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Item 710396
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REVIEW SNAPSHOT®
by PowerReviewsPros
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Reviewed by 11 customers
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Pros
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Topeak Alien II 26 Multi-Tool:
So far I found nothing wrong with this tool. I am just beginning to cycle 5 or more days a week and this has been the only tool I have needed thus far for everything on my bike. I have only just started, so not sure if there are tools that are missing from this, but so far I haven't needed anything else.
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Comments about Topeak Alien II 26 Multi-Tool:
I prefer full sized tools but there are times when I know I'm going to have cleaned out my panniers (I have six panniers or bags on my bike), and I'm going to forget to put the tools back in. When that happens, I decided that the painful (for me) expense of [$] for this multi-tool would pay for itself later. Well, today it did. I didn't realize that many of my allen wrenches were missing from my set and I had to use the Alien to work on the front derailleur. I also have already used the knife, yes, that's right I used the knife. This would make a good gift for a fellow cyclist.
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Comments about Topeak Alien II 26 Multi-Tool:
I have used this more than i ever thought i would. easy to use, a bit heavy, i keep it in my messenger bag and all always have it when i need it.
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Comments about Topeak Alien II 26 Multi-Tool:
I've had the original for almost a decade, but it recently jumped from my bag during a ride; can't complain i even reach for it for household repairs. I'll be getting a new one very soon
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Comments about Topeak Alien II 26 Multi-Tool:
My ideal multi-tool has what I need to get me home in a pinch - it will deal with the weird situations I encounter on the side of the road/trail. At the same time, I don't want to tow a bucket of parts and a full size tool kit.
The Alien has an abundance of tools, and as such is big and heavy. I weighed it at home and it came in at over 12 oz. (3/4 lb.) with the case. For a multi-tool, that's a lot. Now don't get me wrong - I don't have a problem with this thing's weight per se. If it's useful to me, I'll carry it. The problem is that at least half of the tools on this aren't really necessary in an emergency. These are peace of mind tools that you will probably never use, use so infrequently that they're not worth carrying, or use on the trail simply because they are there rather than to get you home and make the repair later with normally sized tools. Sure, it'll get you out of a bind, but so would a tool that's half as big.
The other thing that really irritates me about the Alien is that the tire levers are built in to the tool. I break levers from time to time - they're cheap, that's normal. Having them integrated in to something that I plan on keeping for a long time makes me uneasy. This integration also interferes with how easy they are to use. I don't want to be stuck on the side of the road/trail fiddling with tire levers that have tools stuck to the bottom, especially when one of those tools is a knife.
My last issue - and this is really an issue with all bike multi-tools - is its lack of pliers. Pliers are one of the most versatile, valuable tools for solving weird problems. I know a lot of cyclists carry pliers or a camp tool in addition to their multi-tool. Why someone doesn't integrate the two is beyond me.
I do think this would be a good tool for people living in cramped quarters (like college students living in dorms) who might make small adjustments from time to time but not have or want a normal sized tool kit. In that case it could sit in a drawer and the size/inefficiency wouldn't be a big deal.
Pros
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Comments about Topeak Alien II 26 Multi-Tool:
The tool takes up a lot of space in the saddle bag, but it's got tons of features. I use it with the mountain bike, where weight and bulk aren't big issues. Unfortunately, the plastic tab that "locks" the two halves together broke, so I have two little multi-tools. (More metal, less plastic, please!) No huge deal, though, because I keep it in the nylon storage pouch anyway.
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Comments about Topeak Alien II 26 Multi-Tool:
I commute to work, shop, exercise, and have fun on my bike. On and off the road. This is a great tool, you can repair about 80% of any problems that might happen with your bike. I've used this tool many times to help others on the trails. Has a handy little storage place for extra chain pins, doesn't come with them unfortunately.
Unfortunately, it's flippin' heavy, clunky, and a lot of the tools don't lock in place. It has a very sharp knife that locks, but that gets in the way of using the tire levers. You don't want to open the knife when you're trying to get a tire off, but if you leave it closed it gets in the way.
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Comments about Topeak Alien II 26 Multi-Tool:
Tool has everything necessary to repair bike when there is a breakdown while on the road.
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Comments about Topeak Alien II 26 Multi-Tool:
It lives in my camelback. Wouldn't leave for a mountain bike ride without it. I've actually used it for various trailside repairs and it always comes through.
Pros
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Best Uses
Comments about Topeak Alien II 26 Multi-Tool:
Great tool, has everything you need. This was perfect for long bike trips, when you need to repair on the road. I recieved it as a gift, and use it constantly. Since then, I've purchased additional ones to give to others as gifts.
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