The Crank Brothers M10 is the stripped-down member of the M-Series, carrying ten functions in a 150-gram package. If you ride relatively close to home or keep a chain tool in your shop rather than your saddlebag, the M10 gives you the essentials without the extra weight. The body is high tensile steel with textured side grips that make the tool easy to handle with gloves or sweaty hands. Folded dimensions measure 89mm by 42mm by 19mm, compact enough to disappear in a jersey pocket.

The tool set focuses on hex wrenches, which handle most of the fasteners on a modern bike. Sizes 2, 2.5, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 8mm cover derailleur adjustments, stem bolts, brake caliper mounting, seatpost clamps, and crank arm bolts. A T-25 Torx fits disc brake rotor bolts and certain stem faceplates. Phillips #2 and flat #2 screwdrivers complete the lineup for the occasional screw-based adjuster or accessory mount.

What the M10 leaves out tells you who it's for. There's no chain tool, so if you snap a chain mid-ride you'll need another solution. No spoke wrenches, so truing a wheel on the trail isn't an option. No open wrenches for pedal flats or older component hardware. The M10 assumes you're handling routine adjustments and minor trailside fixes rather than major mechanicals. If your ride usually ends back where it started within a couple hours, that's a reasonable bet.... Read More