BUYER'S GUIDE

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Best bike multi tools 2024 — get the right bits to fix your bike's bits

From making tweaks on the fly, to carrying everything you need on a ride, these are the best bike multi tools

by John Stevenson

UPDATED Fri, Apr 22, 2022 08:41

With an inexpensive multi tool, you're ready for anything that goes wrong with your bike. We've undertaken countless roadside and trailside repairs over the years, and tested well over a hundred of them. These are the best bike multi tools you can buy.

Best overall multitool: Topeak Mini PT30 multitool — Buy Now for £43.19 from Cycle Solutions | Find out more
Best value multitool: Topeak Hexus X 21-function tool — Buy Now for £14.00 from Amazon | Find out more
Best ratchet multitool: Uniche Stepless Tool — Buy Now for £31.20 from eBay | Find out more
Best budget multitool: Birzman E-Version Mini Tool 5 Function — Buy Now for £10.99 from Tredz | Find out more
Best money-no-object multitool: Silca T-Ratchet Kit + Ti-Torque Kit — Buy Now for £112.50 from Chain Reaction Cycles | Find out more

The best cycling multitools vary from simple folding hex key sets, to all-singing, all-dancing widgets that'll do everything but the washing up. But the best cycling multitool for you needs to have all bits you need to adjust every bolt on your bike, including obscure ones like the 8mm hex on some cranks; sooner or later you'll need them all.

Some cycling multitools have all the bits permanently attached, some use separate heads; the latter can be easier to use but there's always a risk of losing loose parts

Alternatives include the simple set of folding hex keys you can get at any hardware store; it's still worth buying quality though

The best cycling multitools start from about £12

The best cycling multitools

Best overall cycling multitool: Topeak Mini PT30 multitool

The Topeak Mini PT30 is a cracking little tool, bang up to date with modern bike needs. Including an excellent chain breaker and quick-link tool, disc pad spacer, tubeless tyre plug reamer and insertion fork, there are very few road/trailside tasks it won't master, all in a tiny package.

The Mini PT30 is a class bit of kit with a high-quality feel and finish. It looks the business – as you'd want it to, at £47.99 RRP. This is not a tool for those on a tight budget... but it is for those appreciating having everything to hand, in one compact package. Topeak offers a two-year warranty, and based on the longevity of my other Topeak tools you're pretty unlikely ever to need to call upon it.

If your bike has no Torx fittings, or if you don't use quick-links, or never break chains, then the PT30 is likely pricey overkill for your needs. But if you're running a modern disc-braked bike, with a quick-link'd chain, tubeless tyres, and want to as best possible minimise the risk of a long walk home, the Topeak Mini PT30 is well worth a look.

Tools: 2, 2.5, 3, 4 , 5, 6, 8, 10mm hex keys, T10, T15, T25 Torx, 14G, 15G, Mavic M7, Shimano 4.5mm spoke wrenches, chromoly steel chain tool, chain hook, master link tool, Phillips No 2 & flat head screw drivers, tubeless tyre reamer & plug insertion tool, serrated, disc spacer

Read our review of the Topeak Mini PT30 multitool
Find a Topeak dealer

Best value cycling multitool: Topeak Hexus X 21-function tool

Buy Now for £14.00 from Amazon

The Topeak Hexus X multitool packs a lot of functionality into a pretty tight package. The chain tool is highly commended. Fitting 21 tools into a package that sits neatly on the palm of the hand is a commendable achievement from Topeak. While the overall finish may not be absolutely the best out there, everything worked well, nothing broke and it's hard to see why you would want anything more to get you out of any sticky situation on the road. It's only major downside is that the loose bits could go AWOL, so you'll just have to keep en eye on them.

