Most folks just install a chainring bolt and forget about, only remembering they are there when one falls out on a long tour. But chainring bolts can be tiny works of art, and the best ones are. There’s no reason to use chrome plated bolts. Chrome chips then flakes, and the bolt rusts. Chainring bolts should only be made outta two things: stainless steel or aluminum, and aluminum is plenty strong for chainring bolts on any bike except a fixed gear or an E bike. Install chainring bolts by coating the threads with a bit of beeswax, spoke prep, or if you have to, grease. Really though, use beeswax. It’s the best for this application. These bolts use a hex key on both sides, make sure you are not planning on using these bolts with a Sugino XD or Ritchey Crank, where the fifth bolt is hidden behind the crank arm. You can’t tighten it there, unless you use the kinda bolt that has a flat head slot on the back. Before you get all up in arms about the cost of these, think about what goes into it. It’s 10 pieces: 5 front bolts and 5 nuts. They are very precisely made. If they were just normal stainless bolts and nuts, they’d be only about 5 bucks less, with no colors, engravings or anything fun like that. Each bolt is machined. Not cast, or forged. It's a slow process, and time = money. Want the most durable bolts? Just get stainless. We have basic stainless bolts that work great for single rings or doubles. Sold in 5 packs only. If you have a 4 bolt crank, you can keep the 5th as a spare in your tool kit, which is a good idea for anyone rolling around with a 4 bolt crankset anyway!
