Love Mud Trailside 16 multi-tool

Alloy side plates and short-shaft tools mean the Trailside 16 weighs just 110g, which is 70g lighter than claimed. It’s also almost totally flat, with the pointy ends covered on one side by the ‘handle’ of the chain splitter. This means it shouldn’t be too bad to land on if you crash. The tools are holding up OK to regular use and there’s a full range, including a T25 Torx key, cross and flat-head screwdrivers, and even a steel Mavic spoke key (plus four conventional ones). Their short length means it can be awkward to get into some places, the 8mm Allen key is simply a ‘hat’ on the 5mm and you have to unscrew the chain tool to access the bottle opener, all of which can make the Trailside 16 frustrating to use at times. But buying direct from Alpkit means it’s way cheaper than most multi-tools with a similar number of functions.

Price $19

Cannondale Trail SL 29 SS

The fat aluminium tubes are a constrast to the skinny items seen elsewhere in the test, but this rigid Cannondale uses them to create one of the most old-school - and lightest - rides here.

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KONA SHRED

With a reputation for no-nonsense ruggedness and a background in the always progressive and punishing riding of Canada, Kona have been building hardcore hardtails for longer than almost anyone else. The Shred is the most expensive bike on test but it’s a proper trail tank.

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SKS Airbuster CO2 inflator

The alloy Airbuster has a large knob so you can regulate the flow of gas, a mechanical stop to prevent the cartridge being pierced in transit and a dust cap to keep the valve free of debris. While it works with Presta and Schrader valves, switching between them requires a fiddly change of the valve head. The thin rubber sleeve doesn’t provide much protection from cold spent canisters. You can’t insert much of the valve into the inflator head, so you have to be careful to avoid leaks. Price $33 w/16g cartridge

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