Tools: 2, 2.5, 3, 4 , 5, 6, 8mm hex keys, T15, T25, T30 Torx, cross-head screwdriver, 14G, 15G spoke wrenches, steel wire chain hook, 2 tyre levers, presta valve core tool, chain tool

Read our review of the Topeak Hexus X
Find a Topeak dealer

The Topeak Hexus was the clear winner in our People's Choice multitool survey

Best ratchet cycling multitool: Uniche Stepless Tool

Buy Now for £31.20 from eBay

The Uniche Stepless Rachet multitool Wrench is a multitool that looks a bit like a CO2 inflator – compact enough to carry for beside-the-road adjustments, with an unusual ratchet giving instant engagement. It houses a good selection of durable bits, providing most of the tools you're likely to need while out on a ride. It's a pleasure to use, although its design means there's no chain tool.

Uniche says that the patented design of the ratchet mechanism is a key advantage for when you're working on hard-to-access parts of your bike.

A conventional ratchet has a certain number of engagement points (just like a freehub), and this means you can have a few degrees of rotation before you start to loosen or tighten the fastener you're working on. Here, a miniature clutch mechanism means there are effectively infinite starting positions. Compared with using a fold-out multitool, this makes it much less fiddly to access bottle cage bolts, for example. For any bolt where you've got a very limited space and hence less than 60 degrees of rotation, it's a real benefit.

Read our review of the Uniche Stepless Tool

Best budget cycling multitool: Birzman E-Version Mini Tool 5 Function

Buy Now for £10.99 from Tredz

You get five essential tools here in a simple fold-out tool. It's nicely made, very easy to use and cheap enough that you won't get too upset if you lose it or it doesn't come back from being loaned to a friend.

Tools: 4, 5, 6mm hex keys, T25 Torx, cross-head screwdriver

Find a Birzman dealer
Read our review of the Birzman E-Version Mini Tool 5 Function

Best money-no-object cycling multitool: Silca T-Ratchet Kit + Ti-Torque Kit

Buy Now for £112.50 from Chain Reaction Cycles

The Silca T-Ratchet and Ti-Torque kit is a beautifully made, superlight, and multi-functional set of tools, made to the highest quality. Silca brand is renowned for making tools of the highest quality, with expertly finished components that are aesthetically and ergonomically pleasing. They're the type of things you might give as a gift, or treat yourself to, and keep in the cleanest part of your workspace, far away from the greasy rags and lubes that perform the grunt work on your drivetrain. The T-Ratchet and Ti-Torque kit very much continues this trend.

Read our review of the Silca T-Ratchet Kit + Ti-Torque Kit
Find a Silca dealer

Blackburn Wayside 19 multitool

Buy Now for £27.99 from Tredz

Blackburn's Wayside 19 is a comprehensive multitool with a difference, namely that it packs five proper L-shaped, ball-ended individual Allen keys into a durable body, making usually hard to reach bolts easy to get to. It's durable and packed with features and it quickly became a go-to-multitool.

Read our review of the Blackburn Wayside 19 multitool
Find a Blackburn dealer

Granite Design RocknRoll Toolkit

Buy Now for £22.37 from Tweeks Cycles

The Granite Design RocknRoll tool is a ratchet tool contained in a Cordura fabric package. Inside the small roll up bundle is the ratchet tool itself, an extension rod and 9 bits including 7 Hex bits (2mm/2.5mm/3mm/4mm/5mm/6mm/8mm), Star bit (T25), and Philips bit (PH2). The tool is made from S2 alloy steel and will withstand 60NM at the gear.

The individual parts slot neatly into pockets, with two spare spaces for you to put the pieces of a quick link (not included). The whole thing rolls up (size: L130xW50xH30) and is secured closed with strong Velcro. At the rear is a loop to thread through a frame strap for extra security if you choose to attach this to your bike.

A ratchet style multitool is a great addition to any toolkit and the Granite Design RocknRoll tool is smart option, I popped this in my pack for big rides in case of emergencies in hard to reach places and also used it at home when anything from swapping stems, grips, saddle rail bolts, pedals and bottle cages. When the time calls to get it out then I much prefer using it to a regular bike multitool as its easier to manoeuvre in tight spaces and quicker to remove and install bolts too.

