Park Tool EK-1 Tool Kit - Review
If you're on your bike regularly, it's pretty much inevitable that you'll need to perform a few repairs on your trusty rig. Whether those repairs are simple or a bit more involved, having the correct tools for the job not only keeps your bike running smoothly, but will also keep those expensive components from failing. And when it comes to tools, the blue Park Tool logo has to be the easiest to recognize, having been around since 1963. That makes them older than nearly all of the bike manufacturers out there that their tools could be used on! All that time in business has also made them the world's largest bicycle-specific tool manufacturer, all from their headquarters in St. Paul, Minnesota. It's Park Tools' EK-1 travel-based tool kit that we review here, with the 35 piece kit being intended for those on the road who might need to perform some serious repairs. The kit is packed into a durable, well organized blue suitcase that can be closed up and stored away until needed. Yes, $689 USD MSRP isn't a small amount of money, but Park also offers a number of less expensive tool kits that will suit many riders' needs if the EK-1 isn't what you're looking for.
Key Tools
While the EK-1 includes quite a few tools, there are obviously key items that will find their way into your hands more often than others. It's imperative that these tools are durable, well designed, and improve your experience using them. Some tools we found ourselves using most from the EK-1 kit were the AWS-1 three-way hex wrenches, separate 8mm hex key, the HT-10 10mm, the masterlink pliers, CN-10 cable / housing cutters, and the UK-1 knife. All these tools were picked up on a nearly daily basis during peak riding times as we are always rotating test bikes and components. A three-way allen wrench is something we use so often it is almost an extension of our hands, and the AWS-1 is a nice offering from Park. Featuring 4mm, 5mm, and 6mm hex keys, it fits the majority of cockpit components, seat post clamps, many brake levers and shifters, and a slew of other highly adjusted components.
![photo]()
Using EK-1 Tool Kit
Once organized, the EK-1 kit makes finding the tool you need an easy task, and its self-contained design makes it super easy to travel with. Knowing that you can sort out pretty much any non-proprietary repair job while on the road really does add peace of mind, and once you're done you can close up the blue box and toss it into the back of your truck. When it comes time to make specific repairs, we liked the organization that the EK-1 offered, and found a few tools we used quite regularly. Key items like the three-way hex keys, two-sided hammer, side cutters, chain tool and Masterlink pliers were things that proved their value.
![photo]()
Assembling an extensive, well equipped tool kit is not an easy task. With so many varying styles of components and standards, certain tools are bound to be left out, and there were a few key tools we felt the EK-1 lacked: a simple L-shaped hex key and torx set is something we use very often, and would have been an inexpensive addition, although there is a good chance that anyone purchasing a $689 USD tool kit likely already has a few of those kick around. A simple torque wrench is another item that we feel every home and shop mechanic should have given the influx of torque-specific carbon bits. Also, the cassette and bottom bracket tools included need to be paired with a basic adjustable crescent wrench, and although this obviously works fine, a more uniformed setup would be nice.
Pinkbike's Take:
www.parktool.com
Park EK-1 Tool Kit Details
• 35 separate tools
• Dent-proof, composite, lockable box
• Additional space for adding extra tools
• Proprietary front hanging tool board
• Removable tool boards made with durable 600D ballistic nylon sewn to an ABS inner panel
• 35 tool pockets and straps, plus four adjustable modules to accommodate a wide variety of tools
• Lifetime warranty
• MSRP: $689 USD
Construction
Anyone who uses tools on a regular basis, be it bike tools or those to fix a car or build a house, knows that quality is a key. Park is known for their shop-level quality, and the EK-1 is another example of this. All tools are constructed utilizing a variety of materials like high-torque and chro-moly steel. We found the Bondhus high-torque Industrial steel utilized in the hex keys to be the most durable material for extensive use as it offered an amazing level of resistance to rounding out tool heads over time, even on the smallest of hex keys.
