Cycling is many different things to many people; it’s something you do recreationally to keep healthy, and environmentally-friendly way to get around, and a serious sport. Whatever your relationship to cycling, it’s a good idea to make sure you have the right tools to maintain and repair your bike to avoid any unfortunate incidents while out on the road or while mountain biking or BMXing.
Whether you’re looking for a portable kit with only the essential tools or a professional, comprehensive set to have in a bike mechanic's garage or workshop, there's a product for you on our list of the best bike tool kits available from Amazon, Halfords and Decathlon. Here's to keeping you and your bike healthy and accident-free.
Quick List - Top Bike Tool Kits
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While your bike will be able to roll down the street with wobbly wheels and loose brakes, it’s not something that you should be happy about doing. For one, it is incredibly dangerous to ride around on an improperly maintained bike as the risk of accidents is huge. You also don't want to cause any unnecessary damage to your bike.
Luckily, basic bike maintenance is extremely easy and usually only involves tightening a few nuts and bolts and oiling a few moving parts. Working on a bike without the proper tools can be awkward though, so it’s well worth investing a little into some specialist tools designed for the small nooks and crannies you find on a bike.
Our guide is here to help you work out exactly what you need from a bike tool kit. While there are a few absolute necessities, there are also some specialist tools for shortening chains and clipping brake wires that you may not require. There are various kits on the market ranging from the exhaustive to the pocket-sized and we’re here to help you make the right choice.
The first thing to consider when looking at which bike tool kit is best for you is whether you are after something portable to accompany you on your rides or something larger which will be spending most of its time in a garage or workshop for you to tinker with. Both offer benefits but also have certain drawbacks.
Obviously, the main benefit of a smaller tool kit is that it is light and compact, allowing you to carry a small range of common tools with you when cycling for any emergencies that arise when out and about.
Alternatively, a larger set will have more far more tools for complete bike maintenance, meaning you’ll never have to use a bike mechanic, but you’ll need the space to store it and the know-how to utilise it.
Whether you’re looking for a complete set or one to pop in a pannier, there are a few tools that any bike kit worth its salt should contain. We’re also going to point out a few specialist tools that you may want to look for in larger, more exhaustive sets and things you may want to consider for certain jobs.
Allen keys, or hex keys as they’re sometimes known, will probably be your most-used tool as you’ll find that your bike has a lot of corresponding nuts and screws. You may be imagining the classic L-shaped Allen key, which is a good choice, but there are a few different varieties that may suit your needs better.
For example, you could consider going for Allen keys with different handles, as they'll be more comfortable to use while also giving you some extra leverage to loosen some of the trickier joints. There are also multi-tool sets where the keys neatly fold away and ratcheted keys for those difficult areas.
Whatever your preference, 4, 5, and 6 mm keys are the most commonly used with a bike and a set of 1.5 to 10 mm will have you completely covered.
The next most useful tool you’ll need for bike maintenance and repair is a spanner or wrench. Similar to Allen keys, some multi-tools offer a number of different sizes on the same piece, but these tend to be a little bulky meaning that some repairs can be awkward; it’s better to have individual spanners with a long thin handle.
Some kits contain socket wrenches and cranks for those tougher bolts; these are great to have in a garage or workshop.
The main use for a spanner is when working with pedals, and there are even specialist pedal spanners that are longer and bulkier. Unless you’re dealing with some serious rust, any spanner that is the correct size should be fine for adjusting pedals; as long as you can tighten them enough, pedals will tighten themselves more as you cycle.
You’ll probably find Allen keys and spanners in most tool kits, but there are several bike-specific accessories worth looking for if you have any specific repairs in mind. The first of these is a tyre lever, which is a simple tool to help take the tyre from the wheel; this is essential for replacing tyres and repairing punctures.
There are also a number of tools designed for adding or removing links from your bike chain; these tend to be part of larger sets aimed at the workshop and garage. You may also want to consider something to cut any excess brake cables. We’d recommend looking out for a simple pair of cable cutting pliers which should be a part of any larger set.
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Key features | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Halfords Essentials 25pc Tool Kit | ![]() | The Perfect Bike Tool Kit to Have at Home | |
2 | MEEKET Bike Tool Kit | ![]() | One to Buy if You're on a Budget | |
3 | Topeak Mini 20 Pro | ![]() | The Best Quality Multi-Tool | |
4 | Pro BIke Tool 17-in-1 Bike Multitool | ![]() | An Ultra Lightweight Kit | |
5 | BTWIN 900 Bike Toolbox | ![]() | A Great Set to Have Around the House | |
6 | Blackburn Wayside 19 | ![]() | A Neat Multi-Tool With a Serrated Blade | |
7 | Spaire Professional Bicycle Maintenance Tools | ![]() | Quantity Over Quality, but Good Value | |
8 | Lezyne Port-A-Shop Tool Kit (S) | ![]() | A Portable Set That's Almost Good Enough for the Workshop | |
9 | Pedro's Starter Tool Kit | ![]() | One for the Aspiring Home Bike Mechanic |
When it comes to cycling, you can always trust Halfords to deliver the best quality items at extremely competitive prices. This kit contains everything you'll need to keep your bike in tip-top shape while remaining affordable by not including the extras that you're unlikely to use.
