We love a good debate over bike gear. Our team Slack often overflows with friendly arguments about tire choice, the cost-benefit analysis around going tubeless, or the best option for on-the-bike storage bags. But recently a new gear debate cropped up: is a nice (read: expensive) hex or torx toolset is worth the cost?

Since we had riders on both sides of the resulting discussion, we thought the time was right to publish our long-term review of the Silca HX-ONE Home Essentials Hex and Torx kit. We have used the HX-ONE for the better part of five years, meaning we have gotten a lot of use out of this $135 kit. But the question remains, when there are basic hardware store hex and torx kits available for $20 or less, does the Silca HX-ONE live up to its price tag?

Silca HX-ONE Home Essentials Hex Kit REVIEW: THE GOOD

• Make no mistake, the HX-ONE tool quality is good. The steel construction gives each hex a nice heft in the hand, while the polymer finish improves grip compared to lower price point all-metal options (in comparison, Wera goes with a softer thermoplastic sleeve on their L-keys).

• This quality also gives the HX-ONE solid durability. After years of use my kit could probably use a good cleaning, and there are a few signs of wear and tear, but nothing that I would describe as abnormal given the amount of use the kit has seen. This kit should last for a long time.

• Hex, Torx, Screw: the HX-ONE does all three, with the latter two coming via socket bits. This makes the overall kit pretty versatile compared to some of the alternative products like Wera that are L-key only.

• The CNC machined beechwood case is well designed and works well. Each bit has its place, and the storage space for screws or other loose bits is a thoughtful addition. There have been one or two occasions where I wished the magnet was a bit stronger as the case opened while jumbled in a gear bag, but that has been more the exception than the rule.

Silca HX-ONE Home Essentials Hex Kit REVIEW: THE BAD

• Let’s start with price: $135 is a lot of money for a hex + torx set. There are a plethora of alternative products at lower price points, including some like Wera that are on par with Silca when it comes to quality.

• The Silca size labels are just OK: while each Silca L-key is labeled, if you place a lot of emphasis on being able to quickly identify tool size then the Wera color coded thermoplastic sleeve has Silca beat out on this front.

• Given the socket-based solution for torx bits, the HX-ONE fits a lot of capability into its roughly 11 inch by 5 inch beechwood case. Though, for sheer compactness, products like the Wera key set or some of the generic hardware store brand alternatives still have the HX-ONE beat.

Silca HX-ONE Home Essentials Hex Kit REVIEW: SHOULD YOU BUY IT?

This is a tough question to answer and even a poll of TBD riders showed mixed views on the benefits of a ‘nice’ hex set like the Silca HX-ONE. Given just how inexpensive generic hex toolsets can be found, a nice hex set falls very much into the grey area of “nice to have, but certainly not necessary.” And even if you decide that you just must have a nice hex set, there are other perfectly good options out there. We reviewed the Silca T-Handle Folio a few years ago - it is a great option, just at an eye watering price.

And then there is Wera, who makes some of the nicest L-tools on the market, many of which are available as part of their bike tool line-up. Wera may lack the CNC crafted beechwood case that the Silca kit offers. But the actual tools are on par with Silca at a slightly lower price point while adding in some nice touches like color coded plastic sleeves that make identifying sizes a breeze.

Final decision on the Silca HX-ONE: Only if you won’t miss the money. If you want a nice hex set, especially one with a nice hard storage case, then you are unlikely to be disappointed by the Silca HX-ONE. It is high quality, durable, and provides a range of hex + torx capabilities. But there are too many other options on the market, ranging from very good Wera sets to generic $20 kits for us to rate this a full ‘Add2cart’ endorsement at this price point.

ABOUT THE Silca HX-ONE Home Essentials Hex Kit:

From the Silca website:

One of the first things you notice in the toolboxes of top level motorsport or Pro-Tour mechanics are extremely high quality hex keys. The reasoning is simple; better tool fit leads to better feel and confidence for the mechanic as well as a significant reduction in the likelihood of damaging exotic fasteners made from Titanium or Aluminum. For the HX-ONE, we use the finest S2 tool steel; a shock resistant steel which has been refined by toolmakers for the optimal balance of strength, hardness, shock resistance and dimensional control. The keys are then coated with thin-dense chrome and a high-grip, high-visibility textured polymer finish for maximum grip and control. Included with the HX-ONE ESSENTIAL KIT is the proprietary SILCA 17-4 Stainless Magnetic Adapter. The adapter turns the 6mm hex key into a ¼” bit driver.

Silca HX-ONE Home Essentials Hex Kit Specifications

• Fully CNC machined Beechwood box with magnetic closure

• S2 steel hex keys: 2, 2.5, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8 and 10mm

• Red polymer coating for superior grip on hex keys

• Custom S2 stainless steel bit adaptor: 6mm to standard 1/4" bit

• S2 steel Torx® bits: T8, T10, T15, T20, T25 and T30

• S2 steel Screw bits: PH1, PH2, SL4 and SL5

• Covered under SILCA's 25 Year Shield Warranty

MSRP via Silca: $135