General Cycling Discussion - Whats your favorite mini tool?

I think the alien is great and the topeak 16 & topeak 21 and a few other mini multi tools...But if I had to pick it would be the cool-tool because it is so handy for hubs and axles brakes everything even a tire lever...the chain breaker is a bit more clumsy then the others with the cool tool.
But like I'm saying if you had to pick what would you want?:)

I like my Topeak Alien. It's got like 21 tools.

I'll put in my vote for the Topeak Alien too. My only beef is that I bought mine a year before they switched the stitched logo on the pouch flap from the Topeak logo to the green alien head. :(

Another vote for the Alien. It's worked for a few years now without problems. One complaint I have is that I bought it before Torx bits were included with it. I don't currently run disc brakes, but two of my riding buddies do and it would be nice to have it just in case. With that one complaint out of the way, it's a great tool.

-Moab

Originally posted by moabrider47
One complaint I have is that I bought it before Torx bits were included with it.

Yeah... mine was before the torx bits too. Hmmm... maybe I could pass my current tool down to my wife and justify getting a new one. :D

Topeak McGuyver

Topeak McGuyver. Strange how on pricepoint.com it's $27, which is cheaper than the Alien but has more tools.

Raiyn- I saw your review for it in MTBR.com.

Originally posted by gonesh9
Topeak McGuyver. Strange how on pricepoint.com it's $27, which is cheaper than the Alien but has more tools.

Depends on which is the better seller I guess. For many people, the McGuyver is too much tool. Hmm... did I actually say that? :D Actually, I find the Alien fits all my needs but would not turn down a McGuyver. Now that I think about it, maybe I can keep the Alien for my roadbike and pop a McGuyver in my CamelBak for when I'm mountain biking. I lean towards the minimalistic side when riding my roadbike within the confines of civilisation.

Yes I like the Alien the topeak 16 & 21 the chain breakers are great

Crank Bros, the 18 tool job, I prefer Park tire levers, and they don't take up much more room.
The chain tool on the Crank is great, and it has a torx for when disks enter the scene.

mini me.


marty

I used a Topeak 21, but it was useless, the allen keys were under-sized.
The CoolTool is OK, but not exactly high precision. The best part are the allen keys, with different sizes each end. I carry these even without the wrench.
My fav has to be a mini Leatherman. The full size ones are a bit big for regular carry. The micro ones have no pliers, but the mini has a handle which folds down in 1/2 and pliers.

Here's another "Alien". Works well. Unfortunately, however, mine broke at the spot where you lock the two pieces together. The tool still works great, though.

Topeak Alien for cycling and Leatherman Wave for work and around the house.

I've got a Performance Spin Doctor Rescue-20 thats may favorite now. But the CoolTool is still the best all around.

One more vote for the Alien.

Have to vote for the Alien as well. Just embarrassed I couldn't remove my pedals with a Park pedal wrench and my brother got them off with the tiny little pedal wrench in the Alien. Ah...

I would have to say my favorite mini TOOL would have to be..................Fubar!:eek: :p :D

do you find a need for all those tools? i have never been enamoured with the quality of the actual tools in such kits

i carry only the approriate allen or torx wrench for my seat post and some tire levers..as well as a leatherman squirt (keychain) and a tiny patch kit


this is not to say i'm anti tool..i have tons and love to buy them...but i got to the point my little seat post bag weighed more than my seat....and i never used any of the stuff

Originally posted by bandaidman
do you find a need for all those tools? i have never been enamoured with the quality of the actual tools in such kits


I have used all the tools on my Alien at one time or another while on a ride. One thing I've found particularly useful was the box wrench because my seatpost is the older Easton CT2 which has independent bolts for the left and right side of the clamp and each bolt is a through-bolt with an allen head on one side and a hexnut on the other. I'm really glad I can split my Alien in two so I can double wrench it.

I don't know if its the best but I use the Park MTB2 that has 21 tools in a clamshell design. It seems very well built but it was made for MTB and I have a road so the included tire levers are too wide for road tires. The only reason I chose this over others is its weight-it was the heaviest! UHH? Did I say I chose it because it was the heaviest? Have I gone nuts? Well my logic was after comparing it to several models that the construction was by far the sturdiest and the metal tools were a heavier metal which I hoped would mean more robust tools. But I haven't used it on the bike, but did use it at work several times and it seems very well built-maybe too well built?

