In the market for an Electrician Tool Belt?
We asked the pros and put together the best tool belt guide complete with comprehensive reviews.
We asked Master and journeymen electricians in the field what they looked for in a tool belt. What we found was not surprise to us. Most guys in the field prefer belts with built in back pads with built in suspenders. So we made a great resource you could always refer back to.
Large Tool Belts
This type of belt you will carry during your normal 8am – 5pm job. The most important attributes will be how comfortable it fits and capacity. Its best to choose a belt that has good padding and allows for suspenders to be an option. As for capacity, you want to be able to carry the most essential tools and materials for the day.
Most job sites require you have access to your materials and tools quickly. The large tool belt allows you to carry what you need for the day. Below are some of the best belts we could find.
Custom LeatherCraft 1608 Electrical Tool Belt
Leatherfraft Belt Features:
- Padded Suspenders are included. This reduces the stress and weight on your hips. Allows for even distribution on your shoulders and hips. Great from your lower back!
- Comes with Handles on the Side for easy carrying when not around your hips.
- Has a zipper that locks in your tools so they will not fall out when transporting.
- Has a built in drill pocket that easily fits any cordless drill so its ready at your finger tips!
- Belt is patted and comes with double tongue steel roller buckle.
- Approximate wight is 8 pounds
- Fits waist sizes from 29 – 46
Milwaukee 48-22-8110 Electrical tool belt
Milwaukee Belt Features:
- Comes with 29 pockets. This allows storage of every tool you could ever want to carry!
- Rigid Nylon construction. Greatly reduces moister retention from sweat.
- Rived seams with all metal Hardware.
- Integrated carry handles for easy transportation to job site.
- Pockets are made with puncture resistant material.
- Suspender ready clips built in.
- Very comfortable on hips due to padded belt.
- Comes with a limited lifetime warranty
Rack-A-Tiers 43243 Electrical Tool Belt
Rack-A-Teirs Features:
- Comes with a padded built with air-channel ventilation. This helps minimize sweating.
- Contoured back support built into the belt. Great for long extended days on the job. BACK SAVER!
- Very strong nylon web core interior. Built will stand the test of time.
- Reinforce stitching with heavy duty metal rivets
- DuraTec fabric with high density nylon webbing around pocket opening
- Built in carrying handles
- Suspender ready! Has built in suspender rings.
Occidental Leather 9596 Pro Electrician Tool Belt
Occidental Leather Features:
- Premium Product with all leather bag. Fully adjustable to fit any electrician.
- Specifically design with the electrician in mind.
- Strategically placed pocks for faster tool usage.
- Super heavy duty design to last a lifetime.
- Quick access pock for small tech screws or wirenuts
- Built in suspender rings
- Proudly MADE IN THE USA!!!!
Occidental Leather 5590 Commercial Electrician Tool Belt
Occidental Leather Features:
- Premium Product with all leather bag. Fully adjustable to fit any electrician.
- Specifically design with the electrician in mind.
- Strategically placed pocks for faster tool usage.
- Super heavy duty design to last a lifetime.
- Hammer holder with built in tool pocket
- Quick access pock for small tech screws or wirenuts
- Proudly MADE IN THE USA!!!!
Trim Out Tool Belts
Trim out tool belts allow for you to quickly install receptacles, switches, and plates. The tool belt allows for the basic tools for trimming out a job site.
I usually have a canvas pouch ( Like This ) in the front and my trim out belt on the right hip side. If your left handed you will carry it on your left side. This set up allows for easy access of your tools/miscellaneous material. It also help you move around faster due to not carrying a full load of tools. A nice factor about this set up is when you have to kneel down to install receptacles, nothing jabs you in the mid section. Add a drill holder and turn yourself into a trimming machine!
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Tool Belt Suspenders
When it comes to suspenders I personally like padded ones. If you select a tool belt that already comes with suspenders you may take a look at what is on the market that could provide more comfort. Its common now a days that the market includes suspender rings built straight into the belt. Most suspenders come with attachment clips and have cell phone holders. Here are some great option below.
Tool Belt Accessories
I have created a list of some of the most common tool belt accessories. Some of these are really handy to have. These are not a necessity but do improve speed and efficiency. My favorite ones are the magnetic tool/screw holders.
What makes a great Electrician Tool Belt?
We have come up with a few things to consider when you make your purchase. Maybe these are ideas you have not thought about when trying to make your decision. We wear our belts daily in the field and have come up with what we believe are the major buying factors you should consider.
#1 Comfort and Fit
Its super important to wear a belt that fits you correctly and is comfortable. Lets face it, if your in the field it will never leave your hips. You want to make sure that nothing is poking you or causing you to feel uncomfortable. Just remember that any tool belt will have a “break in” period. It’s going to take some time for the belt to loosen up and fit your body just right. I have always found that belts that have a pads and are breathable have always felt the most comfortable.
Another way to help the belt feel more comfortable is to wear suspenders. Suspenders take some of the weight off your back and hips. This is done by distributing the load between your shoulders and waist. This allows you to wear your belt a little loose around your hips.
#2 Durability
Choose a belt that is going to last for a while. Some belts just are not built well. Seams and rivets start to pull apart. You want to choose a belt with superior qualities. Leather tool belts do hold up pretty good but over time the leather stretches and wears out. Nylon should out last leather belts and most come with pads for your hips. My favorite style are the belts that blend leather and nylon into one belt. These tend to have the best of both worlds!
Your belt is going to take a beating on the job site. Its also going to take a beating in your work truck. Your most likely to store your belt in your tool box. This is a good option but be careful when placing sharp tools around your belt. These have a tendency to cut and poke holes. Buy a bag to store your belt in. This way your bag takes the beating and is way cheaper to replace.
#3 Customization and Capacity
It’s always best to choose a belt that is specifically designed for Electricians. Its not a problem using a construction tool belt but most will not have any spots for individual tools. Most only come with large pockets for larger tools like squares and marking tools.
Look for a belt with dedicated spots to quickly and easily grab your hand tools. Also a tape holder comes in pretty handy but watch out because sometimes your black tape might rub up on a finished walls!
I personally don’t like the hammer holder. Most times it sticks out further than the pockets and can really make a mark or even a dent in a wall. Look for something that has the independent hammer holder on the back. I mostly do commercial and don’t need a hammer. I replace the hammer holder with a drill holder like this ONE!
#4 Material Type
When it comes to material there are 2 types, leather and nylon. Most of the dinosaurs in the trade swear by leather. During there prime that is what was available and at the time the best material. Now nylon competes quiet well with leather. Nylon does not absorb sweat the way leather does. After a long day working, I don’t personally like the sweat smell to follow me in my truck.
Majority of the nylon belts come with a padded hip. This helps reduce the stress on your hips. Test both out for yourself! I recommend buying each type, try it on, test it out, and return the loser!
Tool Belt Safety
We have done our due diligence when it comes to researching how a tool belt effects our safety on the job site. We tend not to think of a tool belt as being safe but what we fail to consider is how it will effect our bodies. The main part of our body the tool belt will effect is our backs.
After a long hard day on the job its common to feel some soreness in our backs or our feet. If you ever feel more than just soreness, take a moment and figure out why.
According to Bureau of Labor Statistics:
- More than 1 million workers suffer back injuries each year
- Back injures account for 1 in 5 workplace related injures
According to Safety and Health magazine Here are a couple of ideas to help alleviate back pain or injures:
