L keys or ratchets

Park Tool three-way 4 lyfe

Is there a torx 3 way yet? I haven't looked but my 20+ year old park 3 way needs a torx version to go with it. 

Park makes one that has 4mm, 5mm, and a T-25.

Pedros has made a 3-way with all Torx heads.

Scribing arcs 4” away from every bolt, the battle scars of a hero home mechanic. The first Park tool we get, the first one we reach for, the first we should forget. But we will never stop wielding this glaive of the garage. Magical.

My biologically based and perfectly calibrated internal torque wrench only works with my honed 3-way grip. Using a T-handle, could be 2N.m, could be 20N.m, who knows?!

Any decent T handle (partial to PB Swiss) or my Zyklop 1/4. 3 ways have never been nor will ever be in my toolbox...they are the tool equivalent to saying "dampener".

God, so true.  I still have mine, know they're shit and will destroy everything within their magical radius, but still instinctively grab them all too often when in a hurry.  I should really throw them in the trash where they belong.  The little Abbey 4-way is like a slightly better version of the 3 way (scribes less but also has less leverage).  I think a big part of the appeal of 3-ways is you can grab them without figuring out exactly what size you need first (is that a 2.0 or 2.5mm?  4 or 5?) and switch over quickly.

When I'm not in a rush, I actually prefer to use Wera screwdrivers for basically anything <6mm because I can spin bolts in quicker, and since they don't have any leverage I get reminded to use a torque wrench to finish them off.  T-handles for 6 & 8 for speed and because exact torque is usually less critical in those locations (axles, pedals, shock bolts).  L wrenches I mostly just use for stuff that's an awkward fit (using the ball-end).  I do love my Wera mini-ratchet for bottle cage bolts though.

As someone that also went down the rabbit hole of L-Key vs Ratchet vs T-Handle (sliding or not), I say use what is most comfortable for you. All works plenty fine for most bike application.

But there is definite wrong answer and that is the 3-way.

I take a bit of offense to this. While I totally understand why a person may prefer to not use three-ways, as someone who will continue to use them and is a competent mechanic, I know when my suspension needs damping and when it’s needs to be made more moist (dampening). 😉

Ah, the Park AWS-8 Ball end triple AKA "The Stripple"  Nothing quite like trying to tighten up a caliper bolt and getting a half turn at a time as the unused Y ends wack into the wheel spokes. 

Wera SS hex keys with the bolt retainers on the ball ends for me thx. 

Ratchet and socket or driver. I've been trying to gain skill with T-handles for 30 years and still no progress. And L-shaped allen wrenches, like they give you with your IKEA furniture, can F ALLLLLL the way off. 

Probably the only Abbey tool I really like is my 4-way with a T25, 4, 5 and 2.5mm hex - perfect for removing forks (does 99% of stem, brake and cable guide bolts)

Personally my PB swiss T-handles are my go-tos most of the time, but I do like ratchets and recently bought a small bit tool which currently lives with the 3d printer and I will probably get a couple more for the workbench and travel kit. 

If I could only have one allen key set though it would be my Wera Hex plus L-keys. Not always the perfect tool but will get the job done nearly every time 

Speaking of the park 3-way tools - I didn't have strong feelings either way and sometimes kept one in my apron but this just reminded me mine went missing about 5 years ago and apparently I haven't missed it!

thanks for the nudge towards the wera zip ratchets.  I'm gonna put those on my christmas list this year.  Related to that, my wife bought me some of the park tool sliding T-handle wrenches last year for christmas.  I am very meh on them overall, especially for the price.  

For me, I just keep using a set of stainless Wera L hex keys with ball end.  I find that those keep me honest and stop me from doing dumb things when I'm 3 beers in and deciding that I'm going to take a bike apart randomly.  On that note, I do feel like the stainless versions are worth it.  I had the ferrous metal version before and they were great, no real complaints, however the stainless ones are better, last longer and IMO, worth it for the price increase.  

Pin me down for just one set of hex, Wera Hex-Plus L-Key in stainless. The plus works, especially if the hex is somewhat stripped. I have the Park T Handle hex set which is great also. The only 3 way I like is the Abbey T Way, great tool.

Seems I'm in the minority? P-handles with one ball end all the way.

Edit: until I need a torque wrench, anyway

If I’m in a hurry, my 30 year old Park 3-way. Doing it right I grab this stuff

Yeah I gotta say I find the price vs performance of everything Wera is pretty awesome! Also totally agree on the Park T-handles - wasn't expecting them to match my PB swiss ones but they are still pretty underwhelming for the price. I would rather have another plain hex than their twisted extracting head as well

Whatever I find first in the nearest toolbox ! Hell, I've been wrenching in my garage with a decade old multitool more than once

This set with the Wera bits is the way to go

https://www.abbeybiketools.com/products/t-way?variant=40815132672048

(I still use Unior threesomes for most tasks)

Here you go https://uniorusa.com/products/three-way-wrench-1781-copy?variant=44140758630444&country=US&currency=USD&utm_medium=product_sync&utm_source=google&utm_content=sag_organic&utm_campaign=sag_organic&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=20415047273&gbraid=0AAAAADOvzoe3-dP5pGal26SgWvxv4BW4N

Unior threesomes are IMO much nicer than their Park Tool counterparts.

Yep, the only 3 way I like, great tool!

Another vote here for the Unior 3-way.
I have the 2/2.5/3, the 4/5/6 and the Torx one.

Best L shape hex tools I've ever used is Birzman by a county mile..... fractionally oversized, they are amazing for stripped hex bolts.
Work better than anything else and easily outlast Park.

I like the ergonomics of the Park P-Handle's but the Uniors again just last longer in my experience.

But generally if I'm not using the 3-way, I'm using Park's sliding T handle tools.

Me with my 15-year old Park Tool 3-ways over here, listening to the level of depth and nuance in this thread:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H3elF6SCRlA