Reviews You Can Rely On

Park Tool Team Issue Review

It's bested by the competition, but this is the best Park Tool work stand we've tested
gearlab tested logo
Park Tool Team Issue Review
Credit: Park Tool
Price:  $430 List
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
Manufacturer:   Park Tool
By Jeremy Benson ⋅ Review Editor  ⋅  Apr 4, 2019
77
OVERALL
SCORE


RANKED
#3 of 9
  • Ease of Setup - 20% 8.0
  • Stability - 20% 8.0
  • Clamp - 20% 7.0
  • Angle Adjustment - 10% 8.0
  • Height Adjustment - 10% 7.0
  • Portability - 10% 8.0
  • Everyday Maintenance - 10% 8.0

Our Verdict

If this review were only a comparison of the Park Tool work stands, then the Team Issue would take the top spot. This is by far the best Park Tool model that we've ever tested with an easy setup, light weight, a quality clamp, and an all-around better design than its relatives. We especially liked this stand's stability, high weight capacity, and relatively good portability. Unfortunately for the Team Issue, however, we tested it against the best models on the market, and while it is a good work stand, it can't quite match the performance of the competition. While it is a good work stand that will serve your needs, there are several other models in this test that outperform the Team Issue, especially considering it is one of the most expensive models in this review.
REASONS TO BUY
Lightweight
Best Park Tool model
Good clamp design
REASONS TO AVOID
Expensive
Wide collapsed size

Compare to Similar Products

 
park tool team issue
Awards  Editors' Choice Award
Best Overall Bike Work Stand
Top Pick Award
Best for Racers and Weight Conscious Riders
Top Pick Award
Best Non-Clamping Stand
Best Buy Award
Best Bang For Your Buck
Price $429.95 at Backcountry
Compare at 2 sellers
$495.00 at REI
Compare at 3 sellers
$369.95 at Amazon
Compare at 2 sellers
$340 List
$283.10 at Amazon
$129 List
$99.98 at Amazon
Overall Score Sort Icon
77
90
79
74
70
Star Rating
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
Bottom Line Its the best Park Tool work stand we've ever used, but it still can't quite match the performance of our top rated modelsAn expensive, heavy-duty work stand with a high weight limit for wrenching on electric bikesWeight-conscious home mechanics will love this model with its built in scale and stable designThis axle and bottom bracket mounting stand provides a solid alternative to clamping your frameIf you're on a tight budget, then look no further than this well designed, compact, functional, and affordable work stand
Rating Categories Park Tool Team Issue Feedback Sports Pro... Topeak PrepStand Pro Topeak PrepStand X Bike Hand YC-100BH
Ease of Setup (20%)
8.0
9.0
8.0
8.0
8.0
Stability (20%)
8.0
9.0
9.0
8.0
6.0
Clamp (20%)
7.0
10.0
6.0
5.0
6.0
Angle Adjustment (10%)
8.0
10.0
7.0
9.0
6.0
Height Adjustment (10%)
7.0
8.0
9.0
9.0
7.0
Portability (10%)
8.0
7.0
9.0
9.0
10.0
Everyday Maintenance (10%)
8.0
9.0
8.0
5.0
7.0
Specs Park Tool Team Issue Feedback Sports Pro... Topeak PrepStand Pro Topeak PrepStand X Bike Hand YC-100BH
Weight (lbs) 13 17 13.67 10.8 10.75
Load capacity (lbs) 100 100 55 37.9 55
Attachment Style Toptube/seatpost Toptube/seatpost Toptube/seatpost Axle/bottom bracket Toptube/seatpost
Max Height 60" 68" 72" 57" 59"
Min Height 47" 44" 48" 33" 39"
Stored Dimensions 47"x8" 45" x 8" X 5" 48.5"x7" 33.9” x 9.8” x 6.3” 40"x8"
Clamp Opening claimed 7/8"-3" 2.6" claimed 0.75"-1.8" n/a 2.6"

Our Analysis and Test Results

Park Tool has been an industry leader in the bike tools market for quite a long time. If you've ever worked on your bike or taken a look into the repair area at the local bike shop, you've probably used or at least seen some Park Tool products. Whether it's bike tools or bike stands, they make virtually everything you could ever need to work on your bike. In recent years, however, Park Tool's dominance has been challenged by several up and coming brands, especially in the bike work stand market. The Team Issue is Park Tool's top-of-the-line work stand and is their lightest weight and most refined model that we've ever tried. While we do feel that it's their best work stand, it can't match the performance and convenience of our top-rated models in this review.

