Once installed and adjusted, today’s bike components are likely to perform as intended for a long, long time. But as amazing as they are, they’re not impervious to the throes of everyday use, such as vibrations, corrosion, and the occasional neglect (no finger pointing here—we’ve all done it). Regardless of how on top of your maintenance schedule you are, mechanicals can catch you by surprise and ultimately leave you stranded on a ride—unless you have a reliable multitool handy to patch things up and get you rolling again.
Ultimately, that’s what a good multitool is supposed to do—provide the tools to fix your bike well enough to see you home. And much like today’s components, today’s multitools are marvels of engineering that provide plenty of problem-solving utility while fitting neatly in your pocket.
The Best Bike Multitools
- Best Overall: Crankbrothers F15 Multitool
- Best for Minimalists: Park Tool MTC-20 Multitool
- Most Versatile: Pedro’s Rx Micro-21 Multitool
- Best Mini Ratchet Wrench: Blackburn Big Switch Ratchet Multitool
- Best Mini Torque Wrench: Silca T-Ratchet and Ti-Torque Multitool
What to Consider
Which Tools Do You Need for a Bike?
Cyclists aren’t huge fans of carrying unnecessary cargo, which adds an incentive to carrying as small and efficient a multitool as possible. That said, super-minimalist tools contain only the bare essentials—most often a couple hex wrenches and a screwdriver or two. While they’re great for short rides and crafty mechanics, you may need to augment them with tools like tire levers and a chain tool to feel prepared for a big day.
If you’re looking for a more complete package, multitools with 15 to 21 attachments generally contain everything you need to fix a malfunction quickly and completely. They can be bulkier, sometimes fitting better in a frame bag or saddle bag, but they’ll help you ride worry-free without weighing you down considerably.
Knowing Your Bike
Cyclists who have worked on their own bikes likely already know which components require which tools, but if you’re not familiar, it may be worth checking your components before splurging on a fancy, all-inclusive kit. Do you need any Torx bits other than a T25? Do you need one at all?
Some multitools, while high-quality and reliable, may include tools that you’ll never use. For example, we love the Rx Micro-21 from Pedro’s, but if you don’t need a Shimano crank tool, you’re not gaining anything from that extra attachment other than grams. Most online listings for multitools will give you a list of every tool included, so it’s easy to double-check, but it’s worth mentioning that you can and should before you spend your hard-earned cabbage.
How We Selected
Our team has certainly experienced plenty of roadside and trailside mishaps, from loose cleat bolts to skipping gears to flat tires. We’ve used enough multitools to know what you need (and don’t need), and some give you those necessities far more concisely than others. That’s why we included multitools that offer everything from minimalist setups to toolkits that could fit in on a workbench. Every tool on our list features a reasonable selection of hex wrenches, screwdrivers and Torx bits, many have nifty extras like chain tools and tire levers, and they all have a low profile that will leave room in your pockets for your other goods.
Pros
- Magnetic case for secure storage
- Low-profile
Cons
- Not as many tools as other all-in-ones
Key Specs
| Style | All-in-one |
|---|---|
| Tool Count | 15 |
Though it’s not quite as loaded as other multitools on this list, the F15 stands out for its pragmatic array of tools, fine finish, and the magnetized case that helps lock pieces into place. It includes all the most common hex, Torx, and spoke wrenches, and it even has a chain tool and bottle opener built into the outer case for improved leverage (and beverage retention). All it’s missing to make the average ride disaster-proof is a tire lever or two, but those are easy enough to slip in your pocket alongside this super low-profile toolkit.
Pros
- Covers the basics
- Super low-profile
Cons
- Not ideal for more involved repairs
Key Specs
| Style | Lightweight |
|---|---|
| Tool Count | 7 |
This barebones tool is tiny and lightweight, and it has softer composite side plates that are ergonomically shaped for comfort as you wrench the thing around. If you’re looking to carry or replace a simple but long-lasting set of hex wrenches (including an 8-millimeter hex for your pedals), this could be a good choice. It also comes in an even more pared down size, the MTC-10, but that version’s a lot harder to find in stock at the moment and leaves you with fewer tools.
Pros
- Impressive use of real estate
- Tire levers included
Cons
- Some tools, like the crank tool, may not get much use
Key Specs
| Style | All-in-one |
|---|---|
| Tool Count | 21 |
It’s the little mini-tool that could: The Rx Micro-21 carries every possible tool you’d need for a road- or trailside repair—including a quick link chain repair link hidden away in the micro tire levers that attach to the sides of the multitool. There’s a chain tool, spoke wrenches, a Shimano crank cap tool, and even a presta valve core tool. Plus, Pedro’s includes a lifetime warranty against corrosion and breakage. Throw this in your back pocket, and you and your riding buddies will never sweat a roadside repair again.
