What’s the best chain tool?

If I wanted to buy a chain tool that is the last chain tool I ever need to buy, that I can one day hand down to my currently 2 year old son, which one should it be?

It’ll either be hanging on the garage wall or chucked in a tool box for travelling. Can I get one that works with 12 speed MTB chains and also BMX half-link chains or do I need two different tools?

I also need some kind of tiny stashable one for just the MTB and I like the look of the Granite bar end things but that’s not an urgent requirement.

I’m asking because my unbranded mystery-metal model just bit the dust. The pin went wonky and then the locating fins fell off. It couldn’t handle BMX duty but I was desperate.

Watching with interest. Although there’s less demand in chain tools than there used to be. Since the wide adoption of quick links, tools are now just for breaking. Can’t remember the last time I used one to join a chain

Dunno, almost any of them are fine I think. I have a topeak one, a little park one and a whopper lezyne workshop one with big wood handles… and they all do the same thing,  just fine. The little park one is ideal for putting in a pack/pocket/stash pouch though. No idea about the different chain sizes though. Fairly sure I have done 1/8, 3/32, 9,10,11 and 12 speed with them, especially the topeak as that’s the most used one because its in the top tool tray.

Also, what onzadog said. I am only breaking nowadays, so the tool only does half a job.

https://www.parktool.com/en-int/product/chain-tool-ct-3-3?category=Chain

Very happy with the above. Not sure how other pro-grade tools are but the thing that sold me on the Park Tool one is that the pin is replaceable.

I’ve got the one that @devash links to and it’s a lovely bit of kit and a real pleasure to use. There may be better but you won’t go wrong with that one.

Got a mini Park Tool one for out on the trails. In the tool box I’ve had a Decathlon one for years that’s still going strong

I’ve used the Park Tools one above both in a bike shop and also for ten years when I went independent. The replacement pin means that it’s future proofed, it won’t peen the Campagnolo chains though. Mine has a lovely worn patina on the handle now, definitely a tool to hand down. I also have a small Park tool for carrying in a pack, that has a loosening shelf on it so handy for on the trail if you twist a chain – again replaceable pin it’s the Ct-5 and was my only chain tool for years (probably 25 years old now). Hope this helps.

Abbey is the best one.

Abbey Bike Tools Decade Chain Tool Complete

The Park Tool version thats mentioned above is amazing.
However, i really like using the Pedros tool – https://pedros.com/products/pro-chain-tool-3-2

That being said, if you want something to hand down, the Abbey Bike Tools selection is something to really look after

Decade – Chain Tool

Hozan? Bought one from PlanetX in 2007, no idea if it’s the ‘best’ but it’s quite lovely & still works flawlessly

From their blurb “This is the only chain tool you will ever need. ”

C-371 Chain Tool [HOZAN] HOZAN TOOL INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD. 

Some good suggestions. The obvious Park CT-3.3 looks pretty good. Reasonably priced, does 1-12 speed chains.

The main problem with the Abbey Tools one is that I can’t see why it’s so expensive. If it was obviously 4 times better than everything else I’d consider it.

The Hozan one looks good in a super industrial way but it doesn’t do single speed.

The Pedros (totally forgot about the existence of Pedros) suggestion led me to this… pedros.com/collections/cassette-chain-tools/products/shop-chain-tool

I like that one. It’s basic, tough and reasonably priced. It beats the Park by having a fatter handle with internal pin storage so when I snap it in 8 years time the spare is ready to go. It also has a rotating pin which is a feature that of chain tools that I discovered around 30 minutes ago and now consider absolutely essential. I don’t need the Campagnola features of the Pro model.

So, we have a current favourite. Unfortunately it looks to be out of stock everywhere in the UK!

I have had the same Park Tools mini chain tool for at least 20 years. Works on everything including 12 speed and still on the original pin.

I think I used to use Shimano chain tools when I worked in LBS but not certain.

Abbey is the best one.

It better be for 220 quid.

The main problem with the Abbey Tools one is that I can’t see why it’s so expensive. If it was obviously 4 times better than everything else I’d consider it.

And there you have neatly summed up both the main problem with and main appeal of Abbey Tools

I strongly suspect that sometimes they make stuff out of machined alloy rather than cheaper, longer lasting steel purely because you can’t anodize steel green.

But hey, if you’re trying to win at Tool Box wars….

Pedros shop tool used to be called the “apprentice”.  I bet not much has changed and they do seem to be in stock in some places (inc Amazon – who also have a MASSIVELY cheap “tutti” tool, but it’s the old one and so not great with v modern chains – may only need a new brace though)

https://www.bicycleservicecentre.co.uk/product/bsctools-chain-tool/244

I’ve the Pedro’s one, but from about 12 years ago…has been brilliant but it doesn’t get used that often as I change chain every 3 years!

I don’t know about ‘best’ – I mostly use one of the Park Tool ones and it’s fine and has replaceable pins etc – but I also own, one of Campag’s ridiculously nice ones, that I bought more than a decade ago after fitting a Chorus 11 drivetrain to my road bike, then realising that the only available chain at the time, needed the ridiculously expensive tool to peen over the joining pin.

Pretty much superfluous now as I just use SRAM chains, but it has a lovely quality feel to it. Very pretty, essentially pointless unless you have a thing for using Campag chains.

Park

Dont know how many bike shops ive seen one in. Standard pro tool.

Abbey Bike Tools Decade Chain Tool

Thats just a pisstake. nothing about it say 220 quid.

Hozan one says it does everything, but then fails because it claims to be Epoch-making.

The steam locomotive was epoch making. The semiconductor. Maybe the Winchester repeater

This is a **** chain tool

I have the Park Tools pro shop chain tool & a regular Icetoolz one.  When I broke the pin on the Park Tools one a new pin cost MORE than the whole Icetoolz tool itself! The Icetoolz version also came with spare pins in the handle – for free!  Icetoolz also do a pro shop version for around £40. It’s very nice.  Park Tools are way overpriced and often inferior to use compared to a lot of cheaper tools.