Whether you’re mechanically inclined or not, it’s essential to have some basic tools for doing basic tasks on a bicycle. The Topeak Essential Toolshop is one of Topeak’s latest tool kits that combines some of their popular tools into a single kit with a custom carrying case. Retail price on the Essential Toolshop is $119.95 and the kit includes 24 functions. The main star of the tools is the high torque ratchet which has a 60 Nm limit and can be used with the included 18 bits that includes hex, Torx and screwdriver bits. Topeak also includes a Torqbit which has a 2-6 Nm indicator for bolts that require precise force.
The Topeak Essential Toolshop combines some of Topeak’s most popular tools into a single convenient kit with a custom case.
| Rating | 8.8 / 10 |
| Retail Price | $119.95 |
| Measured Weight (in g) | 650 |
| Likes | + All-in-one design with a custom case + High quality bits for nearly any task or bolt + High torque ratchet feels well made and works well in tight spots |
| Dislikes | – Cheap feeling plastic latches on case that can deform over time – Difficult to get precise torque value with Torqbit compared to torque wrenches – Chain tool isn’t as ergonomic as dedicated chain tools |
| Where to Buy (US) | Topeak |
UNBOXING
The Topeak Essential Toolshop comes in a cardboard box with branding and Topeak logos printed on it. Inside the box you’ll find the plastic carrying case and the following tools in it:
- High torque ratchet toolbar
- Torqbit 2-6 Nm
- 12s chain tool
- Disc brake spacer
- Power lever II
- Speed sleeve bit holder
- 9 Hex bits – 1.5 / 2 / 2.5 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 8 / 10
- 6 Torx bits – T10 / T15 / T20 / T25 / T30 / T40
- 3 Screwdrivers bits – Flat5 / PH1 / PH2
The case has custom slots for all the tools with integrated tool bit holders that can tilt upward.
FIT & FINISH
The Topeak Essential Toolshop combines many of Topeak’s popular tools into a single package with its own custom carrying case. Topeak markets it as a must-have household tool kit for everyday maintenance as it includes chain tools, disc brake spacer to a full range of 18 bits. Starting from the case, it’s a nice plastic carrying case that is relatively compact at 25 x 9.6 x 6 cm or 9.8 x 3.8 x 2.4 inches in size. The lid has grooves cut into it and a black Topeak logo with Essential Toolshop printed in silver above it. It’s an all back design with a textured finish that makes it easy to grip and hold. The lid has two metal hinges on the rear but has cheap feeling plastic clasps on the front lid.
Once you open up the case you’ll find all the tools organized into custom slots for easy access and easy identification. The bits are located on the inside of the lid with built-in swiveling bit holders and the speed sleeve above it. On the bottom side you’ll find an arrangement of all the tools with the ratchet, disc brake spacer, Power Lever II, Nano TorqBar and the chain tool. The 18 bits are placed in a row in 9 bit groups with built-in plastic holders with labels printed underneath them. Topeak includes 9 Hex bits: 1.5, 2, 2.5, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, and 10mm which cover everything from water bottle cages to pedals. There are also six Torx bits: T10, T15, T20, T25, T30 and even T40 which covers nearly any task. Finally there is a PH1 and PH2 screwdriver bit along with a flat head SL5 bit.
The bits are 30mm steel with knurling on most of them to make it easier to grip and handle. Topeak has also added some printed on labels on each bit to make it easier to keep them organized. The more common Hex 4, 5 and 6mm hex bits have green, yellow and red coloring on them to make it easier to spot them. The colored labels are a nice detail but have some scratches on them right out of the box. Not only do the bit holders have a swiveling design but they also have a magnet in the base which helps hold the bits in place securely. The main feature of the kit is the high torque CNC aluminum ratchet which is rated for up to 60 Nm. It’s an upsized version of Topeak’s popular mini ratchet we’ve seen with their other toolkits and even the saddle bags. This upgraded ratchet is nearly 30% longer than the smaller ratchet at 4.75” or 12 cm long. The ratchet can be combined with the speed sleeve which is about 2” long and has a plastic sleeve on the inside that freely spins. It’s a clever detail that helps you hold a bolt straight while allowing the main body to rotate around.
