The Cycling & Bikepacking Ratchet Multi-Tool Review
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Total rating
Summary
The cycling ratchet multi-tool is undoubtedly a great investment. It’s user-friendly, compact enough to store almost anywhere on the bike, making it perfect for reaching those tricky bolts with ease.
We highly recommend getting one, along with a small, sturdy bag to keep everything organized.
Pros
- Easy To Use
- The Ratchet System
- Small And Packable
- Cost
- Customizable
Cons
- It’s Misses A Few Functions
- It’s Lots Of Loose Pieces
- The Ratchet Switch Isn’t In The Most Ideal Place
User Review
( votes)When it comes to being a cyclist, you don’t just need to know how to ride a bike. In fact, you need to do many things, but one of the most important ones is being your own mechanic. Learning basic maintenance and repairs goes a long way to keep you out of trouble.
Having the right tools goes a long way to helping, and every so often, new tools come up on the market that have a different take compared to the normal. In this article, we are going to discuss a very cool new tool that many cyclists are using, which is the Cycling Ratchet Multi Tool.
What Is The Cycling Ratchet Multi-Tool
The cycling ratchet multi-tool is a replacement for your standard bike multi-tool. It is designed so you have a much better ability to access awkward-to-reach bolts. Which are becoming more and more typical on modern bikes.
It’s small, simple, packable, and great for not just day-to-day riding but big adventures too. Next, we are going to break down why you might want to use a cycling ratchet tool and also why you might not.
Why You Will Want To Use A Cycling Ratchet Multi Tool
Now for the exciting part, why would you want to use a cycling ratchet multi tool. Here are all the pros we found when testing.
Easy To Use
The first point to make is it is incredibly easy to use. Unlike your typical multi-tools, which have very little accessibility when it comes to awkward places, it’s much easier. The small ratchet and little pieces make it just simpler.
You also get a lot of different attachments you wouldn’t get on a multi-tool and an extender piece, which again helps with the use. It doesn’t take long to get used to either, and after a while, you will wonder what you did without it.
The Ratchet System
The ratchet system is the best thing about this tool. Instead of using a normal multi-tool, taking the Allen key out, and putting it back in again, you can just keep turning it. It also works in both forward and back depending on which way you switch it.
Small And Packable
Another great feature of this tool is the way it can pack pretty much anywhere. You don’t even need the red in case you can have the pieces loose if you really want to dial in the weight-saving.
One thing I liked is the tiny size and the ability to change the heads on the top. This means that if you regularly need a certain tool, you can keep it in convenient places, such as the top tube bag.
Cost
One of the best features is the price. Coming in at around $12, it’s very cheap, and compared to other multi-tools with similar quality, it’s around a third of the price. This goes a long way, with manufacturers constantly trying to increase the price with newer versions of older products.
On top of cost, if you lose anything, such as small bits, you can easily replace them from a standard tool kit or even order a hex bit set and just keep them as spares.
Customizable
Not many tools you find are customizable. With the cycling ratchet tool, you really can make it your own by adding all the unique bits you need for your bike. A good example is for older bikes or fixies you might want a 13mm or 15mm with an adapter.
I personally do a lot of bikepacking and found it really useful when it came to picking the correct tools for the bike I was using. The correct Allen keys, some screwdrivers, and also hex bits, which I wouldn’t often get on a multi-tool.
Why You Won’t Want To Use A Cycling Ratchet Multi Tool
There are a lot of reasons why you want to use a cycling ratchet multi-tool, but there are some reasons why you might not want to. Here’s what you need to know.
It’s Misses A Few Functions
Most multi-tools can’t do everything, and the same goes for the cycling ratchet multi-tool. It doesn’t have the ability to break a chain, true a spoke, or remove a valve. The same goes with a lot of multi tools. You can buy these extra parts, but it’s not ideal.
It’s Lots Of Loose Pieces
The next issue I found is that there are a lot of loose pieces. Not that I ever lost any with the small red case, but I can see it happening if it is not looked after well. The last thing you would want on a long trip is to lose your Allen keys.
The Ratchet Switch Isn’t In The Most Ideal Place
When using the tool, if you didn’t hold it correctly, it was easy to switch the ratchet to go in the other direction. You just have to adjust where and how you are holding it more than anything.
Do We Think It’s Worth The Money?
There’s no denying that the cycling ratchet multi-tool is worth the money. It’s easy to use, can be stored pretty much anywhere on the bike, is customizable, and it’s great for getting to awkward bolts easily.
We highly recommend investing in one and maybe a small decent bag to keep it all together.
Robbie Ferri has spent years working in a bike shop, has worked with industry leading brands on product creation, has been a semi pro athlete, and is a fully qualified strength and conditioning coach. He has broken World Records, bikepacked all over the World and raced ultra distance at a top-level.