When they say essentials, it's not meant in a budget supermarket way, but the true meaning of the word: the things you'll need. 99.99% of the time, if you have an issue with your bike, the solution will be in this box.
If you own a bike and don't own any bike tools, you should seriously consider picking up this option as it's great value for the money. As well as having all of the various tools you'll need to make adjustments, it also comes with a puncture repair kit, which is always handy.
We guarantee that you'll eventually need one of the 16 tools featured on this multi-tool at some point, even if it's just to tighten up a loose screw or bolt. It all fits neatly into a little carry case which easily slips onto your handlebars meaning you'll never be without it when you need it.
Sitting at the same price as the previous multi-tool on our list, the Mini 20 Pro from Topeak just edges into our top 3 due to its more comprehensive selection and sturdier build quality. It comes in a little heavier, but that's to be expected due to the added features.
If you're looking to cram the most functionality in a pocket-sized kit, you can't do much better than this; it doesn't matter if you're riding on-road or off-road, this will quickly become your go-to when out and about.
While not as comprehensive as many other sets on this list, the sheer portability of this multi-tool earns it such a high place. You can put it in a pocket and barely notice it's there; it weighs less than an average smartphone.
Even though it's incredibly light, the tools are sturdy enough for quick roadside repairs and the intelligent design deserves praise as it fits 17 different tools into a package that's almost unbelievably small. If you're looking for something to have in your pocket in case of emergencies, this is a fantastic choice.
If you're looking for an affordable and durable cyclist's tool kit to have around the house, the 900 bike toolbox from BTWIN is a robust and comprehensive choice. The contents fit nicely in the hard carry case and are easily stored.
The tools on offer are better quality than some of the other budget options and the kit also carries a two-year guarantee which is a comfort when dealing with less expensive tool kits. For those wanting a set with everything you'll need as well as the extra reassurance the tools inside will last, this is a great option to consider.
The first thing to note with this multi-tool is that it comes with a lifetime guarantee from Blackburn who are clearly confident in the quality of their product. We agree, and if you're looking for a reliable multi-tool kit to take on the road, then this is an excellent choice.
The only thing we have question marks over is the inclusion of a serrated blade, which is something of an odd choice when it comes to bike maintenance. There are some uses, but the space could have been better utilised.
If you're working with a budget and are looking to have almost every bike-related tool you can in your garage, then this is the set for you. You do get a lot for your money, but as it is more of a budget set, you can't expect the tools to be the absolute best on the market.
While the name claims to be professional, the tools included are better for hobbyists who like to occasionally tinker with their bikes and keep on top or maintenance and repairs. Overall, though, this is a great way to familiarise yourself with the various tools available.
The Lezyene Port-A-Shop does exactly what its name implies – it allows you to take the closest thing to a workshop around with you when you ride, finding a middle ground between portable multi-tools and more comprehensive sets.
While it doesn't take up a huge amount of space in a bag, it's noticeably bigger and heavier than a single multi-tool and doesn't quite offer all the benefits of a full set. For cyclists who don't mind a little extra weight in a bag for long journeys, this is the perfect choice, but it falls through the cracks a little for us.
This starter set from Pedro's is aimed at those who are looking to get into delving a little deeper into bike mechanics. It groups together a good amount of high-quality tools into a neat little burrito wrap styled case with extra pockets for additional tools.
While designed as a starter set, it sits at a price point that may be a little high for what you get; the quality of the tools is great but you'll need to add to it to make a fully comprehensive set for a garage. Plus, although it's portable, it's too bulky to go in a pocket or backpack.
Everyone who likes to spend time cycling should have some sort of bike tool kit, whether it's one to take on the commute with you or store in the garage. We hope you've been able to find something that's relevant to your needs and wish you all the best in your cycling endeavors!
Author: David Sexton
No. 1: Halfords|Essentials 25pc Tool Kit
No. 2: MEEKET|Bike Tool Kit
No. 3: Topeak|Mini 20 Pro
No. 4: Pro BIke Tool|17-in-1 Bike Multitool
No. 5: BTWIN|900 Bike Toolbox
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