When we first investigated tool storage solutions several years ago, we were initially turned off by the ‘roll,’ even though we were all using them. A tool roll seems so old-school, like something a cowboy would've carried, or a biker gang in the 50s. Surely there's a better, more modern way?
With more research though, we came around. There’s a reason why tool rolls persist. The beauty of a roll versus, say, a bag or box, is that it naturally expands and contracts based on how much stuff is in it, and it conforms to a wide variety of tool shapes and sizes, while still rolling into a tidy package that fits in a stash-spot or external pocket.
With tool rolls, we felt there’d been a ‘race to the bottom’ on price-point and features. There are so many tool rolls already on the market, all with very similar features, and all at the lowest possible prices. Many OEMs even ship a tool roll for free with every bike. So we went a different direction in designing the Fatty and Pinner. We cut zero corners on materials and features, and we hope we created the most awesome tool roll you'll ever own.
Is there another waterproof tool roll out there? If so, we haven't seen it. We offer the Fatty & Pinner Tool Rolls with a highly abrasion-proof, welded-seam, waterproof rain cover. Tools are heavy and hard, and they press and vibrate against everything they touch, so the rain cover's gotta' be tough. This one is tough as nails, and it doubles as a trailside parts tray. If you’re riding in the desert and don’t need the rain cover, no problem: reduce bulk by leaving the rain cover at home and taking only the tool roll itself.
Sliding the roll out of the rain cover, you’ll see lots of tool storage pockets, with webbing straps to hold everything. Unlike traditional tool rolls, however, there’s also a large Velcro flap that traps your tools in place, so your tiniest hex key won’t escape somewhere out in the woods. Inside the flap there’s a zippered mesh pocket for tube patches and tire repair. On the outside of the Fatty, there’s three long pockets for tire irons, which are always kind of a hassle to store.
What about those bulky tools that never fit? Things like vice grips and open-ended wrenches? We added two large zipper pockets to accommodate these, plus spark plugs, JB Weld, sockets, Loctite, and all those other things which you always need but can't find, because they’re somewhere in the bottom of your bag. Next to the two large zipper pockets, we added a clear zipper pocket for documents, an air gauge, or anything else you want to tuck away. It even has a conversion table printed on the interior clear vinyl pocket.
Still haven’t assembled your kit? We did the homework for you, by hand-picking a custom set from CruzTOOLS, and adding a few of our favorite essentials. We threw in things like three sizes of UV-stabile Ty-Rap® zip ties, J-B KwikWeld, and a special container to protect it from making a mess. Simply pluck a couple of model-specific items from your bike’s OEM toolkit (like axle and spark plug wrenches), roll everything up in your Fatty, and forget ever having to borrow tools from your buddies again.
