The Crankbrothers m19 folding steel multi-tool
The Crankbrothers m19 folding multi-tool has been a staple of my everyday ride carry for over a decade now, making it one of the most dependable pieces of gear I’ve ever owned.
I acquired my first m19 tool during my tenure as the e-commerce manager for Mike’s Bikes, a chain of bike shops in the Bay Area where we sold them by the hundreds. I ended up adding not one, but two to my stable of portable tools, creating two identical repair kits for my ride carry, which simplified the process of swapping gear between packs. The small and compact multi-tool has all the tools one could need for a trail side repair, and on the rare times I’ve had to use the chain tool, its performed better than many of the consumer grade shop tools I’ve owned. The spoke wrench tool has re-tensioned many a wheel, and the allen keys are all in good shape, despite use on hundreds of rides and adjustments.
My first new m19 folding tool in over a decade.
Both of the m19 tools I own are still in use, though years of riding in crappy weather and being put away wet has resulted in a bit of oxidization. My favorite way to tote them is nestled inside a Sticky Pod by Miles Wide, bundled with a set of tire levers, stick on Park Took patches, spare chain pins/ master links and zip ties, though one lives in my Camelbak Palos waist pack full time now, necessitating the need for one more of these reliable little folding tools.
I’ll admit to wanting a fresh one simply to have a nicer looking tool for pictures too, since I’m too lazy to grab the sand paper and clean the rust off the ones I have. While I love acquiring, using and testing new tools, I’m hoping to keep the finish on the new m19 looking new for a few years. I’ll probably just keep on putting it away wet as it’s never let me down.
Is this a review, or a homage? I’ll admit it’s a bit of both. If you’re on the market for a new multi-tool, you won’t regret adding one of these to your collection. Thanks to David at Crank Brothers to listening to my story and the refreshed m19.
The Crank Brothers m19 sells for $34. Check it out at Crankbrothers.com, or order one online at Amazon.
Features of the m19
- chain tool: 8/9/10 speed compatible
- spoke wrench: #0, 1, 2, 3
- hex wrenches: #2, 2.5, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8
- open wrench: 8mm, 10mm
- screwdrivers: phillips #1, phillips #2, flat #2
- torx: t-10, t-25
- stainless steel carrying case
