Alexandra Ramirez
1. DEWALT
Best Overall Tool Belt
5/5 Product Rating
Features also included are a double-tongue roller buckle belt and a convenient holder for your cell phone along with plenty of pockets convenient sleeves for all of your tools, nails and screws; 31 in all.
There are 2 steel hammer holders and also a built-in utility knife pocket for your convenience as well.
The patented pouch handle makes the tool belt easy to carry and the large pockets are perfect for nails, parts, pencils, small tools and other little items. There are 11 front pockets as well as 24 small pockets. There are also loops for hammers and other bigger tools.
The Dewalt 31 Pocket Professional Carpenter’s Pro-combo Apron can be adjusted easily and allows for on-hook storage and convenient and easy carrying.
There is a zippered pocket that is perfect for holding valuable so they don’t fall out. The convenient carabiner works for keys or a lanyard. This tool belt will adjust to fits people with waists that measure 29” to 46”.
– Darius Spieth
2. Task Tools
Best Overall Tool Belt – Runner Up
4.7/5 Product Rating
There is a 2” wide heavy-duty saddle leather belt that has reversed, rounded corner pockets that provide easy access.
The roller bucket provides comfort and safety and there are 2 rust-resistant, nickel-plated holders for your hammers.
One of the most important tools a carpenter or handyman can have is their tool belt. This Task Tools Carpenter’s Apron fulfills the needs that you have to carry your important tools with you.
With plenty of pockets and durability that will stand up to daily use, this tool belt will take care of the needs a carpenter has to carry their tools conveniently and easily.
The oil-tanned, split leather will last a lifetime with proper care and can handle the weight of heavy tools without tearing. It makes a great gift too!
– Darius Spieth
3. MagnoGrip
Best Budget Tool Belt
4.5/5 Product Rating
It is made from 100% double layered, durable denier nylon that can stand up to the demands you tools will put on it.
The key stress points of the tool belt have been reinforced with rivets for additional durability.
The Magnogrip carpenter’s tool belt has 12 pockets for storing all the tools you need within reach while you are working or handling projects.
The main pockets of the belt stay open for fast and easy access. The magnetic nail pockets keep at the little things in place and ready to grab when you need them.
It is the perfect tool belt for carpenters that have to work with a lot of small nails because the magnetic properties make grabbing small nails and other tools very easy.
If you are a carpenter or you have a carpenter in your life, this is definitely a tool belt to consider.
– Darius Spieth
Tool Belt Buying Guide
There are several things that you want to look at when you are looking for a professional grade, long lasting tool belt. If you are someone that works with tools on a daily basis in your regular job, you will need a stronger and more durable tool belt than you wood if you were just looking for something for weekend projects. We have listed the more common considerations to look at when searching for the right tool belt.
- Belt and buckle adjustability
- Durability
- Quality of materials, seams, rivets
- Is there double stitching
- Fit
- Holders for hammers and other bigger tools
- Number of pockets
- Where was the belt manufactured?
- What profession or situation are you purchasing the tool belt for?
All of the above considerations will determine the type of tool belt that is best for your needs. By taking the time to look at the different factors that make up a good quality tool belt you will be certain to get the right one for your needs.
Types
There are many different types of tool belts on the market. We have listed the different types below so you will understand the difference between them.
Conventional – A conventional tool belt is all one piece and the belt is part of the assembly. This type of belt has many different designs and materials. There are many different designs and materials that conventional tool belts are made of. These include:
- Leather – Will not rip or tear, holds heavier tools easily. It can be stiff and heavier than other material types. Leather tool belts will pretty much last a lifetime with a little care making them an excellent choice for a gift.
- Canvas – Canvas is a lightweight material used in some tool belts. They typically have open as well as sealable pouches that will hold many different kinds of tools or small supplies. Because the material is so lightweight, users can pack the tool belt with plenty of tools without adding an extreme amount of weight to themselves to carry. Some canvas tool belts have shoulder harnesses as an extra feature. The shoulder harness takes some of the weight from the waist and distributes it in a more comfortable way.
- Nylon – Nylon tool belts are durable, lightweight and pliable. It can be snagged or ripped and tends to sag with excess weight. If you need a tool belt for household chores/repairs, this might be a good, lightweight option.
- Cloth – Cloth tool belts are very lightweight, washable and make grabbing nails or screws from the pockets super easy. They can rip or tear fairly easy and are not waterproof which can be a problem if you have a lot of heavy tools to carry or work outdoors. For light home repairs, they would be ideal.
- Suede Leather – This type of leather is not as rugged as hard molded leather but it is still very sturdy and difficult to mess up.
The material you choose for your tool belt is mostly a personal preference decision but you do want to consider what type of material is the mist comfortable, how many and what types of items the tool belt material will hold and how the belt will be used. Leather is the most popular material because if its long lasting ruggedness. Some don’t like the lack of flexibility, but if you want something that will stand up to a lot of use and heavy tools.
Detachable Belt Accessories
Many tool belts come with all kinds of nifty gadgets and tool holders that will make a carpenter or construction worker’s job much easier when it comes to carrying tools. We have listed some of the more common accessories that can be present on a tool belt.
- Hammer Loops – Hammer loops are looped leather, nylon or canvas attachments on the belt that will conveniently hold your hammers so you can get to them easily. Many tool belts have more than one hammer loop.
- Drill Holders – This is similar to a hammer loop but is designed to hold your drill safely. The drill holder has a metal loop that extends out from the tool belt and is plenty large enough to hold the nose of a cordless drill. The drill can hang from the loop until the worker needs it again.
- Nail and Screw Pockets/Pouches – these pouches are great for holding nails, screws and other small parts that are easy to lose otherwise. Some belts have several pockets for this purpose. They are usually different sizes and depths, with the deepest pockets being closest to the front.
- Belt Hooks – Another attachment that slips onto the belt is a simple metal hook that can be used for a multitude of things. Sometimes they may have a loop attached for the belt to slip through. They are good for attaching various things such as closed-end wrenches, lanyards that are attached to tools as well as any type of tool that has an open hole to hang it up with.
- Zippered Pouches/Latched Pouches – Zippered pouches and latched pouches are the most common type of accessory that are added to a tool belt and hold multiple tools from knives to razor cutters. This slip on pocket has a flap that can be closed so the contents stay inside safely. The flap is usually closed with Velcro, or a snap of some kind and are easily operated with one hand. Depending on the size of the worker’s waist, several of these slip on pouches can be added to the tool belt for maximum storage.
Conclusion
Having a good quality tool belt is a valuable thing for any worker or carpenter to have in their workshop or truck. It is a great way to be prepared for any unexpected situation where tools are used such as emergency repairs, etc. All you need to do is grab the tool belt and all you need is right there.
With all of the styles, materials and choices that people have when it comes to tool belts, it can be quite a challenge to decide on ONE. The purpose of our buyer’s guide and the reviews above is to help narrow down your choices so your decision is much easier. This will also ensure that you get a good quality and reliable tool belt that will last decades and will meet all of your preferences and needs.
Resources
- Magnogrip – http://www.magnogrip.com/
- DEWALT – http://www.dewalt.com/
- Task Tools – http://www.task-tools.com
