The primary clothing of an avout, a length of newmatter fabric. A bolt, a chord and a sphere are the only personal possessions of an avout. Bolts are typically wrapped and folded, with the aid of a chord, to form a variety of robe-like garments. The thickness of a bolt can be adjusted to suit the weather. The color of bolts is sometimes ambiguous, though the bolts of the ringing vale avout are explicitly described as black at one point.
Unlike a sphere, a bolt cannot stop projectiles, as the fabric will rip under pressure and needs to be sown back together.