Knog have a reputation for their fresh take on bike accessories, and this multi-tool doesn’t disappoint with its design – a cool aluminium case with the tools neatly layered inside – but unfortunately it’s at the expense of the functionality.
Knog make three multi-tools with this tidy 50x50mm square shape. Each folds out clamshell style to reveal its seven, 12 or – in this case – 20 tools.
The Tool 20 gets 2, 2.5, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 8mm Allen keys, a T25 Torx bit, Phillips and flat head screwdrivers, 8, 10, 13 and 15mm spanners, four spoke keys (3.23, 3.30, 3.45 and 3.96mm), a chain tool and a bottle opener.
The Allen keys are good quality but their short length combined with the boxy shape of the body make them very difficult to use in tight spots – adjusting seatpost cradle bolts and tightening bottle cage bolts is an exercise in patience.
The Torx 25 comes as a separate head that fits onto one of the Allen keys, but it’s pretty loose and we’d put money on it getting lost quickly. The 8mm Allen key had a similar problem – it’s designed to fit onto the 5mm key but as it’s drilled right through, it slipped all the way down and was almost impossible to use.
The Achilles’ heel, however, is the chain tool, which removes pins adequately but is awful at putting them back in; ours bent during its first use. The spoke keys aren’t great either.
All the functions on this middleweight (188g) tool work but they really do need to be easier to use. If you really want a Knog multi-tool, the Tool 12 (which loses the chain tool, spoke keys and the 8, 10 and 13mm spanners) would be a much better buy. But we’d pick a cheaper alternative from Topeak or PRO.