Syncros Matchbox Tailor Cage HV1.5 £54.99 (not inc bottle)

Many of us here at MBUK prefer to ride without a backpack, but that means having to ditch your tools or risk injury by stashing them in your pocket. Well, here’s a solution – a bottle cage that holds a pump, multi-tool and chain tool in a discreet box closed off from the elements.

Despite its compact size, the multi-tool provides good leverage, with a moulded plastic handle and decentlength metal bits. It’s a shame there’s no 6mm Allen key though, which is one of the most commonly used sizes. The chain tool is a bit more awkward to use, with its tiny size not giving you much to hold onto when splitting stubborn links.

We found the pump easy to operate, and the hidden flexible hose is a nice touch. While the high-volume version we tested does make punctures less painful, it’s 20cm long and looks a bit clunky on the bike. Syncros do other models of the cage with a smaller pump or no pump at all.

The only real problem with the whole 335g package is that the toolbox raises the bottle up by 2cm, which can cause problems on frames where space is limited, although at least the cage is side-loading. Ed www.syncros.com

A great solution for storing tools and water, but check it’ll it in your frame irst