Check Out: Cargo Pants, Tools, Tech, and More

By MTBSA contributor

A lot of gear comes across our desks here at MTBSA. Check Out is an occasional roundup of everything our tech editors have gotten their hands on. Sometimes it's products we're doing long-term tests on, other times it's stuff we're stoked on but don't have time to fully review. And, sometimes it's crazy shit someone sent us unsolicited, and we're having a laugh.

Crest Tool Sag Ruler & Brake Pad Advancement Shims

Features

• Shock sag ruler

• Includes conversion table

• Works for shock and fork increments

• Sturdy 3D-printed material

• Brake pad tool advances pistons to set increment

• Includes rotor measuring tool

• Price: $7 USD (Ruler) $20 (Shims)

• crest-tool.com

| Two clever little 3D-printed tools, both small enough to stick in a pocket if need be. The sag ruler is just that: a ruler specifically sized to check sag on a shock or fork. I don't tend to use fork sag as a setup parameter, but shock sag is critical, and one of those things that I find myself referring to often when first setting up a new bike. Tools like this make that easier, and an included conversion table helps you get from millimeters to percentage without having to ask Siri anything. I have a flexible ruler I chopped up to do the same thing, but this feels like a nicer version of the same concept.The brake shims are a bit more niche, but again a solid upgrade over the pad advancement hacks lots of people use to get their bite point to feel sharper. The included measuring tool can be used to check rotor thickness, and the labelled shims allow you to careful advance pads past their typical bite point to reduce the distance between pad and rotor. This won't be an easy setup to achieve on all brake models, but some careful shop time and patience might get you there.

Crankbrothers Handguards

Features

• Flexible and durable plastic

• Quick release or hard-mount versions

• Multiple adjustment methods to dial in position

| Spring time is a glorious season in the Northwest, but it also means blackberries and nettles are at their prime. Be it prickly plants, rocks, or narrow trees, handguards serve a practical job when riding in tight terrain. That said, you might not always want to run them, be it for aesthetics or simply not needing them. Crankbrothers has done a smart job of creating a quick-release system that actually works, and still allows for the guards to do their job. You can install and remove these from your bike in only a few seconds, and they hold up well to abuse. Mine have seen plenty of action, and my hands are much happier for it. With tons of built-in adjustment and a large paddle, just about any setup should be achievable with these.

Fauna Cargo Cage

Features

• Stainless steel

• Removable foot attachment

Widefoot MiniMount

Features

• 5052 Aluminium

• 2-bolt mount

| Two takes on the bolt-on cargo cage, both quite good at their jobs. The Fauna Cargo Cage feels a bit more robust, given the stainless construction and larger footprint, but both are certainly going to be the strongest part of any given system. Thread a ski strap through 'em, cinch something down, and boom: said thing is attached to your bike. Though these sorts of mounts are more common in bikepacking usage, I find them handy for strapping a little fix-it kit to the top tube mounts on bikes that come with that provision. My main use for these is a little more unusual, but always satisfying. On larger bikes with a top tube mount, I can strap a full-length Silky saw underneath the top tube, and use these mounts to hold it secure. They also prevent the saw from damaging the frame, though I do keep it in a Thompson seatpost bag for extra protection.

Helix Coil Springs

Details

• Weights: 375-600lbs (272 kg), 25lb (11.3 kg) increments

• 666lb (302 kg) Alex Volokov signature spring

| For those looking for absolute accuracy when it comes to their coil springs, Helix offers a reliable span of weights for most major manufactures. With high-density plastic spacers to adapt the spring to various shock models, you can expect a very similar spring rate across copies of the same spring thanks to a 2% accuracy spring-to-spring. I don't have data on OE spring variation, but for shops, race teams, and riders who want to eliminate any variables, these are a solid option.

Insta360 Ace Pro 2

Features

• Up to 8K resolution

• Removable ND filters

• Flip up touch screen

• Excellent low-light performance

• Price: $300 USD for base bundle

• insat360.com

| Action cameras are a very useful tool in this job, and one that I had very little experience with prior to my time at MTBSA. At this point, I've now used a wide array of options from the major manufacturers, and have settled on the Ace Pro 2 for all my action-capturing needs. In short, it blows GoPro out of the water for my purposes. The primary advantage for me comes down to how well the Insta360 performs in low light, where most small-sensor cameras tend to struggle or fail entirely. Whatever magic the team managed to pack into this little brick does a remarkably good job of capturing light, colour, and motion in even the darkest environments, which is critical in my neck of the woods. Beyond that, small value adds like a magnetic quick-release mount, push-on ND filters, and a flip-up screen all add up to a better user experience, and keep me happy when I'm out there harvesting content for all of you.

Trek Air Rush

Features

• Presta or Schrader valve

• USB-C charging

• 2-120psi inflation range

• Measures in PSI, bar, and kPA

• Price: $100 USD

• trekbikes.com

| At this point, these loud little electric pumps are a fairly ubiquitous item. The small details, design queues, and branding may differ, but it seems likely that they all come from the same couple factories. That said, this little Trek option is my favourite by far, having withstood the abuses of time and doing its job dutifully. I've been pretty disappointed and annoyed with most of the other e-pumps I've used, but the Air Rush is a little bit quieter (still loud), and has proven reliable despite a hard life. The pressure estimates are accurate, the battery life is surprisingly good, and it even has a cute little flashlight for getting your pump on in the dark.I keep this in my car, and use it to top up tyres on a regular basis, so it's seen plenty of charge cycles over the past year. Though it's certainly not a critical item, it is one of those silly things that I'm actually quite happy to have on hand.

Akta Reza Pants

Features

• Six pockets, phone sleeve in cargo

• Built-in belt

• Key loop

• 89% recycled nylon, 11% spandex

• Price: $130 USD

• aktamtb.com

| Designing a pair of pants specific to trail building may seem niche, but if the results are this good, I don't really care what avenue got us here. I typically wear painter's pants, as a looser fit and high pocket count are my main criteria, but these have me cargo-curious. For tasks where you need to hold a lot of tools, snacks, dirt, whatever, the high-capacity pockets are genuinely useful, and the overall cut is very comfortable to move in.I wear these all the time, and have done my fair share of riding and digging in them. They've held up well, and always wash clean, no matter how muddy I manage to get them. Small details like the integrated belt and phone sleeve make them a little more practical, and keep them from feeling too silly when you throw a leg over the bike.If you fancy yourself cool enough to rock the quad pockets, then these are worth a try.

For South African readers

Overseas prices in this report are not confirmed South African retail prices. Check local availability, warranty support and the complete rand price with your retailer. No MTBSA test score has been assigned.