Included Tools
The EK-1 tool kit includes all of the following (take a deep breath): 4, 5, 6mm hex wrench Set, 2, 2.5, 3mm hex wrench set, folding hex set, 1.5 to 6mm, bottom bracket / cassette lockring tool for campagnolo, bottom bracket tool, bottom bracket tool, bottle opener, chain wear indicator, crank wrench, chainring nut wrench, synthetic blend chain lube, cable and housing cutter, master chain tool with peening anvil, crank puller, cassette lockring tool, gear clean brush, 32 and 36mm headset wrench, double sided
hammer, 8mm hex wrench, 10mm hex wrench, master link pliers, 8mm combination wrench, 9mm combination wrench, 10mm combination wrench, adjustable wrench, PolyLube 1000 grease, pedal wrench, tape measure, 13 - 19mm cone wrench set, SD-SET screw driver Set: #0 and #2 phillips screwdrivers, 3mm and 6mm flat blade screwdrivers, sprocket removal tool, professional spoke wrench x 3, tire levers, fold-up star driver, 12 point, T7 to T40, utility knife, and the tool box (19.25” L x 8.25” W x 16.75” H).• 35 separate tools
• Dent-proof, composite, lockable box
• Additional space for adding extra tools
• Proprietary front hanging tool board
• Removable tool boards made with durable 600D ballistic nylon sewn to an ABS inner panel
• 35 tool pockets and straps, plus four adjustable modules to accommodate a wide variety of tools
• Lifetime warranty
• MSRP: $689 USD
Construction
Anyone who uses tools on a regular basis, be it bike tools or those to fix a car or build a house, knows that quality is a key. Park is known for their shop-level quality, and the EK-1 is another example of this. All tools are constructed utilizing a variety of materials like high-torque and chro-moly steel. We found the Bondhus high-torque Industrial steel utilized in the hex keys to be the most durable material for extensive use as it offered an amazing level of resistance to rounding out tool heads over time, even on the smallest of hex keys.
Included Tools
The EK-1 tool kit includes all of the following (take a deep breath): 4, 5, 6mm hex wrench Set, 2, 2.5, 3mm hex wrench set, folding hex set, 1.5 to 6mm, bottom bracket / cassette lockring tool for campagnolo, bottom bracket tool, bottom bracket tool, bottle opener, chain wear indicator, crank wrench, chainring nut wrench, synthetic blend chain lube, cable and housing cutter, master chain tool with peening anvil, crank puller, cassette lockring tool, gear clean brush, 32 and 36mm headset wrench, double sided
Key Tools
While the EK-1 includes quite a few tools, there are obviously key items that will find their way into your hands more often than others. It's imperative that these tools are durable, well designed, and improve your experience using them. Some tools we found ourselves using most from the EK-1 kit were the AWS-1 three-way hex wrenches, separate 8mm hex key, the HT-10 10mm, the masterlink pliers, CN-10 cable / housing cutters, and the UK-1 knife. All these tools were picked up on a nearly daily basis during peak riding times as we are always rotating test bikes and components. A three-way allen wrench is something we use so often it is almost an extension of our hands, and the AWS-1 is a nice offering from Park. Featuring 4mm, 5mm, and 6mm hex keys, it fits the majority of cockpit components, seat post clamps, many brake levers and shifters, and a slew of other highly adjusted components.
Key tools included (Clockwise): the MLP 1.2 masterlink pliers, which make for quick easy masterlink removal, chain tool, and the AWS-1 Three-way hex wrench.
Using EK-1 Tool Kit
Once organized, the EK-1 kit makes finding the tool you need an easy task, and its self-contained design makes it super easy to travel with. Knowing that you can sort out pretty much any non-proprietary repair job while on the road really does add peace of mind, and once you're done you can close up the blue box and toss it into the back of your truck. When it comes time to make specific repairs, we liked the organization that the EK-1 offered, and found a few tools we used quite regularly. Key items like the three-way hex keys, two-sided hammer, side cutters, chain tool and Masterlink pliers were things that proved their value.
We really loved the organizational aspects of the EK-1 and its professional grade tool box. Keeping tools organized and accessible meant we were able to quickly and efficiently make required repairs so we could get out and ride.
Assembling an extensive, well equipped tool kit is not an easy task. With so many varying styles of components and standards, certain tools are bound to be left out, and there were a few key tools we felt the EK-1 lacked: a simple L-shaped hex key and torx set is something we use very often, and would have been an inexpensive addition, although there is a good chance that anyone purchasing a $689 USD tool kit likely already has a few of those kick around. A simple torque wrench is another item that we feel every home and shop mechanic should have given the influx of torque-specific carbon bits. Also, the cassette and bottom bracket tools included need to be paired with a basic adjustable crescent wrench, and although this obviously works fine, a more uniformed setup would be nice.
