Since they picked up sticks and stones millions of years ago, humans have used tools. However, it was much, much later that people developed the first tool belt. These accessories provide a convenient place to store hammers, screwdrivers, wrenches and almost any other hand tool needed. They can also be used to hold limited amounts of smaller materials such as nails, screws and wire-nuts, and give us an efficient way of transporting our tools from point A to point B.
What will be carried?
When it comes to choosing the proper tool belt, consider what will be carried in it—tools or materials. Traditionally, most tradespeople prefer to carry a pouch for tools on their dominant-hand side and a pouch for materials on their nondominant side. This allows for greater carrying capacity and a distributed weight balance across both hips. A material pouch ideally will have at least a couple of pockets, not so large as to impede movement and work, but big enough to contain everything you need for a task.
The pouch that holds the tools requires a bit more thought. Consider what tools will be carried most often—ideally, allowing for enough tools so that you don’t have to leave the task often to get what you need, allowing for interchangeability of tools as each task dictates. The pouch should not get in the way as you are working.
Klein Tools model 5702 PowerLine Series Utility Pouch
www.kleintools.com
While there are multitrade generic tool pouches, electrical workers should consider an electrician’s tool pouch that has slots properly sized and designed to carry the tools electricians use most often.
The 5165 10-pocket tool pouch is one of many offered by Klein Tools, Lincolnshire, Ill. It is designed specifically to hold the various screwdrivers, pliers and other hand tools needed for electrical installations. Other features of most electrician’s pouches are built-in T-chains or nylon loops to hold rolls of electrical tape and tape measure pouches instead of the standard clips found on most generic pouches.
Pouch and belt materials
The pouch material is another consideration. Leather has been the go-to choice because it is readily available and very sturdy, allowing tool pouches to stand up to the sometimes harsh conditions of the job site. Properly cared for, a good quality set of a leather tool belt and pouches will last for many years.
The Occidental Leather, Santa Rosa, Calif., model 5036 Leather Pro electrician pouch set includes the material and tool pouches, a hammer holder and wide leather belt. A set such as this is perfect for the professional electrician looking for a basic tool belt that will suit any task.
Klein Tools model 5165 10-pocket Tool Pouch
www.kleintools.com
While leather certainly lends itself to a more traditional tradesperson look and is very sturdy, it does have some drawbacks. Leather is heavier than other alternative materials and is usually stiff when new and will need to be broken in. It also tends to absorb stains and dirt, requiring extra attention for cleaning and maintenance.
Nylon tool belts and pouches offer a practical alternative to leather. One example is the Klein Tools 5710 series of nylon padded electrician’s tool belt/pouch combos.
Klein Tools 5710 Series Electrician’s Padded Tool Belt/Pouch Combo
www.kleintools.com
Nylon is much lighter than leather and less rigid and stiff. It also has a much lower price point, making it attractive to anyone on a budget. Nylon tool pouches have become exceedingly popular over the past several years and make up a large portion of the market. However, nylon systems don’t last as long as leather. The pouches tend to get holes poked in them or tear after a few years of inserting and extracting sharp objects and tools.
Occidental Leather also produces a hybrid set of tool pouches combining leather and nylon into one complete system, for those who want the best of both worlds. The model 9596 Adjust-to-Fit Industrial Pro Electrician Set uses nylon pouches for the material-holding portion with the rest of the system being high-quality leather. This allows for a lighter-weight tool belt while still providing stronger, more durable materials at the stress points where tools will be inserted/extracted frequently.
Belt considerations
The Occidental Leather model 9596 Adjust-to-Fit Industrial Pro Electrician Set
www.occidentalleather.com
Think carefully about the tool belt that holds the pouches themselves. The belt will be worn for the bulk of the workday, so comfort is important. While narrow belts may physically weigh less, they tend to dig into your body when loaded up with
tools. Belts that are at least 2 inches wide tend to work better.
The Occidental Leather model 5036 Leather Pro Electrician Set
www.occidentalleather.com
Just like pouches, the belt’s material also comes into play. Nylon and leather belts are available in padded and plain, unpadded styles. Nylon belts have the padding built in, while leather belts are available with sheepskin padding.
A standard tool belt is meant to be worn around the hips, simplifying the design, but it has inherent problems. First, the two pouches (one on each side of the hips) filled with tools/materials are bulky and can restrict movement. Couple this with the fact that almost all tool and material pouches are open-top, therefore the items can easily fall out of the pouches if the wearer leans too far over or is moving too fast.
The other problem is that with so much weight being borne by the hips, it can lead to hip and back problems over time. Many workers offset this by wearing the tool belt in conjunction with a pair of suspenders to distribute the weight more. Several systems offer platforms that come with suspenders, and a heavy-duty set will help by keeping some of that weight off the hips.
Vests
Tool vests are gaining popularity among the trades. Recent tool vest designs have borrowed from military operations. There are two general types of tool vests: one has the pockets built in, and the other is based on the military MOLLE system (modular lightweight load-carrying equipment).
Vests transfer the weight of tools and materials to the upper body, which over time, is much more comfortable and better for the hips and back. Many vests have flaps on the pockets or other ways to secure the items put into them. A standard fixed type of tool vest can be purchased in several different layouts with an overall aim to hold the average tool load.
The model FMST530201 FatMax Tool Vest by Stanley Black & Decker, New Britain, Conn., holds a decent assortment of general tools, but at a much lower price than a modular vest, allowing anyone at any level of their respective trade to purchase one.
Stanley FMST530201 FatMax Tool Vest
www.stanleytools.com
Atlas 46, Fenton, Mo., on the other hand, has produced several tool vest styles with a modular base. The Saratoga platform offers a convenient way to wear tools with an almost endless amount of layout options. The base is a strong nylon mesh with several attachment points for tool pouches. The wearer can assemble pouches for different tasks onto the base, allowing them to have a custom vest that is task-specific and meets their preferences.
Atlas 46 Saratoga Tool Vest
www.atlas46.com
Price
Pricing is a significant factor when it comes to tool purchases, and the tool belt is no exception. While we certainly do not want to needlessly spend money, the old adage of “You get what you pay for” comes into play here. Standard generic-type tool belts can be purchased for as low as $20, while the more task-specific sets can run well over $300. A quality set of leather tool belts and pouches tends to cost more than their nylon counterparts, but the durability and longevity will be much greater.
The same can be said regarding tool vests. While a vest with a generic design may be inexpensive, a modular type of work vest is a serious investment, as you are paying for the versatility of customization.
Conclusion
We think more about the tools we use for day-to-day construction activities than we do about tool belts, but we must not overlook them. Without the tool belt, we would not be as efficient and effective as we should be by constantly going back and forth to get the tools and materials we need.
To select a tool belt or vest, consider what we are putting in them, the material, how much we want to spend and whether we want a more traditional look or a newer style and value for the money. With so many options and variations available, there is surely a tool belt or vest that will suit every individual worker, regardless of the task.
