Bolt-on frame bags are pretty sweet. They’re secure, reduce frame rub and wear, and offer a clean mounting aesthetic for your bags. Bolting on those bags just got a bit easier with the new Rogue Panda Frame Bag Thumb Screw and Washer set ($3.50 each), just announced today. John’s been using them for a month on his Cotic FlareMax, and they’ve remained tight and rattle-free. Let’s check them out…
Rather than using a cargo boss M5 x 15 mm bolt and a large fender washer, the Thumb Screw and Washer system can be installed without the use of an Allen key. Frame bags – particularly full suspension bags like mine – can get cramped on the inside. Unless you have a small ratcheting bit set, there isn’t a lot of room for tools.
This 8-gram set is simple and genius. The “washer” is a 50 mm foot that spreads the clamping power out from the 20 mm diameter “thumb screw,” a bolt with an integrated plastic wheel for gripping leverage. Over the past month, I’ve been using them on my Cotic FlareMax. First, I installed them just by hand to see if they’d loosen. They didn’t after a few rides. So, to ensure they wouldn’t come loose, I tightened them down with my Allen key ratchet system.
These long-footed mounting washers do eat into your bag space a bit, as they sit proud 10 mm, but they are smooth to avoid snagging on your cargo. They’re also lighter than the 1.5″ steel fender washers I was previously using. While there have been plenty of other “thumb screws” offered by brands like Trek and Salsa, these washers are what make this system unique and innovative.
Currently, Rogue Panda is making the washers in the USA, but the “thumb screws” bolts themselves are made in China.
At only $3.50 each, they’re a no-brainer add-on item when you order a custom framebag from Rogue Panda. The Pandas have made a coupon code for previous frame bag customers – SCREWIT – for 40% off buying Thumb Screw and Washer sets. This code is valid through December 31st. Read the fine print at Rogue Panda.
If you’re a custom bag maker and want to incorporate these Thumb Screw and Washers into your products, there is an OEM option from Rogue Panda. They’re going to start sending samples out once the initial rush has subsided, most likely by November, so holler at Rogue Panda if you’re interested.
It’s these simple and affordable tweaks to standard products that make me a fan of small makers like Rogue Panda. They’re not proprietary to their frame bags, and anyone can use them.
See more at Rogue Panda.
