Tool Bag Buying Guide: Open Top Tool Bags, Tool Backpacks & Belts

The right tool bag depends on how far you carry your tools and how you like to reach them. An open top tool bag is quickest to grab from on a bench or job site, a tool backpack keeps both hands free on ladders, roofs and long walks from the ute, and a tool belt or rig keeps the tools you use every minute right at your waist. This guide explains the differences, what to check before you buy, and which in-stock bags suit which jobs.

Types of tool bag

Open top tool bags

An open top tool bag has a wide, permanently open mouth held in shape by a stiff frame or bar handle. Everything is visible at a glance, with pockets around the inside and outside walls for hand tools and a large central well for bigger items. They are the go-to for electricians, plumbers and maintenance engineers who work from the bag all day. The trade-off is that nothing is sealed in, so small parts can tip out if the bag goes over.

Closed top and wide mouth bags

A closed top or zip-top bag keeps dust and rain off the contents and stops tools spilling in the back of a vehicle. Wide mouth designs open right out when unzipped, so you still get good access to the main compartment.

Tool backpacks

A tool backpack spreads the weight across both shoulders, which matters when you are walking any distance or climbing. Most have a structured or reinforced base so the bag stands up on its own and opens like a small open top bag.

Tool belts, rigs, pouches and aprons

Belts and rigs carry fasteners and a few core hand tools at your hip. A single pouch or apron suits lighter work; a full rig with two pouches suits framing and fit-out, where you are reaching for nails, a tape and a hammer constantly.

What to look for in a tool bag

The base

The base takes the most abuse. A moulded rubber or hard plastic base keeps the bag off wet ground, stops it sagging under a heavy load and wears far longer than fabric alone. If you put your bag down on concrete, scaffold or wet grass, treat a solid base as essential.

Fabric

Tool bag fabric is rated in denier (D), a measure of yarn thickness. Higher numbers generally mean a heavier, more abrasion-resistant weave, so a 1680D polyester bag is built heavier than a 600D one. Stitching and reinforcement at stress points matter just as much as the fabric rating.

Pockets and organisation

More pockets is only better if they suit your tools. Look for a mix of tall sleeves for screwdrivers and pliers, wider pockets for meters and tape measures, and loops or clips for a tape measure and electrical tape. A removable parts tray or interior divider helps if you carry fixings as well as tools.

Handles and straps

A rigid metal bar handle keeps an open top bag's mouth open and spreads the load across your hand. A padded, adjustable shoulder strap is worth having on any bag you carry further than the van door.

Size and weight

Measure your longest tool before you buy. A 16-17 inch (roughly 400-430 mm) bag is a common all-round size.

Tool bags, backpacks and rigs compared

All details below are taken from the product descriptions on each listing. Where a listing does not give a figure, it is shown as a dash.

Which open top tool bag?

For an all-day electrician's or maintenance bag, the TTG 16in Open Top Tool Bag has the most organisation here: 27 inside pockets, 6 web sleeves, a steel bar handle with foam grip, a padded shoulder strap, a tape measure clip and an electrical tape strap, all over a rubberised waterproof base. The Crescent 17in Tradesman is slightly bigger, uses heavy 1680D polyester on a hard polypropylene base, and has an interior divider to keep two tool sets apart plus a bright orange interior that makes tools easier to spot in poor light.

If you carry fixings as well as tools, the TTG Centre Tray Tool Bag comes with a multi-compartment plastic parts tray (178 x 105 x 31 mm) that sits in the centre section, with pockets around it inside and out.

Prefer a bag you can close? The Teng 16in Canvas Tool Bag has a solid metal tube handle with a soft grip and fastens with Velcro rather than zips, so there is no zipper to fail. It weighs 2.9 kg empty, so it suits van-to-site carrying rather than long walks.

Which tool backpack?

The Teng Backpack Tool Bag weighs 1.29 kg and has external pockets for small tools, a large main compartment and an EVA plastic base. It also has two carry handles on top so you can carry it by hand. For more room, there are two Cat backpacks in the range: the Cat Tool Back Pack 33L and the larger Cat Professional Tool Back Pack 41L. Pick the 41L if you carry a meter, cordless tool or bulky items; the 33L if you mainly carry hand tools.

Tool belts and rigs, including Kuny's

For framing and fit-out, the Cat Deluxe Construction Tool Rig has two removable pouches with handles (14 pockets on the left, 15 on the right), a padded, vented inner waist belt, a two-pin buckle and five steel D-rings that can take suspenders for heavy loads. If you only need one pouch, the Cat 12 Pocket Carpenter Pouch slides onto your own belt and has double hammer holders, carpenter's square loops and a tape measure clip.

If you prefer leather, the Kuny's 11 Pocket Journeyman Carpenters' Apron is split leather with five reversed nail pockets, a centre pocket for a tape, steel hammer holders and leather pencil holders, on a heavy nylon belt with a twist-lock buckle. See the rest of the range in Kuny's Work Gear.

Care and use tips

• Load heavy tools low and in the centre so an open top bag does not tip.
• Empty and shake out the bag regularly; grit and metal swarf wear through pocket seams.
• Let a wet bag dry open before storing it to avoid mildew.
• Keep sharp tools sheathed or tip-down in sleeves so they do not cut through the fabric.

FAQ

Is an open top tool bag better than a closed one?

For working out of the bag all day, yes: everything is visible and within reach. A closed or zip-top bag is better if you move between sites often and want the contents protected from dust, rain and spills in transit.

Tool backpack or tool bag?

Choose a tool backpack if you walk any distance, climb ladders or work on roofs, because it keeps your hands free and spreads the weight. Choose a tool bag if you mostly carry from the vehicle to a nearby work area and want faster access.

What size tool bag do I need?

Lay out the tools you carry daily and measure the longest one. Most hand-tool kits fit a 16-17 inch (about 400-430 mm) bag.

What is a good engineer's tool bag?

For maintenance and mechanical work, look for a solid base, plenty of sleeves for spanners and screwdrivers, and somewhere to keep small parts separate. A centre-tray open top bag or a well-organised open top bag with a rubber base covers most engineering kits.

Do you stock Kuny's tool belts?

Our current Kuny's range is listed in Kuny's Work Gear, including the 11 pocket journeyman carpenters' apron with its own nylon belt.

Browse every bag, backpack and rig in our tool bag collection.