Regardless of your trade, every handyman needs a good tool bag. For that matter, even the occasional DIY enthusiast should have a decent tool bag.
These handy things will make transporting your tools easy, especially if you’re out visiting other homes to complete works. Having a durable and sturdy tool bag is a real game changer.
Of course, there are a lot of great tool bags on the market, so it can sometimes be a little difficult to choose the best option for you. Thankfully, we’re here to help.
To save you hours of trawling through the internet looking for the perfect tool bag for you, we’ve compiled this list of the best tool bags to save you some time.
We’ve also written a handy buyer’s guide to help to make your decision even easier.
Top 5 Best Tool Bags
OUR TOP PICK
The Stanley Fatmax Open Tote Bag is not just a pretty face - sure, it has an attractive design, but that’s not all it has to offer. The biggest selling point of this tool bag is actually its overall design.
It’s completely open, which means that it’s simple to grab your tools out of the bag. You won’t need to play around with any zippers to get your tools out.
The bag can accommodate tools that are medium to small on the inside, while your smallest tools and wiring can go in the outside compartments.
The bag is made out of highly durable denier fabric. You don’t need to worry about the bag getting damaged from everyday wear and tear as it’s so strong.
In addition to this, the bag comes with a steel handle with a rubber piece fitted to it to ensure that your hands are comfortable as you carry it.
Alternatively, you can also carry it using the padded strap. The bag also has a waterproof plastic bottom, so your tools won’t rust from exposure to water.
It measures 48 x 25 x 35 cm in total, so it’s perfect for carrying a number of medium sized tools. You can’t use it for large tools like saws, however.
Pros
- Affordable
- Durable
- Easy to access tools thanks to open mouth
Cons
- Cannot be used for larger tools
EDITORS CHOICE
If you’re looking for a high quality tool bag with plenty of space for all of your tools, the DeWalt 179209 Pro Open Mouth Bag is a great choice.
The bag features little divided compartments inside, which allows you to organise your tools easily. This is especially useful if you have a number of tools that are more likely to get damaged than others.
The bag features a number of compartments positioned on the outside of the bag, and you can store any particularly small tools in here to keep them safe.
If you need to carry any tiny items such as screws and hinges with you, there’s also a zippered compartment for storing these items. The bag has a solid surface that’s entirely waterproof too.
The bag is relatively lightweight, weighing a mere 2.1kg in total. Despite this, it is a decent size, measuring 33 by 50 by 31 cm. It’s comfortable to carry thanks to the padded handles.
All of these great features even come at a highly affordable price. It should be noted however that the bag doesn’t have a compartment designated for storing your screwdriver.
Pros
- Waterproof
- Ideal for various tool sizes
- Durable
Cons
- Doesn’t have any designated compartments for screwdrivers
BEST VALUE
Sometimes you need just a little bit of extra storage space for larger tools! Thankfully, the Stanley FMST1-71180 18 FatMax Open Mouth Rigid Tool Bag can offer this.
The bag weighs roughly 2kg too, which means that it’s certainly light enough to make carrying around a lot of bigger tools easy.
The bag has various compartments inside, and these can hold a range of different tools. With the pockets inside, you can make your most commonly used tools easy to access.
It features a polypropylene bottom that is durable enough to protect your tools when you place the bag on a surface, and it’s also waterproof.
Of course, we all know that carrying tool bags for a long period of time can be pretty cumbersome.
Thankfully, this tool bag features an ergonomic design with super comfortable straps and handles so you can carry it for longer periods of time without feeling fatigued.
All in all, a solid option for any handyman looking for a convenient tool bag.
Pros
- Plenty of space
- Storage compartments inside make accessing certain tools easy
- Durable
Cons
- While it is comfortable to carry, some users have reported that the handles are somewhat uncomfortable when carrying larger loads
RUNNER UP
The first thing that you may notice about the Ryobi UTB02 Canvas Tool Bag is its colour. Indeed, the luminous green would catch anyone’s eye, but that’s not all this bag has to offer.
Featuring a lightweight design, this bag is ideal if you need to carry your tools around for a while. It weighs only 399 grams in total and it measures 20.3 x 35.5 x 27.9 cm.
It’s not the biggest option out there of course, but it’s ideal if you are mainly carrying medium to small size tools. It’s very easy to carry too thanks to the padded straps and handles.
If you need to rummage in the bag for a while, you can do so with ease thanks to the hinged opening of the bag. When you’re done, just zip it back up in a few seconds and you’re ready to go.
The bag has a number of different compartments for you to take advantage of. You will also be pleased to know that the bag is very affordable - you don’t need to break the bank to get this incredible tool bag.
Pros
- Compact
- Eye catching design
- Comfortable to carry
Cons
- It isn’t waterproof
RUNNER UP
The Makita Duffel Tool Bag is incredibly spacious, so it’s ideal for the handyman who needs a lot of tools for their trade. You’ll also have a hard time losing this bag with its vivid colouring.
The bag is made out of highly durable materials, so the chances of it getting damaged are slim. It even weighs just a mere 3.5 kgs so it’s lightweight, and plenty spacious, measuring 38 x 36 x 70 cm.
If you have a lot of tools inside of the bag you can also use the wheels attached to carry it around easily. The bag is especially ergonomic thanks to the telescopic handle.
If you would rather carry your bag on your arm, the bag also has padded straps and handles so it’s comfortable to carry. It has a bottom that’s incredibly rigid, keeping your tools safe from any damage.
The bag is even very affordable too. As a whole, it’s the perfect choice for anyone looking for an easy way to carry their tools around to different jobs.
