In the market for an Electrician Tool Belt?
We asked Master and Journeymen electricians in the field what they looked for in a tool belt. What we found was no surprise to us.
Durability, the number of pockets, an even weight distribution, and the price of the tool belt stood out as the most important features.
The majority of electricians prefer belts with built-in back pads for lifting support. In addition belts with suspenders are very popular.
We have combined all of the information to bring you the Top 5 Electricians Tool Belts of 2019. We also feature the best trim-out tool belt and tool belt suspenders. Let’s dive straight into the reviews.
Contents
- Top 5 Best Electricians Tool Belt
- Trim Out Tool Belts
- Tool Belt Suspenders
- Tool Belt Accessories
- What makes a great Electrician Tool Belt?
- Tool Belt Safety
- List of our Recommended Tool Belts from Amazon
Top 5 Best Electricians Tool Belt
| Preview | Product | Key Features | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Best Overall
| Occidental Leather 5590 LG Commercial Electrician's Set |
| $285.30 | Buy on Amazon |
Premium Choice
| Occidental Leather 9596 Adjust-to-Fit Industrial Pro Electrician |
| $298.44 | Buy on Amazon |
Excellent Value
| Rack-A-Tiers 43243 Electrician's Belt and Bag Combo 9 Pockets Large 36-40... |
| $124.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| CLC Custom Leathercraft 1608 Electrician's Comfort Lift Combo Tool Belt, 28... |
| $51.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| Milwaukee 48-22-8110 Electricians Work Belt NEW ;JM#54574-4565467/341129244 | $122.90 | Buy on Amazon |
Large Tool Belts
This type of belt you will carry during your normal 7 am to 5 pm job. The most important attributes will be how comfortable the belt is and the belt’s capacity (i.e. how many of your electrical tools it can hold). It’s 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. Also with a large belt, you can attach a drill carrier with ease.
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 electricians tool belts we could find.
Occidental Leather Commercial Electrician Tool Belt
- Hand-Specific Tool Holders Promote Maximum Working Rhythm on the Job
- Function Engineered for the Modern Electrician
- No Spill Tool Holder System
Occidental Leather Features:
- Premium Product with all leather bag. Fully adjustable to fit any electrician.
- Specifically designed 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 wire nuts
- Proudly MADE IN THE USA!!!!
Occidental Leather Pro Electrician Tool Belt
- Top of the line all leather bag Adjust-to-Fit set for the commercial electrician
- Efficient, hand specific tool and fastener organization, function engineered
- Tool holders form to your tools and give years of durable service
Occidental Leather Features:
- Premium Product with all leather bag. Fully adjustable to fit any electrician.
- Specifically designed 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!!!!
Rack-A-Tiers Electrical Tool Belt
- 1250 Denier duratek fabric with high-density nylon webbing around pocket openings
- Fits 36 - 40-Inch waist size
- Comes in black color
Rack-A-Tiers 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.
Custom LeatherCraft Electrical Tool Belt
- EVEN WEIGHT DISTRIBUTION: Unique, padded suspenders on this tool belt are engineered to carry loads comfortably and distribute weight evenly without strain on lower back and hips.
- EASY TO CARRY TOOL BELT: The handle design on this tool belt provides simple adjustments for easy carrying and storage without spilling contents.
- 28 POCKET TOOL BELT: A zippered top flap pouch on this tool belt helps to prevent spillage of tools when not in use. 28 pockets for plenty of storage
Leathercraft 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 it’s ready at your fingertips!
- The belt is patted and comes with double tongue steel roller buckle.
- Approximate weight is 8 pounds
- Fits waist sizes from 29 – 46
Milwaukee Electricians Work 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 a 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
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 to your tools/miscellaneous material. It also helps 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 midsection. Add a drill holder and turn yourself into a trimming machine!
| Preview | Product | Key Features | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Best Overall
| DEWALT DG5103 Small Durable Maintenance and Electrician's Pouch with... |
| $17.95 | Buy on Amazon |
Premium Choice
| Klein Tools 5125 Tool Pouch, 5-Pocket, Canvas |
| $40.68 | Buy on Amazon |
Excellent Value
| McGuire-Nicholas 526-CC Brown Professional Electrician'S Pouch |
| $18.37 | Buy on Amazon |
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. It’s common nowadays 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.
| Preview | Product | Key Features | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Best Overall
| TradeGear Electrician's Belt & Bag Combo - Heavy Duty Electricians Tool... |
| $32.49 | Buy on Amazon |
Premium Choice
| Occidental Leather 5055 Stronghold Suspension System |
| $112.32 | Buy on Amazon |
Excellent Value
| DEWALT DG5132 Durable Tool Apron, Padded Shoulders |
| $29.95 | Buy on Amazon |
| Ergodyne Arsenal 5560 Tool Belt Suspenders, Padded Shoulders, Adjustable |
| $29.63 | Buy on Amazon |
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.
| Preview | Product | Key Features | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Best Overall
| MagnoGrip 002-580 Magnetic Drill Holster - Left and Right Handed, Black |
| $12.45 | Buy on Amazon |
Premium Choice
| MagnoGrip 311-090 Magnetic Wristband |
| $11.90 | Buy on Amazon |
Excellent Value
| CLC Custom Leathercraft 1104 Construction Multi-Purpose Poly Tool Holder,... |
| $5.95 | Buy on Amazon |
| DEWALT DG5114 Heavy Duty Smartphone Holder |
| $14.95 | Buy on Amazon |
| Custom Leathercraft 464 Heavy Duty Measuring Tape Holder, 16-30 in. |
| $6.21 | Buy on Amazon |
| MagnoGrip 002-405 3-Pocket Magnetic Nail Pouch, Black |
| $16.82 | Buy on Amazon |
| DEWALT DG5121 Heavy-Duty Impact Driver Holster |
| $12.95 | Buy on Amazon |
| Scissors and Cable Splicer's Knife Holder Klein Tools 5187 |
| $8.93 | Buy on Amazon |
| CLC Custom Leathercraft 453 Utility Knife Sheath, Heavy Duty |
| $7.99 | Buy on Amazon |
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
It’s super important to wear a belt that fits you correctly and is comfortable. Let’s face it, if you’re 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 pad 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 outlast 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. You’re 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 wall!
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 quite 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 affects 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 affect our bodies. The main part of our body the tool belt will affect is our backs.
After a long hard day on the job, it’s 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 injuries account for 1 in 5 workplace related injuries
According to Safety and Health magazine Here are a couple of ideas to help alleviate back pain or injuries:
- Use padded suspenders to distribute weight on your shoulders and hips
- Use a padded belt for more comfort
- Only carry tools specifically for the tasks of that day
- Keep your extra tools in a tool bag or bucket
List of our Recommended Tool Belts from Amazon
Reasons why you should buy your Electrician Tool Belt from Amazon:
- Most products come with free shipping if you are a prime member
- Buy from one of the most well known online stores in the country. Shop worry free!
- Amazon has comprehensive reviews on all its products.
- Amazon offers some of the best prices on all electrician gear.
