Park Tool THH-1 Sliding T-Handle Hex Wrench Set: Rider Review

Our "Rider Review" article series features honest reviews from verified purchasers of Worldwide Cyclery. They contain the photos, thoughts, feedback & overall review you are looking for. 

Park Tool can be seen in bike shops across the world and that's because they are the go-to company for anything tool wise in the cycling industry. You can easily spot them by their signature blue coloring. Park Tool has a handful of products for just about any mechanic and some of our favorite tools include the THH-1 Sliding T-Handle Hex Wrenches. We are going to take a look at a customer's thoughts on the wrenches:

Rider Review

This review is for the Park Tool THH-1 T-Handle Hex Wrench Set. I bought this set to replace my 20-year-old Pedro's P handles. Pedro's wrenches are excellent and served me well. I wasn't in the market for new wrenches but when I saw these beauties I talked myself into thinking I needed a new set. What caught my eye with the Park Tool wrenches was the "speed collar" and the "twisted hex" bolt extractor. The "speed collar" makes it easier to spin long bolts in and out. The"twisted hex" bolt extractor on the one end of the T handle helps to remove rounded out bolts.

The first thing I noticed when I got them was they looked better in person than they did online. Almost too shiny to get dirty. Even before I used them I could tell they were of good quality. I think you can get a little more torque with a T handle in your hand than the p handle, plus the t handle slides so you can find your sweet spot when tightening or loosening bolts. In the photo, you can see how much longer and beefier the 4mm Park Tools wrench is compared to Pedro's 4mm. Imagine the extra leverage you can get using an 8 mm to loosen your 50 Nm torqued down the crank arm. The edges are sharp and precise and fit tightly into the hex head of the bolt. I used the speed collar on my stem bolts and it worked well. I do hope the speed collar isn't a weak link when putting leverage on the wrench. Time will tell.

I'm anxious to try the "bolt extractor" part of the wrench to see how it works on a rounded out bolt, although I guess I'm in no hurry since that means I rounded out a bolt! If you use high-quality tools with proper technique, rounded bolts should be few and far between but eventually, I'll need this feature. If by chance this feature doesn't get the job done I can always use a Torx bit hammered into the rounded outfitting. That trick usually never fails. I want to point out these wrenches do not have a ball end so you can't use them if you need to get to a bolt at an angle.

Conclusion

"At the beginning of my review, I stated I bought these to replace my twenty-year-old Pedro's p handles. Both the p handle and t handle feel good in your hand, just in a different way. Considering Pedro's wrenches have a ball end to get at bolts at an angle, I will be using both of these sets. But I think the park tools t handle will be my go-to. I've only had these a short while but I expect them to last many years and so far I am happy with them."