Park Tool ATD-1 Adjustable Torque Driver

With the most common 4, 4.5, 5, 5.5, or 6Nm torque settings and the most common 3, 4, 5mm and T25 bits, the easy-to-use Park Tool ATD-1 Adjustable Torque Driver makes a great addition to a keen mechanic's tool box.

• Pros: Most common torques and bits covered, really easy to use
• Cons: Fiddly to get the bits from their storage

With many bikes featuring carbon components, a torque wrench is a wise investment. Buying a good one should ensure it'll last for years which, at this price, is essential. The Park Tool ATD-1 is a great example of a well designed product that works well and feels like it's going to last.

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At the risk of teaching granny, let's start with why you, like me, should be using a torque wrench. Both my race bike and cyclo-cross bike have carbon frames and my winter bike has a carbon bar. All that carbon has to be treated carefully, and while I'd never be overzealous with my tightening of bolts, it's prudent to know exactly how much force you're putting on them.

This Park offering is pretty easy to use, with great grip offered by the 'T' shape. I was a little concerned that I wouldn't be able to reach more hidden bolts, but I've been able to get at everything except the upper bottle cage bolt.

Changing the torque setting requires a hex key to set the torque (I set ours to 5Nm and kept it at that, suitable for all the parts I was tightening). There's a newer version of the ATD out now, the ATD-1.2, the only difference being you can now do this by hand.

Switching out the bits is pretty easy: they live within the tool so you're never without, and they pop out of the head with a small pull. Well, I say that but... getting them out of their storage holder is a little fiddly with not much to get hold of. They do slot back in easily though, with the female end magnetised to hold the bit. I imagine the plastic housing will soften with use, so this might become less of an issue over time.

The chunky nature of the tool means that I'm far less likely to fumble this than a hex key. As a result, I've been increasingly reaching for the ATD-1 as I can do most jobs with just this. The bits have fitted snugly into bolt heads and there's a definite click when the specified torque is reached.

> Buyer's Guide: 5 of the best torque wrenches

At this price, you'll want the tool to last and I'm happy to say that nothing has degraded. The plastic housing still holds the bits securely and the torque setting maintains a good click for each increment. The all-metal internal construction undoubtedly helps here. I've also noticed zero wear to either the bits or my bolt heads.

You can extend the range of bits if you have more specific bolts. The ATD-1 uses a quarter-inch hex key driver so a set from the local hardware store will be fine.

You've got some other options though. The Pro torque wrench I tested is very good and still going strong after nearly a year of use. It's quite a bit more expensive at £99, but it does offer a larger torque and bit range.

At only £34.99 the X-Tools Essential Torque Wrench is a much cheaper option, but we haven't tested it so can't comment on its performance.

Both of these options are a little bigger than the Park Tool. I recently took a stripped-down tool kit to Mallorca, and the ATD-1 fitted nicely in my compact box.

Although expensive, the ATD-1 is a good investment, I'd say. Having looked at my use, I can't see the need for a larger range of torque settings or bits. I also find this a bit easier to use than the Pro/X-Tools style. Is it worth the money over the X-Tools? Without testing that it's hard to say, but the quality of the Park tool suggests it's worth the money.

The happy consequence (possibly) of there being a newer version of the tool is that the ATD-1 can be found discounted online. At £52.99, for example, it's an even more appealing purchase.

Verdict

Easy use, compact design and solid build make this a good investment