A different approach to the bicycle multi tool
In the past I’ve owned – and lost – a couple of bicycle multi tools. The main idea behind these things is mainly the same: all tools packed together like a Swiss Army knife, as small and as light as possible.
With The Nutter the British company Full Windsor takes on a completely different approach. It’s a handtool with seperate bits, much like the one you probably have lying around in your garage. And it even comes with a bit extender.
Why?
The Nutter has advantages over the traditional multi tool. First of all you have a much better hold due to its ergonomic shape. And because it is longer you have much more leverage – a whole lot more. You can use your entire hand to fasten or loosen. I have removed two rusted cleats from underneath my mountainbike shoes – normally a pain in the butt – with for The Nutter no problem at.
Rolled out. I’ve numbered the bits with a chalk so I can find them easily in the dark (T for torx).
Bits and pieces
Inside the pouch are eight bits: five hex tool bits (3, 4, 5, 6 and 8 mm), a philips head screw bit, a flat head screw bit and a T25 torx bit. The previously mentioned bit extender is magnetic, as well as the bit opening in the tool itself, so you don’t have to worry about bits falling out when you are standing ankle deep in tall grass.
The tool itself has a 15 millimeter box head spanner on the top end, for all you non-quick release riders, and a nylon (!) tyre lever on the other end. On the opposite side of the bit opening is a spoke key, a feature you will have to do without on a lot of other multi tools.
Since the bits and tool are all housed together it didn’t take long before I started using the tool off the bike as well. For small chores around the house for example.
Notice the little magnet inside.
Weight
Full Windsor states that the tool weighs 110 grams. That’s true, but that would be only the tool by itself. The complete set including the pouch tips the scale at 225 grams. That’s a bit more than the average multi tool (100 – 150 grams). But good news for the weight weenies who want to carry less: two bits can be magnetically housed inside the tool. Put it in your back pocket and leave the rest at home for bigger trips.
This would be your ‘ultralight’ setup. Two of the bits magneticaly housed inside te tool. Notice the spoke key on top.
Used Material
The pouch is made of leather and available in a brown or black version. It has two long velcro straps to hang it from your saddle rails, Brooks saddle, or any tube on your bike. The bits are housed in a stiched recycled inner tube – nice touch! Everthing from the metal parts to the pouch is really well made. Full Windsor definitely puts quality first.
Real leather. Quality stitching. And the best logo I’ve seen in quite a while.
Speed
With the seperate bit system and pouch with velcro straps all adjustments take up more time than with the standard cycling tool. Besides that it is a little bit of a struggle to remove the tool from the pouch. Is that a problem? No. You are probably not competing in a race where every second matters – and if so, you would have lost by now anyway.
Picture this instead: another cyclist is standing on the side of the road in need of help. You stop and instead of scratching that brand new carbon frame with your flimsy folding tool, you roll out The Nutter and intuitivily pick the right bit – Hero Of The Day award guaranteed.
In conclusion
The Nutter is not the lightest, not the cheapest, not the fastest tool around. But it makes it all up with its ergonomic hold to apply the exact amount of force to adjust about almost anything on your bike. The parts and the pouch are well made and look good, especially when hanging from a Brooks saddle. Oh, did I mention the middle part of The Nutter works as a bottle opener? Let’s see if that works. Cheers!
The Nutter is available on www.full-windsor.com for £ 39.99 (excl. shipping).
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