But who needs a bottle opener that comes with some mini's?

I also carry a Leatherman Squirt P4 because it has the pliers and wire cutters and some other junk I will probably never use. Its only 2.5 inches long and weighs just 2 ounces.

And now I have 2 bottle openers-yahoo!!!

Alien for bike, Gerber 800 for general.

Gerber doesn't leave my person, ever.

I tried various Leathermans belonging to a few friends first, and they feel junk - very loose, non-robust. Can't beat those spring laoded pliers!

Originally posted by belfast-biker

Gerber doesn't leave my person, ever.


I too love my Gerber MultiTool and I used to carry it with me everywhere too but these days, it definately stays at home when I head for the airport. I used to have a Gerber mini-MultiTool which was the size of those mini Swiss army knives that I kept attached to my keychain. It had a little pair of Fiskars scissors and retractable/lockable 2" blade, phillips and standard screwdrivers and a pair of tweezers. I accidently left it attached to my keychain recently while heading out on a business trip and now it's the property of the Transport Security Administration. :mad: Oh well... it was only a couple of bucks. :(

Park MTB-3 Rescue Tool.

It contains 22 tools:
*Chain tool
*Tire levers (2)
*Phillips head screwdriver
*Flat head screwdriver
*T25 star-shaped driver
*1.5, 2, 2.5, 3, 4, 5, 6, & 8mm hex wrenches
*8, 9, and 10mm box end wrenches
*Bottle opener
*.127", .130", & .136" spoke wrenches
*Pedal wrench
*Serrated knife
*ncludes nylon carring case with embroidered Park Tool logo.

Very well made multitool.

My two favorite so far are the Topeak Survival gear box and the Topeak power 21 tool kit.
http://64.71.141.193/images/small/q/bg1745.jpg

They both have everything needed patch kit tire levers decent chain tool (I can stand the ones on most mini-tools). They are a bit larger then other multi-tools but still not big.

Thanks for all the posts

Originally posted by gonesh9
Topeak McGuyver. Strange how on pricepoint.com it's $27, which is cheaper than the Alien but has more tools.

Raiyn- I saw your review for it in MTBR.com. <nods>

Yes the McGuyver looks good but does it have a chain breaker,I do not think it does
or otherwise it would be on my list:)

Originally posted by khuon
I too love my Gerber MultiTool

I accidently left it attached to my keychain recently while heading out on a business trip and now it's the property of the Transport Security Administration. :mad: Oh well... it was only a couple of bucks. :(



They're just holding it for you right? You'll get it back, yeah?

I have a Crank Bros. It has hexes, phillips, flathead, chain tool, and spoke wrench. I also have 3 Leatherman tools. I am kind of a knife/ multi tool junkie.

Originally posted by chip
Yes the McGuyver looks good but does it have a chain breaker,I do not think it does
or otherwise it would be on my list:) Mine does

Do you guys carry this tool with you on rides, or keep it at home? The alien is rather bulky and heavy.

These tools really are not meant for home/every day use. they are designed to take with you when riding for emergency repairs.

Another vote for the Crank Bros. Sturdy performance, has everything I need (incl torx & 8mm hex for cranks). Only use with MTB.

Originally posted by cyclinrunt
Do you guys carry this tool with you on rides, or keep it at home? The alien is rather bulky and heavy.

I throw my Alien into a small seatpack along with a minitripod for my digital camera and a small bottle of sunscreen. At home, I'll defer to even bigger and bulkier tools that I wouldn't dream of carrying with me on a ride.

Mine is the Park PPM-2 (http://www.parktool.com/tools/PPM_2.shtml) tool kit.

I also carry a small 6" crescent wrench. My rear wheel is attached with 15mm bolts (Nexus 7-speed) and the wrench is helpful for aligning the axle in the dropouts.

For general use, I carry a Wenger Swiss Army Knife (Soldier). I found that I never used the pliers or the file on the Gerber multi-tool, so now I carry the Soldier.

Dan

Topeak Alien RX.
Keep it on my belt.
Woot.