Performance Comparison


park tool team issue - the team issue is easily the best park tool work stand we've ever...
The Team Issue is easily the best Park Tool work stand we've ever used, a massive improvement over the PCS-10.
Credit: Jeremy Benson

Ease of Setup


The Team Issue is relatively quick and easy to set up. It comes almost fully assembled from the factory, the only assembly required is the installation of the clamp arm, which is easily threaded into place using the clamp arm knob. Unlike the Park Tool PCS-10.2, the assembly of the Team Issue doesn't require tools and is very quick and easy. The clamp arm is so easy to put on and take off that we recommend doing it for storage and travel as it gives the stand a narrower profile. Other than the clamp arm, the setup involves flipping open the quick release for the legs and sliding the collar down to the bottom of the main tube and closing the quick release to secure them in place. The legs move in unison, thanks to the thin aluminum stays that keep all the parts together. The height is then adjusted by flipping open the other quick release on the upper collar and sliding the upper portion of the main tube out of the lower to the desired height and securing it with the quick release. The clamp arm can also be twisted 360 degrees to arrange the clamp in the desired position. If the clamp arm is already attached, testers found they were able to have this work stand set up in approximately 20 seconds.

park tool team issue - there is minimal assembly required; the clamp arm just needs to be...
There is minimal assembly required; the clamp arm just needs to be inserted into the socket at the top and threaded on.
Credit: Jeremy Benson

Overall, the differences in time and ease of setup of the models in this review are relatively minimal. With a couple of practice runs, the majority of the work stands in this test can be set up in 15-25 seconds. The easiest and most user-friendly model is the Feedback Sports Pro Elite. After that, the ToPeak Prepstand Pro, Bike Hand, and the Eclypse all take just a hair longer.

Stability


Park Tool has made the Team Issue a very stable work stand. It has a weight rating up to 100 pounds, the most in the test, and although we never came close to that number, it's clear that this stand can support the heaviest bike in your stable and withstand your hardest wrenching tasks. When the legs are open, the stand has a three-point stance with 36" long legs and 45" between their ends. With a range of height adjustment between 45" and 60", the Team Issue keeps the weight slightly lower than some of the competition which adds to its stability. This stand is made out of “Hexatude” hexagonally-shaped tubing that supposedly makes a stiffer and less flexible tube and has the added benefit of preventing the upper and lower portion of the main tube from rotating. This lack of rotation ensures that the clamp arm will always remain lined up between the legs in the stand's most stable position.

park tool team issue - the team issue has a wide and stable footing with hex shaped tubing...
The Team Issue has a wide and stable footing with hex shaped tubing throughout that prevents twisting of the clamp arm and keeps everything lined up in the most stable position. They claim a weight limit of 100 lbs.
Credit: Jeremy Benson

The stability of the Team Issue is definitely among the best in the test. The lower maximum height, heavy weight limit, and twist-free hexagonal tubing ensure that this stand is stable enough for just about any bike or wrenching task. The ToPeak Prepstand Pro, however, still takes the cake for stability with its tripod legs and larger footprint, with the Feedback Sports Pro Elite roughly the same as the Team Issue.

Clamp


Park Tool's top-of-the-line work stand gets a top-of-the-line clamp. This clamp is solid, with virtually all metal parts and nice wide rubber-coated jaws with a unique shape that can grab onto nearly every shape of tubing. The jaws open wide and can clamp onto massive 3" diameter tubes with a threaded cam-locking closure that speeds up the bike loading process. The cam-locking lever closes and opens the jaws about a half an inch while turning the lever as a knob allows you to fine-tune the tension on them with the threaded rod that holds the two sides of the clamp together. Each side of the clamp jaws is 2.75" long, which is a nice length to fit onto smaller parts of the frame while still distributing their force over a large enough area. The clamp of the Team Issue is by far the most impressive part of this work stand. In addition to the excellent clamp design, Park Tool has also integrated a piece of curved blue plastic on one side of the clamp arm that is intended to cradle the nose of your saddle should you choose to quickly hang your bike for simple maintenance tasks like lubing your chain.

park tool team issue - the team issue has a quality clamp that opens wide to fit tubes up...
The Team Issue has a quality clamp that opens wide to fit tubes up 3" with non-marking rubber jaws that fit a big variety of tubing shapes.
Credit: Jeremy Benson

The clamp on the Team Issue is among the best on our test, but it couldn't match the performance or convenience of the clamp on the Editors' Choice award-winning Feedback Sports Pro Elite. The Pro Elite has a slide ratcheting closure and a spring-loaded quick-release that no other model can match. Beyond that, none of the other competitors can match the quality or convenience of the clamp on the Team Issue.

Angle Adjustment


Much like the Park Tool PCS-10.2, the Team Issue has a quality angle adjustment with 360 degrees of smooth index-free rotation. The clamp arm is controlled by the large handle on the back of the clamp arm that tightens or loosens a compression cone in the composite fitting at the top of the stand. Adjusting the angle is easy, smooth, and predictable and can be done with or without a bike in the clamp. If you do adjust the angle with a bike in the clamp, you can modulate it by maintaining some tension on the clamp arm knob and by supporting the weight of the bicycle with your hands.

park tool team issue - the angle adjustment is solid and secure and can be tightened down...
The angle adjustment is solid and secure and can be tightened down hard to handle heavy bikes and high torque repairs.
Credit: Jeremy Benson

The Team Issue angle adjustment is smooth, stable, and relatively user-friendly, but testers found that they preferred the adjustment on the Feedback Sports Pro Elite. This stand has a similar non-indexed rotation but a large three-pronged metal knob that is incredibly easy to turn and makes adjustments even quicker and easier. Both the ToPeak Prepstand Pro and the Bike Hand have circular rings of plastic teeth that have an indexed adjustment that is secure but far less user-friendly than the non-indexed rotation of the Team Issue and others.

