Blackburn Grid 13 Multitool

Blackburn's Grid 13 Multitool occupies the middle ground between minimalist and pocket workshop. A penny shy of £20 buys 13 functions, as the name suggests, which doesn't sound like phenomenal bang for buck, but they're nicely executed and pleasant to use – hence, I've tended to reach for it when fettling at home too.

Most manufacturers have come along with a duff concept, but with just one notable exception, I've always been very impressed by Blackburn stuff. The lifetime warranty is a definite plus, and on the one occasion that a rack failed while hustling through E7 in the wee small hours, Blackburn honoured it.

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Back to the Grid, it's pretty comprehensive but relatively compact. Sandwiched between the die cast A383 aluminium alloy side plates, emblazoned with the Blackburn logo, we have pretty much the full complement of Allen keys: 1.5, 2, 2.5, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 8 mm. There's a T25 driver for taming disc callipers and a pad spreader for those moments when you've absent-mindedly engaged a brake lever with the wheel out. This also incorporates a bottle opener – a welcome touch and highlights the subtle, intelligent use of available space.

Given torx heads are no longer limited to disc brake callipers, I was pleased by the inclusion of a T30 as well as the T25. Primarily intended for chainring bolts, it also came in handy on some models of cam-type security skewers and proved a useful alternative to 5mm Allen keys where extra bite was called for.

Bits are made from aircraft grade 6150 chrome vanadium steel, which enjoys higher resistance to wear and corrosion than other grades of hi-tensile steel. Lengths are about right – long enough to persuade higher-stressed or badly weathered bits to budge, yet nimble enough in confined spaces.

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The 1.5, 2, 2.5 and 4mm bits are L-shaped, which certainly helps in tight situations – when nipping mudguard bolts snug at the chainstay bridge, introducing additional bottle cages to smaller main triangles and the like. Conversely, because of the short length, the 4mm key was less convenient when tackling a recessed brake lever mounting bolt.

Summing up, the Grid tackles most jobs I'd ask of a pocket tool on a day-to-day basis, and caters for both road and mountain bike audiences. However, it's a buyer's market and choice depends on your machine(s), what you want from a pocket tool, and, to some extent, your approach to maintenance.

Verdict

Generally well engineered and pleasant to use, but I'd like a longer 8mm bit