Dewalt Tstak tool boxes remain one of the best bargains out there in the hand-carry tool box market.
Amazon recently started promoting a 2-pack, and I realized that the individual tool boxes are the same price.
At the time of this posting, the compact tool box, with both top and front briefcase-style handles, is $22.85 at Amazon. I feel this is a great for what you get.
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Dewalt Tstak tool boxes are connectable, but I feel they’re also great values when used individually as standalone tool boxes.
Dewalt also has a similarly-sized Tstak tool box with folding top handle and externally-accessed top lid compartment with divided sections.
It’s priced at $27 at the time of this posting.
Dewalt also has a deep Tstak tool box, with removable tray.
It’s priced at $30 at the time of this posting.
I don’t need maximum protection for some of the bulkier tools and supplies I’m looking at new storage products for, and I also don’t plan to use or transport them as part of a larger system. I recently purchased a couple of Dewalt ToughSystem compact deep tool boxes, and they’ve been fantastic, but I want a couple more deep tool boxes and the Tstak has more of my attention.
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I feel that modular tool storage setups are all the rage these days – and for good reason. And yes, Tstak is a modular tool box system as well. But, I also see them as perfect for specific individual tool box needs.
They’ve proved to be plenty strong, and I have always liked their footprint and features.
Is Tstak the best modular tool box system? No. But there are plenty of reasons to buy them. Sometimes you just want a tool box with as few gimmicks as possible.
Modular tool boxes have been getting more complex and specialized, which can be a good thing, but not if you want just a basic tool box or two. That’s where Tstak still shines in my opinion.
Dewalt Tstak tool boxes are – in my opinion – sturdy, durable, and reasonably priced.
What’s an Everyday Good Deal? It’s a tool or product that I feel is a good buy any time of year.
Steve
I agree. I have called this one of the best lines out there in portable toolbox systems. I think it’s the best value or #1 contender in the mid-range tier. Now here’s the most important part, I consider Dewalt TStak and Craftsman Versastack one and the same. The Tstak/Versastack line has the most options on the market after PackOut, is reasonably priced, and is compatible with ToughCase as well as ToughSystem via an adapter. I’ve counted over 25 30 unique items that I can think of. TSatak/Versastak is a great mid-range system.
Noah
It’s also compatable with Craftsman Tradestack via adapter. I have some crazy combinations of Tradestack/versa stack/tstack boxes and drawers. And I made my tstak boxes water proof by putting a little gasket around the edge (there’s actually a space for it to fit in perfectly).
Pete M
The difference between Tstak and Versastak apart from color is that the Versastak lid had a weather seal while the Tstak does not.
MT
VersaStack boxes also have metal hinge pins where Tstaks have plastic.
Ryan
Tstaks secretly changed it to be the same now.
TonyT
I haven’t got into TStak/Versastack yet; I’m much more likely to buy in because of the ToughSystem/TStack adapter.
Acme & HD are often competitive on price, although for these items right now it looks like Amazon has the best price – a very tempting price…
Yadda
I do see a lot of value in these boxes, but they quickly grow in price when you add the cost of foam inserts to make them useful for individual tools. If there were an inexpensive foam option that didn’t almost double the price of the box I would buy a few of these. Unfortunately as a DIYer, I don’t have the budget or need to invest in these for most of my tools.
TonyT
If you look at Kaizen Source, it’s pretty much a function of how much foam will fit into the box. So 57mm of foam isn’t too bad (<$15), but if you're trying to fill up a TStak Deep box (201mm of foam, $46.50) or TS XL tool box (342mm of foam, $89.70), yes, it gets expensive.
I'm looking at their foam for high high items (e.g. camera system), but certainly can't afford to use it for all my toolboxes.
So, yes, it would be very nice if high quality foam, cut to size, was a lot cheaper, but it isn't. Heck, I'm not even sure lower quality foam is much cheaper (based on searching Amazon for replacement foam for Apache or Pelican cases).
Yadda
Yeah, pretty much the same here. Fortunately I just want a few of them I don’t need them so it isn’t a big deal.
Roger
There’s Version2.0 for the TSTAK line, but it’s slow. Very very slow to develop. Now that there is a reasonably priced solution to combine it with ToughSystem, they should put more effort into marketing. I never understood why the lag with SBD promoting the tool storage.
alex
And SBD is not bringing the new boxes to NA which is a shame.
Please Dewalt. Don’t discontinue the Tstak system in North America. Tstak is the perfect system to store “finish” tools. I find it silly to store paint brushes or drywall knives in a Packout or ToughSystem box. They are just to big and heavy for these applications.