Read our review of the Granite Design RocknRoll Toolkit

VeloChampion MLT18 multitool

Buy Now for £19.95 from VeloChampion

Previously known as the Gooj (for Get Out Of Jail), the MLT18 has a great selection of bits for dealing with on-road mechanical mishaps, the price is very decent and we're not sulking at all about no longer being able to make a silly joke about finding it in a cake.

Tools: Chain tool, spoke wrench sizes 1, 2, 4, 3 Shimano and Mavic, T25 Torx, Philips screwdriver, flat screwdriver, two tyre levers, 2, 2.5, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8mm hex.

Read our review of the VeloChampion MLT18

Crank Brothers M17

Buy Now for £25.99 from Tredz

The Crank Brothers M17 comes with the standard range of tools that you would expect. All of the tool bits are hi-ten steel, so they should last. They're fairly short too, which should reduce the chance of a tool bit twisting and snapping off. The downside is that they might be a little short for some fiddly operations but we've had no trouble.

Tools: chain tool; spoke wrench sizes #0, 1, 2, 3; 2, 2.5, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8mm hex; Phillips #2 screwdrivers; flat #2 screwdriver; 8mm & 10mm spanner, T25 Torx

Find a Crank Brothers dealer
Read our review of the Crank Brothers M17

Cube RFR 19

Buy Now for £25.99 from Bikester

A top quality bike multitool that packs a lot of features into a very small space, leaving more room in your pack or pocket for gels and energy bars. Good value too.

Tools: chain tool; tyre lever; 2, 2.5, 3, 4, 5, 6mm hex keys; T25 Torx; Phillips #1 screwdriver; flat screwdriver; 8, 9, 10mm box spanners; 3.2, 3.3, 3.5mm spoke keys

Read our review of the Cube RFR 19
Find a Cube dealer

Fabric Chamber

Buy Now for £29.99 from Broadribb Cycles

Cycling multitools tend to be roughly the same design – think Swiss army knife but for bikes rather than camping. Fabric, though, has bucked the trend with its Chamber multitool, creating a ratchet tool that functions as a multitool – and does so very well. The heads sit inside the chamber of the tool. Imagine double-sided extended drill bits sat in a holder that roughly resembles a revolver barrel. These function through the ratchet element that sits at the top of the tool.

Tools: 2, 2.5, 3, 4, 5, 6 & 8mm hex keys; SL3, SL5, PH1, PH2 screwdriver; T10 & T25 Torx

Read our review of the Fabric Chamber
Find a Fabric dealer

Things to know about cycling multitools

There are two schools of thought when it comes to bike multitools. You either go for one that has the absolute minimum of bits to fix things that are likely to go wrong with your own bike, or you carry as versatile a tool as possible so you can help out others too. But what bits are available?

Browse the road.cc multitool review archive.

Hex keys

Also known as Allen keys, these hexagonal tools are the core of most cycling multitools. You usually need a minimum of 6, 5 and 4mm sizes, but it's worth carefully inspecting your bike for smaller ones in hard-to-find spots like brake lever and spring tension adjusters.

You may have an 8mm hex head lurking somewhere too, like the back of your pedals or the bolts holding your cranks on. Because an 8mm hex tool is large and heavy, bike multitools usually have a sleeve round a smaller bit to fit the larger size.

Screwdrivers

Check your derailleur adjustment screws and make sure your multitool has the right screwdriver bit, usually a small flat-head or cross-head driver.

Torx drivers

Once only found holding disc brake rotors in place on mountain bikes, Torx screws are becoming more common on road bikes because they are harder to round out than Hex heads. The most common application is chainring bolts, which usually need a T30 tool, while brake rotor bolts are T25.