Unlike Topeak’s other toolkits, the Essential Toolshop only includes a Nano Torqbar instead of a torque wrench. The Nano Torqbar is designed for 2-6 Nm and has an interesting spring design that shows the current torque value as you tighten the bolt. That means you cannot set a torque value and wait for a click, instead you watch the indicator as you tighten a bolt. It’s less convenient than a standard torque wrench as it’s difficult to get an exact torque value and requires more care. Note, the Torqbar is only designed for tightening and should not be used for loosening bolts as it could damage the calibration. To help with chain installation or removal, Topeak includes a 12 speed chain tool that has a 5mm bit. The chain tool can be combined with the speed sleeve and the ratchet to remove or install chain pins.
Topeak claims it is compatible with chains up to 12 speed except for Campagnolo 11 speed hollow pin chains. This design isn’t as ergonomic as full sized chain tools with handles, but is still effective and has a nice metal construction that should last. Additionally, the kit comes with Topeak’s Power Lever II pliers which are a combination tire lever and chain master link remover or installer. It’s a two-piece design that can be combined in two different ways to either stretch or compress a chain’s master link. In our experience, the levers take some trial and error to remember the correct orientation of the two levers as it’s easy to forget. As with our previous review of these levers, the tire levers shouldn’t be used on more stubborn tires as they are easy to break with their thin plastic design. Finally, the last tool in the kit is a yellow plastic disc brake spacer. This is a convenient tool to have if you are servicing disc brakes or traveling with your wheel removed to prevent the brake calipers from closing.
USABILITY
While we still depend on our local bike shop for more involved maintenance or services, having a tool kit at home is invaluable for adjusting bike fit or installing / removing accessories. The Topeak Essential Toolshop is a nice all-in-one solution that provides enough bits to cover nearly any basic task. In our opinion, the star of the kit is the ratchet which is an oversized version of the ratchet we’ve raved about with the Torq Stick Pro and even Topeak’s Elementa Gearbag saddlebag. It has a premium feel with CNC’d grooves and a tapered aluminum body along with a satisfying click when rotated. With its larger size here, the ratchet makes quick work of stubborn pedals or installing and removing wheelsets. It’s hard to go back to standard Allen keys as the ratchet is far faster and more efficient to use.
The included Power Lever II is another familiar tool we’ve reviewed as a part of the Topeak Gravel Gear Bag and as the Power Lever X variation. Aside from a bit of trial and error to remember the orientation of the levers, they make quick work of opening or losing chain master levers for chain replacement or cleaning. We don’t recommend using them as tire levers as the tapered design is easy to break on stubborn tires though. The two tools we were less impressed with are the Torqbit and the 12s chain tool. It’s difficult to get any precision with the Torqbit compared to traditional click-style torque wrenches as you have to watch the indicator carefully to not exceed a torque value. We’d highly recommend something like the Torq Stick or pre-calibrated bits instead which are much friendlier to use.
Finally, the 12s chain tool is a compact chain breaker that works well but requires a combination of the sleeve and wrench to use. The chain tool is easy to use and holds the chain in place as you tighten down the pin extractor to pop a pin out of a chain link. While it is effective, we still prefer dedicated chain breakers with longer handles like those from Lezyne as they offer more leverage and are more ergonomic. Our only other negative is that the plastic clasps on the case feel cheap. It’s the same design as the Torq Stick Pro which has slowly worn out and started to curve outward over the last two years of use. We would have preferred robust metal clasps like those found on Pro Bike Tool cases, especially at this price point.
THE VERDICT
Overall, we found the Topeak Essential Toolshop to be a nice combo tool kit for bike maintenance. Topeak has combined many of their popular tools like the Power Levers and their ratchet to most common repairs or adjustments on a bike. The toolkit lets you work on chains as well as remove or tighten bolts with 18 included bits. We were particularly impressed with the Ratchet HD which combines a premium aluminum construction with a durable design that is rated for up to 60 Nm. Combining the ratchet with the 18 bits lets you quickly loosen or tighten any bolt on a bike with precision. As far as negatives, we would have liked to see a metal clasp instead of the plastic clasps on the case and found the Torqbar to be difficult to use compared to standard torque wrenches. That said, the Topeak Essential Toolshop offers a number of well made tools into a convenient tool set.
Disclaimer: The product for this review was provided by Topeak. The views expressed on this website are solely those of the authors and are here to help people make an informed choice before a purchase. The authors or the blog itself does not get any monetary compensation from the product manufacturer or third-party websites/vendor links that are posted here.