Best Tool Bags: In the Bag

Top 8 Best Tool Bags

There are occasions when a sturdy canvas or cloth tool bag is handier than a cumbersome metal toolbox. Hitting a bump with the latter in your trunk or truck box results in a crashing sound not heard since the implosion of The Sands nearly 25 years ago.

It helps to buy a tool bag whose length exceeds that of the longest item you’ll be carrying, which is why we’ve listed – when available – the sizes of these bags. Please keep comments about length to yourself. Look for lots of pockets, helping to keep items organized rather than rattling around in the bottom of the bag.

And, if all else fails, you might be able to use it as an airline carry-on. If regular air travel ever becomes a thing again, that is.

This tool bag is made from a polyester fabric which is said to provide excellent durability and reliability while also reminding you of your days with Disco Stu. The double fabric with stitching over the entire body makes the bag extremely tough and long-lasting, according to the seller. It seems there would be little need to worry about this tool bag getting damaged or breaking while in use.

An internal metal frame should keep this thing from hiding that tool you’re trying to grasp one-handed. There are 8 pockets inside, 13 outside, and 8 belts for versatile storage of tools and accessories. This means your gear will stay organized, leaving behind the days of frantically pawing and digging to find that 10mm socket. Total size: 16.5” x 13.4” x 9.6”.

This brand hawks a wide variety of tool bags, ranging from this unit you see here to semi-solid side cases designed specifically for their line of cordless power tools. This one, thanks to its shape and abundance of pockets, can easily double as a tool bag if you’re on the go to a roadside call.

There should be plenty of room in this thing for a raft of essential car wrenching tools, even if that’s not its intended design. Priced under twenty bucks, it’s difficult to go wrong here if you’re looking for a quick and cheap way to haul around a few tools. Total size: 13” x 6” x 8”.

We’re not sure if the ‘government-issued’ label on this tool bag is a good or bad thing. If it’s of the mythical $300 toilet seat ilk, fine. If it’s of the same quality as the pothole repairs out in front of our office, that’s not so reassuring. According to the reviews, though, it seems to be the former, not the latter.

Priced just a coffee over ten dollars, this bag measures about 11 inches long which is slightly shorter than the two bags featured so far. There is a quartet of pouches on the exterior, great for keeping those sockets from getting lost in the bottom of the bag. The large brass zipper looks baller, if you care about that stuff. Total size: 11” x 7” x 6”.

Bezos & Co. seem to put their name on everything, don’t they? If we ever do one of these posts on mud flaps or underhood insulation, they’ll probably have an entrant for those as well. A couple of options are available here, with a larger 16-inch bag offered alongside this 12-inch tote.

Its dull grey and black coloring assure that you won’t care about it getting dirty. There are 26 pockets in total, including ten on the inside. The material is described as ‘600D Oxford cloth’ and received good durability reviews. A wide zippered opening permits easy access to tools. Total size: 12” x 5.5” x 7.9”.

Like the Milwaukee brand, DeWalt would love it if you bought its tools to fill this bag. There’s nothing keeping us from using it as a handy tool bag, of course. No fewer than thirty-three pockets line this thing, along with one flap-covered pocket with hook & loop closure.

Abrasion-resistant rubber feet sound like something you’d find on a set of power armor in Fallout 4 but actually appear on the anterior side of this bag in a bid to keep it from wearing through prematurely. An adjustable shoulder strap rounds out a good and useful package. Total size: 13.8” x 4.5” x 19.3”.

Getting in on the accessory game to prop up the tool side of their business is Stanley. Its tool bag is a foot long, just like your favorite sub sandwich, making it ideal for carrying hand tools and other small items. A shoulder strap is absent but the seller makes sure to point out the dual handles are padded for comfort.

A rubber foam bottom keeps the bag sturdy, protecting contents from hard falls and drops. In other words, your gear should be protected when you lose your grasp running towards that complete MX-5 that was placed in Row 17 just this morning. Use the outer mesh pockets for storing personal belongings to which you frequently need access.

As noted advertiser Ron Popeil – who's still alive and kicking at age 85 – used to say: “but wait; there’s more!” This listing from the ambiguously-named Custom Leathercraft company includes two utility tote bags for less than the price of most single units on this list.