Chain splitter

Few things can stop you dead in your tracks like a broken chain, rare though it is. We wouldn't try and repair a 10- or 11-speed chain in the field; it's a fiddly job that needs care and a good quality chain tool. Better to carry a joining link for field repairs, but you'll still need a chain tool to dismantle the old link.

Tyre levers

Some bike multitools include tyre levers, either moulded into the body of the tool or as separate parts that clip together in your bag. These tend to be a bit shorter than standard levers, so make sure you can remove your tyres with them. It'd be a bit embarrassing to find they're not up to the job in the middle of nowhere, so it's best to make room for a separate set of proper levers as well. It's not like they take up much room.

Spoke keys

If you ding a wheel or break a spoke you'll need a spoke key to set things right, especially with low-spoke-count wheels where a broken spoke can distort the wheel so much it won't pass through the frame. If you've got wheels with non-standard spokes like Mavic's or Shimano's, look for a tool with a matching spoke key

Blades

If you're taking off into the wilds for multiple days, then a knife is a handy thing to have, so some multitools come with short blades.

Explore the complete archive of reviews of multitools on road.cc

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John has been writing about bikes and cycling for over 30 years since discovering that people were mug enough to pay him for it rather than expecting him to do an honest day's work.

He was heavily involved in the mountain bike boom of the late 1980s as a racer, team manager and race promoter, and that led to writing for Mountain Biking UK magazine shortly after its inception. He got the gig by phoning up the editor and telling him the magazine was rubbish and he could do better. Rather than telling him to get lost, MBUK editor Tym Manley called John’s bluff and the rest is history.

Since then he has worked on MTB Pro magazine and was editor of Maximum Mountain Bike and Australian Mountain Bike magazines, before switching to the web in 2000 to work for CyclingNews.com. Along with road.cc founder Tony Farrelly, John was on the launch team for BikeRadar.com and subsequently became editor in chief of Future Publishing’s group of cycling magazines and websites, including Cycling Plus, MBUK, What Mountain Bike and Procycling.

John has also written for Cyclist magazine, edited the BikeMagic website and was founding editor of TotalWomensCycling.com before handing over to someone far more representative of the site's main audience.

He joined road.cc in 2013. He lives in Cambridge where the lack of hills is more than made up for by the headwinds.

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35 comments

Woldsman replied to ktache | 6 years ago

0 likes

ktache wrote:

Does anyone know of a multitool that uses a JIS, for adjustment of the limit screws out in the boonies?

I must get a few for my workshop collection, was one of those fascinating oddbits I got for The Reassembler...

Yes, I wondered about that, too. I bought a few Phillips #2 bits to file the tips off (I usually take a tiny 1/4" ratchet on longer rides) as I'd read about the bodge/workaround to get a slightly better fit in the head of a JIS limit screw head. When I've had a play with those I might have a go at the cross head driver on my multitool...

franta replied to ktache | 6 years ago

3 likes

ktache wrote:

Does anyone know of a multitool that uses a JIS, for adjustment of the limit screws out in the boonies?

If it for use on your own bike, you are better off replacing the screws with standard M3 hex head (at least that's what fits in my old Shimano). Cheaper and more effective.

ktache replied to franta | 5 years ago

0 likes

franta wrote:

ktache wrote:

Does anyone know of a multitool that uses a JIS, for adjustment of the limit screws out in the boonies?

If it for use on your own bike, you are better off replacing the screws with standard M3 hex head (at least that's what fits in my old Shimano). Cheaper and more effective.

Got me a JIS 2, from Japan and everything, ebay, £10ish, fits like a dream, like it was meant to be.

New bike will have no Shimano JIS heads but my old ones always will.

kil0ran replied to ktache | 2 years ago

1 like

Shimano use JIS for the free stroke adjustment on most of their hydro MTB levers (certainly from Deore upwards). Only a JIS will work. Admittedly not something you'll be adjusting on the road/trail but I wish they'd use hex head for those.

huntswheelers | 7 years ago