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Topeak Compact Survival Gear Wedge

MSRP $ 39.95
# of Reviews 13
Average Rating 4.15/5
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Submitted by starrman a Weekend Warrior from Pensacola, FL
Date Reviewed: July 22, 2006
Favorite Trail:The Chute @ UWF
Duration Product Used:More than 3 years
Price Paid: $25.00
Purchased At:Groton, CT "Bike Barn"
Strengths:Secures under the seat very well. Tools work well in a pinch out on the trail as they are supposed to. There is enough room in this that you don't need to carry a complex hydration system w/ storage... it's expandable too
Weaknesses:You're not going to be opening your own bike repair business with these simple tools, the quality just isn't there. The allen wrench multi-tool is very handy, but it's fram is plastic and though I haven't broken it in 3 years it always seems close. Tire levers included are useless, get some of "Pedro's" unbreakable ones.
Similar Products Used:none
Bike Setup:85% stock Marin Nail Trail
Bottom Line:Overall the product does exactly what it's designed to... trail maintanence, I'd like to see better quality tools, and a more eye pleasing design to "blend in" under the seat better. It was worth the $25 for me, but be carefull... a kick-butt multi tool and Pedro's Tire Levers would be a better investment if less than the price of this.
Value Rating:4Overall Rating:3

Submitted by Oz a Cross Country Rider from Abilene, TX
Date Reviewed: April 18, 2005
Favorite Trail:mmm... Oz must have dirt
Duration Product Used:2 Years
Price Paid: $30.00
Purchased At:rei
Strengths:Like all other reviews, the bag is great.
Weaknesses:Multi tool has finally hosed me for the last time, upgraded today. The rest of the odds and ends in the bag worked as advertised
Similar Products Used:Now have a Specialized EMT Comp
Bike Setup:Do you care? This about the tool remember?
Bottom Line:I used it for a few years, putting it back together after every ride or two. The multi tool just kept falling apart in the bag due to ride vibration. After a few truly nasty spills and a water adventure I won't get into, the foam separator in the top pouch has finally started to detach from the bottom of it's pouch/lid of the bottom pouch. Like I said above, I will keep the bag and remaining contents, but I'm not even wasting my time giving the multi tool to my kid, it goes in the trash tonight. Would I buy it again? Nope, would have bought a bag and a better tool. 2 and 2 on the chili meter... the bag was too good to completely dump on it.
Value Rating:2Overall Rating:2

Submitted by CL a Weekend Warrior from CA
Date Reviewed: February 28, 2003
Duration Product Used:6 months
Price Paid: $29.00
Purchased At:performance
Strengths:steardy, stable when riding, all necessary tools in one bag. attached to seatpost very well. good size bag for extra tube and cell phone.
Weaknesses:heavy (590 gm)
Bike Setup:Schwinn Mesa GSX
Bottom Line:Great buy if you don't want to carry any thing with backpak. Very well designed and binded to the seatpost very tight. But if you ride with Camelback all the time, might as well throw the tools in backpak and save some weight on your bike. For me, I do both ways and it's very easy to detach or attach from bike too.
Value Rating:4Overall Rating:5

Submitted by Frank a from Pomona, NY
Date Reviewed: January 29, 2002
Duration Product Used:6 months
Price Paid: $35.00
Purchased At:rei.com
Strengths:Compact size. Plenty of tools to get you home.Bottom compartment roomy. Foam mold holds tools.
Weaknesses:the tire levers are a little short, but work. I carry an extra Park lever. Have not tried the chain tool
Similar Products Used:Tools at home
Bottom Line:Very good kit, great value. The bottom compartment fits spare tube, Air Chuck and two 16g CO2 with room to spare. Also has a zipper pocket on the bottom, can carry small items, cash, ect in there.
Value Rating:5Overall Rating:4

Submitted by Dale a Weekend Warrior from Australia
Date Reviewed: December 26, 2001
Duration Product Used:Less than 1 month
Price Paid: $70.00
Purchased At:Rebel Sport
Strengths:The Bad is really good and i'm sure that the tube rpair kit would work well
Weaknesses:All the tools, particulary the Chain tool and the tire levers
Bike Setup:2002 Giant Rincon
Bottom Line:Worked well till i need the tools to do their job, the tire levers broke and the chain tool bent then the pin fell out of it. The multi tool bent in the casing so now all the tools dont tuck away properly anymore. but the bag worked really well so did the locking system. i only gave it 2 turds casue the bag it all came in was good
Value Rating:1Overall Rating:2

Submitted by David Hukill a Weekend Warrior from Bedford, NH USA
Date Reviewed: November 26, 2001
Favorite Trail:Mines Falls, Nashua NH
Duration Product Used:6 months
Price Paid: $35.00
Purchased At:www.cambriabike.com
Strengths:Compact, neat-looking, good construction, and well designed product. Has the tools needed to get you home. Bottom pocket is perfect for extra tube. Best feature is the styrofoam insert in the top pocket which has slots for all the included tools. I never hear my tools banging around.
Weaknesses:Tire levers a bit on the flimsy side, but can be replaced. Because the styrofoam is custom-cut for the included tools, should you decide to replace a tool with one of your own choice, it may not fit properly.
Similar Products Used:Various bags.
Bike Setup:N/A
Bottom Line:This product is a great value. At $35, you get a great-looking, and very functional toolset and bag that will handle most situations you encounter on the trail. Well done Topeak, 5 chilis!
Value Rating:5Overall Rating:5

