No cyclist should be without a multi-tool on a ride: whether you’re riding on the road with your weekly club ride, shredding singletrack in the backcountry, or just running a few errands on your commuter bike, you should always be packing.
A good multi-tool can help make on-the-fly adjustments to things like seat height, tighten bolts and cleats, help pry off a recalcitrant tyre in a pinch, and fix pretty much anything that breaks on your bike. You might not need a massive tool, but whatever ride you’re planning, it’s best to be prepared.
Topeak Alien III Multi-Tool
The priciest of the bunch, Topeak Alien III Multi Tool is also the most feature-rich on this list, and it’s ideal for someone who does bike touring, needs the ability to make a lot of adjustments, or just has bad luck when it comes to on-trail mechanical issues. It splits into two parts for easier access to key features, and comes in a nylon bag to keep everything together. The Alien III boasts 2 to 10mm hex wrenches; a T25 Torx; 8, 9, and 10mm box-end wrenches; 14, 15, and Mavic/Shimano spoke wrenches; and #2 Phillips/flat-head screwdrivers, plus a chain hook, knife, and disc brake spreader. Costs: $80
Blackburn Wayside Multi-Tool
The Blackburn Wayside multi-tool is ideal for mountain biking or road riding, thanks to its compact and lightweight nature. But that doesn’t mean it’s lacking in the tool department. It has nine tools, covers 19 different functions, and even features a knife – so don’t pack it in your carry-on for your next flight. The tool works for standard adjustments, but also for repairing a 7 to 11 speed chain, spreading disc brake pads, and tube valve cores. Costs: $50
Pedro’s Intensive Care Unit + M7
Pedro’s Intensive Care Unit + M7 multi-tool is for a serious cyclist who can make on-the-fly repairs handily. This one has 17 tools attached, including hex wrenches and a T25 Torx wrench, as well as tyre levers and a Mavic M7 spoke wrench for quick adjustments to your Mavic rims on the ride. Bonus: a bottle opener for post-ride beers. Costs: $50
Park Tool I-Beam Mini with Chain Tool
The Park Tool I-Beam Mini Fold-Up Tool is ready for whatever your ride needs, and the classic blue plastic and steel tool is one that almost every cyclist is familiar with. This particular tool features eight hex wrenches, a T25 torx wrench, and a flathead screwdriver. An integrated chain tool makes on-trail chain breaks a solvable problem, and tyre levers make tough-to-pull-off tyre a lot simpler to deal with, while spoke wrenches help straighten out a rubbing wheel. Costs: $43
Fix It Sticks Replaceable Edition
For the absolute simplest multi-tool out there – perfect for a commuter who wants to keep his or her do-it-all in a small briefcase. The nice part about Fix It Sticks is that they’re adjustable, so you can always get the leverage you need for the job you’re doing. The bits – including 2, 2.5, 3, 4, 5, 6mm hex and Torx 25 wrenches, plus a Philips head screwdriver – are interchangeable, so you get even more features than the original, but it’s small enough that you’ll never notice that it’s in your purse or jersey pocket. Costs: $37
Lezyne Rap 20 Multi-Tool
This aluminium and steel multi-tool is designed to be ultra-small (driver’s license size) and light. A bottle opener (and MTB-specific spoke wrenches) make this a great choice for a mountain biker, but that doesn’t mean it’s small in terms of features: it has T25 and T30 Torx wrenches; a disc brake wedge to re-open brakes that accidentally get squeezed while in transit to the trails; a Phillips and flathead screwdriver and 2, 2.5, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 8mm hex keys for quick adjustments; a chain tool; Mavic MTB, 3.22 and 3.45 spoke wrenches; and tyre levers. Costs: $50
Park Tool MTB-7 Rescue Tool
Need mountain bike rescues on the regular? The Park Tool MTB-7 is a two-piece tool that fits neatly into a nylon case and can handle most on-trail issues you run into. It boasts 21 tools, including 2, 2.5, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 8mm hex wrenches; a T25 Torx wrench; flathead and Philips screwdrivers, two tyre levers, 0.127″, 0.130″, and 0.136″ spoke wrenches; 8, 9, and 10mm box end wrenches; a chainring nut wrench; serrated knife, and a bottle opener. The only note is that it can be a bit tough to put the two pieces back together, but reconnecting is optional as long as you don’t lose half mid-ride! Costs: $35
Blackburn Local Ride Kit
Are you a new rider, looking to build your tool kit up? The Blackburn Local Ride Kit includes a medium-sized seat bag, a Heist 6 mini-tool with six functions, a Blackburn Mountain mini-pump, and two tyre levers. It’s a great starter set, with all the tools you need as a beginner without much mechanic experience. And at around $65, with a seat bag included, it’s great value for someone just starting out without a big budget for tools. Costs: $65
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