A quality tool bag starts with using the right materials. Any tool bag is only as good as it is durable; once it flops over or falls apart, it doesn’t matter how good it used to be. Although tool bags can look similar, key construction features and material choices can differentiate between a good entry and an early candidate for the trash can. How We Tested

A: Whatever you want. Following lists can limit effectiveness by strangling creativity. Of course, specific trades come with specific tool kits, but every trade worker knows that making the work one’s own means improvising. I framed houses in the Texas heat, built and installed cabinets, cleaned windows and everything in between. With my diverse kit, I can test a tool bag pretty extensively. Field experience helps me recognize pretenders, and a real passion for a solid tool bag makes me intently analyze utility, advantages, and disadvantages. A: This one is easy. 1: get yourself a big flat surface that you can easily vacuum. 2: turn your tool bag upside down onto it. That’s it! Then you can vacuum the bag itself and reorganize it.The bag was reinforced with a hard, weatherproof plastic bottom to protect it from water, oil, grease, or any typical surface hazard. It had long carrying handles and a detachable shoulder strap. During testing, it carried comfortably no matter what. Framed Opening — Many tool bags have embedded hard plastic or metal elements to maintain rigidity. Even zippered bags can have framed openings, and it’s a feature that I highly recommend.

Each trade requires a specific tool bag, and anyone who does it every day knows their tool bag is critical to their job performance and enjoyment. Who This Guide is ForDurability — A tool bag can only be good if it still holds your tools. Ballistic nylon, reinforced seams and corners, and heavy-duty construction like riveted handles can increase a bag’s durability.

Rugged Construction — Where is the tool bag reinforced? Does it have extra layers of material on its corners or bottom? On its seams? What materials are used? These are all questions to take into account when evaluating a tool bag for ruggedness. I may have traded in the hammer and the drill for the keyboard and Wi-Fi connection, but for a decade I did what the initiated call “working for a living.” A: How else are you going to carry and organize your tools? Toolboxes are stationery items or designed for short trips around a shop or garage. If you’re transporting your tools, a tool bag is the way to go.

Carhartt Tool Bags & Belts

Because your gear also deserves the best in protection, quality, and workmanship. Made with lightweight, durable dirt and water-resistant materials, they’re fit for your hardworking world, whether you’re on the road, in the elements, cityside, or in the office. Form and function combine in our classic rugged style. Ready to take you wherever you need to go. They are uniquely designed with comfort and peak performance in mind. Our cutting-edge Rain Defender technology keeps the rain out while keeping your gear seriously protected. The Klein Tradesman Pro is one of the best tool bags for electricians (true to the brand’s heritage) or anyone with a lot of slim hand tools to organize — mechanics would benefit from the bag’s organizing capacity as well. Heavier trades might do best to look elsewhere or plan to carry a separate bag for heavier tools. Weatherproof/Waterproof — If you work in conditions where you’re often exposed to weather or water, pay attention to your bag’s weatherproof qualities. Note that tool bags are often reinforced from the bottom to keep water out. A: If I were a plumber — I deeply admire the trade, admit that I could never do it, and have extremely little natural ability for it — I would want a big bag that could handle getting wet and dirty.