The Pedro's L Hex Wrench Set comprises nine wrenches that will do pretty much anything on your bikes. They're guaranteed for life, and for the money they're hard to go past.
With an ingrained need to see a matching toolboard of uniform colour, most bikeshops and well-equipped home workshops fall into one of two camps: Pedro's yellow or Park Tool blue. Following the ecosystem approach, the Pedro's L Hex Wrench Set is the same one that goes into the Pedro's Master Tool Kit 3.1 and its other pro-level toolsets. This is good kit, designed to go into a smaller toolcase for travels or if you are limited on space.
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Pedro's has been around since 1989, and its tools grace many a world tour team mechanic toolbox. The tools have been made in Taiwan for the last two decades by the same family firm exclusively, and they come with a lifetime warranty. Given the quality on show here, I can't imagine they have to honour too many warranty calls though.
The L Hex Wrench Set is made up of 1.5, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8 and 10mm hexes, each with a ball end for use at an angle in hard-to-get-at spaces or where a screw needs an initial light yet high-speed winding in, and a relatively short L-section to keep forces applied in the right direction and minimise unwanted twisting under load. The 10mm measures up at 23cm or 9in, giving plenty of leverage, while the 8mm is 20cm/8in, plenty of heft for stubborn pedals.
The set slots into a plastic holder, which allows each wrench to be rotated out of the way to remove a neighbour. With the numbers stamped on the side down to the 4mm wrench you'll always know what you are picking up, should you leave them scattered across the bench. To aid tidiness, the plastic holder can be hung up out of the way on a hook or nail once done.
> Beginner's Guide: The kit you need to do your own basic bike maintenance
After a month of daily use, the most-used keys – 5 and 6 – showed no signs of wear. None. Inspecting them now under a bright light, they look pristine. Even the keys doing heavy load work – 8 and 10mm – look like new.
For roughly twice the money, Pedro's does a hex set with plastic T-handles, and for shop use these are probably preferable thanks to improved ergonomics and speed of access. But for home or travel use, the L Hex Wrench set is more than adequate.
Verdict
A great choice for the home or travelling mechanic that should last a lifetime
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Make and model: Pedro's L Hex Wrench Set
Size tested: 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,10mm
Tell us what the product is for, and who it's aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about it?
They are for people wanting to service bikes accurately, without taking up masses of space in your toolbox.
Pedro's says:
"The hex wrench is the most common tool needed for the modern bicycle. Choosing the right set can make the difference between good day and a bad day working on bikes. Pedro's L Hex Wrench Set is up to the challenge. We made these wrenches from heat-treated SNCM-V alloy steel to ensure superior strength and long-lasting performance. Pedro's hex wrenches also feature extra length and a round-style end for better leverage and easy access and handling of hard-to-reach bolts. The set includes all the sizes you need, in convenient holder, all backed by Pedro's lifetime warranty."
Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?
9-Piece Metric Hex Wrench Set With Holder
Made from heat-treated SNCM-V alloy steel to ensure long-lasting performance
Extra length provides great leverage and access to hard-to-reach bolts
Includes: 1.5, 2, 2.5, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, & 10mm sizes in convenient holder
Rate the product for quality of construction:
10/10
Can't fault them. Exemplary.
Rate the product for performance:
8/10
Perform very well indeed.
Rate the product for durability:
9/10
Again, can't fault them. Could imagine the holder maybe working loose over a long time, but probably splitting hairs there.
Rate the product for value:
8/10
About mid-market for a pro-level tool.
Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose
Very well indeed for a compact set of hexes.
Tell us what you particularly liked about the product
The short L and long arm – made for strong leverage with no slop.
Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product
Maybe the holder could be nicer, somehow.
Did you enjoy using the product? Yes
Would you consider buying the product? Yes
Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes
Use this box to explain your score
It's hard to get overly excited about basic L-wrenches; these are very well executed among similar offerings from competitors.
Age: 43 Height: 183cm Weight: 72kg
I usually ride: Merida Ride 5000 Disc My best bike is:
I've been riding for: Over 20 years I ride: A few times a week I would class myself as: Expert
I regularly do the following types of riding: cyclo cross, club rides, general fitness riding, mountain biking, Dutch bike pootling
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