Height Adjustment


The Team Issue has a quality and secure height adjustment, but it loses a little ground to the competition due to its more limited adjustment range. The clamp can be adjusted anywhere within its range of 45"-60" by opening the upper quick release on the main tube and sliding the upper tube out of the lower tube to the desired height. It's possible to adjust the height higher than 60", although the stand becomes much less stable, and it's best to stay within the recommended adjustment range. The quick-release lever appears to be of high quality and provides a secure clamp to keep the height where you want it, plus the tension of the quick release is quickly and easily adjustable. On the Team Issue work stand, Park Tool has also employed hex-shaped aluminum tubing throughout its construction, which keeps the upper and lower tubes in line and not drifting to the side like some of the older models.

park tool team issue - the height of the team issue is easily adjusted with this quick...
The height of the Team Issue is easily adjusted with this quick release. It has a more limited range than some of the competition, but the hex-shaped tubing works to keep everything in line and enhances its stability.
Credit: Jeremy Benson

While the height adjustment of the Team Issue is secure and provides enough range for most applications, our testers were more impressed with the tripod style stands that offer a greater range of adjustment. The Feedback Sports Pro Elite has a 42"-71" range that is sure to meet everyone's needs. Our top-rated model in this metric is the ToPeak Prepstand Pro, which has a 48"-72" adjustment range and a more refined air-cushioned feel in its travel.

Portability


Testers were relatively impressed with the portability of the Team Issue. Park Tool has managed to keep the weight of the Team Issue down to a very respectable 13 pounds, and the stand collapses down to a size that is competitive with many of the other models in the test. One of the biggest issues with the Team Issue is the clamp arm, which is fixed in the extended position when attached to the stand as opposed to the folding clamp arms found on many other models. The clamp arm gives the stand a slightly taller and wider profile of 48" x 15" when it is attached. If storage space is limited, it's quite easy to remove the clamp arm from the stand by unscrewing the large knob on the back of the top tube. This reduces the collapsed width of the stand to a very manageable 47" x 8". The only drawback is that you have to keep track of the clamp arm and put it back on when you set it up.

With the clamp arm attached, it is awkwardly shaped and 15 inches...
With the clamp arm attached, it is awkwardly shaped and 15 inches wide.
With the clamp arm removed it is much more compact, but then you...
With the clamp arm removed it is much more compact, but then you have 2 parts to keep track of.

While the weight and collapsed size of the Team Issue do help to make it quite portable, it is still bested by several other models in this review that are lighter, smaller and don't require the removal of the clamp arm. The smallest model we tested is the Bike Hand YC-100BH, and the lightest is the Eclypse Repair Stand. The Feedback Sports Pro Elite collapses about two inches shorter, weighs less, and has folding clamp arms that enhance their portability and convenience.

Everyday Maintenance


The Team Issue is a solid choice for everyday maintenance tasks. It's quick and easy to set up and take down, and it has a durable construction that can withstand being left outside for extended periods or regular rinses with the hose. The clamp is user-friendly, and it's quick to get your bike in and out of this stand for simple tasks like checking your shifting or adjusting a derailleur. It also has a protective blue plastic cover on the top of the clamp arm that is designed for you to hang your bike by the nose of your saddle for those super quick tasks like lubing your chain. Of course, we liked the ratcheting/quick release clamp of the Feedback Sports Pro Elite the best for its convenience for everyday maintenance, but the Team Issue is still a great choice.

park tool team issue - the clamp arm on the team issue has a blue piece attached to the top...
The clamp arm on the Team Issue has a blue piece attached to the top side which is intended for hanging your bike by the saddle for everyday maintenance tasks like lubing your chain.
Credit: Jeremy Benson

Value


The Team Issue is the most expensive work stand in our test. While it is a quality work stand and the best Park Tool model we've ever tried, it's hard to call it a great value since our top-rated models cost less and offer a higher level of performance and convenience. The Team Issue comes with a limited lifetime warranty to the original owner, so you should theoretically get many years of faithful service from it.

park tool team issue
Credit: Jeremy Benson

Conclusion


While the Team Issue definitely takes the cake as the best Park Tool work stand we've ever tested, it falls about the middle of the pack of the models in this review.

Other Versions and Accessories


Park Tool makes a range of portable home mechanic and professional grade work stands, accessories, and every tool you could ever need for working on your bike.
In addition to the PRS-25 Team Issue reviewed here, they also make the PCS-10.2(also tested), and the PCS 9, both of which have a similar design but weigh more and are far less user-friendly than the Team Issue.
They make one model of fork mount repair stand, the PRS 22.2 Team Issue.
They also make a variety of accessories, including a handlebar holder, tool tray, paper towel holder, and wheel truing stand that can mount directly to your Park Tool work stand. Accessories specific to the PRS-25 reviewed here are a zippered Storage and Travel Bag ($25) with a shoulder strap, and a Work Tray ($34) to keep your tools handy.

Jeremy Benson