Test: Multitools should be the savior in an emergency. No active cyclist can do without the useful little folding tools. But which one is good for the bike tour and what does a good multi-tool have to be able to do?
The right tool for the most common breakdowns
The huge selection of special bicycle multi-tools overwhelms many cyclists. Everyone has to ask themselves what is important to them. Unfortunately, there is no such thing as the perfect multi-tool for all cycling needs. A racing cyclist would like to have an emergency tool that is as light as possible in his jersey pocket, whereas a trekking traveler is concerned with the total number of useful functions, i.e. one for all cases. But they all have one thing in common: the most common breakdown is still the common flat tire. Unfortunately, there are very few bicycle multi-tools that do the most important thing properly.
Riveting tool – is it really always necessary?
Far too little attention is paid to the most common breakdown, the "flat tire", in multi-tool development. But what a lot of bicycle multitools have for this is a rivet gun. A broken chain on the road is not necessarily a defect that occurs frequently and can then only be repaired with a chain lock. We therefore find it somewhat surprising that a rivet driver is now almost standard equipment for a multi-tool, while other keys and tools that are used much more frequently are left behind.
The 15mm wrench thing
It is very important for on the go that you can mount the impeller. All bikes with hub gears, as well as inexpensive bikes and children's bikes, have a solid axle that can only be fitted with a 15 mm open-end wrench.
Bike tools are evolving
More and more practical Torx screw connections can be seen on modern bicycles. A future-oriented multi-tool should therefore have at least a T25 and T30 Torx wrench in its range.
Small ring spanners are less important on newer bicycles, since you will no longer see nuts (except 15 mm axle nuts) on the bicycle.
quality and handling
All of the tested multi-tools are of high quality and have a stable finish and have also passed the corrosion test, for example.
Light and compact is not everything
Nobody wants to be out and about with heavy workshop equipment in their jersey pocket, but nothing is more annoying than small, powerless mini tools that aren't even good for a very small bike breakdown. Tools that were too short were generally unusable in practice in some places on the bike, since the chassis of the tool hit the frame.
Leaderboard bike multitools
Products | Overall rating | Value for Money | Details | Price | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Topeak Hummer 2 multi tool | 16 | 167 | Present in several = 98% | [graphs height="20"][graph title="Title" score="98" color="#27d000" text_color="#fff"]][/graphs] Test: 02/2015 | Present in several = 95% | [graphs height="20"][graph title="Title" score="95" color="#27d000" text_color="#fff"]][/graphs] | compact and functional 2 good tire levers very good price/performance ratio. ergonomic, pleasant feel long tool elements | RRP: € 19,95 | |
ROSE T-20 | 20 | 168 | Present in several = 87% | [graphs height="20"][graph title="Title" score="87" color="#27d000" text_color="#fff"]][/graphs] Test: 04/2015 | Present in several = 95% | [graphs height="20"][graph title="Title" score="95" color="#27d000" text_color="#fff"]][/graphs] | Very easy Very good chain breaker Just a tire lever | RRP: € 14,90 | |
Park Tool MTB 3.2 | 23 | 265 | Present in several = 92% | [graphs height="20"][graph title="Title" score="92" color="#27d000" text_color="#fff"]][/graphs] Test: 04/2015 | Present in several = 91% | [graphs height="20"][graph title="Title" score="91" color="#27d000" text_color="#fff"]][/graphs] | huge range of functions three torx keys very heavy and bulky | RRP: € 34,95 | |
