[Colin]

Hey,

Well, I thoroughly despise my Ritchey CPR-14+ and want to get a new multi-tool. What should I get -- Topeak Alien, Topeak, hummer, Crank Bros Multi-17? I'm leaning towards the Crank Bros. because it's cheaper and lighter, but it doesn't really matter. Just want a good tool. Thanks.

 

[Dog Welder]

I got the Crank bros and a number of others..and the Crank bros is probably my favorite...its light and it has a lot of tools built in. Only problem that I've found is that some of the tools are not stainless and my torx one has started to show rust spots. The smalles of the allen wrenches are too short. In most bikes, the smalles allens are to turn the reach screws on brake levers, short wrenches are a pain in the ass in this situation. But then again in all multi tools, they are all short.

 

[Zonic Man]

I have the alien and the crank bros one and I think the alien is better, but I carry the crank bros when I am racing in a jersey pocket.

 

[oldfart]

I recommend getting the individual allen keys you need and a park chain tool and spoke wrench. Get an elastic band to hold the allens together. The multi's can be a pain in the butt to actually use. The best tool bag I ever used is one I copied from the Rivendell website. Its simply a 16 inch(?) square of cordura. I wrap my tube and patches then add the tools and wrap it all up like a burrito. For a strap you can use a toe strap but even better is the Voile ski strap. Its a very tough rubber with an aluminum buckle and holes which the buckle goes into. It never gets loose. It never rattles. There is no zipper to fiddle with or to get jammed. You never have to dig and root around for those patches which have migrated to the end of the bag. It never rattles. I hate rattling tool kits that sound like a box of Lego. That's the ultimate gumby/spode chracteristic.

 

[Spud]

Heh, Colin said Tool Heh

I like Oldfart's suggestion. I've got a park pouch that's pretty similar to that setup. Includes a spoke wrench and a flat 10/9 mm combo wrench. too.

 

[MikeD]

Join us in the mothership. Get the alien. You must obey.

Really, it's the best all-around tool I've seen. Heavier than some, but it has spoke wrenches and a chain tool, both of which can be a huge help when you need them. The blade is also handy.

MD

 

[Phreaddy]

I use an old Park multi-Allen wrench wrench thingy. It includes all metric sizes EXCEPT 8 mm, dammit, and has a metal handle they all fold into. I think the new ones have a plastic handle, but knowing Park, it'll last. I also carry a Park truing tool, the portable, triangle-shaped one, a portable park chain tool, and a Swiss Army knife for the screw drivers, knife blade, cork screw ('cause you never know when you're going to see a beautiful girl on the trail who wants help opening a bottle of bordeaux...) etc. If I were starting out today I'd swap the SAK for a lightweight Gerber multitool, but still recommend everything else. Oh yeah, two Park tire levers, one with about a foot of duct tape wrapped around it, and a couple of zip ties, a few chain links (both Shimano and Sachs -- er, SRAM)