TheArtistFormerlyKnownAsSTR
Full Member
Lost my trusty Crank Bros tool today that I’ve had for decades.
So what’s the best of the current crop – Topeak Alien?
Want one with a chain tool.
Ta
Posted 1 day ago
Kramer
Free Member
Specialized Concealed Carry is pretty good.
Posted 1 day ago
relapsed_mandalorian
Full Member
I’ve got the Topeak Mini 20 Pro, small but like a SAK with all the tools!
Posted 1 day ago
alpin
Free Member
Topeak Mini 20 Pro
Had one for years…. And annoyingly lost it the other week. Need to replace it ASAP.
Currently using my old (like ~20 year old) Topeak Hummer…. Very good chain tool, but the tyre lever with the 4mm hex is missing rendering it useless.
Specialized Concealed Carry
One hundred pounds? You been chugging on the kool aid?
Posted 1 day ago
TheArtistFormerlyKnownAsSTR
Full Member
Specialized Concealed Carry is pretty good
I have the specialized tool in my ebike that fits in a special cage under the bottle cage. That has most of what I need for the ebike.
Not looking for a swat/concealed type tool in addition to that – want a do everything tool that will be carried on 2-3 different bikes
Cheers though
I’ve got the Topeak Mini 20 Pro, small but like a SAK with all the tools!
The Alien X has caught my eye, will check out the 20 Pro. Ta
Posted 1 day ago
niel11
Free Member
I’ve got the Giant Clutch storage/tools, it’s a neat way to carry everything I need.
I have the fork storage for my co2 cylinder, regulator and puncture repair patches, the crank storage has all the Allen keys I need, chain tool and quick links.
Posted 1 day ago
donslow
Full Member
Crank brothers m19 for me, have 3 of them, never failed
Evans currently knocking them out cheap
Posted 1 day ago
TheArtistFormerlyKnownAsSTR
Full Member
Crank brothers m19 for me, have 3 of them, never failed
Pretty much what I’ve lost today. Not sure if mine was the 19 or had a few less tools
Posted 1 day ago
midlifecrashes
Full Member
Topeak Hexus X would be my pick, the original Hexus has been perfect for me for many years. The tyre levers work well despite looking lightweight.
Posted 1 day ago
stayhigh
Full Member
While I might keep casting eyes at the One Up EDC stuff, the CC M19 that’s been living in my riding pack for longer than a long thing is absolutely bombproof and would happily buy another if I lost it (please don’t make me lose it now). For my gravel bike I got a Topeak Mini 20 Pro which is tiny with a great range of tools.
Posted 1 day ago
mrnmissespanda
Full Member
Does anyone have one that includes master / quick link remover? I have seen that the Blackburn Tradesman does?
Panda
Posted 1 day ago
Kryton57
Full Member
I’ve got a compact lightweight Lezyne tool, it’s been excellent for many years. The nomenclature has change now, I believe it’s the Sv10 or similar.
Posted 1 day ago
dovebiker
Full Member
My Lezyne SV10 still looks like new despite being 15 years old – the Topeak multi tool I bought is rusty, broken lump. SV17 looks good – worth paying the extra for the stainless SV versions
Posted 1 day ago
z1ppy
Full Member
Replaced by frankly excellent CB 17, as the pin on chain tool wore out, with a Topeak Hexus II . Seems like it’s pretty good as I’ve happily been using it for 8 years and not felt the need for anything more, the extra ‘heads’ can be easily lost but does keep it compact. Looks at the Hexus X is the update version.
That Blackburn tool quick link remove is interesting, but removing a QL on a ride, is not something I’ve ever done.
Posted 1 day ago
whatgoesup
Full Member
+1 for the Lezyne SV series. I’ve got two and they’re both excellent. One is the smallest they do with a chain tool, the other larger but more fully featured. The larger one is a good 15+ years old and still looks and works like new despite having had a lot of use over the years (mostly fixing other people’s bikes!)
Posted 1 day ago
relapsed_mandalorian
Full Member
Tried this (it was a gift) but just too fiddly:
Then got one of these in a whim, not as good as a oneup:
Settled on this, barely used the bugger mind:
I’m
Think it was in a sale, so I’m not tied to it being ‘the best’ but it works, relatively small and easy to forget about in a pack/pouch.
Posted 1 day ago
P20
Full Member
I’ve always liked my Birzman multi tools. @ahsat has just got a topeak 30???? Which has a link breaker in it, which looks really good
Posted 23 hours ago
mattrockwell
Free Member
Topeak Hexus X for me. Not too pricey, all the usual hex/torx/screwdriver tools, plus chain tool and tyre levers in one.
Posted 19 hours ago
acidchunks
Full Member
Despite having a hummer/hexus for many years, I’ve never used the tyre levers.
Also have a topeak mini 20.
The tools on the hexus are more accessible (especially with cold or gloves fingers), but the mini 20 has more tools and is a neater package.
Posted 19 hours ago
susepic
Full Member
The concealed carry is great (came w the bike), assuming you don’t have any out of spec bolts on the bike. £37 feels spendy, and no bottle opener…
Small Topeak w bottle opener & chain tool on road bike also v good. No idea which model # I’m afraid
Posted 16 hours ago
Aidy
Free Member
I really like the Topeak Ratchet Rocket for a slightly more workshop feel, although can be a little bit awkward for tight spaces.
