Silca HX-Three Travel Essentials Kit

Silca's HX-Three Travel Essentials Kit is a top notch set of hex keys but, as David pointed out with the HX-Two kit he tested, they don't come cheap. With tight tolerances and a great feel in the hand they are ideal for virtually any job on the bike; the only thing lacking really is a ball-end on the long section.

• Pros: Perfect fit in practically every bolt head, solid and durable feel to them
• Cons: No ball-end makes them difficult to use in tight spaces

With a constant flow of bikes and components passing through my hands every month, I need to make a lot of adjustments and the hex key is my most-used weapon of choice.

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Now, you can pick up a set of hex keys to cover the range of sizes found on a bike for a couple of quid, and you can get a good set for about £15, so why pay so much for the Silcas?

The main reason is how tight the tolerances are: they are just a snug fit into any bolt head I tried, without the slightest bit of slop. This is increasingly important for undoing soft titanium or aluminium alloy bolts found on a lot of top-end kit these days, or if you're a commuter you know what it's like trying to remove a stubborn bolt that's corroded into the frame from months of riding in salt and rain (especially if you have the slack maintenance routine that I did). I've rounded or knurled the head of many a bolt with cheap hex keys.

As I mentioned above, the only real downside is the lack of a ball-end on the long section. Getting in to tighten or loosen bolts with limited space, like between the brake bridge and seat tube, it's always nice to be able to hold the key at an angle once you've got things started if you are loosening. The hex keys found in both the HX-One and HX-Two have them so it's a shame not to see them here.

In the pack you get hex keys to fit pretty much everything you are going to need on a bike: 1.5, 2, 2.5, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8 and 10mm. They are a good length too, for plenty of leverage.

Durability should be excellent. The Silcas are made from heat treated S2 tool steel, which is usually used for impact tools like hammers and chisels, so it shouldn't matter if you drop one. We've had the HX-One Home and Travel kit in the office for over two years as the main tool kit and the keys barely have a mark on them.

They are finished in a satin chrome and then have textured polymer coating added for grip – not that I found it made a significant difference to all-metal versions.

Although £35 for a set of hex keys might seem excessive, it isn't massively pricey for professional level tools, and this is exactly what the Silcas are. Pedro's L Hex Wrench Set, for example, scored highly and will set you back £29.99.

> Beginner's guide to bike tools

If you don't need workshop-grade hex keys then it's probably not worth investing so much money, as there are plenty on the market at a much cheaper price point, but if you do go for the Silcas, the only drawback is the lack of ball-end.

Verdict

Excellent quality and great fitting hex keys, but for the money I'd like to see ball-ends on the long sections