cms) particularly when you have a half/half blade that gives you just over 1 inch (2.5 cms) of either straight or serrated blade to work with.
Another tool that’s only the small side is the scissors. I’m sure they will still cut some small things but the mouth doesn’t open very wide so you won’t get a lot of anything in one cut.
Something that isn’t small is the Philips screwdriver which has a full-size head and a reasonably long shaft. Thumbs up for the Philips. The other tools are standard and commonly used tools for a multi-tool of this size.
There are a couple of other features I like and expect from a good multi-tool. All the tools are accessible from the outside so you don’t have to butterfly open the pliers. The knife isn’t one hand accessible though because the blade is tucked too far into the handle. That’s a disappointment.
On the positive side is that all the tools lock into their open position which is essential for working safely with them. The tools are unlocked with small sliding tabs on the sides of the handles. These type of tabs generally work well enough they just aren’t that easy to use with thick work gloves on.
Wrap-Up
If you compare the NXT to Gerber’s own Center-Drive (my review here), you can see the differences in the size of the tools like the pliers and the knife which are a size or two up from the NXT. That tells you it is more a medium-duty multi-tool rather than heavy-duty.
The Suspension NXT has been designed to appeal to the EDC user rather than it’s older brother the Suspension which was for the tradesperson. And you can see Gerber’s changed focus in the lighter weight and smaller and greater number of tools. It should make a good EDC because of that reasonable weight and general purpose toolset but also because of its pocket clip that you can deep carry in your pocket or on your belt. Its price is sensible too. Definitely worth putting on your Potential Multi-Tool Buy list.
Check out the current price on Amazon
Multi-tools – Don’t Leave Home Without One!
If you’ve got a Suspension NXT I’d love to hear what you think of it. And particularly if you have the original Suspension as well. Let me know in the Comments below.