Daysaver Bike Multi-tool Evaluate: Swiss Manufacturing At A Premium Worth
Bike multi-tools, while extremely helpful, could be a bit unwieldy while you come to make use of them. Having a sequence breaker is nice ‘n’ all, however do you really want to rotate that chain device, plus 17 different ones, when all you wish to do is tighten your outfront GPS mount?
The Daysaver 9-function multi-tool purports to resolve your on-ride ergonomic fixing woes with its easy design. And on this put up I’m going to evaluate it.
I purchased it on Kickstarter approach again in September 2020 it lastly arrived in April 2021. Which I perceive isn’t too lengthy a lead time on the planet of the Kickstarter (twisted firestarter).
Now this isn’t a long-term evaluate – not less than not but. On the time of writing, I’ve solely been utilizing it for a few months. That is extra a preliminary feedback-review-type put up (thingummy).
And in addition, simply to get it out of the best way: that is an costly multi-tool. The Daysaver isn’t precisely massive and it prices CHF95 for the device and the devoted frame-mounted holder.
(For the non-Swiss, that’s ~$103 or £74).
Daysaver – The Background
The Daysaver is meant to be a lighter weight and extra modern different to your commonplace bike multi-tool.
It was designed by three younger Swiss males who determined to launch their thought on Kickstarter and have partnered with the device producer PB Swiss Instruments with a view to make the factor.
They really wrote to me simply earlier than the launch of their marketing campaign with a view to put it on the market. It appears I ignored that electronic mail however i did go on when the Kickstarter launched and really buy one in every of these multi-tools.
How The Daysaver Works
The device includes an ordinary (for a hex key) L-shaped deal with after which inside it we have now 4 magnetic bits. Slotting collectively the bits in numerous mixtures permit you to fulfill 9 totally different bike-related device jobs.
The deal with itself is a dimension 8 hex key (Allen key within the UK). For the bits we’ve received:
- Hex sizes 2.5, 4, 4, 5 and 6
- Torx 25 screwdriver
- Phillips #1 screwdriver
The concept is which you could slot the bits into both finish of the deal with right here with a view to create the required device.
The advantage of having each ends is which you could each use it like this and get into smaller areas:
Alternatively, should you want larger leverage, you should use the marginally longer deal with bit finish with a view to exert extra power (physics!):
The opposite intelligent factor concerning the Daysaver is that every of the bits slots into one other one after which slots into the deal with so that you don’t lose them while you’re out and about.
A ‘Bit’ Extra Data (Har Har)
The bits are plasma coated, which apparently means they’re much less prone to corrosion.
As you could possibly see within the images or within the video, they’re a barely totally different coloration to the silvery deal with.
The 2 barely purplish bits slot collectively, as do the 2 goldish ones. You possibly can’t slot a purplish right into a goldish.
(And sure, purplish and goldish are recognised colors)
Lastly, should you yearn for a device bit that’s not equipped with the Daysaver, you should use the scale 4 hex bit as a kind of generic adapter to connect any kind of different micro-bits.
Certain, you’re unlikely to hold a further micro-bit in your saddlebag or your jersey pocket, however not less than you understand the choice is there.
Onwards!
Let’s evaluate the Daysaver to an everyday bike multi-tool. In my case meaning the Crank Brothers 19 Multi-tool, which I’ve owned and carried on rides for the most effective a part of a decade.
The Crank Brothers device is considerably heavier and bulkier than the Daysaver. Due to its dimension and weight, I’ve at all times carried the Crank Brothers device in my saddlebag (within the little mesh pocket on the again of the opening flap-door-thingy).
The modern design of the Daysaver offers extra flexibility over the place you carry it. I can see me carrying it in a jersey pocket, subsequent to my mini-pump. Alternatively, there’s a neat body mount, which I’ll come to in a minute.
Wait, Weight?
So how a lot heavier is the Crank Brothers than the Daysaver. Being a critical investigative bikeblogger that does his personal analysis, I made a decision to weigh them with my kitchen scales.
The Daysaver got here out at 39 grams (the makers declare 45g, which casts doubt ‘pon the accuracy of my scales). The Crank Brothers 19 registers a whopping 178g.
Fast maths: that’s an additional 140 grams you’re lugging round with the Crank Brothers multi-tool versus the Daysaver.
Performance
Though it’s considerably heavier, you do get many extra (er, 10 extra) instruments with the Crank Brothers. It could actually doubtlessly prevent in a couple of extra bike upkeep jams than the Daysaver.
It has instruments to interrupt your chain, to fettle your spokes and there are extra hex key and screwdriver variants.
For those who like a large number of instruments on their multi-tool, the Crank Brothers (or equal) trumps the Daysaver. The latter goes to be of little use in case your chain breaks on a trip. A multi-tool with a sequence device not less than has a slim likelihood of saving your day.
Nevertheless, in the case of utilizing the Crank Brothers device, not one of the capabilities are significantly best.
Being foldable is after all helpful, however the person instruments do tend to fold and transfer round when in use. The cumbersome physique of the multi-tool doesn’t make for a very ergonomic deal with.
