SQLAB SQ-TOOL NINE KEY CARD REVIEW

Review by Robert Johnston

There’s many different approaches to carrying tools on a ride: bike mounted mini tools; pocket multitools, or a variety of tools in your pack. And when it comes to quick fixes and adjustments out on the trail, all of them are usually satisfactory. However, as a man who’s constantly hopping from bike-to-bike and trying to get things dialed in as I go, the limited access and fiddly nature of a multitool can be incredibly frustrating.

SQlab gifted me one of their SQ-Tool NINE Key Card tools a couple of years ago, and it’s by far the nicest solution to use for trailside adjustments that I’ve come across, but it isn’t perfect. Read on to learn all about it.

ABOUT THE SQ-TOOL NINE KEY CARD

The SQ-Tool consists of eight Wera tools held by a plastic carrier. This plastic carrier has a space on the back side to store a bank card or lift pass; and there’s a thick rubber band used to hold everything in place. It measures in at essentially the same footprint as a credit card with 11mm thickness, so sits in your pocket or pack comfortably like a mini wallet.

The Wera Hex keys (2.5mm to 6mm); Torx keys (T10 and T25), and Phillips (PH2) are manufactured from a high quality stainless steel, ensuring they stand up to the abuse of sweat and mud. The hex keys feature Hex Plus, which is a special shape that’s designed to increase tool-to-bolt head contact and reduce the likelihood of damage in use. All but the 6mm have a ball end to facilitate easier use in tight spaces.

Retailing for €49.95, the SQ-Tool NINE Key Card is priced in line with many premium multitools.

THE DIRT

Throughout the years, I’ve suffered through the awkward access of using multitools in hard-to-reach spots time after time. There’s some frame pivot bolts, brake calipers and bottle cage bosses that are nearly impossible to get to with your conventional style of multitool, which can be incredibly frustrating in a time of need out on a ride. Additionally, the way a multitool can fold in your hand as you’re leaning on them to obtain maximum torque from their short length can leave your knuckles in more danger than any trailside shrub could possibly present. For these reasons and more, I’ve been loving the solution that the SQ-Tool NINE Key Card offers.

Having high-quality individual hex keys at your disposal on the trail side is an absolute joy. Access to tight areas is typically much easier, especially thanks to the ball-ended hex keys. And the difference in the quality of interface that the Wera Hex Plus tech provides is notable, being much appreciated when you’re working on some lightweight alloy or titanium bolts in particular.

These Stainless Steel Wera hex and torx keys are impressively stiff, producing no discernable flex at the highest torque levels my hands could muster out of their relatively short lengths. They’re shorter than your typical shop set of hex keys, but you can often get more torque through these SQ-Tool hex keys than the vast majority of multitools will allow.

For the Hex and Torx keys in this SQ-Tool set, the user experience is excellent. The inclusion of the Phillips screwdriver was lost on me, with the vast majority of bikes I ride now foregoing any sort of Phillips bolts. But it’ll come in handy at some point, I’m sure. The ability to store one or two cards easily in the back of the tool is much appreciated. In my case, it was a lift pass holder for my lucky days in the bike park, since I tend to rely on Apple Pay over a physical card. Of course, there’s no chain tool or provisions for any sort of tire related issues, so you’ll have to carry solutions for those too.

The size and shape of the NINE Key Card is very pocket friendly, coming in thinner than many multitools. With the tools pointing to the outside, the flat surface of the plastic carrier is comfortable against the leg and shouldn’t risk injury too much in a crash. In your pack, it’ll slide into the majority of pockets comfortably.

There are only two fairly minor drawbacks of this tool for my needs, the first being the lack of an 8mm Hex Key. I’ve tried to use a 5mm to 8mm adaptor for two short periods of time, but they both fell off and disappeared for good. In the central portion of the plastic carrier there’s enough space to fit an adapter bit, so I may try to get busy with the dremel to make a DIY solution to elevate the usefulness of my SQ-Tool NINE Key Card further.

The second element I’d like to see improved is the retention of the individual tools in the plastic carrier. When they’re in your pocket, they can pop out of the carrier from time to time. It was never a major issue as they’d still remain captured by the rubber band, but it could be better. This rubber band is also on its last legs, but I’m not surprised after a couple of years of regular use.

The Wolf’s Last Word

I really like the SQlab SQ-Tool NINE Key Card for making trailside adjustments to my mountain bike. With high quality tools in a neat carrying solution, it’s a solid choice if you’re sick of the poor user experience of your typical multitools.

Price: $59.95 /£49.95 /€49.95
Website: SQ-lab.com