Multi-tool recommendations

I need a new multi-tool to take out with me. I’m not interested in the smallest or lightest. Just one tool that will do everything, within reason, without falling apart. Any recommendations?

Cheers.

I carry a gerbier multi suspension tool and seperate park tool chain breaker in the pack and a pedros allen key set in my pocket.

I found that whenever I tried to use an all singing all dancing multitool they were difficult to use or the chain tool broke…

The above combo works great for every mechanical I’ve had.

About the only Crank Bros product I would recommend is their multi tools – they’re really not bad at all

My Crank Brothers 17 has been excellent. Crank Bros get stick for some of their products but this has been faultless – even the chain tool works well.

Edit – Wiggle have them £15 at the moment

Had this for about 6 years – it has been used for building bikes and working in a bike shop too, excellent:
Wiggle 1[/url]
New version looks better and has a mavic spoke key:
Wiggle 2[/url]

Topeak’s Hexus is still the best IMO… The chain breaker in particular is fantastic, better than most workshop ones. The tyre levers aren’t great, I carry seperate ones but they do work. Rest of the tools just do exactly what they should. Excellent wee bit of kit.

I lost my favorite multi-tool,thinking i had left it along with my mini spanners on the rear bumper after running repairs,and driven off leaving it in a forestry car park for some lucky person to find.
Only for my son to say one morning “DAD I think this is yours ,mom put it in my room in her fit of tidying ages ago “
Reunited after 6 months , those spanners are 25 years old in there own little pouch ,so got two multi’s now .
TOPEAK,SIGMA are two multi tools and spanner set is an old MAFAC set 25 years old and well traveled.

Cool-tool…

Topeak Alien. Brilliant.

As above, Topeak Alien.
Had two now, the newer one is very slightly better than the old version.
Alan.

Set of cheap allen keys, chuck away any that don’t fit a part on the bike, 1 tyre lever, patches, pump.

WMG (wheels manufacturing) gimp and an Park CT 6.2 is all you need.

+1 for the Topeak Hexus

It’s got everything I’ve ever needed so far, chain tool works great, allen keys small enough for those tiny bolts on lock-on grips and brake lever reach adjusters, all in a very small compact solid package … my only gripe is the T25 torx thing is like a separate socket and can get lost, as mine did in Kathmandu when I was dismantling my bike, but I contacted extra uk and they sent me 2 new ones free 🙂

Topeak Alien they’re just brilliant and also are one of the 2 for 3 offers on at Halfords.

My Crank Bros 17 has been excellent as well. Comes in a handy metal container and slips into the smallest of back packs. No issues after 12 months use.

I have had the Crank Brothers 17 for a few years – and I’m not impressed. Loves to rust and not the best chain tool.

Another vote for Crank Bros here, had a C19 for nearly 4 years and its been great. Allen keys still have all their edges and the chain breaker is brilliant

I’ve had my topeak alien for about 10 years now, prefer the chain tool on that to the proper one in my tool box. It is a bit on the heavy side but despite trying a few others i always go back to this one, the ratchet rocket was a good idea but too fiddly for me. If i lost my alien i’d replace with another.

+ 1 Topeak Hexus,excellent chain breaker.

Yet another +1 for the Topeak Hummer/Hexus tool, along with one extra Park Tool tyre lever….polymer will not damage a rim.

I also carry one of these Gerber Vise tools, recently on offer for £10 at Go Outdoors. Pliers and a knife can be very useful.

http://www.gerber-tools.com/Gerber-Vise-Mini-Tool-30-000017.php

For longer trips I add the NBT2 cassette removal tool…when you need it…it does the job in the field.

http://www.m-gineering.nl/nbtg.htm

PaulD

I’d recommend topeak. I have an Alien for general mtb use and a hexus which I carry commuting/on the road/racing.

I use the Topeak Rocket Ratchet. There’s an RX version which comes without the chain tool (available separately) and is even more compact. The Park patches fit in the case, as does a spare Powerlink. There’s also a slot for a spare Shimano joining pin. Great little tool.

I had a Topeak Alien for a while but found it a bit awkward and crap compared to using proper tools, especially the allen keys.
So I went over it and most of the bits on it didnt actually fit anything on the bike, so I took it apart and made a little tool out of those that did, pretty much the chain tool, torx key and screwdriver and bought a set of allen keys and some little pliers and a couple of little spanners for the brakes, much better and doesnt weigh much more than the Alien did.

I did have an Alien and it’s cool that it has every tool you could possibly want, in case you want to assemble a climbing frame halfway through a ride, but in practice the tools are fiddlier to use than a penknife-style tool IMO.

I bought a Park Tool Rescue Tool MTB3 it has everything you need in 1 tool.
Seemed good quality but with not much use at all one side of it has fallen to bits. I have tried to screw it back up but the cheap screws they have used have started to cross thread. Not happy, poor show for a £25 tool.

Haven’t any of you guys ever needed to use a set of pliers on the trails? I used my gerbier tool yesterday when the chain jammed in the mrp1x which has a fiddly little nut on the back… would have been walking home without it.

+1 for the Ratchet Rocket.

Lost my Topeak Hexus 5 weeks ago and felt absolutly gutted. Bought a new one the day after. This and a Gerber Suspension and you’ve got everything covered.

Had a Topeak Alien from around 2000, and was TRULY GUTTED when I managed to lose it recently, kept hoping I’d find it, but gave in and got another for about £25 new off ebay.
Cooltool was crap! everyone I know that got one stripped the chain tool within 5 mins of use.

Very impressed with my Crank Bros one – can’t remember which, 17 or 19 I think.

Northwind – Member

Topeak’s Hexus is still the best IMO

Another +1 here (how many are we up to now?). Excellent chain tool in particular.

Topeak Mini 18 is good. Chain tool is fiddly, but how often do you use any of the tools?

Alien’s far too big.

CB 17 + Leatherman Skeletool.
Likewise gutted when I lost my original CB17, but the new one doesn’t seem to rust as easy.

Another vote for the Topeak Hexus, agree about the chain breaker – excellent

Toppeak alien here that is yuears old. Its all I carry as it has allthe tools needed for trailside repair
DT78 – Member

Haven’t any of you guys ever needed to use a set of pliers on the trails?

Nope