SKS TOM 18 | 18 | 181 | Present in several = 89% | [graphs height="20"][graph title="Title" score="89" color="#27d000" text_color="#fff"]][/graphs] Test: 03/2015 | Present in several = 89% | [graphs height="20"][graph title="Title" score="89" color="#27d000" text_color="#fff"]][/graphs] | neoprene bag Elements partly long Replacement rivet tray superfluous | RRP: € 24,99 | |
Birzman Feexman E15 | 15 | 127 | Present in several = 80% | [graphs height="20"][graph title="Title" score="80" color="#27d000" text_color="#fff"]][/graphs] Test: 03/2015 | Present in several = 86% | [graphs height="20"][graph title="Title" score="86" color="#27d000" text_color="#fff"]][/graphs] | Very high quality very flat | RRP: € 21,90 | |
XLC multi tool TO-M06 | 10 | 133 | Present in several = 82% | [graphs height="20"][graph title="Title" score="82" color="#27d000" text_color="#fff"]][/graphs] Test: 04/2015 | Present in several = 85% | [graphs height="20"][graph title="Title" score="85" color="#27d000" text_color="#fff"]][/graphs] | Nice flat long items few functions | RRP: € 13,95 | |
Pedro's ICM multi-tool | 17 | 226 | Present in several = 90% | [graphs height="20"][graph title="Title" score="90" color="#27d000" text_color="#fff"]][/graphs] Test: 03/2015 | Present in several = 83% | [graphs height="20"][graph title="Title" score="83" color="#27d000" text_color="#fff"]][/graphs] | nice long items two tire levers for Mavic M7 nipples difficult | RRP: € 32,90 | |
PROCRAFT BETO CO2 | 15 | 108 | Present in several = 90% | [graphs height="20"][graph title="Title" score="90" color="#27d000" text_color="#fff"]][/graphs] Test: 04/2015 | Present in several = 83% | [graphs height="20"][graph title="Title" score="83" color="#27d000" text_color="#fff"]][/graphs] | Repair kit and CO2 filling 2 good tire levers Tool elements too short | RRP: € 32,50 | |
Per MINI TOOL 22 | 22 | 174 | Present in several = 92% | [graphs height="20"][graph title="Title" score="92" color="#27d000" text_color="#fff"]][/graphs] Test: 04/2015 | Present in several = 80% | [graphs height="20"][graph title="Title" score="80" color="#27d000" text_color="#fff"]][/graphs] | very high quality T10 and T25 Torx due design with a bag Just a tire lever | RRP: € 29,95 | |
Knog multi tool 20 | 20 | 190 | Present in several = 89% | [graphs height="20"][graph title="Title" score="89" color="#27d000" text_color="#fff"]][/graphs] Test: 03/2015 | Present in several = 80% | [graphs height="20"][graph title="Title" score="80" color="#27d000" text_color="#fff"]][/graphs] | very stable 15mm open-end wrench very compact great design a little too heavy | RRP: € 34,90 | |
Specialized EMT Pro MTB | 13 | 108 | Present in several = 88% | [graphs height="20"][graph title="Title" score="88" color="#27d000" text_color="#fff"]][/graphs] Test: 11/2014 | Present in several = 79% | [graphs height="20"][graph title="Title" score="79" color="#8deb86" text_color="#fff"]][/graphs] | very light and small great workmanship | RRP: € 39,90 | |
Birzman Cicada 10 Carbon | 10 | 94 | Present in several = 81% | [graphs height="20"][graph title="Title" score="81" color="#27d000" text_color="#fff"]][/graphs] Test: 02/2015 | Present in several = 72% | [graphs height="20"][graph title="Title" score="72" color="#8deb86" text_color="#fff"]][/graphs] | Super light Very high quality few functions | RRP: € 49,90 | |
SKS Toolbox Travel 18 | 18 | 229 | Present in several = 76% | [graphs height="20"][graph title="Title" score="76" color="#8deb86" text_color="#fff"]][/graphs] Test: 02/2015 | Present in several = 70% | [graphs height="20"][graph title="Title" score="70" color="#8deb86" text_color="#fff"]][/graphs] | two tire levers long items very heavy and big not all functions are up to date | RRP: € 29,99 | |
Brooks multi tool MT 10 | 10 | 170 | Present in several = 79% | [graphs height="20"][graph title="Title" score="79" color="#8deb86" text_color="#fff"]][/graphs] Test: 03/2015 | Present in several = 60% | [graphs height="20"][graph title="Title" score="60" color="#8deb86" text_color="#fff"]][/graphs] | noble name very long items few functions very large | RRP: € 39,00 |
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