Pros
- Ratchet for optimal leverage
- Convenient carrying case
Cons
- Some included bits might not get much use
Key Specs
| Style | Heavy-duty |
|---|---|
| Tool Count | 12 |
While beautifully simple, an L-shaped hex wrench is sometimes an odd fit for the nooks and crannies of your bike—especially when you go digging around in the rear triangle. The Big Switch offers a solution: The tool handle can hold bits like a screwdriver, or a T-handle wrench for a bit more leverage, or an L-handle wrench for a lot more leverage, all while ratcheting to keep you from laboriously reinserting your hex keys with every turn.
The Big Switch has more features than the older Switch tool—the number-one addition is a chain tool that packs in a valve core tool, spoke wrenches, and a disc-pad spreader (an especially uncommon tool that we’d love to see more often). And for neatness, it all fits in a small cloth case that folds flat and fits unobtrusively in a jersey pocket.
Silca T-Ratchet + Ti-Torque Multi-Tool
Pros
- Reliable torque readings on the go
- Fits in a jersey pocket
Cons
- Bits can be easy to lose
Key Specs
| Style | Heavy-duty |
|---|---|
| Tool Count | 13 |
Tightening bolts to the proper torque is crucial with high-end carbon fiber components—too loose and pieces will slip, too tight and you risk damaging the parts. You need a torque wrench to get this dialed in properly, although they’re often cumbersome tools, which is what makes this kit from Silca so remarkable.
Much like the Big Switch, The T-Ratchet fits neatly in a pouch that you can throw in a jersey pocket, but this toolkit includes Silca’s detachable Ti-Torque Beam that can measure torque from 2 to 8 Newton-meters—this will cover you for most stem, shift/brake lever, and seatpost bolts, all of which should have a torque spec detailed somewhere on the component itself. It’s not going to cover heftier torque measurements, such as what you might find on square-taper cranks, but we imagine you’ll have bigger fish to fry if one of those comes loose on a ride.
Pros
- Slim profile
- Can take a proper beating
Cons
- Doesn’t stay closed on its own very well
Key Specs
| Style | All-in-one |
|---|---|
| Tool Count | 17 |
If you dwell near rocky trails, you might yipe at the thought of dropping a nice multitool on the trail. Thankfully, the M17 is nearly indestructible thanks to its thick, all-metal construction, and you’ll struggle to warp even the slimmest hex keys on this tool from regular use. And as an added bonus, despite having a thin profile, this tool has extra grippy detailing on the outer handle to keep your wet, muddy mountain biker hands from slipping under heavy torque.
Wolf Tooth Components EnCase System Bar Multi-Tool Kit
Pros
- Efficient use of empty space
- Tubeless-specific tools
Cons
- Doesn’t work with closed-end grips without drilling
Key Specs
| Style | Hidden |
|---|---|
| Tool Count | 19 |
If you don’t have electronic shifting, chances are there’s a whole handlebar’s worth of storage space you could be using but aren’t—why not slip a multitool in there? This cleverly designed toolkit stows inside most flat handlebars (even typical drop bars, as long as they don’t have any unusual ergonomic bends in them). The tool has 1all your bases covered, including an 8mm allen wrench, and it also has thoughtful touches like a swivel head for reaching hidden bolts. It also comes with a tool for jamming plugs into your tires (and storage for several plugs), which gives this toolkit an extra degree of utility for tubeless enthusiasts.
Adam Schram is an Assistant Editor of Commerce at Runner's World, though you might see his byline on Bicycling and Popular Mechanics, too. A lover of all things outdoors, Adam's writing career comes after six years as a bike mechanic in his hometown of State College, PA. His journalism experience is steeped in cycling and running gear reviews, and he's also a published creative nonfiction and satire author. When he's not writing, riding, or running, you can catch Adam at home mixing cocktails, watching Star Wars, or trying in vain to do the Sunday crossword. You can check out his latest work below.
Jen is the associate test director for Bicycling and Runner’s World. Born and raised 10 minutes from the office, she spent her youth exploring the same roads and trails that she’d ultimately use to test bikes for Mountain Bike and Bicycling (for which—over the past 18 years, at different times, and with some overlap—she was a copy editor, senior editor, and managing editor). Today she prefers mellow rides with her 11-year-old boy, pushing the limits of where e-bikes can go, and wouldn’t be caught dead on a start line.
