Review: Topeak Ninja series integrated multi-tools

Forgetful riders have several new options for stow-away or integrated tools from companies that want to make sure you’re well prepared for your next ride, no matter how rushed you are heading out the door.

Topeak’s Ninja series tools is one of the less committing ones, but still offers plenty of functions in it’s compact size.

The Ninja tools don’t require drilling any part of your bike, or picking a frame with a built in storage compartment. Instead, Topeak has a clever mount integrated into the bottom of a water bottle cage. This is great if you want to move the Ninja from your mountain bike to your road bike or gravel bike between seasons, or should you ever decide to get a new bike.

Accessing the multi-tool is simple. Turn the mount 90-degrees

Unloock the mount's secure closure system

and pull out the T8+ multitool, snugly hidng inside

There's not much room in there, which keeps the Ninja stealthy and silent while riding

Locked and loaded. The bottle cage body prevents the Ninja cage from popping open while riding

After several months of testing, the Ninja tool has proven durable and weather-tough to make holding on to the little tool long enough to move it to your next bike seem like a reasonable consideration. Through an incredibly dry summer and wet, West Coast weather, the Topeak Ninja’s sealed cage has kept the multi-tool shiny and safe. With the Ninja attached, I’ve crashed my bike. I’ve forgotten to lock the cage shut. I’ve had it on the back of a car through 6 hours of driving through a torrential downpour. The Ninja’s held strong through all of this.

Topeak offers the Ninja in a wide range of different attachment options. I tested the Ninja TC Road, which holds Topeak’s T8+ mini multi-tool. With 2mm, 2.5mm, 3mm, 4mm, 5mm, 6mm allen wrenches, a #2 Phillips head and a T25 Torx wrench, the T8+ has enough to cover your basic trailside fixes, including two tire levers built into the water bottle cage. If you want more coverage, the Ninja TC Mountain conceals Topeak’s Mini-20 Pro multi-tool. There’s also versions for CO2 canisters, a larger pouch, and integrated bar end and seat post tools for the full stealth look.

On the trail, the rubber sheath the T8+ comes wrapped in is enough to keep it quiet on the bike. No rattling, no noise, and it’s small enough that I often forgot it was there. The tool is small, but when it has enough to keep you on the trail through minor mechanicals and small adjustments. The tire levers aren’t going to get a tough, DH casing tire off the rim – and weren’t meant to – but they’ll easily be enough for road, cyclocross and lighter casing mountain bike tires.

I liked the minimal size of the Ninja TC Road, though others might prefer the expanded range of the TC Mountain. Both are a great size for XC or Trail rides where you don’t want anything extra in your jersey or pack, but should still carry something with you into the woods. It was everyday rides, though, where I appreciated the Topeak Ninja the most. Not being able to forget the Ninja on a ride makes for one less step while trying to get out the door.