All Arround MTB

The Wayside’s rack of detachable ball-ended Allen keys (secured with plastic clips and a rubber sleeve) means you don’t need to manipulate the hefty body of the tool to access awkward bolts. When stowed, the chain tool clips to the Allen key rack, so it doesn’t flap around. Unique features include a short serrated knife blade (with safety catch) and a Presta valve core removal tool. The integrated 8mm Allen key is hollowed out and you can insert one of the detachable ones to gain by far the most leverage of the tools on test. There’s no Phillips/Pozidrive head. The rubber sleeve can be fiddly. Price $50

It may be the slimmest tool on test, but the devil’s in the detail of the Sixteen. The chain tool has five spoke keys and a bottle opener built into it, and a tiny clip-on head expands the 5mm Allen key to an 8mm. Each of the tools is stamped with its size, so you’ll never struggle to pick the right one. The smaller tools are long enough to access awkward derailleur bolts. Because the larger-diameter tools are quite short, it can be tricky to access hard-to-reach bolts. The chain tool isn’t as robust as others on test and rattles around on its thread, which can be obstructive while using other tools. Price $37

Birzman’s most comprehensive multi-tool delivers lots of functions for its size and price. The chain tool is the standout performer, with a high-quality finish and ergonomic shape. Five spoke key sizes cover most wheels, and you get a good range of Allen keys, up to 8mm. The surface finish on some of the tools isn’t as good as on the other multi-tools here. Although there’s a mechanical stop to prevent the knife (and other tools at the edge of the E-Version) rotating beyond 180 degrees, there’s no safety catch to stop it pivoting forwards and trapping your fingers. Price $39

As you’d hope at this price, the f15 exudes quality and offers an array of beautifully machined tools. The metal case is great – it acts as a protective sheath, retaining the tools using a strong magnet, while also housing a chain tool and bottle opener. You can even use it to extend the tool for extra leverage. While the selection of tools is appropriate for most trailside tasks, you don’t get that many functions for your money. Also, it’s difficult to tension the bolts holding the multi-tool together so that the individual tools pivot smoothly past each other but don’t flop around. Price $60

This has the most tools on test and is the only one with 8mm and 10mm spanners. Integrated mechanical stops mean you can apply good leverage on these spanners to get nuts fairly tight. Most of the tools are a whopping 6cm long (excluding the handle), which makes accessing recessed bolts that bit easier. The Blox 23’s longer tools add extra bulk and weight (200g). The chain tool can get in the way, and the protective neoprene sleeve can be fiddly to get on and off. After minor use, the corrosion-resistant coating began peeling off on a couple of the Allen keys. Price $45

Pedro’s offering sports some of the longest Allen keys on test, aiding access to awkwardly-positioned bolts. The robust chain tool is detachable from the tool body (with a firm tug). With its bulky composite body and cramped layout, the RxM has a lower-quality feel than the other tools on test. The 8mm extension sits too low on the 6mm Allen key, which means it gets in the way of the adjacent tools and is fiddly to stow away. It’s also missing a T25 Torx wrench – an essential tool for modern MTBs – which is disappointing considering its size and price. Price $36

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

You’d be hard pushed to describe a multi-tool as ‘sexy’ but All In’s offering has to come pretty close. This cleverlydesigned tool slots discreetly into any hollow 21mm diameter (or bigger) crank axle and is held firmly in place by seven strong magnets. The rotating head accepts standard tool bits, making it easy to tailor the tool to your needs or replace any that go missing. It comes with 3mm to 6mm Allen key heads, a T25 Torx bit and a Phillips driver. A clever slot on the side lined with additional mini magnets holds a spare master link (not included) for on-the-fly chain repair, but there’s no chain tool. It’s not the most ergonomic multi-tool we’ve used but its large size makes it easy to grip and apply pressure. At 115g it won’t add noticeable weight to your bike, especially when stowed down low inside the crank axle. For almost $120 we’d definitely like to see a few more functions though, especially when you look at the stiff competition in the integrated tool market comi...

The name Park Tool is normally a byword for quality design and construction but we were left a little underwhelmed by this multi-tool. The tool bits are hardened and plated and we didn’t manage to round any of them but they’re quite short, as is the 71mm body, so it can be difficult to get enough leverage to turn stubborn bolts. The nut on one of the pivot bolts on our sample had a burr that snagged skin and clothing. The inclusion of a T30 Torx key in addition to the standard T25, Allen (2.5-8mm) and screwdriver heads will be welcomed by owners of some Shimano cranks, but the 8mm and 15mm ring spanners will likely only be useful if you like to ride a fixie around town. It’s a good-looking tool and ought to last a long time but the MT-40 looks a better bet for mountain bike use – it swaps the spanners for a chain tool and CO2 cartridge head for 22$ more. Price 52$

This neatly packaged tool from Fabric weighs 162g and includes Allen keys from 2 to 8mm (the 8mm bit snaps onto the 5mm), two Phillips and two flat-head screwdrivers, plus T10 and T25 Torx keys. All the tool bits live inside the ‘chamber’, which doubles up as the handle.

Gripping the Lezyne Allen Block , the first thing you notice is its high quality, reassuringly solid feel.As the name suggests, the focus here is on Allen keys. Ten are included, all of a decent enough length to let you tackle the fiddlier jobs many multi-tools just won’t reach.

Fabric are known for their sleekly designed products and this pocket- sized multi-tool is no exception.

SO GOOD CrankBrothers have laid out the Allen keys (2mm to 8mm) in ascending order and they’re easy to access and use. The tool’s robust 90mm-long body lets you get plenty of torque down, making the 8mmAllen key the most useful on test.

SO GOOD The TOM is a solidly-built little number with some really nice features. The Allen keys range from 2.5mm to 8mm and are well finished and long enough to deal with fiddly situations.

SO GOOD The V 11 is the slimmest and lightest tool on test, at only 107g. It comes in a neat case and has a solid, well-made feel despite its size. Our experience with Lezyne tools tells us they’ll withstand years of abuse too.

SO GOOD The size and chunky build of the Pedro’s multi-tool make it ideal for those with big hands or for use with winter gloves when fiddly little tools are a pain. There are three spoke keys, Allen keys ranging from 2mm to 8mm, a Torx T25 key and a bottle opener, to name just a few of its 17 tools. The chain tool is big enough to tackle stubborn links, offering plenty of leverage.

SO GOOD The M-Part 13 Function is one of the most compact tools we’ve come across and weighs just 113g. Despite this it has a solid feel that meant we weren’t worried about giving it a bit of rough treatment.

SO GOOD The Tuck 16 is compact and fairly light, at 130g. It’s the cheapest tool on test by a fiver but the chrome vanadium steel tool bits are neatly made. It includes a Mavic spoke key and all the essential Allen keys, from 2mm to 8mm.

At 6cm long and just 3cm across, the Topeak Mini 9 is small enough to mess with your sense of scale. The reason is that there’s only 96g of the Mini 9 MT in the first place.

This versatile if slightly stumpy tool comes with a small Neoprene posing pouch with TOMTOOL on the side.