William
Dewalt Tstak is our preferred system. As a custom cabinet shop, we always work inside and cary all our tools in box trucks, not loose in a pickup. The price for these is unbeatable and they have enough variety to do what we need. Yes, Packout looks great and is functional, but they are heavy and overkill for our needs. I have several toughsystem boxes too. I’ve demoted all the large ones but still use the small one for my reciprocating saw and demo stuff. Toughsystem is expensive, heavy, and overkill for what I do daily, but it’s nice to have a couple.
Eric
I have some of the 2 drawer packs. I’ve been using them for keeping nail and staple strips, rivets and rivnuts, and all of my die grinder bits. It’s nice to have it all right there and easy to grab and go with it for not much money.
Zach
Yet another segment Dewalt is getting absolutely crushed on by Milwaukee. Zero innovation, zero new products lately. So much room for improvement!
Stuart
Let’s say you want just a relatively compact tool box with a top handle.
Dewalt Tstak: $22-$30
Milwaukee Packout: $90
You can get all 3 of the Tstak tool boxes shown above for less than the price of one Packout tool box.
Packout is fantastic, but not the perfect solution for all budgets or storage needs.
fred
I have 4 of the Dewalt DWST17806 toolboxes bought in 2019 and 2020 for $26 to $28. They were bought based their dimensions and reasonable price. I keep some larger infrequently used tools like some saws (Makita XSH10Z and Milwaukee 2982-20) in them.
Matthew
I don’t care what anyone says. Tstak/Versastack is the best carrier/storage system available. There’s nothing that even comes close to what you get, and the value you get it for. I love Packout, I have a lot of Packout containers but stick to the half size stuff only due to the weight and costs.
Tstak/Versastack is the best hands down.
MT
Not needing the ruggedness of higher end modular toolbox lines, I went with Versastack/Tstak for the variety of boxes offered. In particular, I went with Versastack because of the weather sealing and the metal hinge pins. Weird that the Craftsman versions are higher speced than the DeWalt. Been very happy with them.
Bobcat
Because they’re newer
Franco Calcagni
I like TStak more for organization than for tool protection from elements and rough use in the back of trucks. I can see TStak not being the system for many that need rough & tough protection. Also, they are not big so don’t hold as much, but definitely more practical to carry and move around. To each their own.
Back in 2013-2015 or so, Dewalt had these buy $100 on an order and get $25 off the order. It was available through Amazon and other vendors. I remember ACME had a free Dewalt utility knife on top of that.
During these sales I made multiple orders of TStak boxes. Multiple orders as you got $25 for over $100 order, but a $400 still netted 1 x $25. So many orders it was.
I have 5 Ridgid boxes, about 7 ToughSystem, the Systainer that came with a tool, but about 30 of the TStak a (and 4 VersaStak). With this I have 1 of the trolleys with the handle, 2 flat dollies, and with the VersaStak I got the large bottom rolling box with rete tractable handle.
I think the sales Dewalt had was for any product (the $25 back on $100 spent), or maybe it was just on TStak…can’t recall. But darn, I wish they still had those kind of sales today.
alex
It was on any order containing more than 100$ in Dewalt products. Man this promo was good but you had to split your order in many smaller ones.
Ray
I started my tool storage with the Versastack/TStak system a few years ago. I’m a hobbyist, and was mostly attracted to the price and the fact that the Craftsman line was made in the USA. I’m a little less inclined to buy the Versastack since they switched to Israeli production in order to make the Tradestack in their US factories, but they have to follow the market, and pro boxes are in. I’ll probably pick up a few of the versastack or tstak drawers soon, just wish the shallow drawers were a little deeper to fit my dremel.
Franco Calcagni
“just wish the shallow drawers were a little deeper to fit my dremel.”…you mean the double drawer box, right? Because the single drawer should easily hold your Dremel. It comes with little containers which you can take out, put in your Dremel, and have room to put a couple of containers back in with tips, bits & wheels.
https://www.amazon.com/DEWALT-DWST17803-TSTAK-Deep-Drawer/dp/B00BF4VUKO/
HTG
I’m a huge Tstak fan. I’ve got dozens of them. I’ve even bought 8-packs in sales when they’ve popped up. I have a few each of Toughsystem, Packout, Lboxx and Sortainer, but for my needs , Tstak remain my favourite for most things. For me, it’s a high ratio of inside space to outside space, high cost/benefit and pretty solid as well. I can’t see a time when I won’t be wanting just a few more.
Franco Calcagni
I think what you said pretty much covers my situation.
A TStak probably won’t fair as well as one of my Ridgid or ToughSystem boxes falling down stairs, but for my overall needs, the TStak fits best. Price, value and footprint.