PRO 3-15 Nm torque wrench set

The PRO 3-15 Nm torque wrench set is a high quality shop-level tool ideal for a vast span of bolt head types. The price is rather high, but for £100 you'll get a tool that lasts for years of hard service.

Torque wrenches are hardly glamorous, but with more components being made from carbon fibre, the force with which they are clamped to each other is more crucial than ever. Setting those bolts to a specific torque setting needs to be done with a dedicated, high precision tool.

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The PRO torque wrench features a base-mounted dial that controls the torque and the head of the wrench. This was easy to grip, even with oil-covered hands, and allows for 0.2Nm increments between 0 and 15Nm. I found that this covered the majority of bolts on my bike, with the exception of pedals, which I'd tighten to over 20Nm.

Included in the handy carry case are hex keys 3, 4, 5 and 6, along with Torx keys 25 and 30, and an extender for difficult-to-reach bolts. I never needed this extender, but it's useful to have for TT and aero bikes where bolts can be tucked away. It's a good range of head sizes and covered all the bolts on my bike that needed torquing.

Examining the hex keys after two months of testing shows no wear, which is just as well because, at a penny shy of £100, you'd expect this to last for years. There are cheaper options – Lifeline produces a torque wrench, working in an identical fashion, which costs only £27.50 – a massive saving – and it goes all the way up to 24Nm with additional 8 and 10mm hex key options.

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For many people, including myself, adjusting of bolts occurs only occasionally, meaning that the price of the PRO is a significant factor for a tool that seems non-essential but is, in fact, highly recommended. If you have many bikes to fettle, and longevity is important to you, this should be the only torque wrench you'll ever need.

Verdict

Great performance for heavy use and quality that should last years