One of the things we love most about Gerber’s multi-tools, aside from their accessible pricing, is how thoughtful their designs are. The folks at the Oregon-based gear brand know that people want purpose-built solutions for certain places and occasions, and thus build their tools from the ground-up to accommodate. Since debuting in 2022, the Stakeout has been easily one of Gerber’s most popular multi-tools, packing 11 useful features specifically for camping and the outdoors (like a tent stake puller). Now, they’ve transformed that very unit into something less for camping and more for your glove compartment.
A BRIEF HISTORY
Gerber has been at this since 1939, when Pete, Joe, and Ham Gerber pivoted their Portland ad agency into a blade-making operation after partnering with blacksmith David Murphy on a line of premium kitchen knives. From there, the brand moved through hunting blades and into the multi-tool category in earnest by the 1980s, competing directly with Leatherman on American soil. The Stakeout, which launched in 2022 as a slim, campsite-first multi-plier, was a natural extension of that lineage, targeted at campers and RVers who needed a single tool to handle everything from stake removal to quick fire prep. Last year’s Stakeout Spark doubled down on that ethos with a ferro rod striker built in. This year, Gerber went the other direction entirely.
THE DRIVE ADDITION
The new Stakeout Drive borrows its name from Gerber’s Armbar Drive and the logic behind it: a flip bit driver as centerpiece. Here, a two-sided bit driver flips out from the handle and accepts a standard double-sided bit, while a second bit stores onboard in a dedicated slot in the handle. That gives you four driver functions in a tool that closes to 4.6″. For anyone who has ever been elbow-deep in a tent repair or bike adjustment without a screwdriver in sight, this is essential. And it firmly repositions the Stakeout as a repair tool first rather than a camp tool.
Most of the build stays true to the Stakeout’s classic butterfly-opening chassis: needlenose and standard pliers, wire cutters, a 2.4-inch plain-edge blade with liner lock, small scissors, a three-grit file and chisel, and a ruler etched into the handle edge. The carabiner clip returns too, still doubling as a bottle opener, and the deep-carry pocket clip gives you a second carry option. The total count is ten tools, packed into a 7.4-ounce frame.
The Elephant No Longer in the Room
It’s worth noting that the tent stake puller that gave the Stakeout its name is gone. It makes a certain kind of sense given the tool’s new direction, though it also means the Stakeout Drive is the rare product that quietly outgrows its own identity. The oversized carabiner clip is still a point of debate too. It adds length and throws off the symmetry a bit, especially for a tool that’s supposed to live in your glove compartment, not your belt. But the bottle opener integration keeps it from being purely decorative. A removable option would go a long way.
SPEC SHEET
Model: Gerber Stakeout Drive
Number of Tools: 10
Tools Included: Needlenose Pliers, Standard Pliers, Plain Edge Blade, Flip Bit Driver (w/ extra bit storage), Scissors, Wire Cutter, 3-Grit File & Chisel, Bottle Opener, Carabiner Carry, Deep Carry Clip
Blade Length: 2.4″
Open Length: 6.3″
Closed Length: 4.6″
Weight: 7.4 oz
Handle Material: Stainless Steel
Blade Lock: Liner Lock
Opening Mechanism: Butterfly Opening
Colors: Black, Silver
Warranty: Limited Lifetime (Gerber Guarantee)
Price: $80
PRICING & AVAILABILITY
The Gerber Stakeout Drive is available now in Black and Silver directly through Gerber’s website, priced at $80. It’s backed by Gerber’s limited lifetime guarantee.
Recap
Gerber Stakeout Drive Multi-Tool
Gerber took their popular Stakeout multi-tool and essentially gave it a career change, swapping out the campsite-specific features for a flip bit driver that makes it way more useful for everyday fixes around the house or on the go.
