Syncros iS Coupe CO2 Bottle Cage

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?

From Syncros: "Our iS (Integrated Storage) solution for road and gravel riders, the iS Coupe cage is a top entry cage which can be mounted anywhere on the bike. The 10 function multi-tool is securely housed behind the bottle and features a special finish for higher resistance to corrosion. The tool itself has 10 functions to help you get over basic trail side disasters. The CO2 unit is our Boundary CO2 delivery system which offers a fast and efficient method to reinflate your tire in an emergency. The valve is protected to avoid accidental engagement and our design allows you to easily control the rate and flow of CO2. The pack contains a 16g cartridge."

Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?

Syncros lists:

- Integrated Storage top entry cage

- Upgraded bit finish for higher resistance to corrosion

- 10 function multi-tool

- Low profile design mounts seamlessly to the downtube or seat tube

- New Boundary CO2 nozzle with 16g threaded cartridge

The hard and sturdy plastic (glass fibre-reinforced nylon) used for the cage doesn't have much flex at all. The multi-tool is made from hardened steel and is an excellent size for small maintenance tasks. The CO2 dispenser is made of a similar material with a silver plastic screw-down valve for releasing the gas. A plastic sheath slides over this when out of use, and it clicks into the main body of the cage securely.

The cage provides a secure fit for the bottle while also making it easy to access on the move.

When fully extended, the multitool is almost as long as my palm and finger measurement, giving it a good pivot range when you require some more oomph for stubborn bolts. There are 10 standard bits, with the hexagonal bits ranging from small enough to adjust my Wahoo mount, to large enough to fiddle with my rim brake calliper. The hex sizes are 2, 2.5, 3, 4, 5 plus PH2/flat and Torx 10, 20, and 25.

The gliding click motion of the CO2 dispenser's plastic sheath, which protects it from accidental engagement and debris, is particularly satisfying. There are the inevitable pitfalls of screwing into your canister the wrong way if you aren't familiar with the way these dispensers work, but here you get a secure lock between canister, dispenser, and tube valve. A thumbwheel modulates the release of CO2.

Syncros says it has increased resistance to corrosion on the multi-tool via an upgraded bit finish. I didn't experience enough bad weather for a long enough period to really test this, but for the duration of my test period, the cage, tool and dispenser picked up a fair amount of grit and there was no lasting depreciation.

Next to competitors, the 211g seems pretty slight. The Lezyne combination of the Flow Storage Adaptor plus the Flow Cage weighs a claimed 359g with the addition of some tyre levers. And when you bear in mind that a decent budget multi-tool like the KranX F-170 will weigh 199g by itself (though it includes a chain breaker), this starts to look more impressive.

The nylon material has a smooth feel to it, and I really enjoyed the haptics of the CO2 dispenser. However, the canister isn't covered so your hand is at the mercy of the frozen CO2 unless you take measures. The multi-tool fits well in the hand even when stretching into harder-to-reach areas of the bike.

At £69.99 this is right at the top end of the multi-purpose bottle cage market, though it's £6 less than the Lezyne combination mentioned above.

The quality of all the parts is welcome, but if a decent multi-tool costs around £20 and a CO2 inflator £29, then that's £20 for the bottle cage... (The non-iS Coupe cage is £9.99.) Whether the convenience of having your tools screwed onto your frame is worth it is for you to decide.

Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose

The Syncros ensures that you never leave home without a multi-tool, and have the bare minimum required to get some air back into a flat, even if you forget to pack a pump. Storing the multi-tool underneath the bottle adds extra security – you need to remove the bottle to use it. The inflator stores away well and dispenses CO2 as expected, but you will need your own preventative measures for using and removing the frozen canister.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

The length of the folded multi-tool is the same as my knuckle width, which means you have a long pivot for the hex keys and, therefore, more force for any particularly stiff bolts.

I also like that it just makes life much easier, knowing you are always tooled up. One of my main areas of time-consuming faff is triple checking whether I have the necessaries to fix on-ride mechanicals. The Syncros certainly remedied that.

The slick sheath of the CO2 dispenser is also very well done.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

It isn't exactly a bargain, and nor is there any provision for the chilliness of the CO2 dispenser. I am prone to forgetting about the incoming arctic freeze of the canister, so I'd like to have something built in to protect my hand.

How does the price compare to that of similar products in the market, including ones recently tested on road.cc?

Syncros offers a range of different bottle cage plus options, with the Coupe being the gravel/road-friendly edition. While not cheap, it is comparable with other combo offerings from Lezyne.

Use this box to explain your overall score

It's a good option, achieving everything it sets out to do. It's not cheap, but for your money you're getting convenience and the security of knowing you won't leave home without some vital tools.