Back in June, Travis rounded up a set of bike tool mounts designed to attach to the integrated accessory mounts found on many newer MTB frames. Not to be confused with bottle mounts, accessory mounts are generally placed toward the edges of a bike’s front triangle where a bottle won’t fit, but a small pack or tool roll will.
So, now that you have a tool mount with a strap, it’s time to pick up a tool roll, case, or small bag to hold and organize your gear! I’ve used several different rolls, bags, and pouches over the years, and have found that each of these has its pros and cons. Personally, I really, really like a tool roll for reasons I’ll explain below, but plenty of riders swear by other bag and case designs.
If your frame doesn’t have a set of accessory mounts, don’t worry! Some of these packs can be attached to saddle rails or directly to your frame using a strap. You might also consider using a small frame bag like one of these.
Lezyne Roll Caddy
The Lezyne Roll Caddy is the simplest of the tool rolls I’ve tested. It features two main pockets, each with a smaller pocket on the outside. There’s also a zippered pocket to keep smaller items extra secure. I have no problem fitting a multitool, electric pump, TPU tube, tire plug tool, and more inside.
A thick hook-and-loop strap comes with the pack, though it’s not sewn on like many of the others. You can use the Roll Caddy as a saddle bag, attach it to a tool mount, or mount it directly to your frame.
- Price: $17.95
- Weight: 79g
- Buy from Competitive Cyclist
Dakine Gripper
A lot of riders choose to use a case like the Dakine Gripper for carrying a spare tube and small tools. The main compartment isn’t fully enclosed so it does’t accumulate water or dirt, though that also means small items can easily fall out. The upshot is quick access when you need it! The Dakine Gripper’s compartment is big enough to fit a full-size MTB tube, or 4-5 TPU tubes if you really want to be prepared.
Beyond the main compartment there are two slender open pouches that are about the right size for a CO2 cartridge, a tire plug tool, and/or a tire lever. With the flat repair kit sorted, you’ll need to stash your multi-tool elsewhere.
The Gripper features a thick hook-and-loop strap that’s sewn to the pack. A textured back prevents the Gripper from sliding around on your frame, though it could leave scratches over time. I recommend attaching the Gripper to saddle rails or a tool mount to ensure a secure (and scratch-free!) connection.
The Topeak Elementa Pro seat bag takes a similar approach to holding a tube and CO2 cartridges like the Dakine Gripper, and adds a zippered compartment with a ratcheting multitool to complete the kit.
- Price: about $30
- Weight: 74g
- Buy from Jenson USA
Granite Quiver Tool Roll
The Granite Quiver Tool Roll is pretty similar to the Lezyne Roll Caddy, with one key upgrade. Like the Roll Caddy, there are two large open pockets plus a third, zippered pocket for flat items you want to keep extra secure, like cash, for example. In the main pockets, I can fit a TPU tube, my tool pouch with a multi-tool and tire plug tool, plus tire levers and patches.
Instead of a hook-and-loop strap, the Granite Quiver Tool Roll uses a ratcheting closure system. The ratchet dial works sort of like a BOA, but to release, you turn it backward instead of popping the dial up. The string-like cables can be used to attach the roll to saddle rails or directly to a frame, though I don’t recommend that for fear of damaging the frame finish. Since I can’t route the cable strap through my tool mount, I use a separate strap to attach the Granite Quiver tool roll to my full-suspension bike.
KOM makes a similar tool roll that features a ratchet strap system.
- Price: $36.99
- Weight: 66g
- Buy from Amazon
Wolf Tooth B-RAD Tek Lite Roll Top
I’ve owned the Wolf Tooth Tek Lite Roll Top waterproof bag for several years now, and it works great. It’s essentially a 1L dry bag, which means your tools and supplies will stay safe and clean through multiple seasons of use.
Wolf Tooth sells the Tek Lite Roll Top bag and strap together for mounting it to saddle rails or directly to your frame. A more secure solution can be had by purchasing the combo kit, which includes the B-RAD mounting plate that secures to your accessory mounts or beneath a water bottle cage.
Over time, my Tek Lite bag has developed some holes from normal wear and tear, and though it’s no longer waterproof, I taped over the holes and continue to use the bag!
The dry bag design is simple and works well, though it doesn’t have the benefit of organizing tools and supplies, and it doesn’t lay out nicely for keeping small bits out of the dirt like a tool roll does.
- Price: $44.95 for bag and strap, $54.95 for bag, strap, and mount
- Weight: 58.5g claimed (bag and strap)
- Buy from Wolf Tooth
Topeak Burrito Pack
This is the tool roll I’ve owned the longest, and it’s always on one of my bikes. The Topeak Burrito Pack has three pockets and a flap that folds down to keep everything secure without a zipper in sight. The whole thing rolls up and is secured with stretchy elastic bands. An included wide, hook-and-loop strap secures the roll to your frame or saddle rails.
I love the yellow liner inside the pack that makes it easy to lay out small parts when making a repair on the trail. In the past, I’ve lost important bits — like valve cores and chain links — in the leaves and spent what seemed like hours searching for them in vain. The Burrito pack is sorta like having a tiny workbench that keeps parts and supplies organized.
Though I greatly prefer a tool roll over a bag or pouch, unwrapping any roll takes a little more time than digging into a bag. That can be important because when it comes to a repair like plugging a tire, time is of the essence!
- Price: $54.95
- Weight: 89g
- Buy from Competitive Cyclist
Your turn: What do you use to carry and organize your tools and/or flat repair supplies?
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