Crankbrothers Reviews Tools

Crankbrothers M10 & M19 Review

April 30, 2019

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Crankbrothers M10 & M19 Review

Crankbrothers M10, M19 Multitools
4.9

Summary

After riding with the Crankbrothers M10 and M19 multitools for thousands of combined miles across dirt and pavement, I’ve found they stand up to whatever I throw at them, are easy to carry and use, and come with competitive prices.

If you frequently work in tight spaces, though, I’ve found the M19’s tools—which are half the length of the M10’s—can impact the ease of use.

  • Comfort
  • Durability
  • Ease of Use
  • Functionality
  • Portability
  • Price
  • Overall Value

Pros

  • Eye-catching designs
  • Crankbrothers comes with ultra-high customer reputation
  • Comfortable hand position
  • Easy to use on or off the trail
  • Very durable
  • Stow away easily in saddlebag or back jersey pocket
  • Competitive pricing
  • Not too heavy

Cons

  • The M19’s tools are meaningfully shorter than the M10’s, which can impact effectiveness when working in tight spaces.
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Crankbrothers M10 and M19 multitools have been a popular option among cyclists of all disciplines for years. I’ll walk you through my long-term experience with them and help you understand if they’re right for you.


About Crankbrothers M10 & M19 Multitools

Crankbrothers M10 and M19 multitools are made from precision-cut high-tensile steel and 6061-T6 aluminum, feature unique designs and eye-catching colors, and provide grooved sidebars for more secure grip, whether your gloves are on or off.

Together with their lifetime warranties and simple, functional designs, the company advertises they’re “the ultimate trailside companion.”

I’ve cumulatively ridden with Crankbrothers’ M10 and M19 multitools across thousands of miles. And during this time, I’ve relied on them countless times.

Here, I’ll quickly cover my experience and how the tools compare to competing models, so you can decide whether or not they’re worth the investment.

How Do Crankbrothers’ M10 & M19 Multitools Work?

Crankbrothers M10

Crankbrothers’ M10 multitool is 89 mm long and available in Gold, Midnight, Black/Red, Nickel, Red, Green, Orange, and Black/Magenta colors.

It comes with seven 6050 steel hex wrenches (#2, 2.5, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8), two screwdrivers (Phillips #2, flat #2), and a T25 Torx tool for disc brakes. Weight is 124 grams.

Crankbrothers packed 10 different tools into the M10’s 3.5-inch-long 6061-T6 aluminum body. Credit: Crankbrothers

Together, the company advertises it’s ideal for cyclocross/gravel and XC/trail applications.

Crankbrothers M19

Comparatively, Crankbrothers’ M19 multitool is available in many of the same colors (Gold, Midnight, Black/Red, Nickel, and Black/Magenta) as the M10, comes in the same length and materials, and features the same seven hex wrenches, Phillips #2 and flat #2 screwdrivers, and T25 Torx tool.

Compared to the M10, the M19 multitool above offers nearly twice as many tools, and also comes with a carrying case. Credit: Crankbrothers

However, it adds a stainless steel chain breaker tool (8/9/10/11/12 speed compatible), two open wrenches (8mm, 10mm), three spoke wrenches (#0, 1, 2, 3), and a T10 Torx tool. These additions increase the weight to 175 grams.

Here’s a quick table comparing the two models:

Crankbrothers M10 vs. M19
  M10 M19
Weight 124 g 175 g
Hex Wrenches #2, 2.5, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8 #2, 2.5, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8
Screwdrivers Phillips #2, Flat #2 Phillips #2, Flat #2
Torx T25 T25, T10
Open Wrenches N/A 8mm, 10mm
Spoke Wrenches N/A #0, 1, 2, 3
Chain Tool N/A 8/9/10/11/12 speed compatible
Applications Cyclocross/Gravel, XC/Trail Downhill, Enduro, XC/Trail
Colors Gold, Midnight, Black/Red, Nickel, Red, Green, Orange, Black/Magenta Gold, Midnight, Black/Red, Nickel, Black/Magenta

My Experience With Crankbrothers’ M10 & M19 Multitools

Overall, after using my M10 (Midnight) and M19 (Magenta/Black) multitools on and off the road for thousands of miles, they seem like they’d meet most riders’ needs for adjustments and quick fixes, whether trailside or roadside.

Since they’re roughly the same size, I’ve found that both multitools fit nicely inside my Topeak Aero Wedge pack. And since I’m mostly unconcerned with small differences in weight, the 51 g between them is inconsequential for my needs.

Although there’s not much difference in size, the M19 (left) weighs 30%+ more than the M10.

With this said, the M19’s greater variety of tools means that Crankbrothers had to make them meaningfully shorter than the M10’s, which I’ve found does impact the former’s usability in tight spaces. The M19’s chain tool tends to flop around a bit as well but won’t come unthreaded.