I've use my alien so much it should be worn out but it still works great[chain breaker]I know they were meant to be emergency tools for the road but the alien is so good people are using them anyway...not just for the road but it is sure nice to have the alien just for the road?

There are several different Aliens out there:
The regular one
DX
XS
XT
RX

Which is the best? What are you using? I'm looking at the RX.

Originally posted by cyclinrunt
There are several different Aliens out there:
The regular one
DX
XS
XT
RX

Which is the best? What are you using? I'm looking at the RX.

I'm using the original regular one. When I bought mine, they only had one kind. I've not tried any of the others to know if they offer more or less tools than I want/need. I'm not sure what to tell you is best for you but I can tell you why the others would probably not fit my needs. For instance, while the DX includes pliers, I'm not sure they'd be particularly useful given their size. I can't see being able to get much leverage on those tiny grips so to me it would just be added unnecessary weight. The XS lacks many tools I'd want such as the chaintool. The XT (which looks to be the same as the RX) is snazzy looking but lack the box wrenches I would need for my seatpost (old Easton CT2 clamphead).

I don't think I'd need the box wrenches. I have a 2004 bike (YAY - just got it last Friday!!), so I can't see that I'd need them - so, no need to carry them.

Originally posted by cyclinrunt
I don't think I'd need the box wrenches. I have a 2004 bike (YAY - just got it last Friday!!), so I can't see that I'd need them - so, no need to carry them.

Yeah, the Easton CT2 posts are great posts... until you go to adjust them. :mad: However, Easton has just revised the clamp design and is using the more familiar unibolt/micro-adjust clamp other manufacturers have been using.

Originally posted by cyclinrunt
I don't think I'd need the box wrenches. I have a 2004 bike (YAY - just got it last Friday!!), so I can't see that I'd need them - so, no need to carry them.

I disagree. I would think that a new bike is more in need of adjustment while breaking in to service. The cables have not yet stretched, and some adjustment may be necessary in other areas as well. The seat post may work loose, the handlebars or brake levers may slip or you may have a flat or broken spoke for some reason and need to adjust the spokes so that you can ride back home. I recently lost two hex nuts on one pedal of my pedal straps. I was able to take one off of the good pedal, and put it on the other side. I was able to use the pedal straps for both pedals because of this. The chain can certainly break, and it doesn't have to be a used chain. Some products are not at 100 percent even when brand new. I'm not wishing your new bike ill, it just doesn't hurt to be prepared. I am usually at least 10 miles from my vehicle at the far end of my trips. The tool that I carry certainly provides its dollar value in re-assurance if nothing else.

I definately need tools, my chain slipped off today, and I didn't have any (not that I needed them). I just don't think there is anything on my bike that I need box wrenches for, is there?

I know the cables are stretching, and since I'm a newbie, I don't know how to fix it on the road yet. I'm taking it to the lbs about once a week, and they are taking care of it for me.

Because I am new, that's why I'm unsure whether I have anything on the bike that uses box wrenches, all the other tools on the RX I definately need, but not point carrying something I don't need - I could end up pulling a small cart of tools! *laugh*

Originally posted by cyclinrunt
I definately need tools, my chain slipped off today, and I didn't have any (not that I needed them). I just don't think there is anything on my bike that I need box wrenches for, is there?

Aside from my seatposts, I can't think of anything on my roadbike for which a box wrench would be needed. I can probably come up with a few applications for a box wrench on my MTB however. And older bikes or bikes with older parts with hex bolts in certain places would need it. I suppose if you ride with a group of people, having box wrenches might also be nice in case someone does have hex bolts on their bike. Also, if you're far away from a well-stocked shop and broke a bolt or something, you may be able to find a hexhead bolt at a hardware or auto parts store easier than an allenhead bolt.

Im thinking of getting a Crank Brothers Multi-17 tool for $25 (canadian). Anyone have any opinions on this model?

my park mtb 3 aint bad.

Im thinking of getting a Crank Brothers Multi-17 tool for $25 (canadian). Anyone have any opinions on this model?
http://img37.exs.cx/img37/8929/search8.gif
http://www.mtbr.com/reviews/Tools/product_79142.shtml

Crank Bros.

After many miles and many years, the only "mini" tool I've ever needed is an air pump for flats. Therefore that's the only tool I carry.