Topeak’s Hex Combo is a solid and well made tool, and its shape and length give you real confidence in its abilities out on the road or trails. The nifty colour-coded keys are clever too. As it’s obviously hex-only, you need to pack further tools or a regular multi-tool as well, though.
I normally start with the positives, but I’m going to bang straight into the cons this time – mostly because I’m nitpicking a little.
First up, I get that a tool called ‘Hex Combo’ is obviously only going to feature hex keys, but many bikes feature Torx bolts and the odd straight/crosshead screw as well. If you want to be fully self sufficient, you are going to need extra tools besides this, which adds weight and money.
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On the other hand, I can’t remember the last time I had to tweak my gear limit screws on a ride, to be honest, and Topeak sells a Torx Combo as well.
Nitpick two: the anodising on the body and paint on the keys chips and wears off fairly easily. Again this isn’t a massive deal, but after just six weeks in either a bar bag on my gravel bike or a rucksack it looks quite battered. It doesn’t affect performance, obviously, but maybe a protective pouch might keep it looking better for longer.
Right, with that out of the way let’s look at the good bits.
Hex education
What you’re getting here is a comprehensive set of hex keys including 1.5, 2, 2.5, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 8mm, which covers pretty much everything on a bike apart from certain cranksets – and we all know how often you need to do that [spoiler: not often].
The tool has a good weight to it, and there is no flex in either the S2 hardened steel bits or the aluminium body even on really tight bolts. The keys are a decent length too, so leverage is good.
Play with your bits?
The tolerancing on the tool ends is tight, which means there’s barely any play in the bolt heads – which means there’s very little chance of rounding soft aluminium or titanium alloy bolts.
It’s common for 8mm hex keys to actually be an adaptor that sits over the 6mm, which works but can be fiddly – and the risk is you lose it. It’s great to see a full 8mm key here.
> 11 of the best cycling multi tools – get the right bits to fix your bike’s bits
The 4, 5 and 6mm mm keys are colour coded, which is pretty helpful – ideal if you are in a race situation and you want to get moving as quickly as possible.
There is also a keyring for hanging it on stuff, such as the inside of your bag, perhaps, which would stop whingers going on about it getting chipped and scratched!
Value
At £24.99 it fares well against something like the Specialized EMT 12 multi-tool at £27. That’s a good, small tool that still gives enough purchase, plus you extra bits like Torx keys and a chain tool. Liam did highlight that the 8mm adaptor could easily be lost though.
The Crankbrothers F10 multi-tool is £27.99 and also smaller than the Topeak, but still has a full size 8mm bit. You also get a T25 Torx, plus flat and Phillips screwdriver bits.
Conclusion
Basically, you can get a better array of tools elsewhere for much the same money, but if you just need a quality set of hex keys – either in or out of the workshop – the Hex Combo is the business.
Verdict
Lacks some of the tools needed for roadside repairs, but if you just want hex keys… buy it
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road.cc test report
Make and model: Topeak Hex Combo
Size tested: n/a
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?
Topeak says, “Hex Combo provides 8 pro-quality, heavy-duty S2 hardened steel hex wrenches with high tensile strength for better wear resistance and extended tool life. Hex Combo combines the most commonly used hex sizes into one convenient folded tool with a durable, comfortable and smooth aluminum body. Color coded 4 / 5 / 6mm Allen wrenches make identification easy and the built-in keyring makes it convenient to hang or tether.”
Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?
TOOLS: 1.5 / 2 / 2.5 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 8 mm hex wrenches
TOOL MATERIAL: S2 hardened steel
BODY MATERIAL: Aluminum
SIZE: 11.4 x 2.9 x 2.6 cm / 4.5in x 1.1in x 1in
ADDED FEATURES: Color coding and keyring
It’s a good size and shape in the hand.
Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose
As a hex key set it’s very good for road or trail use.
Tell us what you particularly liked about the product
Great size and shape for undoing stubborn bolts.
Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product
Hex-only means you still need to carry extra tools.
How does the price compare to that of similar products in the market, including ones recently tested on road.cc?