Still, both are exceptionally easy to use, overall.

You can see here that the M10’s tools (top) are nearly twice as long as the M19’s.
While the M10’s (top) much longer tools don’t impact its size when folded, I’ve found this added length does make a big difference in real-world performance and ease of use.

When the time comes, the tools’ tensions are easily adjustable using side hex screws.

From a durability perspective, I expect both multitools to last a very long time, like any other Crankbrothers product I’ve ridden with in the past.

I’ve noticed some very minor scratching and pitting on a couple of the hex keys, although the M10 and M19 remain perfectly functionally. And while I admittedly live in an arid climate, I haven’t experienced any rusting, which is a relatively common complaint among third-party online riders.

When fully closed, Crankbrothers’ M10 and M16 multitools stow away easily. But when opened, I prefer the improved reach in tight situations provided by the M10 (bottom).

Bottom line: For me, it’s not even close—I like the M10’s smaller form factor, lighter weight, and—perhaps most importantly—its meaningfully longer tools for better reach than the M19 when I need it.

Crankbrothers M10 & M19 vs. Other Bike Multitools

The reality is that, whether you’re shopping online or at your local bike shop, there are hundreds of cycling multitools available for you to choose, and in just about every imaginable size, shape, design, and functionality.

To help you zoom in and narrow down your choices, here are some of the top multitools competing with the M10 and M19 (including other models from Crankbrothers) on Amazon:

Model Weight # of Tools Avg. Amazon Rating
Crankbrothers M10 124 g 10 4.6 stars, 164 reviews
Crankbrothers M17 168 g 17 4.7 stars, 454 reviews
Crankbrothers M19 175 g 19 4.5 stars, 1,408 reviews
Vibrelli V19 184 g 19 4.7 stars, 100 reviews
Pro Bike Tool Mini Ratchet Set 168 g 10 4.8 stars, 167 reviews
VeloChampion MLT10 129 g 10 4.3 stars, 108 reviews
Topeak Alien II 290 g 31 4.5 stars, 1,213 reviews

Using these numbers as a guidepost, we can see that choosing the right tool is all about your unique needs and preferences.

For example, although Crankbrothers’ products often have a premium customer reputation, if the price is your number one motivator, their M10 and Vibrelli’s V19 tied for the second least expensive in the table above. And the MLT10 only outdoes these two by $0.47.

On the other hand, it’s important to point out that the MLT10 comes with meaningfully more tools than either of these models. But, the Topeak Alien II’s 31 tools outshines everyone by a wide margin, although—perhaps unsurprisingly—it weighs 106 grams more than the next closest competitor, features a larger overall footprint, and is outpriced only by the M19 in our table above.

Speaking of weight, M10 is the lightest option above, followed closely by the MLT10, and more distantly by the M17.

Like their Eggbeater brethren, the M10, M17, and M19 feature unique, eye-catching designs, as well as some of the highest Amazon customer ratings among cycling multitools. But, the Pro Bike Tool Mini Ratchet Set comes with the highest overall rating, as well as the most standout design of the bunch.

Taken together, if you’re looking for a tried-and-true design that’s been around for years, is extraordinarily popular among cyclists of all stripes, comes with a competitive price, and all (or, even more) tools than you probably need, the M10 and M19 seem like reliable options.

But, does this necessarily mean that you should go ahead and place an order? Let’s wrap everything up next.

Is Crankbrothers’ M10 or M19 the Right Multitool for You?

I’ve had nothing but great experiences with the M10 and M19 multitools, which is also the case with any other Crankbrothers accessories I’ve had the opportunity to test.

Furthermore, their design has been tried and tested for many years, and they come with competitive prices, eye-catching designs, most (if not all) of the essential tools you’ll need on the trail or road, and near-unanimous online feedback from cyclists.

Like all of their other products, Crankbrothers also stands behind their M10 and M19 multitools with lifetime warranties, so they’ve got your back if anything goes wrong. Based on my experience, though, there’s little chance of this occurring.

In the end, I find they deliver meaningfully more value than their price tags, and I highly recommend them.

Just keep in mind that if you frequently wrench in tight spots on your bike, the M10’s more extended tools could deliver more bang-for-your-buck.

Ready to buy? Consider clicking the link to the right. Why?

As an Amazon Associate, TreadBikely earns from qualifying purchases, which helps support our mission. Learn more here.

>> Keep rolling: The Ultimate 2019 Bike Multi-Tool Buying Guide

Derek has more than two decades of experience as a cyclist, and is the founder of TreadBikely. He currently travels full-time with his family via RV, enjoying the country's best biking destinations. A secular Buddhist, Derek frequently explores the intersection of cycling, mindfulness, and compassion in his writing. #rolloutblissout
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