Lezyne Blox 23: For the road.

By Logan

PUBLISHED May 17, 2016

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If you go on enough multi-day trips, something will eventually go wrong. Murphy’s Law. And the backcountry is not a good place to tempt fate. The trick is to have the right bag of tricks. Shop quality tools would be ideal, but realistically a bikepacking toolkit has to be dumbed down. Substantial instruments that allow proper leverage have to be replaced by lighter diminutive versions. Lesser used utensils must be forgone completely. Sometimes excess is worthy of consideration; for longer trips, a good set of ball-ended L-hex wrenches might be in order. But for garden variety weekend or overnight rambles, a good multi-tool and various other odds and ends are on call.

Of course, all multi-tools are not the same. Fumbling around with a stubby little number can be frustrating, at best. That’s where the Lezyne Blox 23 ups the ante. In addition to boasting the longest bits I’ve seen on a mini, it’s one of the most solid multi-tools out there—which is where the former part of its name comes from, I presume. And as the latter part of it’s name suggests, this Lezyne apparatus sports 23 various functions. This includes a set of extra-long, forged, anti-corrosion steel bits including hex keys (2, 2.5, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8mm), additional L-hex keys (2, 2.5, and 3mm), torx bits (T25, T30), and phillips & flat head screwdrivers. In addition, it has two folding blades that feature open ended wrenches (8mm and 10mm), a tire lever, disk brake wedge, and the ever important bottle opener.

The Lezyne Blox 23 also harbors an excellent cast stainless steel chain breaker fit for 8, 9, 10, and 11 speed chains; it also doubles as a spoke wrench for Mavic Mtv, 3.22, and 3.45. The chain breaker and wealth of tools mentioned above are all sandwiched between two CNC machined aluminum side plates. In addition, Lezyne included a handy little neoprene sleeve to keep it from opening and scratching stuff in the frame bag. Not surprisingly, with this roster of implements, the Blox 23 isn’t the lightest nor most svelte tool out there.

The Blox 23 has a lot of tools. Weight conscious riders might call it overkill. But if it keeps me from pushing out of the backcountry, I would call it necessity. Consider the steel tire lever. It’s not for everyday use, especially when lightweight aluminum or carbon rims are involved. But it could answer the call should your nylon lever break—which does happen. That said, not every tool is perfect. I found that removing a Lezyne Power bottle cage was nearly impossible due to the long hex bits and bulky body. Even when the Blox is arranged at a 90° angle the cage bolts are still inaccessible. For that reason, I think 4 and 5mm L-hex keys would have made more sense than 2 and 2.5mm. Additionally, another bit I consider missing is a Torx T-20 which fits the occasional stray bolt, such as that on a Rohloff twist shifter.

• Weight 248g (8.75oz)
• Dimensions (L×W×H) 55 × 90 × 22mm (2.16 × 3.5 × .87″)
• Price $34.99
• Place of Manufacture Taiwan
• Contact Lezyne.com
• Standout Feature(s) Solid feel/extra long bits/good selection

Wrap Up

I’ve packed the Lezyne Blox 23 multi-tool on several recent weekend and overnight trips, usually alongside a tire repair kit, a Leatherman, and a few other odds and ends. And while I certainly haven’t tested every last bit, overall it seems like a better suited bikepacking option than most multi-tools on the market. And I love the longer hex keys, withstanding their fault mentioned above. They’re what makes the tool special and certainly worth the added weight. It’s no skimpy lightweight tool, for sure. But it’s packed with features and feels far more robust than most multis. And dare I say that it’s even reminiscent of a real tool.