Value wise it could be considered pricey given it’s hex-only, but it’s a very well made and capable tool for the money if that fits the bill.
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 overall score
It’s not as versatile as many multi tools, but as a hex key set it is very well made – and its size means it shifts stubborn bolts.
About the tester
Age: 42 Height: 180cm Weight: 76kg
I usually ride: This month’s test bike My best bike is: B’Twin Ultra CF draped in the latest bling test components
I’ve been riding for: Over 20 years I ride: Every day I would class myself as: Expert
I regularly do the following types of riding: time trialling, commuting, club rides, sportives, fixed/singlespeed,
10 thoughts on “Topeak Hex Combo”
Photos in road.cc reviews
Photos in road.cc reviews always show a pristine new product, usually with an oh-so-hip chipboard backdrop. Wouldn’t it be more useful to show the state of the thing after the tester has abused it for weeks?
It’s OSB!
It’s OSB!
The Topeak Mini 9 has 2 ~ 8mm
The Topeak Mini 9 has 2 ~ 8mm, T25 and #2 Phillips, is half the weight of this thing, is also smaller and significantly cheaper. Very happy with mine.
https://road.cc/content/review/203261-topeak-mini-9-multi-tool
@TheBillder – any photos could give an unfair impression of wear rate etc, it will look used. That’s why the words are far more helpful.
Should all review helmets be crashed in so we can see what broken ones look like?
Simon E wrote:
I think we readers can understand that the test period will be a bit more intense usage than we might subject a product to, and I’m not going to drop something or spray it with water or stand in a bucket to check. It’s what makes road.cc tests stand out from the “I bought this for my grandson, he’s sure to love it, 5*” nonsense. But I’m also keen to see what the thing might look like after a year.
Well… No. Crashing isn’t actually what most people do in a helmet, and frankly the aesthetics of the plastic hat after a collision are the last thing on my mind. But if it looks knackered from being shoved in a box of kit or a rucksack, or being in the boot of a car, I’d quite like to know that. Is it so unrealistic?
I can see pictures of any product in its new state very easily, of course. I just want road.cc to make the most of its superiority to the norm.
TheBillder]
Perhaps I phrased that poorly. Isn’t what happens in a crash one of the key reasons for buying and wearing a helmet?
Otherwise what is the point of reviewing a safety item like that? “Yes it fits my head and is light and well vented” is not really much of a review.
Simon E wrote:
Yes, indeed – but road.cc doesn’t do crash testing: the assumption is that all helmets are ok at that due to meeting relevant standards. Others, such as Virginia Tech, disagree, but that sort of testing is beyond a website. So actually they do mostly say roughly what you suggest.
I guess I’m not going to persuade you (and I doubt I’ll persuade the road.cc honchos either). Good to debate though, thank you.
Agreed, this seems to be far
Agreed, this seems to be far from the best tool from Topeak itself. Personally, I fancy Topeak’s X-Tool. Cheaper and lighter than the one on review, T25 and Phillips, longer bits for awkwardly placed saddle rail clamp bolts etc., a sturdy body for getting a good grip, and still looks/works like new after 10+ years of use.
bit (lolz) of a pointless
bit (lolz) of a pointless tool seeing as you’ll at least need a small posi head bit too, so why not include at least this bit aswell, and a t25 and maybe a t20, then you only need 1 tool to rule them all, chain breaker optional if you want one with that too
Ah but if you have to have a
Ah but if you have to have a crosshead making it a jis2 would be perfect for me.
I like the look of this one, the colour coding on the 4, 5 and 6, and the real 8 makes a lot of sense to me.
Hmm, admit I can’t quite see
Hmm, admit I can’t quite see the point of color coding on a multitool. I totally get it (and have it) for a loose hex set, but on a multitool the bits are both always in the same place and also right next to each other for easy comparison/identification. And, if it *is* useful, then why only on 4-5-6?
Nothing wrong with color coding, of course, I just don’t see that it adds value from a practical perspective, and in the case of this particular tool it just adds to the long list of what (for me) seem odd design choices.
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