The larger of the two is 14 inches long with the smaller one measuring just two inches shorter. Many customers remarked that they use them as carry-ons for motorcycles or ATVs, good for slinging in a GoPro and other items. Despite its name, the bag is not made from genuine leather. Total size: 14” x 5.5” x 6” and 12" x 4.5" x 5.5".

This bag leans more towards the carpenter arena than the car mechanic’s but, given its durability ratings and size, might be a good left-field choice. It’s a durable tool bag with a zippered main compartment and 10 interior pockets. Several sizes are available; we're profiling the 14-inch option here.

There is an internal metal frame, rugged zippers, aggro stitching (that’s the first time we’ve ever combined those two words), and is made of a sturdy synthetic fabric. There are larger models available with a load-bearing, abrasion-resistant molded base for those who need greater support for heavy tools and gear. Total size: 14” x 9” x 10.5”.

How do I choose a tool bag?

There are several things that you must keep in mind while picking the right tool bag. Some of the most important factors include:

Size

Material

A tool bag manufactured with a good quality material will be able to hold more weight and will also last longer as compared to those of average quality. Usually, the tool bags made of Nylon and Canvas are more durable. Therefore, while buying one, you should check if its built material is adequate.

Ease of Portability

Make sure to choose a tool bag that is easy to carry. The one with a good design along with padded bottom and shoulder straps should help you to move your tools from one place to another quite conveniently. Furthermore, the paddings allow carrying the bag for long duration and distances without you getting exhausted. In addition, the bag should also have textured and padded handles for easy and tireless small movements.

Hooks, Zippers, Clips, and Organization

Check and ensure that the hooks and clips of the tool bag you are planning to buy are of good quality. Also see if it has zippered compartments so you don’t lose the small tools that your kit may have, and that the zippers are of fine quality. In addition, you must even confirm that the loops and compartments are aligned in a well-organized manner so you can locate the necessary tools easily and quickly.

Broad Main Opening

The mouth of the bag should be sufficiently broad so you can put in and/or take out a couple of tools from it in a single go. A narrow-mouthed bag wouldn’t have enough room for these types of activities, and therefore, a major amount of your time would be wasted unnecessarily.

Style

Although this characteristic is optional, having a stylish bag gives you a professional look, and your customers will trust you. In the long run, this would help you grow your business at an increased pace.

How do I keep my tool bag organized?

Once you have a correct tool bag according to your needs, it is imperative to place the tools in their respective pockets and slots so they are easy to locate and access. A good-quality tool bag has specific compartments for different types of tools. For instance, there should be pockets to store pliers of varied sizes, hooks, or slots to tightly place the screwdrivers, separate clips to hang closed-end spanners, etc.

In other words, the best way to keep your tool bag organized is to place the right tools in the right slots so they can be reached out conveniently when required.

What is a tool bag used for?

When you want to carry your tools regularly, you need something that is lightweight, durable, and is designed in a way that doesn’t exhaust you while you are on the road. This is where a good-quality tool bag comes into play. A tool bag:

Has various compartments, pouches, slots, and pockets to keep your tools well-organized

Is handy and convenient to carry

Is water-resistant or waterproof (according to its material)

Looks trendy and stylish

With these characteristics and attributes in a bag, it is quite easy to access your tools when needed, while giving your personality a professional look at the same time.

Is CLC a good brand?

According to the number of positive reviews the CLC products have gained on Amazon, it is safe to say that the brand is good and can be counted on. The CLC bags have the right-sized pockets and pouches to store your expensive and sophisticated tools without damaging them. The well-organized alignment of the pockets even enables you to access the tools pretty conveniently and quickly.

From time to time, TTAC will highlight automotive products we think may be of interest to our community. Plus, posts like this help to keep the lights on around here. Learn more about how this works.

(Editor’s note: This post is meant to both help you be an informed shopper for automotive products but also to pay for our ‘90s sedan shopping habits operating expenses. Some of you don’t find these posts fun, but they help pay for Junkyard Finds, Rare Rides, Piston Slaps, and whatever else. Thanks for reading.)

[Main photo credit: StudioBakac / Shutterstock.com. Product images provided by the manufacturer.]