Originally Posted by
AdamDZ
I believe that the only differences between all those tools is toughness and longevity. I have a cheap Nashbar chain tool that looks identical and works fine, but it will most likely not survive long if it was used daily. Most cheap bike tools are like that, they work fine but won't last long under heavy use. So as a home mechanic with 3 bikes I see no reason in spending large bucks on expensive tools. If you run any kind of shop or even maintain a lot of bikes for friends and family then the better tools make sense.
Adam
Exactly. I work on bikes enough that the lighter duty tools just do not last. I have had to step up in tool quality (and price) quite a bit to get adequate durability. But to the average bike owner, the lighter duty tools are more than adequate.
I am a home mechanic, but I work on about 100 bikes a year. So stuff wears out.
One nice thing about the Nashbar stuff (which is no better) is that Performance Bicycle will sometimes stand behind them. They replaced my Nashbar cable tool for example.