Be warned, however, that if you fill it up with a lot of tools it can be somewhat heavy.
Pros
- Telescopic handle
- Ergonomic handles and straps
- Durable
- Incredibly affordable price
Cons
- If you put a lot of tools inside of it, it can be a little heavy
Best Tool Bags Buying Guide
Why Should You Buy a Tool Bag?
Why buy a tool bag when you already have a decent tool box at home? There are a number of reasons.
Tool bags can save you a lot of money in the long run when you’re out and about, as you tools are less likely to be damaged.
You may also not have enough room for a big tool cabinet at home, in which case a tool bag is a compact alternative that you’re sure to appreciate.
Tool bags are also convenient if you need to travel with your tools for work, as they’re compact but still keep your tools in one place.
Things to Consider
There are a lot of things to think about when buying a tool bag, so it’s often best not to buy the first option that you see.
Of course, if you’ve never bought a tool bag before then you may not be sure what you need to think about.
If that’s the case, then read on for some of the main factors that you need to think about when buying a tool bag.
Construction
The whole point of a tool bag is portability - you need to be able to transport your tools from A to B without any problems.
As a result of this, it’s important to ensure that the bag is incredibly rugged so that it can handle daily use.
It needs to be especially durable if you are carrying bigger tools or a whole toolkit, whereas something more lightweight would likely be sufficient if you’re just carrying tools like screwdrivers and wrenches.
Ideally, you should be looking for a tool bag that comes with triple or double stitches for extra security. The base should be reinforced and the handles should be sturdy.
You should also ensure that the material the bag is made out of is water resistant to protect the tools inside of it - the last thing you want is for your tools to rust.
It’s even more important to have a weather resistant construction if you are going to be working in wet conditions a lot.
Materials
Before you buy a tool bag, you first need to check that the bag you are thinking of buying is made out of durable, high quality materials.
This is important for ensuring the longevity of the bag, and if the bag is well made then it’s more likely to deal with any wear and tear from every day use.
It’s worth looking for tool bags that are made out of materials such as polypropylene, leather, polyester, canvas cloth or nylon.
Pockets
Many tool bags come with a bunch of different storage compartments and pockets to fit any tools that you need to bring with you.
Compartments are usually pretty handy because they allow you to access your most used tools easily, no rummaging in bags required.
You should try to get a tool bag that comes with plenty of pockets both on the inside and the outside of the bag. If you don’t have many compartments it can be harder to organise your tools.
You should also ensure that the pockets can be accessed easily, and the compartments need to be large enough to fit bigger tools.
Portability
When you picture a tool bag, you probably don’t think of ones with wheels, right?
Well, having wheels on your tool bag is actually pretty useful, as you can roll the bag on the floor when carrying it to avoid fatigue. This means you don’t need to worry about straining your shoulder as you carry it.
You should also ensure that the bag has high quality, ergonomic handles and straps.
Weight Limit
If you have a lot of tools to carry, it’s a little problematic if your tool bag doesn’t have a high weight capacity.
It’s important to ensure that the bag can manage the weight of all of your tools. You can check the capacity by looking in the product specifications.
Storage Capacity
The storage capacity of your tool bag is an important thing to consider. After all, if you are unable to put all of the tools you need into your tool bag the purchase is pretty much redundant.
You need to think about not only the amount of tools that you have but also the size of the tools as a whole.
It’s important that you avoid buying a tool bag that’s going to be too small for you to carry all of the tools you need.
Similarly, there’s also no point in buying a bag that’s far bigger than you actually need as this can be more challenging and troublesome to carry.
Zippers
You also need to think about is the zippers that are in the tool bag. Ideally, these zippers should be very durable, made out of high quality materials so that they can last.
If the zipper is poorly made then it’s more likely to break, spilling your tools all over the floor at the most inconvenient times.
It can be difficult to know whether the zippers on a tool bag are high quality, but it can be useful to check other customer reviews to see if issues concerning the zippers are mentioned frequently.
Warranty
Tool bags can cost quite a substantial amount of money. As a result of this, you should look out for a bag that has a warranty. Why is this important?
Well, warranties can help to give you extra peace of mind - they are a sign that the manufacturer is confident that they’ve created a high quality, durable product that they are sure will last.
It also means that in the event that there is anything wrong with the product, you can get a replacement product normally free of charge. Warranties are designed to protect you.
Design
You may not think it, but comfortability is a vital aspect to consider when buying a tool bag, especially if you are likely to be holding it for long periods of time.
Ideally you should opt for a tool bag with an ergonomic design. The bag needs to be comfortable so that it’s easy to carry heavy tools around.
The straps should also be comfortable without digging into your skin as you carry the bag.
It’s also worth looking out for tool bags that come with both handles and straps. This means that you are less likely to put strain on your shoulder as a result of the weight of your tools.
Also check that the pockets are positioned in a convenient place on the bag so they can be accessed easily while the bag is on your shoulder.
Best Tool Bags Frequently Asked Questions
Why should I get a tool bag instead of a tool box?
Both of these options are pretty handy, but tool bags are much more convenient if you are often on the move with your tools and need an easy method of transportation for your tools.
Toolboxes usually weigh a lot more, making them less portable and more cumbersome to carry from place to place.
How do you clean a tool bag?
Cleaning your tool bag is important to ensuring that it will last a long time! Thankfully, it’s pretty easy to clean your tool bag.
Generally, you can wipe down most fabrics with a little bit of warm soapy water. You should stay clear of any harsh products, because they can weaken the fibers in the material and change the colour of the bag.
