If you do a lot of home maintenance, a long-handled set of hex keys like this is a huge help. A multi-tool or the usual little keys of the type that simply materialise in your toolbox – be honest, you never bought a single one, but there they all are – will only make every job harder and longer. Their marketing department has been allowed to pursue sales attempts without any understanding of the meaning of some of the classifications they're employing to describe the tool sets they're trying to sell. Their "woodworking" set, for example, is of little use to a woodworker and also includes a couple of token woodworking tools not designed or made by Wera. they self-adjust across the range of their jaw-gap, making it irrelevant whwther the bolt head is metric, imperial or any other standard width.

I've found Wera's HexPlus shaped allen keys can really save a soft bolt that's starting to round out. They're a great product and well worth spending a small premium for IMHO. Bit sets are a lot cheaper than buying each single bit but often have a lot of bits that you never use. Not so with this set. The included ratchet and wrench handle are much smaller than typical sizes, but they do provide sufficient leverage for bike-type tightening. They're also small enough to get into tight places. I use the handle to get a screw in place and then tighten with the ratchet if I need more torque. The only true bicycle tools are a few bits and their holders, two or three nut drivers, the tyre levers, the lower-torque value torque wrenches and a (not that good) chain breaker/maker. Everything else is really just a lot of (very good) general engineering tools. That standard type case is not as compact at this one, and that is the one advantage this set has. However, given its size and weight (463g all-in on our Scales of Truth), I don't see myself taking it on a ride. For me, it's a set that stays at home, or in the car, so size and weight are less important really. ValueYou can get sets cheaper than the ones I mentioned, but that's where you really start to compromise on quality to the point where the tools become less usable. This one is good for torques between 2.0 - 12.0 Nm but can also be used as a standard wrench via a slip-sleeve "lever". It also prevents you over-torquing (always a danger with standard-design torque wrenches) as once the set value is reached a clutch prevents the application of any more turning of the tool and bit. I’ve also experienced quite a few really crappy bit ratchet sets over the years. I’ve had bit ratchets that blew up after a week of use, and I’ve had bits that made me shudder due to their terrible fit. The level of refinement in this set is superb, especially compared to some others that I have seen.

Next, we have the bits themselves. In my opinion, these small bits are where Hex-Plus really shows its worth. With some other bit ratchet sets (even some fairly nice ones), I find that any fit challenges are really apparent. If you’re giving your suspension pivot bolts a nice little tighten, for example, the bit can sometimes be hard to remove. This is less of an issue with the Wera tool, and suggests that there might really be something to this Hex-Plus thing. The ideal use case could be as a smallish kit that you keep in your vehicle, that lets you complete some parking lot bike repairs, and allows you to build your own little haul along set (via the small plastic holder) as well. I’m also really enthusiastic about the carrying case that Wera provides. It seems like most companies jam their tools into a crappy plastic holder (Wera does this as well, with their non bicycle specific metric set). This soft sided holder adds a bit of bulk, but it’s so nice to be able to lay your wrenches out flat on a table where you can easily slide them in and out of the elastic straps that hold them in place. One could argue that your tools are also better protected as they are fully surrounded when the case is closed up. These cheaper sets don't get anywhere near Wera's quality, but they are plenty good enough for bike maintenance; I've been using one for years. This Wera set covers all the most common sizes, adds the two most common Torx heads, and gets on with doing the job extremely well. It's not cheap, but if you do a lot of work on your bikes it's a worthwhile investment – so long as you value all the neat little details Wera gets right here. VerdictThese are screwdriver-shaped but are good for dealing with the teeny torque-sensitive screws often found on modern bicycle gubbins, particularly gear and brake parts. The two varieties handle torque settings between 0.3 - 3.0 Nm. The heart of the system is the Zyklop mini bit ratchet . For bits, you get Hex-Plus in 2 through 8mm, as well as Torx 10, Torx 25 and a Phillips 2. Last, you get a really long extension, and a nice little carrying case. The next item is one of those multi-configuration tools that saves you rummaging in the tool box for a tool with just one of its many features - a 1/4" drive Zyklops that can turn any bit (some via adapters) in the above-mentioned set: 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?