Submitted by ROB a Cross Country Rider from TASMANIA, AUSTRALIA
Date Reviewed: August 13, 2001
Duration Product Used:6 months
Price Paid: $20.00
Purchased At:Ray Appleby Cycles
Strengths:Good variety of essential tools. Very compact, and reasonable weight.
Weaknesses:Chain tool. The driving pin wobbles in the socket.
Similar Products Used:Giant multi tool. Topeak Alien
Bike Setup:Not relevant, but the kick arse Giant ATX 890
Bottom Line:This tool set will get you home (or your bike at least) in one piece. You shouldn't need to carry any more tools than whats in this baby.
Value Rating:5Overall Rating:5

Submitted by Alec Mackenzie a Cross Country Rider from Bowdoinham, Maine, USA
Date Reviewed: April 7, 2001
Favorite Trail:Any trail at Sunday River
Duration Product Used:1 Year
Price Paid: $30.00
Purchased At:Performance Bike Dot Com
Strengths:It has everything you really need on the trail, pluss the extra pocket, which I use for a tube.
Weaknesses:When your friends see it they break stuff just so they can watch you use it, and one time some pro downhillers made fun of me because I still carry tools around with me, apparently thats a big haha.
Bike Setup:2000 Mongoose NX 8.5, Rock Shock SID 100, Fox Vanilla FLOAT, Formula MD-1 Disks, LX drivetrain, not that any of it matters for this product.
Bottom Line:This isn't going to be your entire toolbox, but there is more then enough to get you home and off the trail. There is a foam piece that holds all the pieces and keeps them from bumping around in the bag, on some hard trails the tools pop out and hit eachother. So your not going crazy, that noise you hear is the tools, its no biggy. The chain tool I have found to be a little chintzy, but again it gets the job done.
Value Rating:4Overall Rating:5

Submitted by Keith a Weekend Warrior from SC
Date Reviewed: August 24, 2000
Favorite Trail:all of them
Duration Product Used:2 Years
Price Paid: $18.00
Purchased At:bike shop
Strengths:Comes in a handy case that mounts to seatpost. Has hex wrenches and chain breaker, patches, wrenches, tire levers.Everything you need is here!
Weaknesses:none so far.
Similar Products Used:this is the first..and only.. :)
Bike Setup:Cannondale M400 w/ noleen chubby LT fork, Sachs grip shift, Serfas light set, WTB tires, the rest is stock. color is Mango yellow.
Bottom Line:This is a great tool, it is all i ever use to make repairs and adjustments. I have this tool set and a leatherman-style multitool and spare patches and tube..You dont need more than that cuz nearly all the tools you need are right there in the handy case. Top notch product, i would buy another if this one ever got lost. Cant live without it.
Five flaming jalapenos all the way!!
Value Rating:5Overall Rating:5

Submitted by Chong Oh a Weekend Warrior from Sacramento, CA
Date Reviewed: August 7, 2000
Favorite Trail:Rockville park
Duration Product Used:More than 3 years
Strengths:It works with good leverage.
Weaknesses:Tire lever snapped.
Similar Products Used:none
Bike Setup:Hardtail Aluminium Mountain bike with XTR, Lots Ti parts, etc.
Bottom Line:Saved my butt more than once without a problem until the tire lever broke. Oh well. I read somebody complaining about leverage problem with biggest allen key. Handle for the chaintool is hollow on one end. Short end of allen key goes in there to provide better leverage. Very satisfied with its use.
Value Rating:5Overall Rating:4

Submitted by Tsunami a wanna be a Racer from NorCal
Date Reviewed: December 14, 1999
Favorite Trail:
Ho Chi Minh Trail
Duration Product Used:
more than 3 years
Strengths:
Usable tools w/ lots of leverage
compact size
still works good after 6 years of use
Weaknesses:
need some pliers and a phillip head screwdriver
stupid name! almost as dumb as cool tool
Similar Products Used:
cool tool
Bike Setup:
any mtn. bike i ride i carry this.
Bottom Line:nice compact emergency trail tool! comes with allens, hexs, chainbreaker, flat tip screw driver, tire levers, patches, and all inside a sleek case. for the reader below: you have to think a little when using this tool! what i mean is that when you use the longest hex wrench, you have to use it in conjuntion w/ the chainbreaker bar to get the leverage. DUH!
Because it is reliable, rugged, and has usable tools (not like some of the other trail tools).....
Overall Rating:5

Submitted by Len Hamilton a Weekend Warrior from California, MD
Date Reviewed: June 1, 1999
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Bottom Line:Pretty good kit, I like the compact size. My biggest gripe is with the hex wrenches. The largest hex is on the long end of the wrench so you have the least leverage when you need it! Topeak should put the large hex on the short end so I can apply more force where it's needed.
Overall Rating:4

Submitted by Chris a Weekend Warrior from Auckland
Date Reviewed: May 11, 1999
Duration Product Used:
less than 1 month
Strengths:
High quality construction. Feels like it will last.
Weaknesses:
Fiddly to get some of the tools out
Bike Setup:
Scott Comp Racing, Shimano LX drivetrain, Mavic wheels, Gripshift
Bottom Line:Beautifully-made and single-minded in purpose. Clips neatly on to the seatpost with a clip, plus a velcro strap for extra security. Can be annoying trying to get some of the tools out, especially with wet fingers, but that's the nature of the beast. A small price to pay for a reassuring emergency backup.
Overall Rating:5






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