Topeak Ratchet N Roll Elite

The Topeak Ratchet'n Roll Elite really is a ratchet in a roll, so you can (maybe) excuse that name. It's also a tubeless repair and CO2 kit, in case your tyres are more given to pop.

Check out our guide to the best bike multi-tools for other portable means of fixing and fettling.

There's a lot to be said for carrying a ratchet instead of a multi-tool, so long as you're not relying on that multi-tool for specialist things like chain breakers or spoke keys. If you're just after hex, Torx and screwdrivers, a ratchet can be lighter, slimmer and nicer to use.

Topeak hasn't gone for tiny and light with this design, though, instead favouring clever packaging (I'm not talking about the slightly naff plastic sleeve or the rock 'n' rolling name here...) to mash various useful functions into one neat little bundle.

Sympathy for the fettle

The neatly machined handle of the reversible ratchet holds a plug insertion tool and an adaptor for sticking CO2 cylinders onto your Presta valve. It all screws together securely, and on its own weighs just 40g. The hex/Torx bits weigh 5-6g each and the four provided tyre plugs (without the 9g holder) are another 5g, so if you do want to go light then it's easily done by cherry-picking parts and ditching the roll.

All up, this collection weighs 180g, and a relatively large chunk of that (31g) is the steel bit-holder extension with its aluminium 'Speed Sleeve' that spins independently. This sleeve is a nice touch, works perfectly well and realistically adds little to no weight, but isn't really that necessary or useful on this small, slow-moving tool – it's not like a big T-handle where you can spin long bolts in to save time.

All that steel keeps it strong, though; it's rated to 30Nm, which is pretty high for a bicycle – seat and bar clamps, for instance, are typically around 5-6Nm.

The 'PU leather' roll, which will feel more like thin plastic to young people and a Darth Vader action figure's cape to older ones, has 10 labelled pockets for the bits. It also has pockets containing two rubber loops and the long extension, plus riveted-on clips to stop the ratchet and plug holder just sliding out the end of the roll.

The 10 bits in question are T10, T15 and T20 Torx, hex in 2, 2.5, 3, 4, 5 and 6mm, and a PH2 (Phillips) screwdriver.

The rubber loops pass through slots in the Velcro strap to hold CO2 and/or tyre levers (not supplied), and I found them a tight and secure fit on a 16g cartridge. The strap is long enough to wrap around the roll, pass through your saddle rails and then wrap a fair way around again before sticking down securely.

Having struggled with some disastrously unsticky hook and loop on the Topeak Elementa Strap recently, I must admit I was a bit paranoid about this roll staying on my bike, but it was fine. This is different stuff, hangs on tenaciously, and works just as it should.

While the plastic roll works just fine – it keeps flying water off effectively and never gains weight by going soggy – it doesn't look as good as what's inside. The matt finish and contour line graphics are nice enough, but it lacks the premium feel you might expect given the price.

Under pressure

Though the CO2 head lacks fancy things like controllable valves or elaborate machining, it's pleasingly minimalist and works really well. You push it onto your valve and then screw in the canister; that pierces it, which you can't even feel (or hear). To actually release the gas, you then unscrew it, gently twiddling to control the flow. It does all you need.

If you need to repair a cut tyre first, the ratchet handle also contains a plug insertion tool with a rough file section on its steel shaft, plus a plastic case holding four plugs. The tool is solid and easy to use; there's even a rubber o-ring in a machined notch to stop moisture from getting in and corroding it while it's stored. That's a really nice touch.

Uncomfortably numb

There's no neoprene sleeve or anything to protect you from the rapid freezing of the metal as you inflate a tyre, but I found my gloves (windproof full-finger ones with no insulation) worked fine, at least for holding the canister; the adaptor itself gets too cold for comfort.

Value

The combination of ratchet and CO2 dispenser is pretty unusual, so there's not much to compare this to directly. However, you can buy a ratchet and a CO2 system – often with gas included – separately for less.

For instance, the Lezyne Twin Kit CO2 that Stu reviewed last year is £28, weighs 173g with the two included 16g bottles, and features tyre levers.

Alternatively, the Topeak AirBooster Nano With 16g CO2 is cheaper still at £16.99, is only 73g and is very well made, though our reviewer found the fit on valves a bit hit and miss.

I tested the very good Lezyne Ratchet Kit last year, which you could add to either of these for £40 and still be well under the price of the Ratchet'n Roll. You'd also have gas and/or tyre levers, rather than having to buy those separately. Okay, the Lezyne Ratchet is 139g on its own, but that can also be significantly reduced by ditching the case and taking only the hex bits you actually need.

Conclusion

Overall, this is a good little kit, and the ratchet is far nicer to use than most multi-tools – especially around cables. The CO2 head works very well too, and the overall tool design is both clever and neatly executed. It all makes a tidy and secure package on your bike (if not with quite the premium look the price implies) but there are cheaper, lighter ways to get the same results.

Verdict

Clever design and impressively machined, but the roll feels cheap – and it's an expensive solution to your problems