Or for minimalist carry, evening spin rides, I like the Mt Zoom one.
Lezyne tools seem nice at first, but I’ve had a couple corrode horribly, seize up, and then disintegrate. I probably didn’t treat them that well, but no other multi tool I’ve had has seemed to suffer the same.
Posted 16 hours ago
gecko76
Full Member
Had one of these for years, sadly not made any more.
Posted 16 hours ago
cerrado-tu-ruido
Full Member
I’ve got a Topeak Hexus, very happy with it but no flat screwdriver or master link. Topeak Alien X, Mini PT30 & Mini P20 have a chain tool and master link tool. I don’t think the master link tools are the plier type.
Posted 15 hours ago
TheArtistFormerlyKnownAsSTR
Full Member
Thanks for all the replies, plenty to check out
Posted 15 hours ago
blastit
Free Member
Crank brothers 19 for 16 quid at go outdoors plus and extra 15% off.
Posted 14 hours ago
alpin
Free Member
and no bottle opener…
You know it’s possible, and generally much cooler, to open a bottle without a bottle opener…..
Posted 14 hours ago
pdw
Free Member
I quite like my Topeak PT30 as it includes master link remover, master link storage, and a tubeless tyre worm insertion thing.
Posted 13 hours ago
Northwind
Full Member
Hexus is just excellent imo, it’s a good size, has good and easily usable tools (including a randomly good chain breaker), basically it’s the right blend of small-ish size and practicality and usefulness, there’s nothing smaller that’s worth the compromise. On the downside it’s a wee bit low quality really, it can rust and come loose over time, but that’s pretty trivial. The tyre levers are absolute crap, but that’s fine, they’re just part of the handle anyway so there’s no loss.
Alien is ideal if you ride something weird or if you think you might want to stop mid ride and build a climbing frame but mostly it’s extra tools you’ll never use, that make the tool itself far worse to use. Crank Bros make lovely tools but they’re never quite as basically practical as the Hexus (wish we could get Crank Bros or Lezyne to make stuff that Topeak design!)
Posted 13 hours ago
susepic
Full Member
[You know it’s possible, and generally much cooler, to open a bottle without a bottle opener…..]
My teeth cost too much for that alpin….
Posted 13 hours ago
whatgoesup
Full Member
“[You know it’s possible, and generally much cooler, to open a bottle without a bottle opener…..]
My teeth cost too much for that alpin….”
Any angled surface will do. A rock. Teeth (preferably someone else’s), an expensive kitchen work top etc etc. A lighter works, or spoon handles, the rocker link of someone else’s bike and so on
Anything but a bottle opener – I though that was the law
Posted 13 hours ago
mau00149
Free Member
Came across this one in the alpkit store the other day, very similar to an old bbb tool I liked/have (bbb dont seem to do it any more.)
Posted 11 hours ago
reeksy
Full Member
Does anyone have one that includes master / quick link remover?
Oneup EDC in their small pump is what I use – fits in hip a pack and i never ride without that if i’m more than 5 mins from my car. It includes a quick link remover that I can’t fathom however many times I’ve looked at the video. However, it’s ridiculously easy to open one on your chainring so I won’t bother again.
Posted 11 hours ago
cookeaa
Full Member
I’m still Very much a fan of my CB19, main problem when looking at more compact tools is the lack of a chain tool and/or silly pricing.
I was tempted by the cheaper granite steerer tube mounted job (shown back up the page there) but yet again no chain tool pit me off.
Posted 4 hours ago
b33k34
Full Member
Carried an original Alien for years but they’re bulky and there’s loads of stuff you never use. Katie has a CB19 which is ok (and the flat shape packs well).
I’ve not got a Nexus X. You can get them for under £20 and it’s a really usable tool with longer Allen keys. (if you ride with other people carrying different tools makes sense too). The most annoying thing about it is that it still doesn’t have the Torx size I need for brake levers but I’ve got loads of the little double Torx SRAM tools that come with their brakes and bleed kits so carry one of those. And a cheap small quick-link breaker from china.
Posted 3 hours ago
TheArtistFormerlyKnownAsSTR
Full Member
Crank brothers 19 for 16 quid at go outdoors plus and extra 15% off.
Cheers – ordered. For £13.60 can’t go wrong and been happy with my CBxx for years
Posted 3 hours ago
iainc
Full Member
pdwFree Member
I quite like my Topeak PT30 as it includes master link remover, master link storage, and a tubeless tyre worm insertion thing.
I have a brand new one of these spare if anyone wants it for £25 posted ?
Posted 2 hours ago
Scienceofficer
Free Member
I find the ‘all attached in one unit’ multitools okay, but can be limited due to space constraints.
Settled on a Blackburn big Switch, which is a little bit like the smallest tool roll you’ve ever seen. Stock of all the usual things, and easy to acessorise.
Posted 1 hour ago
benp1
Full Member
I’ve settled on the Topeak Ratchet Rocket with some additional bits
I found my multitool couldn’t get access to a couple of tricky bolts but the Topeak worked well (e.g. bottle cage bolt).
Posted 1 hour ago