2023-08-09 00:23:33
Why the Runwell Aqualia15 key makes my heart skip a beat
Call me a weirdo all you want, but I truly believe the Runwell Aqualia15 Wrench is one of the finest cycling tools out there.
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Runwell has been producing tools for the agricultural and automotive industries since the early 1960s, but in 2011 the brand began experimenting with new manufacturing techniques and designs, eventually reviving with a focus on high quality tools for cyclists.
Aimed primarily at fixed-gear riders and bike shops, the Aqualia15 is Runwell’s 15mm key and the company has done an amazing job of turning something very simple into something truly beautiful.
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At 170mm in length, the wrench is short enough to stuff into a bar bag, or even a jersey pocket with a single squeeze, while still maintaining a useful degree of torque. The handle is also nicely rounded and angled at 15 degrees to avoid getting your hands caught – a really nice touch.
The 12 point ringhead is extremely well finished and providing you have high quality track nuts you should have no problems.
I don’t for a moment imagine this wrench will perform significantly better than the stack of standard 15mm wrenches I have in my toolbox, but it’s a delightful thing to behold and will take pride of place in my roll of tools.
Looking at Runwell’s Instagram page, there also seems to be a very cool titanium version of the Aqualia15 with a nice “half-dipped” and heat-treated finish coming.
All of Runwell’s tools are made in Japan, and the Aqualia15 is available direct for ¥2,300 or from Tokyobike in the UK for £23 – a price low enough to make a great gift for the fixie-nerd in your life.
Other beautiful 15mm wrenches
Of course, the Runwell Aqualia isn’t the only beautiful 15mm wrench out there.
The best known of these is of course – I say “of course” as if anyone else cared regarding that sort of thing – the Campagnolo Peanut Butter Wrench. I let you discover why it is called the PB key.
If you’re lucky you might be able to pick one up on the cheap, but more often than not they go for around £80/$100.
VeloSolo also makes a rather handsome alloy key that looks a lot like the classic peanut butter key. If you’re a weight-weenie fixed-gear rider (what a niche within a niche), this is the one for you at just £29.95 a pop.
If you’re looking for a more compact tool, I really like the Portland Design Works 3wrencho – the name being a play on 3rensho, a famous Japanese bike builder specializing in trail bikes.
This nifty tool integrates a tire lever and 15mm wrench into one small package and should fit in any tool roll.
Other Runwell tools
Runwell also produce a number of other tools for cyclists including the Nezile Double Ended Wrench, the Take 8/6mm Pedal Wrench and those super cool hex keys that have a ruler scale engraved on them for some reason .
He also makes these insanely cool hammered copper top caps.
What do you think of the Runwell Aqualia15? Are you satisfied with what you have or do you share our thirst for exotic tools? Share snaps of all the particularly cute tools in the comments below!
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#key #great #beauty