The Daysaver is nicer to make use of and simpler for the capabilities it does have.
It really works similar to a very nice hex key. You will get into narrower areas when utilizing it size methods. Swap the bits to the shorter finish and you should use the longer deal with to exert extra power.
The Daysaver avoids the annoyance of foldable multi-tools, er, as a result of it’s not foldable.
Customary multi-tools are positively extra unwieldy (much less wieldy?) than the Daysaver.
Each Day (Trip) Carry
I’ve talked about that I preserve my outdated multi-tool in my saddle bag. It’s prompted some harm to the mesh pocket the place I preserve it.
One of many promoting factors of the Daysaver is that it’s not going to trigger that very same degree of injury .
In actual fact, as a part of the bundle, you get two rubber caps that go on every finish. This prevents harm to your clothes should you determine to maintain it in a jersey pocket when using.
The caps additionally preserve the bits safely in place to keep away from shedding them (which might be extremely annoying).
The draw back of those rubbery finish items are that they fairly take away from the Daysaver’s industrial magnificence and cleanness of line. It doesn’t look fairly as premium when you’ve gotten these rubber finish bits on.
Body Mount
You don’t should preserve the Daysaver in your jersey pocket or in your saddle bag. There’s an alternate answer.
In for a penny, in for a pound (Swiss franc), I additionally invested within the Daysaver’s devoted body mount.
It’s 3D printed (which is sort of cool – maybe the primary time I’ve purchased or seen one thing that has been 3D printed).
The mount bolts to the usual bottle cage mounting factors in your body. It’s low profile and equipped with spacers so you’ll be able to nonetheless connect the bottle cage on prime.
Becoming the bottle cage on prime of the mount does elevate it up barely (12.5mm in line with the web site), which is one thing to concentrate on if area is proscribed within the triangle under your prime tube. However most individuals (like me) received’t have any points.
As soon as bolted in place, the mount is refined to the purpose of hardly being noticeable. The Daysaver clips in with a satisfying clunk. It doesn’t rattle. The design of the mount reduces the probability of bits falling out.
The Daysaver received’t match within the mount whether it is sporting the rubber finish caps. That is most likely a optimistic from an aesthetic perspective.
Utilizing The Daysaver
I’ve been utilizing the Daysaver for a couple of months now. I need to admit, I’ve discovered it very helpful.
In lots of respects it really works similar to an ordinary, good high quality hex key (which shouldn’t come as a shock).
The truth that you’ll be able to change the bits at every finish doesn’t influence efficiency.
The bits match snuggly into the deal with ends – they don’t jiggle round, impacting ‘hand really feel’ (a time period I really feel ought to exist however probably doesn’t). Every respective bit/deal with mixture works in addition to a devoted, single use model of that very same device.
All of which suggests, along with grabbing the Daysaver from the body mount whence engaged on the bike the place the device resides (i.e. hooked up to my primary Trek Domane highway bike), I usually discover myself reaching for it for little jobs on different bikes.
Working example. My son simply received a brand new bike and the saddle top wanted adjusted. I went off and grabbed the Daysaver.
Past seeing that it required a hex key of some type, I didn’t want to ascertain the scale of device required. I didn’t must convey again a variety of potential choices.
Like all multi-tool, the Daysaver has a variety of hex keys and I knew one would match. In contrast to most multi-tools, utilizing the Daysaver was as ergonomic because the devoted single-function device equal.
The Worth…
As talked about on the outset, while the Daysaver is a extremely purposeful and pleasant-to-use multi-tool, it comes at a not-insubstantial worth.
The device by itself prices CHF79. This interprets to roughly ~£62 or ~$85, however the precise price may be barely totally different (much less? extra? who is aware of?) as soon as you are taking off Swiss gross sales tax (and possibly add again your personal).
The device plus body mount combo prices CHF95 (£74/$103, once more with some gross sales tax associated confusionty).
Both approach, this isn’t an affordable multi-tool.
The Crank Brothers multi-tool, or related, will set you again about £30. And for that, you get extra capabilities than the Daysaver.
There will certainly be some those who worth the general premium nature of this product. The truth that it’s manufactured by a premium Swiss device producer. It’s positively top quality. I don’t assume you’ll be let down by way of its efficiency
Others can be swayed by saving 140 grams versus an ordinary multi-tool. However my guess is that you’ve 140g you would lose off your, er, particular person, with a better increase to efficiency, than merely shopping for an costly light-weight multi-tool.
Summing It All Up
The query: would I’ve purchased the Daysaver at this worth if I didn’t have an internet site and YouTube channel to make content material for?
Brief reply: most likely not.
Longer reply: it’s a extremely good device. I’m truly very completely happy that I purchased it. I’m positive I’ll get a lot of use out of it (which reduces the cost-per-use massively). However 75 squids for a multi-tool that has 9 capabilities. Ooof…
If you wish to take a look at and buy a Daysaver multi-tool, right here is the hyperlink to the web site. It’s not an affiliate hyperlink, so I don’t get a fee.
I’ve additionally completed a video model of this put up, which you’ll watch…. right here:
And here’s a hyperlink to my put up my High 6 Bike Instruments I personal and use.
