Torque wrenches are an important tool for any cyclists to ensure you do not strip or damage sensitive bike components. However, most torque wrenches are not very portable or have fixed torque settings that limit versatility. Feedback Sports new Range Twist Torque Wrench is the solution to this issue with a compact form factor and novel design. The Range Twist retails for $75 and is a torsion bar style torque wrench with a torque range of 2-8 Nm. As with other torque wrenches, the Range Twist should only be used to tighten bolts. Feedback Sports includes six bits in a built-in holder to accommodate ten different fastener styles including hex, Torx, flat head and Phillips. The body of the tool is CNC aluminum with a red anodized finish and premium detailing such as knurling.
The Feedback Sports Range Twist combines a compact form factor with premium CNC aluminum body and built-in bit holder.
| Rating | 8.9 / 10 |
| Retail Price | $75 |
| Measured Weight (in g) | 93 |
| Likes | + Compact size that fits in a jersey pocket + Impressive quality with premium details + Clever twist design for extra leverage |
| Dislikes | – No carrying bag included with the tool – Lacks magnets to hold bits in holder – Close spacing between torque values makes it difficult to be precise |
| Where to Buy (US) | Feedback Sports |
UNBOXING
The Feedback Sports Range Twist comes in a compact cardboard box with specs and graphics printed on it. Inside the box you just have the Range Twist and all the six bits inside it placed it in a cardboard holder. There is no case or additional accessories included.
FIT & FINISH
The Feedback Sports Range Twist slots between their Reflex Fixed Torque Wrench and the larger Range Click in terms of price and size. With its torsion bar style design, it’s far more compact than equivalent click-style torque wrenches. The torque wrench is rated for 2-8 Nm with no presetting required as you can visually see the current torque as you tighten the bolt. As with other torque wrenches, the Range Twist is only designed for tightening bolts and should not be used to loosen bolts as that may damage it. Folded, the Range Twist is only five inches or 127 mm long which makes it small enough to put in a saddlebag or jersey pocket on a ride.
One of the Range Twist’s party tricks is the pivoting body which lets you unfold it to create a L shape to use as an ergonomic handle. Unfolded the body extends outward and changes the dimensions to 3.4 x 3.6 inches or 86 x 91 mm. The outside of the torque wrench has Feedback Sports red anodized finish on the aluminum body and a polished knurled end cap. If you unfold it, you can see the main body is black with a tapered body and a hidden Range Twist graphic. There are also premium details like the CNC work done to make the outer body sit perfectly flat over the main body.
Twisting open the end cap you’ll find a six bit holder arranged in a radial pattern like a revolver barrel. The bits are constructed from S2 steel and have a 4 mm “precision bit” hex shank size which is slightly smaller than the more common 1/4 inch or 6.35 mm bit size. With all the bits removed, you can see the holder has six cylindrical cutouts with the red anodized finish throughout. Four of the bits have a two sided design which means the six bits cover ten different interfaces. You have six hex sizes: 2, 2.5, 3, 4, 5 and 6 mm Hex as well as T10 and T25 Torx. There is also a #2 Phillips and a 3.5mm flat head which are convenient to have. The bits themselves have no engraving or color coating so there may be some trial and error to find the right tool.
Unlike click-style torque wrenches which have a dial to set the desired torque, you simply twist the Range Twist until you reach your desired torque. The Range Twist is rated for 2-8 Nm and has 1 Nm indicators arranged in a circular pattern next to the bit holder. There are six indicator arrows (i.e. one at each whole number) that are placed with different spacing before each torque value. It’s a bit confusing at first, but as you rotate the torque wrench each of the arrows will approach the indicated value. That means if you want a torque setting of 7 Nm the arrows for 2-6 should be slightly past their indicators while the 7 Nm arrow is aligned.
USABILITY
The small size of the Feedback Sports Range Twist makes it small enough that you can easily bring it along on a ride. You’ll still need to bring a standard mini tool though, as you can damage the torque wrench if you use it to loosen bolts. Even with that caveat, the torsion style torque wrench is convenient to have as you can properly torque stem bolts or other bolts even on the road. The big downside of this style torque wrench is that it requires a lot more patience and care as you have to watch the torque marks as you tighten the bolt. It doesn’t require much force to go from 2-8 Nm which means you really have to pay attention to your desired torque marking and ensure the arrow does not pass it.
While the built-in bit holder is a clever feature and is well packaged, the bits themselves slide out freely once the cap is open. That means if you tilt the tool to the side, all the bits can fall out inadvertently. We would have liked to see some sort of magnetic holder or friction fit to help hold the bits in place. Otherwise, the six bits and ten different options cover nearly any common task on a bike. It’s impressive that Feedback Sports was able to fit so many bits into such a small form factor. The tool is great for travel or even riding, but we’d recommend using some sort of bag to help protect it from scratches and preserve the eye-catching red anodized finish.
THE VERDICT
Overall, we found the Feedback Sports Range Twist to be a compact and well designed torque wrench. Feedback Sports has used a torsion style torque wrench to make the Range Twist less than 5” long with six bits stored directly inside the body. It’s small enough to fit in a jersey pocket or saddle bag and can work with 10 different fasteners including all the standard Hex and Torx bolts. We were impressed with the pivoting body which converts it from a pen-style to a T-handle style for additional leverage. The anodized red finish and precise CNC aluminum body also live up to the premium price with a high quality look and feel. As far as negatives, the tool lacks magnets or friction fit inside the bit holder and it is difficult to be precise as the spacing between torque indicator values are quite close to each other. That said, the Feedback Sports Range Twist is a highly portable and versatile torque wrench.
Disclaimer: The product for this review was provided by Feedback Sports. The views expressed on this website are solely those of the authors and are here to help people make an informed choice before a purchase. The authors or the blog itself does not get any monetary compensation from the product manufacturer or third-party websites/vendor links that are posted here.