TRIPLE WHAMMY: MINI TOOLS

• Monday, 3 December 2007
• Cycling Weekly
• 0 Comments

Good mini tools are practical and effective to use, without pointless features or too much bulk. So how did these three compare?

All come with their own pouch, ranging from the silly Crank Brothers polished aluminium flask to the practical neoprene from Topeak. All include a vital chain tool, but straight away Topeak demonstrated clever design with a user-friendly, removable version.

Specialized’s race tool is definitely light, with magnesium sides and titanium bolts, but it has only the bare essentials and, surprisingly, no 3mm Allen key.

The Crank Brothers is also quite light, considering it is the largest, and has plenty of functions. Spanners are rarely required nowadays but there are 8 and 10mm just in case, although no extra bridge on the chain tool for dealing with stiff links.

Topeak has thought of everything, with a tool to break off replacement Shimano chain pins and a 10mm Allen key too. It even has a ‘self maintenance’ Allen key for tightening its own bolts, should the need arise.

Verdict
All three tools are great products but Topeak has not missed a trick. With this little beauty you know you have everything covered, and it’s the cheapest of the three too. A clear winner.

Specialized EMT Race
£29.99, 130g
Contact Specialized UK, www.specialized.com
020 8391 3500

CW RATING: 7/10

Crank Brothers Multi-19
£22.99, 172g
Contact 2Pure www.2pure.co.uk 0131 448 2884

CW RATING: 8/10

Topeak Mini 18+
£21.99, 184g
Contact Extra UK www.extrauk.co.uk

CW RATING: 10/10