Pinkbike's Take:
 | Park Tool is very aware that dropping this much money on a set of tools isn't going to be for everyone, but the EK-1 most certainly isn't intended for every rider out there, is it? Look elsewhere if you don't find yourself getting too far beyond fixing flat tires or the odd broken chain, but don't rule the EK-1 out if you don't mind diving a bit deeper into repairs, and this is especially true if you find yourself on the road with your bike often. It is true that a lot of seasoned riders will already have many of the necessary tools on hand, but the cost of assembling something similar to the EK-1 does add up to a higher total that its $689 USD asking price, making it a good option if you're looking to start from scratch and want a took kit that you can travel with. Just make sure to pick up a set of L-shaped hex and torx keys. - Jordan Carr |
www.parktool.com
Author Info:
Member since Aug 7, 2013
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Oldest bike tools in my garage are over 20 years old, and still work. Plenty of money saved, plenty of bikes built. If I could afford just to buy such a set back then, I would.
The roadies you talk about will not buy it. They go to a bike shop to change tires.
Ummmm, you do realize most shops use Park Tool for a reason, right? $700 is a lot for tools? Says someone who I wouldn't trust with a spanner to save my life.
As a T&D maker, I spent well over $6000 on my own personal tools. That's upwards of $200 on a simple indicator, $400 on a precision V-Block, and that's not counting the tools I made myself, easily worth in the thousands themselves..... My bike tools are all a high quality mix that I've had since the early 2000s. My automotive tools are well into the thousands. I can bet my entire collection I can run circles around you with regards to anything to do with making or fixing *anything*. It's my profession. So does that make me just someone wanting to show off because I know the difference between a bahco wrench and a Chinese made knockoff?
An automotive mechanic spends about the same on his tools. Their chests are worth thousands alone. A good master mechanic will have about $7-10,0000 in tools in his collection. Why? Because unlike you they don't skimp on garbage that will need to be replaced in a years time.
And you are bitching about $700 on a portable kit full of top notch tools to bring to the races? I can empirically say this opinion is not one a professional would ever have.
There's a saying that goes, "You can tell of a machinists work by his tools" and that is ALWAYS the case. A good bike mechanic will happily spend this much (which isn't even that much) on quality tools they will never need to buy again. Your comment is incorrect.
I'm not even going to touch the 'roadie' comment. I haven't touched these comments in a while, but when someone bashes good tools, the gloves are off..... hahahahah
They always include those filler tools and rape the value out of these kits. Why do I want to pay a premium for a crappy crescent wrench, flat head, #1 and #2 philips head, tape measure, box cutter utility knife, non marring hammer, open ended wrenches.
You can find most of these tools at home already, or buy way better quality for less $ at a good tool store.
I had managed to put together a more comprehensive kit than this by the time I was 16 or 17, and have been using those tools for the past 15 years and dont think I even came Close to spending $700 including a case, and thats Park Tools for the tools that are bike specific. Park is also the way to go for the allen wrenches. The three ways are indispensible.
Buying specific tools for specific jobs is a wise move, these "toolbox kits" often contain redundant items as well as paying top dollar for a blue case...
ep1.pinkbike.org/p4pb10754660/p4pb10754660.jpg
Here are some tools I have at home, but must admit they are rarely used when I have this setup at work...
ep1.pinkbike.org/p4pb10599299/p4pb10599299.jpg
1. Most riders don't need tools that last years of daily abuse. Most riders need most tools two to three times. It would be the cheapest for them to go to the LBS, but some enjoy wrenching. They don't need a 700$ Toolkit with some basic tools. I am in a similar position, I went and bought a reasonably priced universal toolcase (not bike specific), and now add tools to it as I need them.
2. Too many useless items. This toolbox for example includes a tape measure, bottle opener, grease, lube, and a few more basic tools that aren't bike specific at all, but they add to this 37 Piece total. Instead, they should've included a few more hex keys, especially individual ones. These Star-shaped hexes can be difficult to fit in some spots, and the folding hex minitool is just silly in a workshop.
