Crankbrothers F16 multi-tool review – neatly packaged trail-side essentials

Crankbrothers is renowned for producing some of the best mountain bike multi-tools in the business and offers a multitude of trail-side tools to get you out of trouble. The F16 is the range-topper in the F-series, which all use an elegant, brushed metal sleeve to house a fold-out multi-tool at its core. The F16 includes a dinky but very usable chain tool as well as the now essential tire plugging apparatus. 

Design and build

The F16 consists of a traditional multi-tool that slides snuggly into a brushed metal sleeve and is magnetically held in place. The folding multi-tool features all the necessary tools to tackle most problems you may encounter on the trail, including 2, 2.5, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 8mm hex keys, a T25 Torx tool plus Phillips and flat head screwdrivers. At the other end of the sleeve, also magnetically held in place, is a very dinky chain-tool, which when removed can also be used as a spoke key with sizes #0, 1, 2 and 3 built into the body as well as a valve core remover. 

On the side of the sleeve, there’s a slide-off plastic compartment that houses a tire plug tool with three sticky plug strips provided. There’s also dedicated space for a set of quick links inside the compartment. 

The brushed metal sleeve features a bottle opener on the back and can be used to hold the chain tool when removing chain pins or provide additional leverage when using the multi-tool.

The individual elements of the tool all slide and magnetically snap together to make a relatively compact tool kit, measuring 86mm x 40mm x 25mm that weighs in at 186g.

Performance

The F16 with its brushed metal sleeve, feels and looks like a very premium product. The multi-tool slides into the sleeve in any direction, but there’s definitely an optimum orientation. By design or otherwise, the multi-tool slides into the sleeve much easier when inserting the end that includes the 8mm hex. It isn’t a big problem if you insert it the other way around, it just takes a bit more effort to remove it and is a bit of faff with gloves on.

All the fold-out tools fit snuggly into their corresponding bolt heads and it never felt like I was likely to damage a bolt head in use. The multi-tool is quite small at only 61mm in length, so it’s useful that the sleeve can be used as a handle extension when a bit more leverage is required.

It’s been years since I’ve broken a chain out on the trail, but it does happen. The dinky little chain tool found on the F16 is a great piece of kit; by leaving it attached to the sleeve, you have a great handle to hold the tool whilst using the multi-tools 4mm hex key to tighten the pin extractor. The chain tool has been designed as a pin removal tool only, so suitable quick links will also be needed to re-attach your chain.

The tubeless tool is a forked design that works with the sticky ‘bacon’ strip plugs and the shank of the fork has been knurled to roughen up the puncture edges before inserting the strip.

Verdict

Crankbrothers has a long track record of making quality trail-side tools and other premium MTB components. The F16 is a reassuringly solid and a high-quality bit of kit, and at $59.99 / £59.99 it needs to be. It’s a bit on the large and heavy side, and for a lighter option, I would recommend the Canyon Fix 3-in-1 multi-tool.

I also found it a bit angular and pointy if carried in a pocket. If thrown into a hip-pack or backpack this obviously isn’t a problem, and I found it useful to have everything you need in one place, rather than fishing around for separate tools. The F16 should get you out of trouble in most trail-side bike fix scenarios.

Tech specs: Crankbrothers F16 multi-tool

• Price:  $59.99 / £59.99
• Tools: 2, 2.5, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 8mm Hex keys, T25 Torx tool, Phillips screwdriver, flat head screwdriver, quick-link storage, bottle opener, tubeless repair tool, chain tool, #0,1,2,3 spoke wrenches, valve core remover
• Size: 86mm x 40mm x 25mm
• Weight: 186g