Tool Review: Columbia River Knife & Tool 9094C Get-A-Way Driver

Key Features:
 +   Lightweight
 +   Functions as a standard or offset driver
 -    Bit extender doesn't lock into place well
 -    Carabineer doesn't spring closed reliably


The Columbia River Knife & Tool Get-A-Way Driver (model #9094C) is an interesting little multi tool.  It's basically a pocket multibit screwdriver, with a few other tools built in.  If you've never seen this driver, it's worth at least checking out.

The Get-A-Way Driver is extremely lightweight, making it great for pocket carrying.  It's official weight is listed as 1.9 ounces, but it feels lighter than that.  Stow it in your pocket and you won't even know it's there.  It measures 3.75" without a bit; about 4.25" with a bit.  It comes with a spring-loaded carabiner, so you could attach it to your key chain, but I wouldn't trust the carabiner.  The non-adjustable pins that hold the joint in place are loose, so the latch doesn't always catch right, leaving the clip open sometimes.

There are four screwdriver bits included, which are stored horizontally in the driver body.  The bits are standard 1/4" hex bits, but they are shorter than normal bits.  They all have ball-and-spring mechanisms on their sides, to help them "lock" into the driver so they don't fall out.  There are also handy nail grooves cut into the base of the bits, which make it much easier to remove the bits when you want to use them.  However, because of the bits' short length and their distribution of weight, when you remove any of them from their storage area, they have a tendency to pop out and fall onto the floor, instead of sliding out into your hand.

The four bits -- two Phillips, two slotted -- fit into the bit holder on the end of the driver for use.  There is also a bit extender, which in addition to providing a little bit of extra length, also enables you to attach the bits to the side of the Get-A-Way Driver, allowing for angle or offset driving.  This offset feature can be very handy, especially for turning screws in very tight places.  The driver provides good grip and leverage, whether being used offset or standard.  You can also fit regular hex driver bits into the end of this driver, but they are too big to be stored in it, and without the ball and spring, they would slide right out.

The bit extender is a nice feature, but the spring that helps to hold it in place is very weak.  The ball does not stick out far enough to really "lock" the bit extender into the driver, and it pops out of place easily.

On the bottom side of the Get-A-Way Driver is a bottle opener.  It works well, and because of the way it's mounted against the flat side of the driver, it holds onto the bottle cap as you remove it, rather than just popping it off.  If you don't want the bottle cap opener, you can remove it.

The Get-A-Way Driver also has an LED flashlight.  On the side closest to the key chain loop, there is a small black button that you can push to turn on the flashlight.  It's a decent light for a pocket screwdriver -- not very focused, but somewhat bright.  It's great for lighting up a dark hallway at night, or for looking around the inside of a computer or printer.  The light uses two 3-volt CR927 batteries, which come already installed when you buy the driver.  If you use the light often enough that you eventually have to replace the batteries, instructions for doing so can be found on the back of the Get-A-Way Driver packaging.

In theory, this driver is simple to use.  In practice, it's a little more awkward.  To remove the bit you want from its storage, you have to slide it out a little from the bottom, then use your fingernail in the cut-out to pop it out, then hope to either catch the bit or pick it up where it falls, then insert it into the bit holder.  Then when you're done and you remove the bit from the bit holder, you have to make sure the extender doesn't pop out with the bit.  It's not difficult to use; just not as smooth as you might like.

With a few minor improvements, the Get-A-Way Driver could be a really useful pocket screwdriver.  It also has an oxygen bottle wrench and a 10mm hex wrench on the bottom side, neither of which I've had occasion to try yet.  The Get-A-Way driver is currently sold on Amazon.com for $9.83, which is a lot to pay for a pocket screwdriver.  If you can find it for $5 or so, it's a great buy.  Amazon also sells a Torx version of this driver, for those who work with Torx or star screws more often.