VEL 13 Function Inflator Tool

The VEL 13 Function Inflator Tool has pretty much every tool you need for basic repairs out on the road, with the added bonus of an inflator head to work with threaded CO2 cartridges. Its solid construction and durable tools make it a sound investment, although it's up against some top competition in the pricing wars.

The VEL uses a design we've seen many times before – two cast body pieces joined together by bolts, carrying a range of short tools, 12 in the case of the VEL. It folds away compactly, making it ideal for a jersey pocket or saddle bag, and with a weight of 166g it's not exactly a heavyweight.

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You get a range of hex keys – 2, 2.5, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 8mm – which should cover every bolt on your bike, and the hardened steel construction is certainly up to the job for stubborn bolts, although with their short stature they aren't the greatest for leverage on those that are properly seized.

With more and more manufacturers starting to use Torx bolts, it's good to see VEL has included a couple of tools – T10 and T25 – the latter becoming an increasingly common size for stem bolts, on the likes of Fizik's range, for example.

Alongside these you also get two crosshead screwdrivers, including a small one for gear adjustment, and a flathead version.

> Check out our guide to the best multi tools here

So what's the 13th function? Well, the inflator head is a separate piece which uses a small adaptor to slide over the shortened 8mm hex key when not in use. It's not perfect as it's a little on the sloppy side and easy to lose, so something like a couple of dimples and raised location bumps on the opposing pieces would have been good.

That aside, the inflator head is actually very easy to use. You unscrew the 8mm adaptor piece from the bottom and use that thread to attach the CO2 cartridge, a small hollow pin breaking the seal to release the gas.

You then place it over the Presta valve (screw it on for Schrader) and once pushed fully home it will start to expel the CO2. Thanks to a small rubber grommet inside, the valve is held firm and no gas can escape.

> Check out our guide to the best pumps and CO2 inflators here

Releasing pressure on the head stops the gas so you can stop and check that the tyre is seated correctly before continuing. A 16g threaded cartridge will get a 23mm tyre up to about 120psi in a matter of seconds, and over a few attempts during testing not once have I had a failed discharge.

My biggest gripe with the VEL is its price. It seems quite expensive at £34.99 for such a simple design. The tools look pretty similar to those we see on other multi tools, so it's not like there is custom tooling to be made or anything. When you see the, okay, slightly-less-well-equipped BTwin 300 for £6.50, and add in its inflator head for another £8 including canister, you kind of wonder where your money is going.

Verdict

Overall the VEL is a solid, sturdy piece of kit with a great inflator head but the price is tough to justify