Tool belt or backpack: how to choose for your job

Belts, vests, holsters and sheaths are for when you need your tools within reach and your hands free as you move around or climb a ladder. Bags and backpacks are for carrying a lot of tools to the point of work and keeping them organised. In the collection the weights range from under 0.2 kg for a sheath to about 2 kg for the largest solutions. If you work at height, tools must also be secured with a tool lanyard to stop them falling.

The types

• Tool belt: worn at the hips, in leather, hide, nylon or polyester. An example is the range of Mass carpenter's belts.
• Modular belt with pouches and holders: the catalogue includes accessories for the Flexi belt, such as the multi-purpose holster, the combined holster, the wedge pouch and the tape measure holder. You build up the belt according to the tools you use.
• Holster, double holster and tool holder: for hammers, scissors, spray cans or power tools. An example is the double holster.
• Tool vest: spreads the weight over the shoulders and torso, like the tool vest.
• Waist pouch: for a few tools and small parts, like the waist pouch.
• Tool bag and backpack: the DeWalt 11-inch shoulder bag in 1600D nylon is one example; carpenter's bags and backpacks are also available.
• Tool lanyard: for securing the tool to yourself or to a structure. Petzl offers Tooleash, Toolink S and Tooltape and Toolink L.

How to choose by job

The features to look at

• Material: nylon and polyester are light; polyester with TPU or reinforced fabric adds wear resistance; leather and hide are tough and mould to the hip, but weigh more.
• Weight (kg): from about 0.2 to 2 kg. Remember that you also carry what you put inside: a belt that is heavy when empty becomes tiring when full.
• Dimensions (mm): they range from 100 × 50 × 200 for the small holders to 380 × 130 × 460 or 880 × 170 × 310 for the roomiest pieces. Compare them with your bulkiest tools.
• Type and model: the name shows the type (belt, holster, tool holder, waist pouch) and the model code. On modular belts it is used to check that the holster is compatible.
• Colour: black, yellow, green, red or assorted. A bright colour is easier to find on site.
• Pack size: some accessories are sold singly, others in boxes of 5, 12 or 15 pieces.

Common mistakes

• Loading everything on one side. Spread the tools across both sides and leave the front free so you can bend.
• Carrying pointed tools without protection. They go point down, in reinforced pockets.
• Working at height without securing the tools. A tool falling from just a few metres is a danger to anyone below: you need the tool lanyard.
• Buying a holster without checking that it is compatible with the belt. On modular belts the attachment system is what counts.
• Choosing a backpack for a job that means reaching for your tools often. If you need them always within reach, a belt or vest is better.

Frequently asked questions

Is a leather or a fabric belt better?

Leather lasts a long time and adapts to the body, but weighs more. Nylon or polyester is lighter and cheaper to replace. It depends on how much you use it and how much weight you carry.

Belt or vest?

The belt is fine for a few tools. If you carry a lot, the vest spreads the weight better, because it does not rest only on the hips.

What is the tool lanyard for?

It connects the tool to you or to a structure, so that if it slips out of your hand it does not fall. It is used mainly at height.

How do I adjust the belt?

At the hips, snug, with the tools spread over both sides. The front must stay free.

You will find all the models in the Tool Belts and Technical Backpacks collection; to choose the right combination, ask for a quote or advice from the AMES technicians.