Topeak X-Tool+

The Topeak X-Tool+ is a useful and sturdy tool that will cover most jobs with ease, and pretty good value too.

• Pros: Well made, good range of bits, light
• Cons: Won't cover all jobs

We mostly all carry a tool of some sorts when out on the road, and there's no shortage of choice in the market place either. This new offering from Topeak is aimed at those who only need to tweak the basics and don't want something too chunky or heavy to carry round.

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The design is fairly standard and brings nothing new to the multi-tool table in that regard, but it does have a feel of quality about it thanks to the high grade materials used in the construction: a plastic body and chrome vanadium steel bits. These include the usual Allen key sizes – 2, 2.5, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 8mm – a Phillips head screwdriver and a Torx head.

For the majority of road bike jobs it will cope just fine, stem and handlebar clamp bolts plus seatpost clamp being the usual on-road tweaks. A lot of bikes now are using the common T25 Torx bolts for a lot of applications; on my older bikes the only time I used this was for computer mounts. The screwdriver head I found was a little big for the only real application I had, which was derailleur limit screws – which can also be adjusted with a flat head screwdriver, which this doesn't have either.

In use, the steel bits were solid and showed no signs of rounding off, fitting snugly with very little twisting from the body of the tool, again the quality construction showing through. After a couple of weeks of use, the nut and bolt at either end that holds the tool together loosened off, but they do include a small detachable Torx/Allen key that can be used to re-tighten it. The only niggle I had was the detachable 8mm Allen attachment that sits on a post in the middle of the tool body – it was awkward to remove and even more fiddly to replace; you would likely end up putting it in your pocket if used at the roadside and potentially losing it.

Value-wise I think it's pretty good: £12.99 isn't going to break the bank and it should last years, making a good investment. There are cheaper options but will they last as long? Unlikely in my view.

> Buyer's Guide: 10 of the best multi-tools

Its overall usefulness then isn't in doubt, but depending on how much you are willing to fix at the roadside it could leave you stuck – personally, I like a basic chain tool built in and it's nice to have extras such as integral tyre levers, a flat blade screwdriver and a quick-link holder which covers far more of the common jobs you will get when out. Topeak's own Hexus X has most of these plus a couple more bits and weighs just 60g more – although it is a full £10 more expensive.

If you are only after a light, basic tool, though, this is well worth a look.

Verdict

Relatively light and great build quality, with limited bits that cover most jobs but not all