tool bag?
#1
Thread Starter
Full Member
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 214
Likes: 2
From: Waco Texas
Bikes: Cannondale F2000, Co-Motion Periscope Torpedo, and many more
tool bag?
Riding around home I just keep a small assortment of tools in a seat bag but I'm planning a month long tour this summer and plan to bring a much more comprehensive set of tools. I'm thinking that I'd like some sort of zippered bag where I can organize all my tools and spare parts in one place. That way when I go to make any repair I can unroll all my tools and parts and have them all laid out in once place.
Anyone know of a nice lightweight tool bag that will be useful for holding a good collection of tools that can then be dropped into a larger bag or pannier?
Anyone know of a nice lightweight tool bag that will be useful for holding a good collection of tools that can then be dropped into a larger bag or pannier?
#2
Cycle Dallas
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 3,776
Likes: 11
From: Land of Gar, TX
Bikes: Dulcinea--2017 Kona Rove & a few others
Timbuk2, Park Tool and Chrome all make tool rolls. I think they sell some stocked with tools.
For my daughter's bike, I bought a zippered, pistol pouch and sewed velcro loops on two sides so it attaches to the frame in the main triangle. I didn't think anyone would recognize it as a pistol bag. I figured folks would think it was just a triangular bag, made for cycling. However, on several occasions, we've been out riding and had people mention her packing heat. "Is that your daughter with the gun?" and "Certainly, she can't be old enough for a CHL."
For my daughter's bike, I bought a zippered, pistol pouch and sewed velcro loops on two sides so it attaches to the frame in the main triangle. I didn't think anyone would recognize it as a pistol bag. I figured folks would think it was just a triangular bag, made for cycling. However, on several occasions, we've been out riding and had people mention her packing heat. "Is that your daughter with the gun?" and "Certainly, she can't be old enough for a CHL."
#5
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 498
Likes: 0
From: Vancouver, BC, Canada
Bikes: Trek Fuel EX8, Caad10, Marin BearValley, WTP BMX, Norco Tandem
I took a heavy duty ziploc bag (not too big) and covered it in duct tape. I even made a couple tabs to make it easy to open, 'cuz I'm classy like that.
#6
Thread Starter
Full Member
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 214
Likes: 2
From: Waco Texas
Bikes: Cannondale F2000, Co-Motion Periscope Torpedo, and many more
Thanks guys, I was thinking perhaps something along these lines. This is intended for motorcycle touring but the concept is the same:
https://roadgear.com/sport-touring-tool-pouch-p-46.html
But I'm open to ideas. I'll have to make a list of all the tools and parts that I'll want but definitely a couple multi-tools, spoke wrench, chain wrench, lube, spare tubes, patches, tire levers, hand wipes, along with a ziploc bag of essential spare parts. I'll need to go over the bike and trailer top to bottom to make sure I have every possible tool that I'll need.
https://roadgear.com/sport-touring-tool-pouch-p-46.html
But I'm open to ideas. I'll have to make a list of all the tools and parts that I'll want but definitely a couple multi-tools, spoke wrench, chain wrench, lube, spare tubes, patches, tire levers, hand wipes, along with a ziploc bag of essential spare parts. I'll need to go over the bike and trailer top to bottom to make sure I have every possible tool that I'll need.
#8
Banned
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 43,586
Likes: 1,380
From: NW,Oregon Coast
Bikes: 8
a shop towel , rolled up with a few rubber bands around it , both carries the tools .
and gives you some place, relatively clean, to lay the parts you take off, onto.
Hemp Canvas would be Hip.
and gives you some place, relatively clean, to lay the parts you take off, onto.
Hemp Canvas would be Hip.
#9
Senior Lurker, mostly.
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 242
Likes: 1
From: Mid Missouri.
Bikes: '02 Raleigh C40, '10 Fuji Touring, and a refurbished '82 (I think) Motobecane Grand Touring
Hemp Canvas sounds good, a little bigger than what I have and actually folds over far enough so the tools stay in it, nice!
Last edited by DW99; 03-08-13 at 03:41 AM.
#10
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 3,392
Likes: 2
From: Central Coast, CA
Bikes: Surly LHT, Specialized Rockhopper, Nashbar Touring (old), Specialized Stumpjumper (older), Nishiki Tourer (model unknown)
I just put my tools in a ziploc. It's lightweight, and the same one has lasted for several tours.
#11
aka Timi

Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 3,611
Likes: 325
From: Gothenburg, Sweden
Bikes: Bianchi Lupo & Bianchi Volpe Disc: touring. Bianchi Volpe: commuting
#12
Thread Starter
Full Member
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 214
Likes: 2
From: Waco Texas
Bikes: Cannondale F2000, Co-Motion Periscope Torpedo, and many more
#13
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 5,428
Likes: 2
Bikes: Cervelo RS, Specialized Stumpjumper FSR Pro, Schwinn Typhoon, Nashbar touring, custom steel MTB
Agreed. How many tools to you need to carry, really? I've got a tool bag I can barely lift that contains all of the tools, and many of the spare parts, necessary to build a bike from the frame up. On tour? I leave most of that stuff at home! I carry enough tools to rescue myself from an inconvenience or mild disaster, but assume that if anything truly major happens I'll need to hitch a ride to a bike shop.
#14
ghost on a machine
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 216
Likes: 1
From: Idaho
Bikes: Rivendell A. Homer Hilsen, Serotta Colorado Legend TG, Rivendell Roadeo, Surly Cross Check, Surly Big Dummy
King Cage Cargo Cage
(disclosure: we sell these too at the Bike Touring News store, but I use them and love them)
(disclosure: we sell these too at the Bike Touring News store, but I use them and love them)
#15
Senior Member

Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 505
Likes: 7
From: Portland, Oregon
Bikes: Cannondale Topstone gravel bike Dahon MU folder w/2x8 speed internal drive train
I made my own tool roll to fit the tools I take. Park Tool has a tool roll for bike tools. The tool roll give me a clean visible surface to put tools and parts I am using. I put shadows on the pockets to keep thing organized and accounted for. I keep a spare tube and patching kit in a separate small saddle bag. It might have taken me an hour to layout the pattern and sew mine together.
https://www.crazyguyonabike.com/dire...size=large&v=3
Here's one called a bike burrito
https://www.crazyguyonabike.com/dire...size=large&v=3
Here's one called a bike burrito
#16
When touring, I use an old water bottle with a wide opening to store all my tools and spare bits. It usually goes in the 3rd cage mounted on the downtube.
On commutes, I use a small tool roll inside my pannier.
On commutes, I use a small tool roll inside my pannier.
#17
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 4,441
Likes: 235
Don't forget to carry a small towel or rag or clean the grease off your hands after a repair. There are few things less disgusting than riding for several hours with that stuff all over you, your clothes, and the cheek you keep wiping sweat off of.
#18
Senior Member

Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 677
Likes: 3
From: Grants Pass, Oregon
Bikes: Hard Rock Sport, Peugeot Triathlon, Schwinn Paramount Series 7
Actually, mine is a superior design since it doesn't require the use of one of those h-e-a-v-y ziploc bags.

#20
Thread Starter
Full Member
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 214
Likes: 2
From: Waco Texas
Bikes: Cannondale F2000, Co-Motion Periscope Torpedo, and many more
So are those duct tape pouches a stealth way to carry a supply of duct tape for other repairs, or do you just like making junk out of duct tape?
#21
For me, I carried a sawed-down 10" crescent wrench (cut to fit the length of my seat bag), chain breaker, spoke wrench, 6mm Allen wrench, tire levers, patch kit, squeeze tube of white lithium grease, a 1.5oz aerosol can of WD40, flat and #2 Phillips screwdrivers, freewheel tool, crank extractor, a shop rag, and a spare inner tube, and most importantly my flipee-flyer (cloth frisbee-type thing with bead chain in the outer hem) all in my mid-70s 8" long and 5" diameter Cannondale 'Toot' seat bag. Spare spokes were taped to the chainstay with black electrical tape.
#22
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 2,285
Likes: 1
From: Kherson, Ukraine
Bikes: Old steel GT's, for touring and commuting
Thanks guys, I was thinking perhaps something along these lines. This is intended for motorcycle touring but the concept is the same:
https://roadgear.com/sport-touring-tool-pouch-p-46.html
But I'm open to ideas. I'll have to make a list of all the tools and parts that I'll want but definitely a couple multi-tools, spoke wrench, chain wrench, lube, spare tubes, patches, tire levers, hand wipes, along with a ziploc bag of essential spare parts. I'll need to go over the bike and trailer top to bottom to make sure I have every possible tool that I'll need.
https://roadgear.com/sport-touring-tool-pouch-p-46.html
But I'm open to ideas. I'll have to make a list of all the tools and parts that I'll want but definitely a couple multi-tools, spoke wrench, chain wrench, lube, spare tubes, patches, tire levers, hand wipes, along with a ziploc bag of essential spare parts. I'll need to go over the bike and trailer top to bottom to make sure I have every possible tool that I'll need.
I do need to pare down to something smaller now that I'm not running a clunker that needs constant repairs. I probably don't need to be carrying around full size box end wrenches anymore...
#23
Senior Member

Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 13,912
Likes: 1,242
From: Montreal Canada
makes me laugh, once on a motorcycle ride coming back from the states, my hands were freezing, so I duct taped some plastic bags into mitts to wear over my motorcycle gloves, worked a treat.
#24
weirdo
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,962
Likes: 5
From: Reno, NV
I don`t ride anywhere exotic or take megatours, and check my bike out before taking off, so just the "small assortment of tools in a seatbag" (probably very similar assortment to yours) plus a few extras, that still fits in a seat wedge. Sometimes, when a lot of dirt roads are expected, I carry an additional tube beyond the one spare already in the seat wedge. That second spare is a little too much to stuff in the wedge, so I just find it a home wherever I can.
#25
Senior Member

Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 677
Likes: 3
From: Grants Pass, Oregon
Bikes: Hard Rock Sport, Peugeot Triathlon, Schwinn Paramount Series 7



