Upgrade Your Tool Bag With The Help Of A Milwaukee Storage Favorite

When it comes to carrying tools around, whether that's just from the garage to the yard or from home to the jobsite, there are two choices: tool boxes or tool bags. While many prefer the solid structure of a box, tool bags are equally popular. The best are constructed from hard-wearing materials and may offer more versatile organization than typical tool boxes. Although there are those who question whether a canvas tool bag is a good option for preventing rust, they usually provide a reasonable moisture barrier, and adding desiccant gel packs helps. Open tool totes also fall into this category and usually provide a multitude of different-sized pockets for quick and easy access to the contents.

Milwaukee's Packout storage system is a favorite with keen DIY enthusiasts and professionals and is one of 12 top-rated tool boxes, ranked by reviews. Although the majority of the interchangeable components are hard tool boxes, there are also two structured totes that can be used on their own or added to the rolling toolbox stack. One is 10 inches wide, and the other is 15 inches wide. If you've been thinking about upgrading your tool bag, you may want to take a closer look at these options.

Milwaukee invariably ranks as one of the best power tool brands, and their focus on quality and heavy-duty construction carries through to the structured totes. The impact-resistant molded base provides a stable, protective platform on any surface and can also connect to other parts of the Packout system using locking cleats. The main construction comprises numerous layers of tough, tear-resistant ballistic material, and all clasps and clips are metal with strong YKK zippers for a durable tool-carrying option.

The carrying capacity of both Milwaukee Packout Structured Totes is up to 50 pounds. Both have a shoulder strap that stores conveniently on the handle when not in use. The 10-inch model has 35 pockets, and the 15-inch model has 65 pockets, allowing you to organize and secure tools within the tote. There are also attachment points for carabiners to create additional security for keys and other small items. Those who don't want a fully open tool tote like these might want to check out the 15-inch Structured Tool Bag, which is also part of the Packout system.

Customer feedback is almost entirely positive — the tool carrier has a rating of 4.7 out of 5. According to Home Depot, 86% of people would recommend them. The majority of comments can be summed up by one owner who said, "Plenty of room for tools and parts, lots of pockets both inside and outside. The materials it is made with are very sturdy and well made, and the handles will hold up well with regular long term use."

There is a price to pay for this kind of quality. The 10-inch Milwaukee Packout Structured Tote is currently $219.97 at Home Depot, while the 15-inch model is $249.00. Few brands rival Milwaukee for quality and durability, but not everyone is prepared to make that kind of investment. There are numerous budget-friendly alternatives available, such as Husky's 14-inch Tool Tote for just $69.98.

Although complaints are rare, the Milwaukee tote didn't work for everyone in terms of tool organization. One said the material was actually too thick, reducing the pocket size so that it was okay for screwdrivers and smaller tools but not for larger devices. When choosing a tool bag like this, it is important to assess how well the storage provided will suit your particular needs.

The question of whether Milwaukee's rolling tool boxes are any good has been asked before with largely positive results. Whether you want to add to that Milwaukee storage favorite or simply upgrade your existing tool bag, the structured totes are certainly a high-quality option. One note of caution: there are a number of Milwaukee Packout copies around, often looking similar to the genuine product and even carrying the Milwaukee logo. The best way to avoid these is to only buy from authorized suppliers. You can find them via "Where To Buy" buttons on the Milwaukee website.