Small bits aside, the thing I love about the 8-Bit is it’s genuinely nice to use as a tool. The bits interface really nicely with bolts. It has ~ all the bits I need. Like a truly portable bike shop. And then I compliment it with a more accessible mini-tool.
So I started working on a piece about just-plain-multi-tools since I carry a pack anyway. You can get a lot of functions for a lot less money and that fits with min-maxing. But what tool do you use?! The many-function tools are huge and awkward to handle. The minimal function tools I might as well just use an EDC Lite w/ out the carrier because it has just as much functionality.
I look at the Axle Handle as a potential quick-access compliment to my 8-Bit but I’d never go mountain biking with just that. But accessibility wise I’m not putting a tool in my pocket or somewhere else it can hurt me on a crash.
Anyway, I have an **[SKS multi-tool](https://meatengines.com/f/why-you-cant-buy-my-favourite-multi-tool-from-your-local-shop)** I quite like complemented with a separate chain breaker. It’s still big but the bits are genuinely nice where a lot of multi-tools are junk. But even it’s not as nice to use as the 8-Bit when I need to fix something.
May 19, 2022, 7:50 a.m. - Andrew Major
Small bits aside, the thing I love about the 8-Bit is it’s genuinely nice to use as a tool. The bits interface really nicely with bolts. It has ~ all the bits I need. Like a truly portable bike shop. And then I compliment it with a more accessible mini-tool. So I started working on a piece about just-plain-multi-tools since I carry a pack anyway. You can get a lot of functions for a lot less money and that fits with min-maxing. But what tool do you use?! The many-function tools are huge and awkward to handle. The minimal function tools I might as well just use an EDC Lite w/ out the carrier because it has just as much functionality. I look at the Axle Handle as a potential quick-access compliment to my 8-Bit but I’d never go mountain biking with just that. But accessibility wise I’m not putting a tool in my pocket or somewhere else it can hurt me on a crash. Anyway, I have an **[SKS multi-tool](https://meatengines.com/f/why-you-cant-buy-my-favourite-multi-tool-from-your-local-shop)** I quite like complemented with a separate chain breaker. It’s still big but the bits are genuinely nice where a lot of multi-tools are junk. But even it’s not as nice to use as the 8-Bit when I need to fix something.