Serfas ST-15i Mini Tool Review

Josh Ross

A review of the Serfas ST-15i Mini Tool.

Last year, when I talked about the Just Enough Tools Jet Roll saddle bag, I briefly mentioned a Serfas Mini Tool that really made it possible to switch to such a minimal setup. The item I was talking about was the Serfas ST-­15i, and it’s a mini tool with an integrated CO2 inflator.

The Serfas Integrated Mini Tools should have something for everyone

It’s one of those ingenious ideas that is immediately obvious as soon as you look at it. Instead of carrying each tool separately, and having them take up their own room in your bag, Serfas makes a line of tools that has the CO2 inflator built-in.

The one I’m using has the tyre levers and a patch kit, however, depending on your needs, they offer three units with different combinations of tools. The ST-­15i includes the tyre levers and a patch kit plus 8, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2 & 1.5mm Allen keys, Phillips and Flathead screwdrivers, and 25T & 30T Torx bits. It weighs in at 110 grams.

The Serfas ST15i includes a patch kit and tyre levers

If you don’t feel like you need the tyre levers or patch kit integrated, then you can take a look at the ST-­17i which gives you 8, 6, 5, 4 & 2mm Allen keys, Phillips and Flathead screwdrivers, 25T & 30T Torx bits, Open Wrench 3.23, 3.3, 3.45 & 3.96mm, Spoke Wrench, and a Chain Cutter with retainers for 118 grams.

If you dont want a patch kit or tyre lever, then maybe the ST17i is for you?

The last unit they offer in this range is the ST-­13i which has 8, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2 & 1.5mm Allen keys, Phillips and Flathead screwdrivers, and 25T & 30T Torx bits at 96 grams. All three units have the integrated CO2 inflator, and the pricing is $40, $45, and $36, respectively.

Th CO2 inflater is held within the tool’s body, keeping your hands away from potential cold burns

Not only is it a space saver to have everything integrated, it seems to be a cost saver, too. Tyre levers, a CO2 inflator, and a mini tool on their own would likely add up to more than the $40 that the ST-­15i costs. All the costs savings and nifty integration doesn’t add up to much if the tools don’t work.

Thankfully, though, the Serfas tools are high quality pieces that work quite well. I’ve counseled more than a few people on the importance of practicing at home with your flat repair tools, and that’s definitely the case here. Holding a mini tool with a CO2 inflator attached feels a bit awkward when you first give it a try. Like many of these style inflators, you screw your CO2 canister all the way in to puncture it. Then make sure the tire valve is correctly seated and slowly unscrew the canister to start it flowing into the tire.

The Serfas ST-15i fits neatly into the Jet Roll tool bag

Once you’ve got the hang of how to hold it, using the whole tool is actually a benefit because you’ve got a place to hold where your hand isn’t in danger of freezing. Not only have I practiced with the inflator, I have also practiced with my tyre levers. I always use the same tyre levers whenever I need to remove a tyre from the wheel whether I’m at home or on the road fixing a flat. I’m pretty careful, and I’ve never actually broken a lever, but the streak has continued with the Serfas levers.

One common complaint about tyre levers is that they feel flimsy. That’s not the case here. Even though the Serfas levers are a bit thinner in order to fit with the tool, they are still plenty strong. In fact, all the pieces of these tools are well made and do as they should. You’ve got no reason to fear getting a bit more minimal by switching to one of the Serfas integrated tools.

Flimsy and prone to snapping? Not these levers from Serfas

Bottom line on these is that they work really well, they save a ton of space, and you can even save a bit of money by picking up one tool with more than one function. If you want to go more minimal on the bike, the Just Enough Tools saddle bag and the appropriate Serfas mini tool makes for a great combination.

Serfas

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