There are countless situations where a hydration pack is far more practical. The remoteness and length of a ride are both key factors in determining whether or not it’s best to grab the pack. If you’re embarking on a 30-mile loop that puts you out in the middle of nowhere, you’ll probably want to carry more gear in case of emergencies or unexpected changes in weather.
The other outer pocket provided ample room to carry a spare tube and our cell phone. It’s important to always carry a bottle on the frame while using SWAT, but we also used the middle pocket on the bib to carry an extra water bottle on any ride longer than an hour. Specialized also offers a liner ($65 retail) and vest ($60 retail) combo that provides the same storage capacities, although we must note our gear did move around a bit more when using this method. Though Park Tool’s CT-5 Mini is the smallest and lightest chain breaker on test, it proved durable enough for home use. At just 76g, it’s easily pocketable and is commonly found accompanying multi-tools in trail-side repair kits.
Nobody wants to be left out in the rain without a shell or injured in the middle of nowhere without a first-aid kit. Extended rides often require more than a bottle or two of water, as well as additional tools and parts, such as a derailleur hanger. Our testers all have more than one bike, so we’ve experimented with every possible setup to find a method that puts all the gear on the rider, using SWAT-equipped apparel, rather than on the bike. In the end, our favorite storage solution was, without a doubt, the Mountain Bib Liner with SWAT ($90 retail), which also happens to be the most affordable option.
Despite its stubby plastic handles, this is one of the easiest and smoothest tools to use, easily rivalling professional tools. However, like the Topeak Universal, this lacks a replaceable pin.
That’s for good reason, too, thanks to a tough cast steel body, a plastic-dipped metal handle, a strong replaceable pin, and a smooth-turning thread. However, it’s somewhat spoiled by a sloppy-fitting sliding chain shelf. That chain shelf does self-centre under load rather reliably, but it is also still somewhat prone to misalignment, which can cause the tool pin to jam and unwind itself . Still, it’s one of the most foolproof tools going and will work with nearly every chain on the market, but it won’t peen Campagnolo chains. Leverage isn’t everything in a chain breaker, and this tool is proof of that.
The replaceable pin is identical to that used in the CT-3.2 chain breaker Google Earth for Windows 7 and offers smooth and consistent usage. The tiny size and poky handle mean it’s best kept for emergency use, but that aside, it’s the closest mini chain breaker to a shop quality tool I’ve used. This is the newest version of what’s likely the most commonly found shop chain tool in the world.
With five pockets integrated into two regions of the bib, we were able to place our gear in areas that maximized weight distribution and use of space. One pocket halfway down the thigh of each leg enabled us to carry a multi-tool in one, while we carried tire levers and a snack bar in the other.
We typically go for the reliability of hand pumps and had no problem fitting a small one into one of the outer pockets in the lower back section of the bib. For those who prefer CO2 inflators, there would be plenty of additional room in the pocket for an extra snack bar.
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