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When my old side pouch started to rip, I searched for a tool belt that was affordable, functional, and durable. Eventually, I discovered a tool belt made by ToughBuilt (Amazon Store), and I’m very happy with it. In this blog, I’ll give you an honest review of this tool belt, along with a highlight of my favorite features, my organization setup, and a list of the actual tools I keep handy.
DISCLAIMER: This blog contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links, I’ll receive a small commission.
Features of the ToughBuilt Tool Belt:
Whether you’re an electrician, carpenter, or DIY-er, it’s a very flexible system, which is why I think it’s one of the best (if not the best) toolbelts on the market. Especially if you’re getting into a multitude of different projects and want to cover the spectrum, this is a great tool belt to consider. I also like this tool belt because it’s big enough to carry most of the tools and it’s widely available at stores like Lowe’s or Menards.
Here are a couple of features that I think set this tool belt apart and put it at the top of my list:
- Clips: Again, the clips make it so I can carry the vast majority of the tools I need for the day and just easily take those off and set them on the counter.
- Kickstand: The larger pouches have a kickstand that kicks out and then you can just lie the pouch back, so if you’re coming into the job and want to set your tool belt down you don’t want it to fall over and then you have screws and screwdrivers and everything else falling out you can use the kickstands and get them positioned and then they’re ready to go your tools are all accessible and they’re securely held in that place which i think is a pretty cool additional feature so let’s take a closer look and you can see at least how i have my tools set up just like most tool belts like this
There are probably 15 other features that I’m still not even using, so if you’re reading this and know the other features that I’m not using or using incorrectly – let me know in the comments!
Handyman vs. Electrician Tool Belt
Originally, I used the Handyman 3-piece set up, which is simply a larger pouch and a smaller pouch. Eventually, I decided I needed a little bit more capacity, so I added the Electrician pouch.
So now my standard setup is the larger pouch from the Handyman set up and then the electrician pouch that carries about 90% of the jobs that I do. There’s also a pouch off to the side which I have used for miscellaneous pouch. That’s a look into my setup – but nothing’s perfect and it’s still a work in progress.
How to use your tool belt:
I always have my tool belt in my truck and I’ll pull it out for my rental properties when I’m working on my renovation projects. Or if I’m at home, I’ll grab it and there’s probably a 90% chance I have the tools I need to do the job. Plus, the clip tech technology allows me to have all the tools on me, but then easily unclip and lighten the load and reconfigure it to the project of the day.
What’s in my tool belt:
The larger pouch from the handyman’s original three-piece set has one large compartment. Within this compartment they have separate slots, so I organize the below tools:
- Scraper
- Wire strippers
- Torpedo level
- Pliers
- Tin snips
- Zip ties
- Carpenter pencil
- Non-contact voltage tester & razor blade (I’ll hang these on the front)
- Go-to electrical products (electrical tape, outlet tester, micro cutters).
- A few screws and wire nuts (plus some garbage!) are in the bottom of the front pouch, which is actually a wide mouth pouch for screws and nails
In the electrician pouch I store the below:
- Screwdriver
- Tape holder/ teflon tape
- Sharpies & marker
- Various Allen wrenches
- A painter’s tool
- Lights
- Screwdrivers
- Crescent wrench & vice grip
- Stud finder
- Razor blade
- Measuring tape
- Nail punch
Feel free to let me know in the comments if you have a tool belt you prefer. And take a look at my list of top 10 tools for new homeowners.
Updates
12-Month Update
I have been using the ToughBuilt tool belt for about 12 months now and I am still a big fan. I use the tools belt multiple times per week and use the clip feature to take the pouches on/off ALL THE TIME!
I can honestly say I would never go back to a standard tool belt because I like to load up all my common tools and take the belt to the project for the day and then keep the belt on during the project but remove the pouches to lighten the load on my hips. The plastic clips were originally a concern for me, as I thought they might fail over time but so far so good with no failures.
