This Is What We Think about Silca's $125 Hex Wrenches
Silca is aiming to do with its HX-One hex wrenches what it did with its SuperPista floor pump—elevate a product above its function, making a practical item that's also enjoyable to use. And perhaps no cycling tool is more practical than the basic hex wrench, used unceremoniously to turn bolts for seatposts, chainrings, water-bottle cages, and brake-mounts. Inexpensive options abound, but even in the hands of skilled mechanics, their improper tolerances can lead to stripped bolts.
Quality models do exist from brands like Park Tool and Bondhus, but using does not evoke the same pleasure as when turning the Silcas. These hex wrenches reach another level of craftsmanship—and price. The company makes the $125 tools from hardened, shock-resistant steel, and coats them in chrome. Silca claims the manufacturing tolerances are tighter than on most wrenches, which leads to fewer rounded bolts. (To learn how to properly tighten bolts, and perform other essential bike repairs, enroll in Bicycling’s Quick & Easy Bike Maintenance e-course.)
I am not a mechanic, but I do use hex wrenches frequently to tinker on my bikes. After months of tightening stems, adjusting my saddle height, and dislodging stubborn pedal spindles, the Silca hex wrenches still look new, which is to say stunning. One of my favorite details is the non-slip coating, which allowed me to maintain a secure grip even when my hands were dotted with grease.
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The HX-One kit comes with eight metric wrenches with heads from 1.5mm to 10mm. Each feels like it’s exactly the right weight relative to the size of the bolt I was adjusting. That gave me an appreciation for the way chefs scrutinize the weight and balance of a knife. The kit also comes with six Torx bits, four screwdriver heads, and a magnetic adapter that accepts any other ¼-inch drive bit. Everything is stored in an elegant beachwood box with a rubber inlay that ensures the tools stay put when they are not needed.
I liked using the tools so much that I found myself working on my bikes more often, and adjusting bolts and fasteners multiple times. I can’t give you an accurate dollar amount, but all my fussing has likely saved me a few trips to the bike shop, and that seems to make the $125 price a little more tolerable. If you’re a DIY bike-tinkerer, or even a pro-level mechanic, the Silca HX-One just might be one of the most useful—and memorable—tools you ever use.
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