All multi-tools are not equally well made. This is borne out by my own experience and by thousands of Amazon ratings and professional reviews of the tools. Some have bodies or bits that rust. Some have cheaply made mechanisms that eventually come apart. All of the products suggested below have track records for durability, both in my personal testing and in looking at other reviews. Durability is key when it comes to a mini tool - whether you buy an inexpensive mini-tool or a deluxe one, it should last for many years. You can buy a multi-tool that has all the same functions as one of our picks for less money, but you’ll pay for it in lack of durability or—even worse—imprecise manufacture that strips your bike’s nuts and bolts. So we decided to go only with companies that have long track records in the bike business. There are lots of look-alike, secondary-brand bike tools available out there, some at bargain prices, but we’ve found that with tools, having a history is the best guarantor of reliability—and remember, a tool that makes you walk home is worthless.

Once we narrowed the field to established brands, we had to determine a tool’s must-have functions. That’s primarily determined by what kind of riding you do. Every mini tool must have hex keys (often called Allen wrenches), which you’ll need if you want to raise your saddle, adjust your handlebar or brakes, or tighten a loose water-bottle cage. The 3-, 4-, 5-, and 6-mm sizes are the most common, and thus essential. But you’ll also need an 8-mm hex tool to remove some clipless pedals (like Look’s Keo and Crank Brothers’s Egg Beaters), and smaller sizes can be useful to adjust brakes and shoe cleats. We’ve organized charts below that highlight all the different sizes of hex bits (and other tools) on each of the multi-tools we tested for this roundup.

We also limited our tests to the most popular products. There are some interesting new multi-tools out there, with unconventional shapes or feature sets, but we didn’t think they had proven themselves enough in the field to warrant a pick here (we’ve tried nearly all of them). We combed our favorite cycling sites and forums to find out what other riders love, and we looked through scores of reviews on the top cycling sites, weeding out tools that had consistently poor reports of functionality or durability.

We took 13 tools, and rode city streets, competitive bike events, on the trail, and on neighborhood bike paths all around Southern California, We tried all the tools with gloves on and off; using them on hard-to-reach bolts on a variety of bikes and putting chain tools to use in the field. We examined real-world ergonomics, studying straightness of bolts and functionality of hinges, and removing tight bolts. The fixie tools were used by fixie riders who were instructed to remove their wheels at least once or twice. And mountain bike tools were sent onto single track.

Multi-tools are not a one-size-fits-all kind of product. Most people, particularly new and casual riders, will be satisfied with a super-compact option that contains just a handful of tool bits and can easily be stashed in a pocket. But smaller and lighter is not always better. Some tools with bits that are too short or are tightly packed have limited functionality; a featherweight tool is of limited use if you can’t reach an awkwardly placed bolt or it’s impossible to use with gloves on. Likewise, bigger is not necessarily better. You don’t want to lug around a heavy piece of steel with tools you don’t need or know how to use.



Weight Hex keys (mm) Torx Screwdrivers Additional wrenches Chain Tool? Also includes Basic Park Tool IB-2 108 g 1.5,2, 2.5, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8 T25 flathead Topeak Mini 9 92 g 2, 2.5, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8 T25 Phillips N neoprene case Specialized EMT Pro Road 65 g 3, 4, 5, 6 T25 Phillips N chrome-plated steel bits Advanced/MTB Lezyne Stainless 20 150 g 2, 2.5, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8 T25, T30 flathead,

Phillips

3 spoke wrenches

Y

tire lever, serrated knife, bottle opener, disc brake wedge

Blackburn Toolmanator 16 144 g 1.5, 2, 2.5, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8 T25, T30 flathead,

Phillips

2 spoke wrenches

Y

mini shock pump, neoprene sleeve, Schrader valve adapter

SKS TOM 18 184 g 2.5, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8 T25 flathead,

Phillips

2 spoke wrenches

Y

tire levers (2), brake pad opener, bottle opener

Topeak ALiEN II 290 g 2, 2.5, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10 T25 flathead,

Phillips

8-, 9-, 10-mm box wrenches, 2 spoke wrenches

Y

tire levers (2), chain hook, storage for 2 pins, nylon case

Pedros ICM 235 g 2.5, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8 T25 flathead,

Phillips

3 spoke wrenches

Y

Crank Brothers Multi-19 175 g 2.5, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8 T10, T25 flathead,

Phillips(2)

8-, 10-mm box wrenches , 4 spoke wrenches

Y

steel carrying case, lifetime warranty

Lezyne Stainless 12 115 g 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8 T25 Phillips 3 spoke wrenches Y

Fixie

Topeak Urban 8 132 g 4,5 15-mm wrench,

2 spoke wrenches

bottle opener, tire levers (2)

Pedros Trixie 85 g 5 8-, 9-, 10-, 15-mm box wrenches lock ring hook, bottle opener, lifetime warranty, bolts for bottle cage mount

Park Tool MT-30 153 g 2.5,3, 4, 5, 8 T25, T30 flathead,

Phillips

8-, 15-mm wrench

key ring holder

Many tools now come with star-shaped Torx drivers. Most newer mountain bikes with disc brakes (which are showing up on more road bikes, too) use T25 Torx bolts. Some chainrings now require a T30 Torx bolt to adjust. And Torx bolts of varying sizes are being used on seatposts, stems, and other components. If you have a newer mountain bike or a higher-end road bike it makes sense to look at the bolts on your bike before you buy a multi-tool.

Many smaller multi-tools come with either a standard flat screwdriver or a Phillips head driver but not both, so again it also pays to look at your gear before you make a choice. Look at the small screws on the side of the rear derailleur or on the bottom of your shoe cleats if you use them. In most cases, a Phillips head will prove to be the most useful in the long run.

“No one wants to spend two hours in the woods walking a bike back to a parking lot or to use a cell phone to call for help when they're 40 miles from home.”

If long rides—or if you ever go off-road, even for a mile or two—are part of your routine, then the tiniest tools won’t suffice. No one wants to spend two hours in the woods walking a bike back to a parking lot or to use a cell phone to call for help when they’re 40 miles from home. You’ll want to carry a multi-tool that contains a good chain tool, spoke wrenches that are the right size for your wheels, and a wide array of wrenches. Many people who don’t have a fancy home shop wind up using their multi-tools at home for certain repairs, so it pays to get one that matches your needs and skill level. If you get into serious bike repair, though, you’ll probably want a better set of full-size tools that’ll offer greater durability and leverage.

Though I have crammed multi-tools into a jersey pocket for many years, some cyclists dislike how tool bits can jab at their back, or rip a pocket or pack. Some tools come with cases or covers that prevent such issues—and keep the tool tidy and organized.