Just buy the tools you need when you need them. You'll better understand why you need said tool, and you'll have fewer useless tools (For example, I don't have a bike with loose bearing hubs - so the cone wrenches are useless to me). That being said, a Toolbox is something great, you always have your favorite tools at hand...
But yes, this particular toolkit has stuff that you are better off buying elsewhere - anything non-bike specific. But picking up something better is even harder. You pay for convenience. And it certainly missing tools you need quite often - like a derailleur gauge.
you raise a good point about this tool:
www.parktool.com/product/derailleur-hanger-alignment-gauge-dag-2
one of the most useful tools, especially "on the road" when crashes are common and derailleur hangers are easily bent
probably 90% of the bikes coming into our workshop with gear issues have a bent hanger from a crash or just the rear derailleur receiving a slight "knock" in transit or even when lent against something
There's your problem. Most riders don't do major service - they do the easy stuff plus changing come easy parts. I don't often need a crank remover, casette tool, chain whip, cone wrenches, BB tool, hydraulic hose cutter, chain breaker, etc. How often do you change a BB? How often do you replace crank arms? Do you ever fit your own brake hose?
That's my point - about 50% of the tools in this toolbox I will not need in years, and for a tool that I whip out once a year, I don't need workshop quality. Chance is by the time I need my BB tool again, I will need a different one than the one I currently own. The most used tools are probably the 15mm pedal wrench (if you like to travel and bag you bike for it), 4-6mm hex wrench and a T25 Torx wrench. Those few tools probably cover 90% of all tool uses I have on a bike. I don't buy a headset press, because it's much cheaper to have the LBS do that the three times I'll need it done...
Ever been on a bike trip to somewhere remote? If not, you should try it! Stuff breaks, and if you don't fix it, you don't ride.
And I'm cracking up at the roadie hate. Sure, some are just on the coffee shop, team jersey circuit, but many are just people loving riding bikes. Most great dirt riders also spend time on the road either training or riding to work and will crush you going both down and up. Power up your legs, don't be a weakling.
That, and when out for a trip - stuff brakes. I carry a big box of tools and have used it. Better than wasting a weekend of riding due to some stupid mechanical problem.
And nobody. Nobody would carry a press while riding. Wtf? Haha.
Im saying if park is marketing this as a travel kit at this price, it needs a few more tools for the discerning mechanic.
Park makes very good tools so for something of this price to not include even a slimmed down version of the press is odd. Not to mention a cup remover..a tube of steel with 4 cuts.
Id think buying this amount of parts can get you more of them at a slightly lower cost than what seems like individual purchase price. Maybe im wrong in that regard.
Of course nobody would carry a press while riding. That's what I meant. There's no point having one in a portable kit because you're never going to have those spare parts with you. So rather than add useless tools to the kit (Useless in a travel kit, not a completely useless tool) to make it worth the money, couldn't your argument be that it should just be more affordable, and left the way it is?
You won't be missing the enormous price tag either, $7,000
Is it better? Yeah.
Is it worth the borderline rape-pricing they charge? That's up to you...
Also because of the larger customer base it's more likely to find them second hand or for a nice deal on Amazon.
Gotta admit that case is way nicer and more organized than my $8 plastic toolbox though.
But my wrenches, sockets and other "solid" tools are just craftsman. I've never had a socket or wrench break from craftsman, but their ratchets and whatnot are pretty shitty compared to my snap-on stuff. Lifetime warranty doesn't do me any good when my one 3/4" drive ratchet breaks in the middle of a job. Lol
The most expensive part seems to be the case.
www.rakuten.com/prod/park-tool-advanced-mechanic-tool-kit-ak-37/226891417.html?listingId=285792954&scid=pla_google_Powerhobby&adid=18183&gclid=CLeK1f_isr0CFW1nOgod8z8AFg
Sure, up front it's a lot but it seems like it will pay for itself in savings after a while.
This kit is over priced and is packed with useless tools.
Cheap ass tape measure a friggen box cutter and a bottle opener. The scew drivers park tools make are garbage.
Sorry but you kind of asked for this one
You're a useless tool.
And always wanted to get a park tools kit. Sooo expensive, but so worth it if you have the coin they will last forever.