Crankbrothers M19 Multi-Tool Review
Most multi-tools are judged on how many functions they list. The M19 is worth carrying because of one of them: the integrated chain breaker is strong enough to be used in anger.
The verdictThe chain tool is the reason to buy it. Heavy for what it is, but it is the difference between fixing a snapped chain at the roadside and calling someone. Carry it and forget it.
The bits are 6150 hi-tensile steel and the body is forged aluminium, which matters because the failure mode of a cheap multi-tool is not the tool snapping — it is a soft hex bit rounding out the head of a bolt you now cannot turn, 40 miles from anywhere. The M19 covers 2 to 8mm hex, Torx T25, two screwdrivers, and eight spoke wrench sizes, which is genuinely the full set of interfaces on a modern gravel bike. The chain tool is the standout: properly supported, with enough leverage to push a pin through without the tool flexing, which is the difference between a field repair and a long walk.
At 175g it is not a weight-weenie item, and the trade-off is the usual one for a fold-out design: leverage on the 6mm and 8mm hex is limited by the length of the body, so a properly torqued crank bolt will fight you. The tools also sit close together, meaning some bolts in tight recesses on the underside of a stem or a bottle cage are awkward to reach square-on. Neither is a reason to leave it at home. It is the one tool that covers everything.
What works
- Hardened 6150 steel bits resist rounding under load
- Chain tool is stiff enough for a genuine trailside repair
- Covers every fastener interface on a modern gravel bike
What doesn't
- 175g is heavy against minimalist multi-tools
- Short body limits leverage on tight 6mm and 8mm bolts
- Closely-packed tools are awkward in recessed positions
Buy it if
Self-supported riders who want one tool that covers every likely repair
Skip it if
You are counting grams and carry a separate quick-link only
Others we scored in this category
Blackburn Plugger Tubeless Tire Repair Kit
Garmin Edge 540 Cycling Computer
ROCKBROS 840D Nylon Waterproof Bike Triangle Bag
Adventure Medical Kits Ultralight/Watertight .5
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