Can anyone recommend me some good quality allen keys. The ones I currently have wear away very quickly and are now useless.

Bondhus. Pretty much as good as anyone needs. 🙂

Pretty cheap too
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Bondhus-Ball-Ended-Allen-Key-Set-BLX9-Lifetime-Warranty-/200600315365?pt=UK_Hand_Tools_Equipment&hash=item2eb4b5e5e5

(edited to correct misspelling!)

Where can you get them from?

I’ve had a set of park ones, in a multi tool format that have served me very well for over 5 years.

IMO, the ‘bike tool’ maufacturers, whilst selling good kit, are waaaaaay over priced just becaue of the name on them…..

Ive got a set of these from screwfix, very good quality.

http://www.screwfix.com/p/wera-9-piece-hex-plus-hexagon-key-set-ball-end/78506

Facom are another good one

I wouldn’t touch Park for generic hand tools

Halford Professional range is worth checking out, with a life-time warrenty. Mine are last well & show no signs of wear after 12 or more months use.

If you can stretch your budget get Beta ones in the key sizes you use most often. I’ve got a few I use for work and they are head and shoulders better than anything else I’ve tried.

Not only will they last a lifetime, they are also far less likely to round out the bolt heads.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Kart-Beta-Tool-7-Piece-T-Bar-Hex-Set-Inc-Support-New-/380354074272?pt=UK_Cars_Parts_Vehicles_Other_Vehicle_Parts_Accessories_ET&hash=item588ede96a0

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Beta-Tools-96TBP-D5-Ball-Ended-Offset-Hex-Key-Set-2-6mm-/180660082961?pt=UK_Hand_Tools_Equipment&hash=item2a102e1911

Thanks guys, very useful info to get me through the mindfield of crap tools out there!

Those T Bar type ones are much more ergonomic imo.

I’ve got some like these – the stand is useful too.

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=55960

I use these and have a Torx version too which is great for rotors – the T handles mean you can spin them very quickly. The only minor gripe is that some bolts within a frame can be tricky to work.

http://cpc.farnell.com/wiha/26247/hex-set-t-handle-6pc/dp/TL11154

Yep T-bars are great, but sometime won’t fit into the tight space on bikes & unless there a good brand will turn to crap asap as be more useless than having none at all (like my lovely looking set from On-One a few years back).
Damaged allen keys have caused me more issues, than I would have had by not ‘fixing’ the problem in the first place – rounded allen key bolts can be the source of nightmares on bike IM(limited)E of course

my halfords professional ones have been great

I have a full set of T-Handle Beta bought from local hardware place. Support the LHS !

The clue is in the name. “Allen” is a brand name owned by a manufacturer of hex keys in the same way that Hoover is a brand name for vacuum cleaners. I have a set if Allen keys I bought over 30 years ago when I was settling motorbikes.

The clue is in the name. “Allen” is a brand name owned by a manufacturer of hex keys in the same way that Hoover is a brand name for vacuum cleaners

we all know that, just like we all know what he meant 🙂

Ah – I was hoping it would come across as a recommendation rather than me just trying to be clever.

My bad.

Bondhus +1

Bondhus

Bondhus +1

Used in industry for last 20 years and the best lasting by far

Good call on Bondhus. Just seen this:
http://www.bondhus.com/products/foldups/body52.htm
on their website, which bears an amazing resemblance to my ancient park tool that is no longer made. Sweet!

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I’ve had a set of Wera ones for a couple of years now. Worked well for me.

I’ve got a crank brothers multi tool. Seems well made, and I haven’t managed to snap one yet 😛 (had it for quite a while!)

I got a set of Snap-ons cheap (relatively! I think about £25) new off fleabay. excellent. Far superior to anything else I’ve had, in a hard to define way. Still use a mutlitool when out and about but it feels rubbish now…

Bondhus ball drivers. i’ve had mine years, only casualty was the 2.5mm, which I lost.

I have some Teng tool allen keys, they are very very good quality and cheap enough off E-bay.

Bondhus again. I’ve got a Bondhus multitool which cost very little, and is identical to one of the Park multitools…

Allen, Bondhus, HaFu & Unbreako are all top makes I have used in industry over the last 35 years.

Wera Hex-Plus. The profiled interface mean that they still perform very well with poorly-made or soft bolt heads. This gives them the edge over the Bondhus range, in my opinion. A little bit better in terms of ergonomics, too.

Lidl’s own brand, bloody good for £6 too! As good-a quality as any I’ve previously had… only trouble being the fact they go outta stock almost immediately, like the bike stands from a few months ago 🙁 🙁