Organization. A tool belt will help you keep your tools organized, especially when your collection of
tools increases.
Convenience. Having a tool belt will allow you to retrieve the particular tool you need quickly.
Efficiency. Having ready access to your tools will enable you to work more efficiently.
Safety. Tool belts help keep you protected from sharp blades and pointed ends.
Safekeeping. Tool belts help prevent the loss of your tools and accessories.
Things to look for a carpenter’s tool belt
Material.The material will affect the durability and comfort of your tool belt. Leather and suede are the most popular options among the pros.
Carrying options. A tool belt should have an abundant variety of carrying options, including the right number and sized pockets and hammer loops.
Pocket placement. It is equally important to consider pocket placement, which affects tool access, and the ease by which you could climb ladders and move around.
Adjustability. Your tool belt should allow for size adjustment.
Cinching Style. The best tool belt also lets you distribute the weight to your shoulders via shoulder straps.
The best material for a tool belt
Tool belts can be made of leather, suede, polyester, nylon, or canvas. For my money, leather is the best material as it provides the most protection against pointy tips and sharp edges. Suede provides similar protection, although leather is generally a lot more durable than suede.
You can make do with a canvas or multi-layered polyester tool belt for casual work. But if there is a chance that you will get more serious about building or DIY work, I suggest buying a leather tool belt at the outset.
Do you need shoulder straps?
Many tool belts have shoulder straps, and they often seem like a good idea.
After all, anything that takes some weight off your waist is a good thing, right?
But the fact is that shoulder straps aren’t absolutely necessary for tool belts.
In fact, they can even cause you to slump over time, as the weight is now putting more pressure on your spine.
It’s a good idea to mix it up, and always keep your tool apron as light as possible by only holding the tools you need for each task as you doing it.
What makes a leather tool belt perfect for builders?
A leather tool belt is a perfect choice for most builders. It is durable and comfortable, with sufficient weight but not too heavy.
The material also provides adequate protection against sharp points and edges from your other tools and prevents damage to tools as well. With care, a good leather tool belt should last what you paid for it.
Alternatives for a tool belt
A tool belt is a requirement for tradespeople to do their job and nice to have around for DIY, but there are other alternatives for DIY’ers. You could use a portable or a Milwaukee rolling tool bag to hold and transport most of your tools, for instance.
You could then use a woodworker’s apron to have the tools that you frequently use close by. The best woodworking apron allow you to attach or remove the shoulder straps as needed.
Of course, a tool bag is a lot more cumbersome than a tool belt strapped around your waist. If you need a hands-free solution, a tool belt is still the best way to have your tools ready to go.
Tools you need to fit in a tool belt
The tools that you carry in your tool belt will depend on your personal preferences and the type of work you need to do.
Most belts are designed to carry a lot of tools, but that doesn’t mean that you should fill it to capacity.
Keep in mind that the weight can quickly add up, so you will want to plan out what exactly you will carry in your tool belt.
Most situations require an impact drill, so make sure you have space for that.
You will probably need a nail gun frequently as well, so get a leather belt that is strong enough to handle the load on your strap.
The OX-P263604 from OX Tools is one of the best values in the tool belt market, with a superb combination of quality, convenience, and features.
With 22 pockets available, you have more than enough space to carry your most essential tools plus several other accessories besides. It even has three hammer loops that will accommodate tools such as a Stiletto titanium hammer . And with low-profile rivets securing each pocket, the OX-P263604 is built to last.
DeWalt’s DG617 is a handy tool belt made of durable polyester, giving it the ability to withstand the most rugged environmental working conditions.
The DeWalt tool pouch has large, gusset-style pockets that increase the holding capacity, giving you access to your most-used tools.
You won’t have to worry about lugging too much weight, as this DeWalt tool belt has padded suspenders that let your shoulders bear some of the load, effectively distributing the load.
The DeWalt DG5472 is the most affordably-priced tool belt in this roundup, but it more than measures up to its higher-priced counterparts. Designed for utmost durability and rugged reliability, it is made of top-grain leather that holds up under even the most demanding conditions.
This DeWalt leather tool belt is two inches wide and has a hammer holder that lets you snap in your favorite striking tool such as your best Estwing hammer .
Durability. Your tool belt should be able to withstand the demands of the job. It should hold up in rugged environments and be resistant to heat, moisture, dust, mud, and oil.
Cinching style. The cinching style will have a lot go to do with how well you adjust to using your belt. If you have a back condition, you should consider a belt that distributes some of the weight to your shoulders.
Brand. Occidental makes some of the best tool belts on the market. You should also look into an Estwing, Ox Tools, and DeWalt carpenter tool belt, all of which provide excellent value for the money.
Price. Consider the price of your tool belt as well. Although you will understandably want to save a few bucks, steer clear of budget belts that won’t hold up to rugged use.
Tool weight. Consider the type of tools you will carry and how heavy they are. You will want a tool belt made of a rugged material that can carry the weight. But you also want a good distribution of weight.
Jobs. Finally, make sure that your tool belt is well suited for the job you are trying to do. Some designs are best used as a roofing tool belt. A leather carpenters tool belt might be overkill for home DIY work, but it might be perfect for heavy-duty DIY’ers.
Tips for using a carpenter’s tool belt
Dos
Keep the main pouch by your dominant hand.
Keep essential tools and accessories in the quick access pockets for easy retrieval.
Keep fasteners and small objects in secondary pouches.
When you’re working with chisels, install a magnet in your belt to prevent them from falling out.
Use a cordless blower to clean out your apron regularly from sawdust.
Don’ts
Don’t fill up all your pouches to avoid confusion and clutter.
Don’t bring too many tools to keep the weight manageable.
Don’t just stuff tools and accessories haphazardly. Try to arrange them for easy access and better weight distribution.
The top-grain leather gives it the look and feel of a quality accessory and protects you and your clothes from sharp and pointed tools that inevitably poke out.
It has 22 pockets, so you can pretty much carry your entire tool collection with you if you wish.
I especially like the copper rivets reinforcing the bags, which ensure the belt’s ability to withstand the most rugged conditions.
My name is Aaron, welcome to Bangingtoolbox.com, and thank you for reading my article.
As a qualified builder, site supervisor, and DIY’er, my purpose at Bangingtoolbox is to help provide and help build the #1 building and DIY resource on the internet to help educate and train young men wanting to get ahead with some practical skills.
I’m here to show – How and why to start DIY as either a hobby or as a career. And to help qualified professionals with objective and unbiased building and equipment information.
Have a look around, and don’t hesitate to ask me any questions, you can find out more about me here.
2 thoughts on “Best carpenter’s tool belt | Leather or polyester pouch?”
0ccidental all of the way, Quality bags that have lasted me close to 10 years with the big oxy series.
Im a medium sized guy and they are really nice.
the initial investement is well worth it..
Lots of coworkers have been going for the diamonback elias 2.0
I’l stick to the big oxy and buy my second one soon for sure!
0ccidental all of the way, Quality bags that have lasted me close to 10 years with the big oxy series.
Im a medium sized guy and they are really nice.
the initial investement is well worth it..
Lots of coworkers have been going for the diamonback elias 2.0
I’l stick to the big oxy and buy my second one soon for sure!
Nothing beats real leather!