Touring - best multitool

Going away in a few weeks and am looking for a good multitool to save me carying too many tools. Are there any that inclde either a pedal spanner or a crank extractor, also how about a small adjusatable wrench?

Just wondering

I highly doubt you will find a multitool with any of those features... Depending on your pedals they can be removed with an 8mm hex key. My suggestion would be to just buy a small crescent wrench and a mini crank extractor (The kind without a handle) to complement your multitool. There are also self extracting cranks that use a special O shaped dust cap and screw on using a small two pinned tool, then you unscrew the crank bolt and the crank comes off with it. This would be a lighter option than carrying a crank extractor.

I have this one and love it.
http://store.trekbikes.com/jump.jsp?itemID=889&itemType=PRODUCT&path=1%2C2%2C34%2C190&iProductID=889&bShopOnline=0

There is a point of diminishing return with teeny-weenie multi-tools. The smaller they shrink, the harder they are to use.

Try a multi-tool on your bike before taking it on a trip. I had one multi-tool that was plain inconvenient: too small to hold and too awkward to handle. I paid $30 for it, but sold it at a garage sale for $5. I was glad to be rid of it.

I now have a medium-sized multi-tool that I can actually use. I also bring a six-inch crescent wrench, needle nose pliers, Crazy Glue, duct tape, and a Swiss Army knife. I also bring an extra set of hex wrenches, even though my multi-tool has them all. For some tasks, it is so much easier to use a dedicated tool than a multi-tool.

I highly doubt you will find a multitool with any of those features... Depending on your pedals they can be removed with an 8mm hex key. My suggestion would be to just buy a small crescent wrench and a mini crank extractor (The kind without a handle) to complement your multitool. There are also self extracting cranks that use a special O shaped dust cap and screw on using a small two pinned tool, then you unscrew the crank bolt and the crank comes off with it. This would be a lighter option than carrying a crank extractor.

I beg to differ. Fortunately such a tool does exist. Unfortunately it's not made anymore but you can find them on fleabay or other places occasionally. They're called a CoolTool

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r181/cyccommute/IMG_0107.jpg

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r181/cyccommute/IMG_0110.jpg

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r181/cyccommute/IMG_0108.jpg

They have everything except a flat blade screw driver but I also carry a folding plier set which has that.

That certainly is a cool tool
scroll down the page. second to last item
http://www.valuumall.com/gerbmulti2.htm
here too:
http://www.knifepros.com/html/gerber/multitools.htm

Is it just me, or does that wrench multi-tool look like something that Sid had in his bedroom in Toy Story...?....

:-)

I would want a cassette tool before a crank extractor (broken drive side spokes seem a more likely problem than crank troubles). Has anyone used this gizmo?

http://sheldonbrown.com/harris/stein-mini-lock/index.html

I love my Topeak Alien I've had it for years and have used many times. The old ones have a chain tool on them. I've even used the knife to open a can once.

Here's all the tools you really need.
Hex wrench set.
8 mm box end wrench.
Spoke key.
Bladed and Phillips screwdrivers.
Mini chain tool.

A mini tool may weigh more and it certainly won't be as good to use.

Supplies you'll need other than tire/tube related.
Shimano chain pins if you have a Shimano chain.
Spare chain links.
Chain lube.
Extra rack fasteners.

If you take along a kevlar spoke(s) you won't need cassette removal tools or extra steel spokes.
You might need to tighten the crank bolts but it's doubtful if you'll need to remove the crankarms.
You don't need a pedal wrench. Just make sure the pedals aren't so tight that you can't remove them with a 6mm hex wrench from the inside of the crankarms. You will be able to get them tight enough with a 6mm hex wrench.
I can't see why you would need an adjustable wrench. Almost all the fasteners on a bike have hex heads. You'll need a 8mm wrench for your rack fasteners but those are tiny.
Unless you plan on touring on the moon there will be places and people from which you can get other tools if you need them.

I'll vote for my Topeak Alien II

I would want a cassette tool before a crank extractor (broken drive side spokes seem a more likely problem than crank troubles). Has anyone used this gizmo?

http://sheldonbrown.com/harris/stein-mini-lock/index.html

You can make your own hypercracker (I did) and while it's a little bit fiddly, it works ok and saves a lot of weight. I made mine from a Lifu Lock ring tool. There are instructions somewhere on the internet, use google and you'll find the info.

Most mini tools are compromises and rarely do any of the tools work very well. You can usually carry just a few tools, the ones you really need (good quality ones) and they won't weigh any more than a many of the "mini-tools."

Just wait until you are out in the middle of nowhere, and try to tighten your crank or chain rings with a 3" mini-tool; you'll end up throwing the mini-tool in the ditch in disgust.

I beg to differ. Fortunately such a tool does exist. Unfortunately it's not made anymore but you can find them on fleabay or other places occasionally. They're called a CoolTool

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r181/cyccommute/IMG_0107.jpg

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r181/cyccommute/IMG_0110.jpg

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r181/cyccommute/IMG_0108.jpg

They have everything except a flat blade screw driver but I also carry a folding plier set which has that.


Hey, guess what, I got one. I was mentioning the tool to a friend, after seeing your post, and he said he had one and I could have it. It's missing one of the allen keys, but other than that, perfect.

No multitool has a crank extractor. The need for one on a ride is so remote that there is no reason to carry one. Besides, about the only reason to remove a crank arm is to replace the BB. For that you will need a BB tool and a new BB. Just order all the parts from nashbar and have them fedexed to you if the need arises.

Multitools are also too small to give you enough leverage to break loose a properly tightened pedal. If you really have a need to remove pedals, you'll need to pack a pedal wrench. If a regular 15 mm wrench will fit your pedal flats, you could leave the pedal wrench at home and buy a 15mm wrench locally if needed.

Remember that if you are touring in the US, you can get anything you need sent to you overnight.